Category: I Do Declare

A good critique can carry you for miles

I volunteered to write two devotions for the upcoming Advent booklet for my church.

Here are a few words I received back from the person who’s reviewing them.

I actually didn’t expect a review at all. I thought I’d turn it in, and that would be it. So getting a wonderful critique like this was extra special.

Your conversational tone draws readers right into Paul’s message — not only to understand it, but to feel it. Your reflection on the repetition in Philippians 4 is both fresh and pastoral. The encouragement to take “anything and everything” to God in prayer perfectly captures the heart of this passage — a reminder that joy and peace flow not from our control but from His nearness. The modern illustrations (like the “balcony” image) and the gentle humor make it wonderfully relatable while staying fully faithful to Scripture. It’s exactly the kind of writing that helps people connect deep theology with daily discipleship.

I received this critique on one of those mornings — filled with challenges and irritants and headaches — and it turned into a full-blown pity party (party of one!) that slid into questioning a lot of what I was trying to do.

And then I got this message, and it fed me. Such a great reminder that we are here to hold each other up.

Here’s the devotion. As soon as the book is ready, I’ll post the link.

Say it again and again: Rejoice!

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippian 4:4-7

The directive is so important, we get it twice:

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”

Sing it again. Say it louder. Once more for the balcony.

Rejoice!

And no wonder it’s repeated. It needs to sink in.

As one of those balcony-sitters who needs to hear it over and over, I confess that I tend to cherry-pick both my worries and my prayers.

You know what I mean: Fretting over lots of little things because they seem too trivial to take to God. Or limiting my prayers to big stuff: asking for overall help and guidance or giving thanks in a general (or generic?) way.

That’s not what he said, though.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Those “absolute” words (anything, everything) are what editors typically frown upon and psychologists caution to avoid in relational discussions.

But this is the Lord. We can take Him at His word. No worries: none, zero, nada, zip. Pray about it all: Every.Single.Thing in your heart.

The Lord is at hand. He’s ready for a conversation.

Rejoice!

Second verse same as the first: Rejoice!

I Do Declare: Humor is a funny way to stay fit

When a new acquaintance finds out I’m a writer, I will invariably get The Question: “So what do you write?”

Which is a little bit like asking someone: “So what do you eat?”

Because the answer is pretty much the same: “Everything I want to.”

No, I’m serious (about writing and eating).

My portfolio runs the gamut from nonfiction books and historical fiction novels to news articles and features to business and personal profiles to human interest and tourism stories to white papers and technical documentation to grants and proposals to humor in various media.

And it’s the last item – humor – that got me through (and continues to get me through) the toughest of all other assignments and projects.

My long-term projects (novels) have the occasional light moment, but for the most part, they’re drama fiction. Take, for instance, my historical novel, Turning August, which is set in Germany in World War II and deals with the Resistance. Yeah, a pretty deep subject. Lots of drama.

I wrote a scene (after a huge amount of research) about the Babi Yar Massacre (if you want more info on it, click here … take a deep breath and say a prayer before following the link), and afterward I flopped onto the sofa and sobbed for a long time. The tears would not stop; it was that intense. I called a friend, and she talked me back up into the daylight.

After I calmed down, I remember saying, “Wouldn’t it be weird if I end up in therapy because of a novel I’m writing?”

She thought for a moment and said, “That’s why the light is so important. What you’re writing is important and you need to do it, but you also need to find the light. Find something lighthearted to watch or read – or better yet, something to write.”

Excellent advice from my friend. And she was right – it does help to turn to something lighthearted after such a deep focus on intense drama. Laughter (or humor in general) is healing. Besides being a mood-lifter, it can improve the immune system, sleep quality, and memory, plus a host of other benefits. (Dig deeper into the topic with a few authoritative bits of info here and here and here.)

For me, humor is also a productivity booster. When I take a few moments to create humor pieces, I find that my mood is consistently better, my work on long-term projects is of a higher quality, and I’m eager to get to work every day.

Hence the part of my blog called “Good Cheer,” which includes Belle of the Ballyhoo (a comic strip about a freelancer dealing with all the craziness of contract work) and Vim & Verve (conversations between two alligators who critique movies and TV shows with a lot of snark).

I also highlight a range of memes featuring Reggaetor (an alligator who listens to Bob Marley), Grammarcat (a feline who silently judges your grammar), Writer Girl (a fashion doll always trying to meet her deadlines), Haiku To You Too (silly haikus with amazing photos), and Wine Me Up (exactly what it sounds like).

The Book of Proverbs – ever the astute guide – notes that “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22, NRSV)

I like the “good medicine” of writing humor. It’s a pleasant taste. And it keeps my writing muscles fit.

I Do Declare: The Autumnal Equinox is upon us and it’s time to turn, turn, turn

As soon as the calendar says it’s September, I start getting impatient for autumn.

When we close the books on August, effectively saying “seeeee-yaaa” to summer, what’s needed right then is a celebratory moment (especially as I mentioned in my Substack newsletter, Time and Tide: 9/1 is my unofficial new year).

Why wait? What else is there to do but bring out the pumpkins and winter scarves and apple cider?

Yes, autumn is my favorite, but there’s something elegant and serene about the changing of all the seasons.

Unlike calendar months, with their brusque starts and ends (Not ready for October? Too bad, it’s here.), seasons get eased into.

Introspection and meditation abound. Journal books get filled with thoughts of what has passed and hopes of what will come.

The chill of winter thaws before a flourishing spring that lounges its way through summer until it gears up for the autumn harvest, which gives way to the chill of winter … and so on.

And each season has its own distinct personality. The poets and writers have always known this and have metaphored* the heck out of them. (*Grammarcat will forgive me for verbing “metaphor.”)

Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this sun of York. (Shakespeare, from “King Richard III”)

In the spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. (Alfred Lord Tennyson, from “Locksley Hall”)

Summertime and the living is easy. (George Gershwin, from “Porgy and Bess”)

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.
(Shakespeare, from “Sonnet 18”)

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. (Albert Camus)

Trivia time: equinox and solstice

The seasons are also known by their equinox or solstice status.

The equinox (from the Latin meaning “equality of day or night”) occurs twice a year, at the onset of spring and autumn. In each case, the sun crosses the equator and makes daytime and nighttime roughly equal. The spring equinox (or vernal equinox) occurs around March 21, and the autumnal equinox (or September equinox) occurs around September 22 or 23.

The solstice (from the Latin solstitium, made up of sol – “the sun” – and sistere – “to make stand still”) represents the exact moment when the sun reaches its northernmost point (June 21, the summer solstice and the longest day of the year) or southernmost point (December 22, the winter solstice and the shortest day of the year).

Another turn around the sun

Besides their Latin language background and an opportunity for contemplation, the changing of the seasons also serves as reminders – primarily that life is cyclical.

The reminders are inherent, like the air we breathe. To acknowledge or study or attempt to control them, we must draw attention to them. And in doing so, we see that their truths are eternal:

  • That time is fleeting – and increasing in speed. The days stretch out, weeks drag on, months take forever. Finally a year has passed. Then you notice that today is the first day of autumn, except that yesterday summer was starting and a week earlier than that you were heralding the start of spring and that was practically minutes before you felt the first nips of winter. If nothing else, the changing of the seasons reminds us that time moves on – but it does not stop.
  • That this too shall pass. Or as it happens in some years (2020 especially), these too shall pass. As mentioned above, time does move on. And there are times when we are so glad that it does. We all have moments – well, more like days, weeks, months – when we’ve been pushed to the limit. The seasons remind us that often things happen only for a season and that in time, things will change. Thank goodness!
  • That there’s a season for everything. Sometimes no matter what you do, you can’t make it work. Then later, without much effort, the whole thing comes to fruition. What was that about? Just this: Things happen in their season. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 goes into this in great detail. So does the 60s band, The Byrds, with their hit, “Turn! Turn! Turn!” Whichever version you choose, it’s really the same message. When it’s time, it’ll happen.

Today is the first day of autumn. The Autumnal Equinox. A nip in the air. Time for bonfires and oyster roasts and hot chocolate.

I’m ready.

I Do Declare: When it comes to productivity, rest is best

Today is Labor Day in the United States, one of the 11 federal holidays (12 when the year has an Inaugural Day), which for most people means: Don’t you dare do anything resembling work, unless it’s laboring over a grill in your backyard.

Labor Day was established as a federal holiday in 1894 by President Grover Cleveland in recognition of workers’ rights. Which I’m sure was a great idea at the time. However, it has since evolved into a recognition of the right not to work that day.

In the interest of accuracy, I’m thinking it really should be renamed Rest Day.

Which isn’t a bad idea. (Resting, I mean, not renaming the day.) Especially for all you creatives out there.

Let’s be honest. If you’re a contractor / freelancer, chances are you tend to have a mindset something like this:

I want to achieve … so I need to stay productive … which means I need to keep working … so I can be in constant motion … to achieve all I want to get done.

You know what the problem is with that mindset?

We’re not Energizer bunnies; we can’t keep going and going and going, even if we do have a cute little drum to beat on as we go merrily along.

Besides, perpetual motion doesn’t work with humans. That whole concept is hypothetical anyway, because a machine that can work indefinitely without an external energy source would violate the first and second law of thermodynamics. And I know that only because I have befriended Google.

Think about it: Even God rested from His labors on the seventh day. Trust me, you’re not going to one-up God. Don’t even try.

So let’s get real, creatives. If you want to keep going, you need to rest now and then – or better yet, on a regular basis.

Take a break before you break is what I’m saying.

Here are a few ideas for embracing the noble concept of rest:

Physical Rest

  • Get proper sleep, by which I mean: Turn the TV off and go to bed on time.
  • Fashion your bedroom into a total comfy zone. You can do this without expensive redecorating. Yes you can. Spray lavender (known for its relaxation properties) on the mattress and pillows when you change the sheets. I spray my pillows every day. The smell of it (let’s call it by its name: aromatherapy) helps me get into a deep sleep.
  • Do whatever you can to work in nap time during the day. Kindergarten teachers know what they’re doing: Naps are good for you. Plus, if your high energy is first thing in the morning, if you take a nap midday, you get two mornings out of one day. Win!

Mental/Sensory Rest

  • Unplug from sensory overload. Leave the TV off for a day (or several days). Ignore the news for a while (trust me, it’ll be there when you get back).
  • Write in a journal to get any negative thoughts out of your head. Or start a gratitude journal so you’re focusing on good things. Or both.
  • Try some relaxation exercises, like deep breathing, yoga, qi gong, or t’ai chi.
  • Take up a hobby that uses other parts of your brain (thereby giving the parts you’re pushing hard all the time a break), like jigsaw puzzles, painting, knitting, or needlework.

Emotional/Social Rest

  • Put deliberate boundaries around social media – i.e., no screen time at least an hour before bed and no peeking at Facebook if you wake up during the night.
  • Know your introvert or extrovert leanings – are you energized by being in a crowd or by pondering alone? – and adjust your expectations accordingly.
  • Be authentic in your relational contacts: Don’t be afraid to say no (it can be done gracefully), let your friends know if you’re in need, and put a moratorium on unhealthy relationships.

Creative/Spiritual Rest

  • As much as possible, set boundaries around work. (It’s ok to not be available 24/7.)
  • Connect with your spiritual nature – e.g., read an inspiring Bible passage every morning and meditate on it, join a church group, listen to inspiring music that reminds you that you are a child of God.
  • Fill your soul with nature. Take a walk through a park. Hike through mountain trails. Walk on the beach.

The benefits of rest are so much worth any cost of taking up any of these suggestions: a better immune system, improved mental health, and an increase in creativity. Worth a try, isn’t it?

I Do Declare: It feels pretty good to complete a book

As I mentioned in a previous post, I took a hiatus for a while, during which time I wrote a book (among many other endeavors, some pretty awesome, some not so much).

Which means, sadly, that I missed the moment to do a blog launch for my book.

Well, here it is: Charleston Celebration: A History of Pleasurable Pastimes from Colonial Charles Town Through the Charleston Renaissance (published by Globe Pequot Press, an imprint of Rowman and Littlefield). It’s available everywhere; just ask your local bookstore to order it. (The link above goes to Amazon.)

In upcoming posts, I’ll favor you with an excerpt or two as well as some insights on how and why I wrote it — but for today, here’s the intro so you can get a feel for what it’s about:

* * *

Introduction

Many books have been written about Charleston, a fact that should surprise no one. The Grand Dame of the South has been here for centuries and has many fascinating tales to tell.

The tales are so fascinating that, I do declare, doing the research for this book was the best rabbit hole I’ve ever been down.

There are books and articles that detail how Charleston endured the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, write-ups that dig into specific topics like architecture or piracy, and published pieces that offer insights into the people, places, and politics.

One doesn’t have to search long to find a wealth of information about Charleston: short histories, in-depth studies, surveys, compilations, the lighter side, the darker side, and a treatise on just about every aspect of the city.

This book delves into one specific aspect: Charleston’s pleasurable pastimes through the years. And there are many. There’s a reason Charleston keeps receiving accolades like being voted year after year as Best City to Visit, Friendliest City, Most Enjoyable Place to Visit, and so on.

The simple truth is that Charleston loves to entertain and to be entertained. She seeks out the beauty and joy and pleasure in her charming surroundings, and she invites others to enjoy them as well.

In her book, Prints and Impressions of Charleston, celebrated artist Elizabeth O’Neill Verner wrote that, “It is so difficult for a Charlestonian to write about Charleston without becoming either sentimental or austere.”

How right she was. At one point in my research, I realized that I could either wax eloquent on every instance of entertainment – and, because the city never stops seeking enjoyment, possibly never finish the book – or accept that it might not be possible to capture and catalogue every instance of amusement throughout the years. I went with the latter, and I hope you, gentle reader, will forgive any omissions.

This book was a great pleasure for me to research and to write. It is my fervent wish that you will find great pleasure in these pages.

Shelia Watson
West of the Ashley
Charleston, South Carolina

I Do Declare: Change is constant … and constantly reordering my pristine to-do list

Photo/Anthony Watson

The ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “Change is the only constant in life.”

Far be it from me to argue with an ancient Greek philosopher, but I’d put politicians talking out both sides of their mouths and getting spam email after you’ve signed up for something on the list of constants.

But to his point: Yes, change is a-happenin’ all the time. Heraclitus also had a paradoxical communication style and was totally into wordplay, so we’re giving him full credit.

Change is on my mind quite a bit lately. It seems that everywhere I turn, one thing or another is starting to be different, and it’s occurring in a way that makes me stop and take notice. Like the spider lilies in the photo. They’re in bloom now, but in a few weeks the flowers will fade. This is a prime example of change I don’t like. I like the flowers. I want to see them all the time.

I chalk it up mostly to some recent choices I’ve made – and some of this I talked about in last week’s post – because choices usually lead to changes (not always, though: choosing to keep doing what you’re doing is still a choice), and sometimes those changes are horribly jarring, and I have to stop and get my bearings.

Why I tend to react that way to change is a mystery. Change happens so much and so often, you’d think I’d roll right along with it by now.

How much has change happened to me? Let us count the ways:

Over the course of my life, I’ve changed everything from schools, jobs, and churches to my address, cars, and passwords.

I deal with it daily with things like changing my clothes, my mind, and what I thought we were having for dinner.

Change in my life has run the gamut from rearranging our TV viewing schedule to leaving behind people I thought were my friends to reallocating time to focus on new priorities.

And those are just some of the changes I’ve personally made. I have an entire history of changes that were thrust on me without any foreknowledge or express written consent (which is my preferred way of dealing with change).

And that brings us right up to this week, where we get to experience a changing of the seasons on Wednesday. That’s right, the summer solstice is upon us, and that means hot, sticky, humid weather and, because I live in “hurricane alley,” one eye on the tropics at all times.

This is no sudden, jarring change. I’ve had plenty of notice – written notice, even. It’s right there on the calendar. Spring is giving way to summer, which will morph into autumn, which will allow winter to take over, and then spring will come alive again, and so it goes, round and round.

I don’t like the seasons to change; I want it to be autumn all the time. And the only conclusion to that statement is how fortunate we are that I am not in charge of nature.

If nothing else, the changing of the seasons reminds us of the constant of change. Just like Heraclitus said. We can no more hold back spring moving into summer than we could expect that I’ll never buy another car. One day the days will get cooler and autumn will be here (finally!) and I will get a new phone and will have to learn all over again how to upload apps. The nip in the air will get bitter cold and I will meet new people and “friends” who were untrustworthy will fade from my memory. The temperatures will warm up and the freezes will thaw and my priorities shift just enough to clear my path and I’ll find a new wine bar where my friend and I can meet to talk about writing (another constant).

The seasons are marvelous teachers, with their singular lesson plan of Change Is Good. And Heraclitus was right: It is constant. Like the north star. The best we can do is fix our compass and ride it out.