This is the third Monday that I've sought for something intelligent to write here. But you know, different to what people may think, dragons are not always in contact with their Inner Wisdom. Some dragons, like me, find difficult to multitask. I can focus on one single thing at the time. If I try to do more, I don't get to finish any of them. It seems as if completing a task will bring a curse upon me. One may think I am actively avoiding it as if it were chocolate. (For those who don't know, I can't stand chocolate.)
Being a dragon is not easy. I have to look after 150 dwarves and you have no idea the mess dwarves can do. Then there is the matter of the treasure. A respectful dragon must have a treasure. Last time the cave flooded, all gold was washed away along with many dwarves. It was a bummer. Gold is like whatever, but dragon-proof dwarves are not easy to get. Those in the black market, they either want to sell you dwarves sweet enough to give a dragon diabetes...
or dwarves that are not famous for their devotion and efficiency in taking care of dragons. And we won't even discuss their willingness to share treasures with dragons.
Following some Ninja Cloner example, I cloned some dwarves to fill the staff needs but they don't come out with the same quality. And you know the saying, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
I have several projects in my dragon hands and I promised to myself I would work them to completion. I am going to start High School in a couple of weeks. There is also the pending end of the Lord of the Clones. I have to finish what the dwarves started. The protagonists are demanding an end or they will sue the Cave for breach of contract.
Additionally, I also undertook the mission to be the official nagger of 2 knights, 1 ninja, 1 baldernot, 1 grandmother dragon, 1 ballerina, 1 nurse with a thing for vicegrips, 1 photo lover and 2 kicking obsessed ladies. Not that I am any good at it, but they seem to like the overgrown lizard scent.
So you see? It's not that the dragon has been idle. It's that I'm not good multi-tasking. If that were not enough, I'm sick with dragonitis. That's when the dragon glands where the magic is produced get all swollen. That is never good but it's temporary.
Do you know of any place where I can get good quality dragon-proof dwarves to help me?
"The Cave's changed. I hear it in the kitchen. I taste it in the mead. I smell it in the air. The Dwarves are dragonless and bored. We shall go out and make some trouble." Tassin, leader of the DCS.
Meanwhile Sir Jeff manages to dig himself out of that mountain of gold in order to give a score,
and He Who Must Not Be Shaved warms up to blow your minds up and make the dance floor sparkle for real, please feel free to share in the comment section what score you give to the Ninja Cloner and his team.
NOTE FROM FATHER DRAGON:Thank you all for coming and a huge welcome to the new visitors. We're always glad to see new faces here. I hope you enjoy your stay while you keep basic safety measures. Don't feed the dwarves (tips in gummy bears are acceptable); don't drink Jezebel's punch (unless you wish wild hallucinations) and don't touch my virgin snacks. Dragon Hugs are given for free without previous warning!
PS. This was meant to be the last installment of the Lord of the Clones but Alex and Mark are too much awesomeness for the dwarves to have the whole Showdown done in one month. Alex and Mark deserve our best effort and so do you. Thank you very much for being here.
The dwarves like to think the world has been holding their breath, waiting for the next installment of the Lord of the Clones. Don't kill the little guys' dreams and just act like this is the greatest news of all time. They have been working really hard all the month (REALLY HARD) to make the 2 minute show you're going to witness on April 29th. They have even gone on a diet and lost weight to look dashing on that new outfit.
Since making a video requires a lot more sweat than nine panels, the Shorties have decided to split the showdown in two parts. Ninja Army dance first, cheering groups cheer, judges judge and minions and clones bribe, (and dragon eats popcorn in the background). Then in a later installment comes the Baldinators' (name chosen by Lord Baldernot) turn to dazzle you and the judges with their amazing Riverdance and Hawaiian moves.
Now I just want to make it clear that the fact this showdown happens at the Dragon Cave doesn't mean Father Dragon endorses every and any attempt from the Shorties to win said showdown (including but not limited to bribery, cohersion, boicoting, seducing, etc.) I was informed that there will be enough of Jezebel's infamous punch available to expect the unexpected. Dwarves invited Jezebel as guest star for this showdown, so if you have already had tea with Mistress Snark, you know what I'm talking about. If you have not...well...just remember to clap hard and cheer for your favorite team (if you can remember which is your favorite team.)
Since a dwarf-only jury could make the ninjas think their decision is biased, there will be a third judge. He's known to be close friends with the dwarves for a long time but he's also known to be a knight of honor and principles. The one knight of the Order of the Dragon, Sir Jeffrey Hargett. Higher Powers bless his soul and his boldness and every sane bone in his body while he still has them. He'll be missed... I mean, GOOD LUCK to the bravest knight I've ever met! Best luck also to Alex J. Cavanaugh "Ninja Cloner" and Mark Koopmans "Lord Baldernot".
So everything is nearly ready. I leave you now to call my lawyer and make sure the cave insurance is updated and covers for missing limbs and/or clones.
Thanks for pretending you're holding your breath. It is important for dragons to hold our breath whenever Jezebel's punch is close. You may end up flying in more ways than one.
...but they are not worth much. I've heard this one too many times.
It hurts when you hear it. Hurts a lot. It hurts more when you hear it from your folks or someone important for you. You think you're good at something, and additionally you enjoy it. You work hard, you achieve something and for a moment you feel like you're just awesome. You have a talent! You're an amazing storyteller, you can express so much in a painting, you can put your soul out there when you dance, you're a natural actor who can drive people through all the range of possible emotions. You are good at something and it makes you feel really special.
But if chances are that your talent won't make you rich, then it isn't worth much. How is this measured? Actors; most live in poverty. Only a few succeed. Writers; most earn peanuts -if ever published. Only a few succeed. Artists, well, just look at Van Gogh, Michael Angelo, they are great now, but they died in poverty. You must ensure a way of living. You must do something that proves to be profitable. Be an accountant, be a doctor, be an administrator, a lawyer, whatever, but better be sure it's something many have made, are making and will make a living doing it.
I am certain all those who told me my talents were not worth much were thinking on what's best for me. I know some, or many of you have been there. You've heard it. You've felt it. Maybe you've even said it to your kids. Those words don't feel good, though. They feel like killers, stabbing our dream to death. They rob whatever special you thought you had because it becomes meaningless. Even when it may not be the parent's intent, it does feel like this.
I don't have kids but if I did, I would never say this or any version of it to them. I would rather teach them to learn the difference between a passion and an interest. If your talent is your passion, you'll find your way among the successful. If your talent is only an interest, then you'll find plenty of excuses to never getting there, despite the talent.
I know I have many talents and I know I would have been brilliant at one of them, at least; if allowed, if encouraged, if nurtured. I believe that one brilliant artist can make more money than one frustrated average (insert here whatever profitable career you like). Why? Because the first loves what he does and is good at doing it, while the latter sees his job as a bloodsucking, slave driving, dream killer task. The first works to make his dream come true; the latter is paid to help others make their dream come true. There is a HUGE difference, and that difference matters and will impact a great deal of your adult life.
I am a 802 years old dragon and I am past blaming anyone for my decisions or mistakes. Maybe a bit more support and understanding could have helped me to find my place at an early age. Maybe not. I'll never know. I self-teach myself now all those things I wanted to learn centuries ago. I've given my passion CPR and I've kept the secret that I've revived my dream. If it wasn't understood when I was young, it won't be understood six centuries later. I really don't want to waste my breath convincing people of its importance. I know why I have to do this. It might not be important at all for the rest of the world but it's important to me. That should be enough. But that doesn't spare me the message about the worth of my talents from time to time. Unfortunately, the dragon scale armor is not enough to spare my spirits the fall from this
To this
I've been watching the TEDx Talks lately. There's a bit from Why You'll Fail to Have a Great Career by Larry Smith (video below) that has been circling my mind for many days.
<<Passion is your greatest love. Passion is what will help you create the greatest expression of your talent. Interest is not the same thing. Are you really gonna go to your sweetie and say, "Marry me! I find you interesting.">>
Like in a marriage, you will not succeed if your talent is not also your greatest love. When negativity storms arrive, when people tell you it is all a waste of time because you're never gonna make it, because "most don't make it", because you're not J.K. Rowling, or Steve Jobs, or whatever genius they think you need to be to succeed. When that happens, you better be madly in love with your talent, so you commit to it like to a marriage. You need to believe in it and trust it like you do your greatest love so you keep fighting for it. Only then you'll be immune to negativity. It won't matter anymore what others think because as with your greatest love, you DO know and fully understand the true worth, the beauty and value of that love.
Basically my message today is: Don't be a dream killer, even if your intention is good. Better help those behind you to know the difference between an interest and a passion, and encourage them and yourself to go after a true passion. Don't wait six hundred years to do it. You're not a dragon. You won't live that long. And even if you would, it's still a waste of time, opportunities and talent. Take my word for it.
This post is part of the Insecure Writer's Support Group, founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. We post first Monday of every month. If you need support, click on the link and join. If you're good to give support, then click on the link and join.
For those who are kindly following the Dwarf Cheering Squad production, The Lord of the Clones, please accept our apologies for the lack of installment this last Monday. Mother Dragon broke her paw during a village raid, (those nasty villagers make such a fuss for being charred, the wussies.) The dwarves got additional chores. It's been extremely busy time at the cave. But Issue #3 will be worth the waiting. Thanks for your understanding.
Talking about support, I owe the Blog Blitz a shout out and I've been delaying it enough. Some of you might be familiar with it, but for those of you who are not, the Blog Blitz is the brainchild of D.L. Hammons at Cruising Altitude 2.0 This is another amazing group of folks who team up to brighten the day of a person in need of cheering or randomly chosen.
Let me tell you briefly about my experience with this group. I had the luck to be blitzed during the second day of the A to Z Challenge 2013. I was terrified because it was my first challenge. I was pretty new to blogging too so I was clueless and unsure. The Blog Blitz made me feel so good that day. I was overwhelmed to see so many at the cave, but it was worth.
However the one I consider the most amazing thing the Blog Blitz did for me (and I'm eternally grateful for it) didn't actually happen here at the dragon cave. Last year one of my best on-line friends, Jeffrey Hargett, lost his wife. Alex J. Cavanaugh and I asked DL to call a Blitz for Jeff, in spite he wasn't in the list at the time. It was just providential timing that the Blitz happened the day Jeff picked up his wife's death certificate. To be blog blitzed that day meant a lot to him. It was like a huge massive hug.
That wasn't the only time the Blog Blitz has done that. It's great to be blitzed, but it is even greater to be there for someone when it really matters. It's amazing to have the chance to brighten someone's day. It's like giving away a smile. It doesn't take much, it costs you nothing, but it can work miracles for someone. Join in and blitz a smile!
Thank you for visiting the Dragon Cave. Thank you for reading to the end. Thank you for not being Dream Killers. Thank you for not feeding the dwarves and for not making a fuss if your clothes catch fire. I leave you all Dragon Hugs. (Yes, I'm hugging people again.)
"The Cave's changed. I hear it in the kitchen. I taste it in the mead. I smell it in the air. The Dwarves are dragonless and bored. We shall go out and make some trouble." Tassin, leader of the DCS.
Since Ninja Cloner was reluctant to undress, S.A.M. rushed to look for the bubble salts and sponge. Maybe she could still sweet-talk him into getting that bath. Free from her noisy presence, Alex's heightened senses perceived a hidden threat. (Another threat beside Ninja Muse's intention to trick him out of his clothes.)
"The Cave's changed. I hear it in the kitchen. I taste it in the mead. I smell it in the air. The Dwarves are dragonless and bored. We shall go out and make some trouble." Tassin, leader of the DCS.
Written by S.A.M and the DCS.
Produced and Directed by: the DCS.
***The Lord of the Clones, the Musical, is brought to you by Father Dragon (it's his cave) and his amazing and MOST creative dwarves (that's us!). Actors will be paid in gummy bears, except the clones. Dwarves have Ninja Insurance with unlimited Ninja Responsibility. That's in case we have to pay S.A.M a ransom to let Alex go at the end of the show. Legal claims, it's all S.A.M.'s fault. Take her!
The Challenge, Part 1
Baldernot's private beach.
Technical problems with the chair. Similar manufacturer.
Once He Who Must Not Be Shaved managed to get off his dancing throne, he and his Hair Knitters headed to the Dragon Cave. Intel said Ninja Cloner was there visiting his good friend, Father Dragon.
I have several projects in my dragon hands and I promised to myself I would work them to completion. I am going to start High School in a couple of weeks. There is also the pending end of the Lord of the Clones. I have to finish what the dwarves started. The protagonists are demanding an end or they will sue the Cave for breach of contract. 
