Archive for October 31st, 2007
It’s not easy being a freelancer. First, I work from home, which means I get little or no respect from anyone around me - especially in the older generations. They just don’t get the idea that you can be employed and not have to leave the house.
Second, I am underpaid (for the most part). I don’t get the benefits included in my pay that other jobs get. Insurance, vacation time, sick days, are all coming out of my own wallet.
Third, if I don’t work then I don’t get paid. Sure, most jobs are that way. But how many people do you know that sit around in their offices chit chatting with other employees (or even playing solitaire on the computer). It just doesn’t work that way for freelancers.
Instead of whining about all the bad things that come with freelancing, I’m focused on the positive. There are no time clocks, no dress code, and no commute (unless you count the walk from the bedroom to the computer). The job is my choice. The subjects are up to me. If something comes along that I don’t like or don’t want then I can pass it on to someone else or just say no.
Over the last several months, I have built up some great relationships with other freelancers - mostly online. When the going gets tough, they offer encouragement and support (sometimes without even realizing it). This evening, I ventured over to Performancing.com and found a great article about freelancing by a new friend - Raj Dash. The tips that were there led me to more sites and more tips - the cycle seems endless some nights, which is invigorating more than anything else. It makes me want to write something.
(By the way, if you are a freelancer and you haven’t been by performancing.com, you are definitely missing out. The articles are great - and so are the people I’ve encountered).
From Raj’s article, I found freelanceswitch.com. There are several articles here about making things easier that can apply to the freelance life as well as life in general. The article about simplifying is one that I will put in to place as soon as I wake up tomorrow. It’s sites like this one that help me to do what I know I want to do despite the reactions and attitudes around me.
Freelancing is not easy, but it is exciting and fun. The more I surround myself with people and blogs and websites full of freelancing knowledge, the better it gets. They keep me focused on the fact that I can make a success out of my freelance choice.
October 31st, 2007
Being peculiar is becoming the “in thing”. I run across more references to the word peculiar than almost any other descriptive word out there. Everyone wants to be trendy and original. Some people are falling short of the calling.
There are those that worry being peculiar will become normal mostly because of all the attention it is getting. But true peculiar people will never fall into the normal realm. By shear default, they aren’t normal – no matter what normal may be.
I have always been peculiar. It is a matter of finding my own beat and following it. The longer I go, the more I find other people bopping along to their own beat right along with me. Just today I was at a blog that talked about the scripture calling us to be a peculiar people. It made me smile. I LOVE that scripture. I love anything that points out my abnormalities are not really all that abnormal after all.
Being peculiar isn’t about following a formula or a trend. You can’t become peculiar by watching the people around you and doing what they do – you’ll just look weird. To truly become peculiar, you have to listen to the still small whisper and follow it each and every step of the way.
October 31st, 2007
The schedule around our house has been a little warped these last couple of months. Just when you think you have it under control – bam! You’re hit with a major mix up. Trying to keep a semblance of normalcy is difficult enough without adding the burden of expanding my responsibilities. But it has to be done.
1. Keep it organized. Everything is written on one giant calendar the INSTANT it is scheduled (or as close to then as if physically possible). Like most things, if you wait then you’ll forget.
2. Keep it close. There is also a smaller calendar in my wallet, in case I’m confronted while I’m out. One quick glance will tell me if I can make that meeting, or if I have jury duty.
3. Plan ahead. You know those days that are going to be crazy long before they get here. Tuesdays are our crazies. We have bible study/play date at our home, Choir practice at church, and basketball at the local gym. This is not the day for a gourmet meal. Either something will go into the crock-pot first thing in the morning, or else the picnic basket will make its way into the menu (sandwiches CAN be fun you know).
4. Don’t give in. If no one has done the dishes, or the laundry, or the picking up, it can be overwhelming. Don’t give into the urge to panic. Start small. If you have a cleaning schedule (and you should) then follow that. If you can pick up an extra thing or two then do; if you can’t do more then don’t. Truth be told, you’ll probably be surprised at how quickly the jobs actually go once you quit dreading them and just start doing them.
5. Stay focused. Distractions will not get the job done – often they just add more work. If you know you have to get the laundry done, then don’t let the unexpected visit from you mother and law keep you from doing it. Politely excuse yourself while you start a load. If she’s still there after it dries then invite her to come in the laundry room while you fold.
Keeping a schedule really comes from making it a habitually part of your life. If you can keep your schedule for just three weeks, you’ll find that you can keep your schedule no matter what unexpected events get thrown your way.
October 31st, 2007
“We won’t be meeting for bible study this Wednesday because we will be celebrating Satan’s holiday.” Our class leader was joking around, but his words have been haunting me (pun intended). Is this really a tradition that Christians should participate in?
This is one of those times when I’m extremely thankful for the internet. Much like the tradition of Christmas is nothing that the celebration started out to be, Halloween is nothing like its original interpretation or purpose(according to most of the sites I’ve found). The church, the rumors, and the addition of other cultures have molded the celebration beyond its original intent.
Some of what I’ve been able to find contributes the beginning of Halloween to the Celtic New Years celebration “Samhain” that happened to fall on October 31 (at least once). It was not occult – no sacrifices or evil games.
It was the Christian church that actually gave it the name of Halloween (because it fell on the day before the Catholic holiday of All Saints Day - which was moved to November 1st in order to fall within the “pagan” celebrations). The Roman culture added the tradition of bobbing for apples when it conquered Ireland. The ideas and stories are as varied as the sources - some say the Jack-o-lantern goes back to a folk tale while others say it was to ward off the dead spirits.
I’m still torn. I don’t know if the customs of Halloween are something that I want to teach my children. Then again, I don’t really know the customs. The idea that the people use to go around asking for treats for a celebration (and offering wishes of good fortune to those who contributed) doesn’t sound so bad. The idea of sending my kids out to “beg” for candy to appease the spirits does not sound so good.
Maybe I should stick with what I know and go from there. Halloween is a big, giant costume party – and we all get candy for our efforts. This year, my kids will just say “Happy Halloween” instead of the traditional chant. It might not make a difference in the big scheme of things, but I’ll sleep better tonight.
October 31st, 2007
