Linda A. Firestone, Ph.D.

Another year draws to an end!

The end of each year seems to sneak up on me and I am always surprised when the reality that the year is over finally hits me. This year has not been any different. It suddenly hit me this week, the first week in Dec., that the year was drawing to a close. It has been year of changes. Change happens whether we want it to or not. But, there is something positive that can come from change. I am at peace as this year draws to an end. I wish that I could write here that my novel has been completed. It has not. But, other things have taken precedence.

I am determine to finish the novel early in 2011. Recently, I started writing for a health organization- reworking their websites. I happen to be working with 4 young guys who are very knowledgeable about SEO and all that flows from that - the statistics, tracing the hits, etc. I think I am absorbing the information just by being around them.

What the new year has in store for me is unclear, but I am ready to make the most of the what comes to me with new projects, new associations, and new successes.

I wish all of you happy holidays and a healthy, happy new year.
Thanks for stopping by.

Seems like a million years

Haven't written anything on my newsletter page, nor have I posted new articles. This behavior is not the best for business. But then, I never professed to being the dynamic business woman I need to be. I am working on it.

I have several exciting interviews coming up and will be posting those articles I spoke about last month.
This was just a note to let people know that I am actually still around writing and creating chaos wherever I go. :)
Thanks for stopping by.

A Whirl Wind Month

At times life can be a mystery. Lots of changes can occur, some dreamed of, others not. My life has been a whirl wind of change these last several weeks -- maybe couple of months. I will not go into the personal changes that have occurred. Instead, I will just provide a quick update.

I should be posting new articles very soon. I have been hired to write and oversee the Miami Book Fair International program guide. Huge job!. Very excited to be part of the Book Fair. I hope to see you there!

Also, I will be doing web writing for a health organization. The focus of the work is alcohol and drug rehabilitation. It is an area that I wrote about nine years ago. It will be interesting to see what the changes in the industry have been.

I have also been writing for a web service company. The guys there are laid back. What a pleasure that is.

And, on a personal note: I was in Spain for two weeks. What a joy. A section of my Ph.D. research concerned medieval history. In Spain, I was, needless to say, in my glory. It has been quite a few years, too many in fact, since I was to Europe and focused so intensely on medieval culture.

Thanks for visiting.

Always a Time to Learn

Without knowing it, most of the time I place myself in situations that require some form of learning. This should not be a surprise to me, as I enjoy learning. In fact, I recently received a catalogue of courses that are taught by world class professors on a variety of subjects. I intend on ordering a few courses. It is cheaper than going back to school which I would do in a heart beat if it weren't so expensive. I thought for a while earlier this year (I am still functioning on the academic year) that I would get a Masters in Public Media --the focus of which is work with non-profits etc--and Georgetown Un. had a wonderful program.

I had spoken to the contact person and was seriously thinking of enrolling until the cost was mentioned.
I can't remember whether it was $40,000 a year or for two. Regardless, I thought it was more than I could afford for an online program. That resolved the issue for me.

A digression... I recently began working with ABC Web Service. I am the copywriter for them. So, I am learning more about the details of computing, SEO, marketing and the like. Thus far, I am enjoying myself and I do enjoy the guys I work with. It is actually a relief to walk into a work environment that is focused yet at the same time still relaxed. And, for me the space is wonderful. It is a large open room that is filled with natural light. I thrive in spaces that have a good deal of natural light.

There are other projects in the works but they are not directly related to learning so those will be mentioned next month.

Thanks for stopping by.

The word is the meaning

I read an editorial by Stanley Fish today so I guess I wanted to write something philosophical. I actually miss the days when my head could easily grasp esoteric writings about thinking, meta-criticism and the like. The title of this piece is actually quite medieval in context but never mind.

A short note:

Had the pleasure of interviewing Les Brown a monumental figure in the motivational field. It was interesting to hear him declaim this or that and still try to get him to give me other than the stock remarks. I wondered as I spoke to him whether his truth ever changed. How does someone who earns his living at trying to help others grow to their full potential continue to grow as an individual. I wondered whether anything was new for him. I actually should have asked him that question but that was not the focus of the piece.

Still, what he said rang true for me. We are as the expression goes- masters of our destiny. He didn't articulate those words. I can create my reality; though I may not control the things that happen in life, I do control how I react to them and what I do with my emotions etc, etc, etc.

I am glad spring is here. I am ready to revitalize my life and to finish writing my novel.

Thanks for stopping by.

Missing in action or not

I feel like I have been missing in action. In reality, over the last few months, I have opened myself to learning a new area of information and getting licensed in it. Like many of the goals I have set for myself over the years, the focus of this new endeavor is women.

Much to my own surprise I have gone and gotten an Insurance license to sell life, health, and annuities. I thought this was way out there but as I have been discovering, women need a good deal of information when it comes to their finances --me included. And so a whole new avenue of writing and teaching has opened up to me.

My initial response was "what has this have to do with anything?" But, I believe that is a narrow way to look at the situation. And, while I was at a business conference the other day, a woman I know through my writing for a business organization approached me. I had not seen her in a couple of years. When she asked what I was doing I started by stating, "I am writing," to which she added "Of course you are" and then I told her I also had earned my ins. license. The conversation continued. It was truly an eye opener for me, as the the expression goes. For one who has written a good deal about creativity, I tend not to accept my own capacity to do more than one thing.

My novel progresses along though I have slowed down recently to do some research on historical San Francisco. I just had an article accepted for an online women's magazine on Bio Identical HRT and I finished a piece on a woman named Marina who composes, writes, and produces work out videos aimed at weight loss.

Another year begins and I am optimistic that this will be the best year yet. I remain focused on moving forward -regardless of what happens always moving forward.