Get Out and Vote

I’ve had quite a few things on my plate in the last month or two. At times, it seemed like too much, but I’m making it through. And soon enough in the New Year things will (hopefully) be a little less busy for me.

I am overwhelmed by the positive responses that we have been getting from the book. Our first book signing in our hometown at Levi Coe Library was an amazing experience. I am so pleased that so many people understand and appreciate the message in our book. When we were writing it, I had always felt that we were on to something huge. I had felt that what we were saying would really mean something to a lot of people. It is quite an experience to see something you dreamed and hoped for, to see what you’ve been working so hard toward start to become a reality. My father and I are truly blessed to be on this journey.

The election is just a little over a day away. I have spent a lot of time following this historic election. I think I’ve probably watched more CNN in the past few months than I have ever watched previously in my life. This whole election time has been a very emotional one for me as I am sure it has been for a lot of people. Although I know that one person cannot become the savoir for a single country, I am inspired by Barak Obama and his message. And it seems as though many of those who are voting for McCain in the coming election are just as emotionally invested as I am. With all this emotion swirling around the election, I find it amazing that some people just don’t care about it. Some people are completely indifferent, and they are just not voting.

What?! Not voting? The thought is completely incomprehensible to me. Voting is the best and maybe easiest way to make change and to have a lasting impact in the world in which you live. I have always had the desire, ever since I was young, to do something. When I say do something, I don’t mean to write the next great American novel or become a doctor or something like that. I’ve just always wanted to do something about the world around me. There were a lot of things I didn’t like about the world around me. Sometimes, I didn’t like the way people treated me. Sometimes, I didn’t like the way other people were treated. Things weren’t quite right with the world. There were good things, but there were also bad things. I always had wanted to do something about those bad things.

Voting seems like the simplest and easiest way to do something about the world around you. It’s a way to express yourself, to be an instrument of change. No skin off your back. I have a hard time believing that people are so self-involved that they don’t want to change the things that aren’t quite right in the world around them. I’m certainly not advocating that everyone should join the Peace Corps. But I am advocating that people get up, get involved, and vote on Tuesday. Maybe indifference as far as politics is concerned is foreign to me because I’m a bit of a weirdo as far as my life’s passion is concerned. I know not everyone grows up wanting to “change the world” in some way be it large or small, but I at least thought most people would care enough about their environment (social, natural or otherwise) to cast their vote. I don’t know. Maybe I’m right. Maybe I’m wrong. I guess we’ll see by the voter turn out on Tuesday. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Moving On

It certainly has been awhile since I last posted. Life has thrown me some curveballs in the last month and a half which has kept me away from my blog. I finally moved into a new apartment, but the moving experience was far from a pleasant one. Moving is rarely easy. However, I had quite a few challenges with this particular move, and the stress was very overwhelming at times. (The details of this “horrific move” require a very detailed explanation which is entirely too confusing to post in a blog.) Nonetheless, I am certainly stronger for it; I learned quite a bit about myself from it. And on the plus side, I made some new friends. But let’s just say I’m so glad it’s over.

As far as Withstanding the Lie goes, there was an excellent article written in our hometown newspaper, The Town Times about Withstanding the Lie. I’m very pleased with the article, and I believe that Sue Van Derzee really captured the essence of what we’ve been trying to do with the book. I am very grateful to her for her time and effort, and it’s all very encouraging for both my father and me.

Otherwise, not much else is going on with me. I am just trying to “right” myself after a very stressful few months as well as trying to figure out my new life in a new apartment with two new roommates. Let’s say that I’m looking forward to this change in my life. I believe it will be “good” for me to live and be and do things that I’ve never done or considered doing before. For a long time I’ve wanted to really grow as a person. I’ve wanted to come out of my shell, make that giant leap to the point where I felt I wasn’t holding back who I felt like I was from anyone. I believe the recent changes I’ve made in my life will get me there. It won’t be easy, but I truly believe that I am on the right track.

A Constant State of Panic

I’ve been in what I like to refer to as “a constant state of panic” for the last few weeks. I’ve been looking for a new apartment, which you probably know can be a highly frustrating and stressful experience. Work hasn’t been exactly easy on me either. Quite frankly, I’m tired. I probably need a vacation.

I am also feeling a little weary as far as my life direction is concerned. I’m struggling with some of the choices I’ve made in my life so far. There are so many things I want to do with my life and yet I don’t know how to get to where I want to be. There is this drive inside me to create music and stories, and there is this drive inside me to explore the different ways people choose to make sense of themselves and the world around them. Withstanding the Lie is certainly a big step in the direction in which I would like my life to go, no question about it. But sometimes I find myself wondering: “I may be on my way, but will I ever make it there? And just exactly where is ‘there’ anyway?”

I know it is normal to ask these questions and to feel uncertainty about life and where you’re going. “Am I doing the right thing?” you ask yourself. “Is everything going to be alright?” But lately I’ve been wondering quite a lot about it. And the fear that something is “wrong” or “not right” has been a little more at the forefront of my mind. I know I just need to relax. Chill out. Take a few deep breaths and just go with the flow. I’m not usually the kind of person who worries about things. So, this feeling of anxiety, this constant state of panic, is really something new for me.

I’m anxious because I feel that somehow a lot is at stake if things don’t “go right.” The truth of the matter is that often when we feel anxious or panicked about something we are attached to something. We cling with desperation because we believe that if we lose what we cling to we lose ourselves, our identities. New York has become my home. It has become where I feel comfortable, because it is here where I have grown so much. And it is also where I feel my greatest opportunities are. If I leave this city (because I can’t find an affordable place to live), I feel as if I’m losing a part of myself, as if part of me will go missing.

It is in these thoughts where clinging or attachment live. In some way, I feel as if my sense of self, my identity is wrapped up in the place where I live and even more still in the dreams and desires I have. But in reality, this is not true. My identity is not wrapped up in where I live or what I accomplish. I am full and complete no matter where I live and no matter what I do or don’t do. That’s the message we try to get across in Withstanding the Lie. We are all full and complete human beings no matter our gender, race, sexuality, and so on. These things do not make us whole or un-whole. Your sense of self, your identity has nothing to do with societal labels, job titles, or social interests. It is a lesson so much easier said than done. I am co-author of a book that advocates this very thing, and here I am struggling with the concept. It is not an easy thing to grasp and I don’t think it ever will be. It might get a little “less hard,” or more manageable. It is struggle everyday to understand that who we are is not the same as what we are.

I’m not exactly sure how to pull myself out of my constant state of panic. There are many techniques you can use to alleviate anxiety. There are actually quite a few we ourselves offer in Withstanding the Lie (as far as attachment is concerned). But at the end of the day, you have to figure out what works for you in your particular situation. For me I think what will be most helpful to gain some clarity will be remembering who I really am. I am not the city in which I live. I am not my dreams and desires. I am simply a human being. I’m going to try to spend the rest of the evening (and probably the week) peeling away these attachments, stripping off the false identity I have been wearing to hopefully reveal the naked me underneath. Like I said before so much easier said than done. I’ll let you know how I do.

It's Really Here

So, I finally got my copy of Withstanding the Lie. Yay! Although I've been kind of busy lately (with working overtime, apartment hunting, and preparing to sing at my hometown church this Sunday), I have been trying to read the book cover to cover to get the full experience of the whole thing. I've spent most of my time reading the book on the subway which I have to mention is kinda cool (haha, you know reading your own book on the train). But honestly, it's pretty good travel reading--it moves quickly. And thank goodness for that because we worked really hard on making sure the book flows and doesn't cause readers to get "bogged down" in heavy explanations. So what I'm saying is buy the book and read it while using public transportation (planes, trains, buses, subways and the like). It's a good read for commuters.



Now that I'm finished with the shameless self-promotion portion of this blog...



Like I mentioned above I'm going back to my hometown for the weekend. I miss my parents and grandmother. It feels like it's been awhile since I've been home even though it's barely been over a month. I'm also excited about going to church and having the opportunity to sing. Lately, singing has been really important to my "sanity." It keeps me grounded and focused. It helps alleviate the stress. Even though I'll be singing and talking shop with my father about WTL, this might be a bit of a mini-mini-mini vacation. I might have a few moments to just breathe. Or maybe not.



Anyway, right now I'm coming down with a bit of a cold, and I'm feeling pretty "icky." In an effort to take care of myself, I'm going to dedicate the rest of this evening to eating a good hardy meal and watching a few episodes of my favorite show EVER "Star Trek: The Next Generation." [Yes, I'm a nerd, but I'm not ashamed.]



Oh, and please write me at nicole@withstandingthelie.com and tell me what you think. I love getting mail. Really.

Books for Sale

Finally! Withstanding the Lie is now available for sale online.

It's been a long time coming, but WTL is now officially for sale. Just visit the website [www.withstandingthelie.com] to take a look. Or just plug in "Withstanding the Lie" on www.amazon.com. Either way you can buy yourself a book :)

The whole thing is surreal for me right now. I don't think it's really sunk in that we've finally made it this far. Maybe it's because I haven't physically seen or handled one of the printed copies. Strange I know, but since I live in the New York and all the nuts and bolts of the project are going on in Connecticut I haven't yet had the chance to see the book. My copy should arrive at my apartment tomorrow afternoon. To say that I'm excited is an understatement.

Now that the book is completed and we have all the writing, re-writing (re-writing, re-writing), and editing behind us. My dad and I can start concentrating on spreading the message written within its pages. I feel that this (spreading the news) is the most important part. It's why we wrote the book in the first place, to help people. To finally be able to get out there and do it is an amazing thing.

I have a lot of hope for the future and a lot of faith in this project.

Welcome

Hey Everyone,

The official release date of Withstanding the Lie (WTL) is practically upon us. My father and I have waited a long time for this and we are ready for the new adventures ahead of us. I just want to welcome everybody with open arms who took the time to look at our website and blogs.

Here on my blog, I plan on sharing with you the adventures my father and I have as we share our message. I also plan to share with you the struggles I have as I try to withstand the lie in my everyday life. And I plan on giving you a different perspective on television, film, and the entertainment world by showing you how entertainment gossip, popular headlines, and even reality shows can be seen through the WTL lens.

Lastly, I’d love to hear from you. Please e-mail me at nicole@withstandingthelie.com and tell me what you think. Whether it be good, bad, or indifferent I want to hear from you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Visit us at www.withstandingthelie.com