The further you get away from yourself, the more challenging it is. Not to be in your comfort zone is great fun. B. Cumberbatch
I like my Art Gecko room. I like the blue walls with a colorful gecko lighting my way. I like the pictures and the music in the background. My room smiles of happiness, closeness, colors, comfort, ownership, ME. I like my comfort zone, and so for the last five years I have remained committed to what I know.
Then the walls became closer all around leaving me no room to grow.
On Saturday, February 8 I left my comfort zone for a conference of young writers and bloggers. Normally, words like conference, writers, bloggers don't scare nor hinder me, but life after 70 is not the same as the earlier years. Confidence in various areas begins to drain the spirit and energy. I honestly feared taking this step because I didn't want to feel stupid. (I sound like some of my grade school students.)
Walking into the Launch Bloggers Conference at the National Cowboy Museum, the only kernel of confidence I felt was that I knew how to write. I watched as many of the young women from the business world were styling in platform shoes that I once wore in the '70's and that would now land me on my butt and in the hospital. My flats will be just fine and my long sleeves and sweater will serve me well. After all, I thought, t is not spring and I am not showing off my shoulders and back. (Gads, where did this grumpy old woman come from?)
In the end, it truly wasn't the youth that bothered me, it was intimidation by young people who have grown up in a world of technology. I wanted to know more. I wanted to understand how social media could increase my readership. I wanted to know what/why/how symbols, like @ # could increase my blogging audience. I wanted to know steps in taking better pictures with my Iphone. In my heart, I wanted to meet other people who blogged, and listen to their experiences and knowledge.
Immediately, I met people at my table and fell right into conversations with them; the years did not divide us. "Shoot, Edit, and Create Stunning Stories," by Nicky Omohundro, Nicky's Little Family Adventure Blog, kept my fingers traveling over the keys to edit photos. "Snapseed" and "Foodie" are two free apps that when downloaded and given access to the camera roll will provide hours of editing curiosities. Using Snapseed here are three views.
After downloading the app and giving "Snapseed" permission to use my photos on the camera roll, I opened my camera roll, clicked on the photo to edit then clicked on the bottom middle word "tools". When the screen of tools appears use 'curves' found on the top row. Remember to check done/save. These two apps are what I call playful apps that can take time away from your day or add pleasure depending on your point of view.
The most personal affirmation came from a workshop by Mae Badiyan Vision Planning and Goal Setting, who shared Daily Steps to Success. While she was explaining the importance of commitment to goal setting my mind flashed back to what I had done right for the last five years. I set a goal to be pain free with my back and to be healthier by eating more veggies and less fat and carbs. I nearly jumped up from my chair and said, "It works. I am living a healthy pain free life and eating my greens." Year by year I have been sharing my steps to a healthier me. I wrote with vision and determination. For a good laugh read my blog, Golf Gypsy in a Pickle which gives advice on curing leg cramps.
Now it is time to 'reset' my goals, keeping health my top priority and then asking myself: What else is important? How do I envision myself maturing through this decade of the 70's? What activities do I need to keep my mind and body healthy?
Being surrounded by the intriguing world of technology feels like watching a foreign film without captions. Thanks to the encouragement of Cassie Celestain, I walked into the last workshop held at Tailwind, an internet business in downtown Oklahoma City that helps to promote writers and businesses through technology by using that BIG word called algorithms.
Melissa at Tailwindapp explained how hashtags worked. I have not found this very elementary even though Watson may disagree. For instance, when I visit an Oklahoma City location and take pictures to post on Instagram and/or Pintrest I am learning to use these symbols @ to tell the world of social media where I am or # to show what I am doing. Hopefully someone might be guided to my blog.
For example, I "Literally Letty" posted this picture on Instagram and description:
The most personal affirmation came from a workshop by Mae Badiyan Vision Planning and Goal Setting, who shared Daily Steps to Success. While she was explaining the importance of commitment to goal setting my mind flashed back to what I had done right for the last five years. I set a goal to be pain free with my back and to be healthier by eating more veggies and less fat and carbs. I nearly jumped up from my chair and said, "It works. I am living a healthy pain free life and eating my greens." Year by year I have been sharing my steps to a healthier me. I wrote with vision and determination. For a good laugh read my blog, Golf Gypsy in a Pickle which gives advice on curing leg cramps. Now it is time to 'reset' my goals, keeping health my top priority and then asking myself: What else is important? How do I envision myself maturing through this decade of the 70's? What activities do I need to keep my mind and body healthy?
Being surrounded by the intriguing world of technology feels like watching a foreign film without captions. Thanks to the encouragement of Cassie Celestain, I walked into the last workshop held at Tailwind, an internet business in downtown Oklahoma City that helps to promote writers and businesses through technology by using that BIG word called algorithms.
Melissa at Tailwindapp explained how hashtags worked. I have not found this very elementary even though Watson may disagree. For instance, when I visit an Oklahoma City location and take pictures to post on Instagram and/or Pintrest I am learning to use these symbols @ to tell the world of social media where I am or # to show what I am doing. Hopefully someone might be guided to my blog.
For example, I "Literally Letty" posted this picture on Instagram and description:
 |
| Click on M to email this blog; T to send to Twitter; F to send to Facebook; P to send to Pintrest. |
The best things in life are often waiting for you at the exit ramp of your comfort zone.
Karen Salmansohn
Many thanks to the Oklahoma Bloggers and Influencers who offered this enlightening conference.
Younger Longer with Confidence
