tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post7714083860228504649..comments2024-01-01T18:42:01.363-08:00Comments on International Christian Fiction Writers: Finding the Dolce in My Far NienteLisa Harrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358581487206184033noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-73682438800896421492018-05-18T12:16:27.447-07:002018-05-18T12:16:27.447-07:00Ooh! I will check out her books. Since you mention...Ooh! I will check out her books. Since you mentioned fiction escapes, I use audio books to help me slow down. It's nice to listen to the story while sitting out back drinking iced tea and looking at the lake. I just try to hard to do one million things before rewarding myself with that long break. Sometimes the reading/audio time never comes. Compulsive. Focused. Can't stop working :o... Grace toward self, grace toward self, grace toward self... :)<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by, Donna :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01854586114372855343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-11915782009216934502018-05-18T12:09:37.187-07:002018-05-18T12:09:37.187-07:00Thanks, Carolyn! Technology and social media has t...Thanks, Carolyn! Technology and social media has to be part of this puzzle for me too. A Sabbath. I have to look into that. I try to stay off of social media/tech on Sundays, but I also do a lot at church on Sundays (add it all up and I'm there for seven hours). So Sunday off tech is not enough for me to feel rested. I'll consider an alternate off day for social media and technology. I'm glad I'm not alone thinking online presence is not a friend of the dolce far niente... Thanks! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01854586114372855343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-22150351864572196232018-05-18T12:01:37.103-07:002018-05-18T12:01:37.103-07:00Thank you, Ian. I like this - all of this. There&#...Thank you, Ian. I like this - all of this. There's merit to meditation. I used to enjoy it a great deal as a teen. I will try it now. Lectio Divina? Hmm. I'll look into that. Grace toward self? Working on it. I began a new novel this week and I'm so thrilled. It's an Asperger story, a love story. Once the trunk of the story is established, cloudy self-concept will be one of three branches of this adventure. One could easily plug in lack of grace toward self in place of cloudy self-concept. It's one thing. I need to go there. Dig deeper. Find truth and healing. Talk about jumping into the deep end! This one is way above my head. Good :)<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by and sharing these words of encouragement and these ideas! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01854586114372855343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-7561768249832523342018-05-18T09:50:47.252-07:002018-05-18T09:50:47.252-07:00As a sister compulsive (I prefer to say focused), ...As a sister compulsive (I prefer to say focused), Patricia, I can't imagine trying to make myself do nothing, but reading escape fiction comes close enough to me--try Georgette Heyer.Donna Fletcher Crowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03986333915483142722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-65758261595251217052018-05-18T01:26:00.780-07:002018-05-18T01:26:00.780-07:00Thanks for sharing such an important post, Patrici...Thanks for sharing such an important post, Patricia. I was recently challenged at bible study about taking a sabbath rest, which I’m trying to do through being off social media (& my phone!) & my kids off technology so we can rest, be refreshed, and can focus more on God and His awesomeness. Carolyn Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180744278101977974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4620199782689299940.post-28307480003867357782018-05-17T17:54:33.825-07:002018-05-17T17:54:33.825-07:00Patricia, you've touched on an important issue...Patricia, you've touched on an important issue in this post. And well done sharing your struggle. Life is full of appealing (and some unappealing) distractions. And we need to build intentional habits to combat them.<br /><br />I do a few things: I meditate. Meditation often gets a bad rap in Christian circles because of its connection with Eastern religions but it was a practice started by the church many moons ago. It's all about intentionally stopping and focusing on your breathing. No chanting ... well often I quote a bible verse ... but it's really about building muscle to be able to control our tendency to be distracted. But one of the great benefits meditation provides is the sense of being present. So when you see a beautiful sunset, you're able to stop and be present to appreciate it's wonder and how clever its Creator is.<br /><br />I practice Lectio Divina, a method of taking time to meditate on the Bible. <br /><br />And I end my day sitting in a comfy chair reading a novel. I don't have little kiddies and appreciate all of these practices are easier for me to attempt because I'm not caring for little ones (our 2 are adults now).<br /><br />Patricia, I hope you are able to find some time to just be present. But you'll have to be intentional about it. And also exercise grace towards yourself. It's okay to miss a day or not appreciate a sunset ... it's okay. The sun will rise again tomorrow.<br /><br />Blessings, Ian Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00192687613923596829noreply@blogger.com