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Listening for the Meaning

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Present Meaning

We spend so much time talking
about listening
that sometimes it seems that we don’t hear
the simplest sounds filled with meaning.

The sounds of cars on pavement
may not be the sounds of sleigh bells ringing
but they are the sounds of people moving.
Coming and going, spending time to reach a destination.

Do you listen for the people who could be coming to you?

The sounds of wrapping paper tearing
might not be the sounds of hearts opening
and exchanging joy, love, trust, and giving,
but inside the minds of those who tear away the ribbons
hearts are beating, memories are being forged and formed.

696449_sleigh_ride

Children are laughing, posing, playing and participating in the ways that only children do.

Do you listen for the good thoughts and feelings that people
say with their eyes, their hands, their time in bringing themselves to you?

Listening for meaning is an act of being present.
How lovely to just be present, listening to what it means to be with you.

May all your presents be meaningful, deep, and true.

Thank you for the meaning you’ve given to what I do.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
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How to Write Ideas that Lift Themselves Off the Page — Every Time!

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Even the Humblest Star Still Shines

Shine!

A writer makes meaning by giving thoughts structure and expression. Whether we write to inform, entertain, or inspire, we hope our message will leave the page or the screen to be received in a reader’s mind. It’s no easy thing to connect simple words in ways that have life and meaning. It can seem that we’re at the mercy of an unfriendly muse who is stingy with ideas and generous writer’s block. That’s just not so.

Writing isn’t the luck of ideas. It’s work. It’s also knowing how to access ideas.

A photographer knows that the best light will offer the opportunity to shoot the fabulous picture. A composer knows that the right sort of silence will allow him or her to hear music no one’s heard before. In the same way, writers know that making room to think makes masterful writing is easier.

We write best when we have room to think long, deep thoughts.

Self conscious and selfish ideas need small spaces to thrive. Stressed and cranky tones and sloppy logical fall away when we give ourselves room to think. Our minds can’t hold fear and think long and deep and wide at the same time.

Thinking long thoughts is like deep breathing or stretching with a yawn. In a writerly way, it’s a shot of oxygen to our creativity.

Put on music on to write or sit with the sounds outside your window. In some way give myself room to listen. Wait for the words and ideas to fill the space where you are.

Listen for a rhythm. Thoughts will start occuring. Listen until they do. When they do, the words come on their own. Those words will sneak past your internal editor.

Think those long, deep, and wide thoughts. Then write with abandon. Now that you can see what you’re thinking, take away all of the words your readers don’t need. You’ll know when you feel the ideas lifting themselves up — they’re the ideas that you want to read over again because they say something right and well.

Notes lifting off the page from sxc.hu

Whether you’re writing a blog post, a business plan, or love letter to your worst critic, if you want your words resonate — to lift themselves off the page — give yourself the space and oxygen.

Do you think that time and space when you write make a difference in how your writing is received?

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

image: sxc.hu

25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom — Pass It On!

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Can 25 Words Change the World?

The Living Web

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom Writing Project. Every selection was an example of the power of writing. When sat down to bring them all together, I wanted to make this one something special.

Thank you for your wisdom!

You shared thoughts about time, love, vacation, death, marriage, waiting, confidence, gathering, parenting, pain, contributing, adversity, beauty, customers, success, financial freedom, joy, open minds, blogging, fear, freedom, accomplishment, action, connection, balance, the past, the future, laughing, relationships, wishes, leadership, Twitter, writing, and changing the world.

Here’s what you wrote.

25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom

Click the single right arrow to move to the next slide. To embed this on your blog or share it with others, just click the “embed” tag on the viewer.

I checked twice to be sure I got everyone’s selection. But if I missed you please let me know and I’ll edit and add you in immediately. The 25-word authors are:

Karin H
Mark
Mark Goodyear
Lisa
stephenpreneurBhupesh Shah
Diana
DazzlinDonnaKaren Lynch
Courtney
RadiantWoman
EdKarl
Robert Hruzek
Ami
JP Rangaswami
Mark
Aaron Stroud
Terry Starbucker
spaceagesage
Claire Raikes Dennis Salazar
Brad Shorr
Mother Earth
Katie KonrathSuzie Cheel
Christine Taylor
Tom Volkar
Todd Jordan Stephen Smith
Peter Knight
Joe Hauckes
theFemGeek
Bobby Clark
Meryl333
Liz Williams
Lara Nieberding
David Taboada
Phil Baumann
Anant
John Cooper
Paul Downey
Paul WhitehouseLillie Ammann
Vicky H
Mark David Gerson
Eric Peterson
Jenny Mannion

Liz Strauss

Click here to view the full-size slide show on Picasa.

To embed the Picasa slideshow on your blog go to http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/getEmbed

Thanks to everyone who participated by writing or reading!

I’ll be updating this when enough new submissions come through.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Last Day of the 25 Words of Life / Work Wisdom Project

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Start with a Sentence End with a Thought

The Living Web

If you have tried to write something in exactly 25 words, you’ll find that the process is about reflection and changing.

Today is the last day to add your post to the 25 Words of Life and Wisdom Project. You’ll find the details and the submission at that link. What people written so far is truly inspiring and led me to these 25 words of my own.

A random twenty-five words
might not convey meaning or power.
Yet translating a thought
into precisely twenty-five words
can transform a thinker into a writer.

Some investment are valuable for the experience they bring.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Writing Project: 25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom

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Make an Observation

The Living Web

When I released my eBook, a dear friend told me what he would like to see is my inspirational writing. He’s a wise man, so I listened. Every day I find some time to go back through years of writing to find what of it still inspires me.

Yesterday, I found these thoughts — each expressed in 25 words.

pennies in a jar

I watch her
work tirelessly for others,
making withdrawals
from her emotional bank account.

No time for a deposit.
No wonder she feels without funds.

——

I watch myself
focusing intently,
giving my brain control
of my emotional bank account.

Time to stop and marvel
before my funds start running out.

I had this thought in 25 more words. . . .

Words measured carefully
tell how we use our life and our energy.

It took only 25 words to say
we need to love ourselves first.

Would you add 25 words of your own?

The 25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom Writing Project

Will you accept my invitation to put 25 words of advice or wisdom into a blog post? Here’s how you might go about it.

  1. Look for something you see too much or too little of.
  2. Write a sentence about it.
  3. Count the words you have written.
  4. Edit the sentence until you have 25 words exactly. Notice how your idea changes as you edit and how your feelings change with each rewrite.
  5. Add a picture if you can.
  6. Post your 25 words on your blog by July 19th.
  7. Link back to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section.
    I don’t want to miss yours when I compile all of them.

It will be my challenge to a creative way to connect all of the ideas together. In a giant “25 words of wisdom” blog post, featuring what you wrote.

Are you in? Surely you have 25 words to spare for this one.

Click to see the SLIDES of what everyone wrote.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Writing, Words, and People We Have Known

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I've been thinking . . .

about writing, words, and people.

When I write I am alone. No one can help. Every word needs to find its way from inside me. Yet. . . .

Every word comes touched, moved, expanded by the people I have met, interacted with, and loved. Those who have been in my life are inside, around, and through everything I write. They are present even in those bits I think are only about me.

I see every person I have ever known. All I’ve learned is in every word.

I cannot write today’s thoughts without revealing yesterday’s history.

The meanings of our words reflect the people we have known.

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