Daring a Field of Dreams and Celebrating Small Big Things

Field of Dreams

My grandfather, Father Dragon "The Great", taught me many Lessons of Life. Two were with baseball, the king of sports and his favorite one.

Lesson 1. "The Game is not Lost until it is Over." In baseball, one should not celebrate a victory or cry a defeat before the end. It doesn't matter who's winning because the score can still change drastically at the last minute of the game. My grandfather used to tell me that regardless how bad things may look in my life, I should never consider myself defeated. There is always the chance "to hit a home run" at the last possible moment and one should never quit trying. I'm a Pro in this lesson.

Lesson 2. "Let Go of the Ball." When you have the ball in your hands, you decide what to do with it. You do your best effort and your best call. You can control the ball while you have it. However, you can't control it the whole game. You can't clutch the ball in your hands and walk with it to the place you want it to get. If you don't let go and trust the other players to do their job, the game doesn't move on.

I get D- in this almost forgotten lesson. I'm one of those creatures who wants to control everything. I want total control on what depends on me (my thoughts, my actions, my feelings) and on what doesn't depend on me but has a direct impact on my life. When things don't happen as I expect, it could officially qualify as little less than a catastrophe by the levels of anxiety I can reach. I fear things that are beyond my control because my brain is programmed to believe it's more than possible something (or everything) goes wrong for me.

The problem is not me believing I am the best "baseball player" around because I'm not. I just believe that if I drop the ball, it will hurt me less than if someone hits me with it. In other words, I have problems with trust. Be it people or Higher Powers, I insist on clutching the ball even in the many situations it is no longer in my claws. The great revelation of centuries-distilled wisdom? I've had enough.

My grandfather was right. If you don't let go and trust the other players to do their job, the game doesn't move on, nor do you. It only gets extremely frustrating and exhausting as you circle the field, playing alone as catcher, pitcher, batter, umpire, ESPN reporter and fans. Absolutely NO fun at all.

I'm opening my Field of Dreams. I'm trusting the Higher Powers will come out of the corn field to show me how to be a good player.

Who knows? Maybe then people will come and see the dragon "hit a home run" and put the ball in the sky...

Celebrate the small things is the brilliant idea of VikLit. Each Friday we post something we wish to celebrate achieving or doing during the week. It can be writing/reading or life related. You can find the list and join us here.

1. Last Saturday I told my friend Jeff I was going to ask Dragon Santa for a tablet this year. But Melissa Sugar at Have You Heard saved Dragon Santa the job as she informed me on Monday I am the winner of the iPad Mini she was giving away in her 500 Fab Followers Rafflecopter contest!!! I've never got a request answered that fast before. :) This is quite a huge gift for me as it will not only help me big time with my artistic projects but it will also make it easier for me to read all the e-books I have not been able to read yet. Thank you, Melissa! My eyes and my muse will be forever grateful.

2. Lovely Laura Eno heard about my eye problem due to the computer and offered to send me a physical copy of her book Jewel of Shaylar. I just got it! I'm happy for that. She also was kind enough to send me back my dwarf Sessin, son of Tassin, after he managed to survive an interview with Mistress Snark. I am not happy with him having interviews and divulging my secrets behind my back but I am happy I don't have to seek for a cheerleader replacement.

Since the badge says "I had tea..." I am keeping the badge. After all, I am the boss. Otherwise, people may start to believe we're changing the name of this place to "Dwarf Sessin Writes" and would be false advertising. Anyway, what could a dwarf have to charm his way to Mistress Snark's parlor first than a big, red, dashing-looking, cuddling, awesome, gentle, fire dragon? Any idea? (Absolutely no dragon star pouting here. I'm just wondering.)

3. It's Friday! I have to celebrate I'm talking to you. Dragon has missed hearing from all the bloggy friends so much I've started making sketches of you.  That's either a sign of a great idea I'm concocting or a bad side-effect of blogaddiction withdrawal. You'll find out soon enough. In the meantime, dragon hugs and have a wonderful week!