Tag: #MondayBlogs

Cat Links Blog

Journalling – A Look Back

Posted on @sjcairns

Do you journal? WAIT?! Don’t leave yet. I know, I know. People blather on about journalling and why you should do it. I’ve even done it in an old blog from almost 4 years ago. And I stand by it. HOWEVER… Bad me. I’ve been a shitty journaller and there’s been huge swaths of time between my entries. I took a look this morning and realized I hadn’t journalled since February 3, 2018. Soooo much has happened in my life since February, good and bad. From negatives such as the death of my beloved pug and snuggle partner, Bosco, and

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Cat Links Slice of Advice

Full-Time Job vs. Haphazard Routine

Posted on @sjcairns

Original Question: I recently began a full-time job for the first time in a couple of years and almost immediately suffered from panic attacks, increased stress, and worsened depression. Before this full-time position, I worked on a contract by contract basis, so the regular paycheck was a big reason to jump on the work, but it feels like all my money now goes to shrink appointments and medications to try and level me out enough to deal with a job which I now can’t bear. My time away from work seems to be made up solely of dreading going back

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Cat Links Slice of Advice

Relationship Limbo

Posted on @sjcairns

Original Question: Sami-Jo, I have a friend I dated several months ago who I know didn’t experience a “lightning bolt” of attraction when we went out. But, I also know that I check just about every box, except maybe the “IS HE CHRIS HEMSWORTH?” box, on her partner checklist. There are times where I’ve been available to her or made her laugh where I get the feeling the thought crosses her brain that I might be worth a second shot, but it’s momentary and so I’ve never acted on it. So, my question is: I like her a lot, but

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Cat Links Slice of Advice

Sleepless in Canada

Posted on @sjcairns

Original Question: I have chronic insomnia. Over the past eight years, I have tried every possible remedy, home-cooked or prescribed. After a visit to my doctor this week to follow up on my progress, or lack thereof, I asked her if she thought cannabis would be a realistic option. I have a friend who has had great success with it and figured it’s the one thing I haven’t tried yet and I’m at the point where I’ll fucking try anything. My wife was skeptical about it when I mentioned it to her and my 16-year-old daughter furrowed her brow when

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Cat Links Slice of Advice

Two Different Beasts

Posted on @sjcairns

Original Question: I’ve been going back and forth about what to do with a book on suicide I’ve drafted over the past few months. It currently sits around 200 pages and includes everything from sex, abuse, and personal stories in between. I want to copyright it and provide it freely because there is such a huge industry revolving around life coaching and people who exploit those who are vulnerable. I also implicitly state that I’m also hoping to create an audience for my writing. At the same time, I’m concerned I too will draw the wrong attention and it may

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Cat Links Blog

Superstitions – No One Is Safe

Posted on @sjcairns

“Wow. It’s quiet today,” someone says at work. “Noooo! Don’t say that!” *I feverishly look for REAL wood, not that pressed wood crap, to knock on* When you work in a shelter, you never, ever, comment on a quiet shift or you risk immediate karmic backlash. No. Instead, you ignore the quiet and when someone mentions it, you knock wood, flex, and stare the bad luck down like an alpha wolf about to go rabid if it dares to mess with you. Then, twenty minutes pass and it gets busy anyway because that’s the nature of social work. Hrumph. Superstitions

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Cat Links Blog

Writing Communities are All About the “V” Word

Posted on @sjcairns

(My original post was on The Fabulous Fictionistas website.) Which “V” word? You ask. Vampires? No, but you may stumble over a few in the dark on the way to kitchen for more snacks. Vagina? Pfft. Even if we Fictionistas are taking one each on our writing journey and at times listening to it’s gut feeling instead of our tummies. Victims? Sort of. Maybe. You’ll find many and we writers love to rack up the kill quotient and decimate the hearts of our readers for our own sick pleasure. The “V” word I’m getting to is “VALIDATION”. Boring after realizing

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Cat Links Blog

Creative Spaces – Office Makeover

Posted on @sjcairns

Heya creative people, Sometimes inspiration hits at the craziest places, like the shower with no options to write things down. Ideally, your muse slides up to your shoulder and whispers sweet plot lines while you’re in front of the computer with swift fingers. (err…maybe not put quite like that). You know what I mean. A creative space is important and can welcome you into the proper head space to build captivating characters and worlds to better illustrate the story rolling around in your noggin. I’ve been in my new home since December and this weekend I FINALLY got my office

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Cat Links Blog

BEA16 – Book Expo of America for Introverts

Posted on @sjcairns

Hey guys! Huh? Well, that was easy. Arm in arm with the anonymity of a keyboard and editing options, saying hello to a bunch of strangers is simpler than blinking. Walking through the doors of McCormick Place in Chicago and seeing the thousands of people milling around ranging from readers, bloggers, authors, librarians, advertisers, publishers, and anything else you could possibly think of that’s related to the publishing world, PLUS the expectation to talk to them and make future contacts? Cha’right bud. Simple eye contact was a no-go. It granted permission for people to talk to you, to ask questions,

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