Awkward much?

Okay, so most of you are looking at that title and thinking,"Wait, awkward? She's hardly awkward!" or something along those lines... most likely. Or you could just be nodding and going,"Yeap, totally saw it!". Well, whatever your response is, this is the truth. I am indeed awkward. I don't know about you guys but being awkward feels somewhat normal most days. A contradiction? Most definitely.

You may see me as a somewhat regular functioning human being but I'm just as awkward as that 13 year old teenager that I was a couple of years back. I'm just a lot better at hiding it and perhaps pretending that I'm someone else. Fake it till you make it, right?

One of the things I still struggle with to this day is making a phone call. I love texting for this reason alone. I don't have to call! *pumps fist into air* Even when it's just calling a friend or family member, I still stumble over my words on the phone. And I tend to over chatter quite a bit to cover up for how nervous I am. Formal type phone calls are the worst. I have to write down what I want to say so I don't just end up silent the whole time. It usually ends up being an awkward experience anyway.

The point here being that we all have a little bit of awkwardness to us and that instead of looking down on it, we should embrace it. It's some part of who we are and if we can't accept all of ourselves, well, then we aren't really whole... Being awkward has its advantages after all. So below is a short list of the benefits of being awkward (in no particular order).

1) Awkward people have adorable mascots. Penguins and turtles anyone?

2) People aren't threatened by you. *swoops in and takes cookie*

3) If nothing else, someone out there will find you bloody endearing.

4) Your clumsiness is now part of a set. Boo ya!

5) The people you most probably definitely hate will stay away from you.

So... yeah... that's it. *Awkwardly runs off*

Love,
Geek with a pencil.

P.s. So just how awkward are you? You should leave a comment. Or not. I guess.

Like a Poem

My Little Pony, My Little...

Awkward Penguin

Nyan

         Nyan

                   Nyan

And the Philosoraptor eats him as he ponders.

Y U NO

Ermahgerd?

Ain't nobody got time for that!

Well, what can you do Pedobear?

Haters gonna hate.

I guess we should all put our first world problems aside 

And pull a duck face

Your argument is invalid

One does not simply

Slender Man

Challenge accepted.

Passion versus profit?

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a workshop by Gerry Roberts (Author of Millionaire Mindset). He was very interesting and entertaining and although I don't entirely agree with some of the things he says, he makes some very solid points and I got some really interesting things to ponder from it. 

Now the particular workshop that I attended was called "How to write a book and grow rich". Being a 'writer' type person this concept got me curious as well as worried in some ways, my inner book geek was already signaling my brain with a red flag... Can you really write a book and get money from it?

You can apparently. If you write, a profit book. A profit book is that book that is clearly marketed and has a particular goal in mind. You write that book and you sell it to your target market. And the people you sell it to won't necessarily even read it. Spelling mistakes and English don't really matter as much (insert shocked look) . Your book becomes the marketing tool for yourself and you use it to sell or whatever your purpose is.

This is very different from a passion book. A passion book is the book you want to write that may not sell all that well. That collection of poems, that young adult novel... Things that mean more to you but you're not exactly sure if you'll live like JK Rowling from the sales.

It's a bit like life though isn't it? You either get the job that is only half or maybe not even what you want to do and make money from it or you do something that makes you happy but possibly only gives you just a bit of that financial stability...

And this is where I ask myself, do I want to sell out or not? 

This picture by Dallas Clayton (who is an incredible children's book author as well as an awesome person!), basically reinforced my feelings and is now my new mantra. I think you probably know the answer on where I stand on the debate of passion versus profit. 



Do you know yours?

Love,
Geek with a pencil.

Just another humble man...

Most of my childhood was basically spent living in the comfort of my grandparent's house. We only moved into our own place as I entered the college phase of my life. Because of these circumstances, I grew up being surrounded by not only one but two very positive male role models in my life. My wonderful dad and the man who I would like to dedicate this piece to, my dear grandfather... My Atuk.

There a lot of things that one can admire about him. He's a retired Air Force man and I guess it's something that he carries with him even till today. From his mannerisms to his disciplined nature, it is evident in his character. Sad to say none of us grandchildren inherited this from him but I'd like to think that seeing this constant side of him in the house has instilled in all of us a sense of honour and belief in our own capabilities. Something that we can hold onto even when the world is against us...

He also has a funny side to him. Always making jokes and poking fun at all of us and even himself. I'm sure many of his close friends would be able to attest to how much of a joker he can be. Sometimes, when I'm visiting him and in the house, I'll find the odd joke book or two next to his bedside table. His laughter is a hearty one that can fill up a room with a sense of warmth.

Unknowingly as I grow up into adulthood, I keep learning a lot of things from Atuk. His relationship with my grandmother or Nanny, as I affectionately call her, is one thing that I learn from. They've spent almost 51 years being married and as far as I can tell, they still have a very youthful love. They still tease each other like teenagers and the look in their eyes is clear... It's the sort of the love that anyone would be lucky to have and it's from watching them that I have learned to recognise my own true love.

There are a lot of things that I could say about my Atuk but I'll stop here and finish with this poem.

Just another humble man

Another deafening boom comes alive

From the ol' grandfather clock

Loud and steady

Like a human heart

At his beloved desk, the humble man sits

He sips, he writes

He guffaws

His forehead touches the sejadah

Spirit soaring

He smiles

The day has come and gone

Tick

       Tock

               Tick

                      No Talk

The night is peaceful.

Happy Birthday Atuk! Your family loves you.

Love,

Your eldest granddaughter.