LIFE’S TOO SHORT TO WEAR UGLY UNDERWEAR by Reese Mobley

Wait. Wait. Waaaaaait. Hold those itchy trigger fingers and don’t click away from this site. This is not one of the web pages your momma warned you about. This is WARA’s writing blog and our topic this month has to do with writing problems. Still confused about the title? Double check the color of your undies, (hot pink with white and yellow daisies) grab something cold to drink (iced tea) and let me explain.

My biggest struggle when it comes to writing is myself. There. I said it. I feel like a huge weight has been shifted from my shoulders to this page. Please understand that I’m not apologizing. I’m just admitting it to you, the faithful readers, writers and otherwise curious title pursuers.

My motto is and always will be that if you get a chance to do something or see something really cool and extraordinary then you have an obligation to yourself to do it. There are some experiences that only come around once and I don’t want to miss anything. We only get one shot at this life and I want to make the most of it. I go and I do until my calendar is full and my checkbook is empty.

As a writer, I’m curious by nature and I’m not claiming to live like Indiana Jones. Not everything I do is movie-worthy but it is vital to who I am. I recently lost a very good friend to a tragic accident. She was only 33. Her death made me realize how very short and precious our time is. We should all live like today could be our last day.

How do I strike a balance? Make time for everything I want to do with everything I have to do? I’m not sure. I celebrate a milestone birthday in a few months—gasp—and I wanted to have this current WIP finished by then. I have a long way to go but I’m going to try. It’s important. I will find a compromise between where I am now and where I want to be.

So, tell me. If life is so short why would you want to waste a single day wearing ugly underwear? Pull out the good ones. The colorful ones that make you secretly happy when you wear them. The ones that make you feel like you can conquer the publishing world. I know that’s asking a lot from a pair of undergarments, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. You owe it to your manuscript but most importantly, you owe it to yourself.

Hugs,

Reese

19 comments:

Pat Davids said...

How funny that I bypassed my usual white for lavender this morning. No daisies. Is that too much information?

Reese,
You are so right. Life is too short and it can vanish before you can say, Yahoodee!

I'm working on the courage to leave comfortable behind and head out to find the Wow Factor in my writing as well as in my personal life. Thanks for reminding me that the Wow Factor starts right at home with ME.

Melissa Robbins said...

Love the title, Reese! My heroine would say knickers, but ugly underwear has that nice alliteration ring to it. I'm still laughing.

Ahem, where was I. Very sound advice and if you need the rest of us to nag you about finishing your story, you let us know.

My sister and I have that underwear philosophy and we give each other pretty undies every Christmas. A tradition that started with my grandmother (that's a looooong story), but Mama Ruth would approve of the life's too short...

Reese Mobley said...

Pat, you rock those lavender panties!! The WOW factor is within your reach!

Reese Mobley said...

Melissa, I need all the nagging I can get! I know I have it in me, I just have to find it. Glad you liked the title. I wanted to grab your attention.

Gee, I thought my sister and I were clever for exchanging the same Christmas card for years. Hmmmm, we just may have to rethink our tradition.

Joan Vincent said...

And to think I just purchased a package of undies that had a lavender one with pink flowers! I know a "package" means staid or worse "old lady panties" but look, they are colored and patterned, not my usual white. I'll have to go back and get a "conquering" empowering bit of lace. Because, Reese, you are right. Thanks for reminding me that attitude determines a lot. Like meeting writing goals. Like succeeding.

Jessica Mobley said...

First, let me tell you that Justin thought this was very amusing! Once again mother, your words are amazing and true. I would also like to say that I would appreciate it if you didn't EVER tell me the color of your panties again. TMI ladies. Love you mommy. You're the best!

Rox Delaney said...

Joan mentioned attitude, which got me to thinking. Attitude really is everything. For most of us, it's a long haul between the moment we consciously decide to write something that we might intend to send out to an editor or agent and when we make that first sale. Even after that sales aren't a sure thing. Nope, not even close.

When we fall into a funk because of another rejection or maybe because the words just aren't coming, we have to stop and adjust that attitude. Sometimes that doesn't happen in a day, but, like writing, if we keep at it, we'll get to the point where we can move forward again. If pink and green zebra striped panties help, great!

Thanks, Reece, for a great reminder.

Nina Sipes said...

Reese,
I gotta tell you something. I have a daughter who, before every major even, prom--what have you, she purchases new underwear. And sometimes the event falls short of the effort, sometimes it doesn't. But have I heard the, 'that was a waste of a pair of panties' once, I've heard it ? times. This is now a family phrase, but it wasn't before her teenage years. You just never know how important it is....

Reese Mobley said...

Joan, it doesn't matter how you purchase them, it's how they make you feel. It's usually the first thing you put on in the morning so why not start out with a little sass?

Reese Mobley said...

Jessie, girl, there is a lesson to be learned here. Confidence makes you feel like you have some power over your life. Why not start out with hot pink or whatever color makes you feel like you rock? Love you too!

FYI, Tell Justin we will NOT being discussing bras next month. Unless we decide too! Hmmmm. Stay tuned!

Reese Mobley said...

Rox, attitude equals success. In one measure or another. I do believe in the long run that it will pay off.

Pink and green zebra striped panties? Really? Where can I get some?

Reese Mobley said...

Nina, wouldn't it be great if we never had a day that was a waste of a good pair of panties? Great story by the way. I might steal that line for my WIP--with your permission of course.

Penny Rader said...

Great post, Reese. I just wish pretty panties didn't cost so much!

Penny Rader said...

Oops, forgot to add that I love your waste of a pair of panties line, Nina. Too funny. Kind of like "I shaved my legs for this?"

Reese Mobley said...

Thanks, Penny. Treat yourself to some really pretty ones. You deserve it!

Frances Fowlkes said...

LOVED the title, Reese! Thanks for helping me remember that all too often my biggest obstacle is ME.

Here's to grabbing a pair of zebra striped undies and to finishing a scene rewrite that has had me stumped for over a week!

Huzzah!

Reese Mobley said...

Hmmm. I'm sensing a theme here. Perhaps our web page should boast zebra striped unders. I'm just saying . . .

Nina Sipes said...

There's nothing sacred about the quote. You're free to use it at will.
Nina

Starla Kaye said...

You are just too funny! But I totally agree, life is too short. There are times when I feel like all I do is write or promote. I hate missing out on things going on around me. So I don't.

If my family wants me to spend time with them, I'm there. If I get a chance to travel, I'm going. Okay, I take all of my electronics (laptop, iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Nook) with me when I travel. But at least I dive into whatever is going on wherever I've gone. Like going on a 17-mile (downhill) bike ride in the Smokies or on 2 4-hour kayaking trips down the New River in North Carolina.

Writing is what I do...not what I live for.