A somewhat goofy mini-collection of stuff I’ve been reading, stuff I’ve been thinking about and oh, some completely random crap.

Basically the stuff that never gets mentioned here because I’m not the kind of person who can just make some teeny little point. Not into the whole brevity thing, as the Dude would say.

Actually, I’m under the strict compulsion to write ten pages about anything on my mind. So this is me. Practicing brevity.

Yes, it’s crazy. We’re doing something new today.

Gradually expanding the comfort zone. Shall we?

Item! Perfectionism + insight = new patterns.

A very sweet post with some terrific insights:

Since paralyzing perfectionism is something anyone talented and capable is going to have to deal with at some point, I think you should read it.

Item! Sneak peek into my past …

Alex Fayle from Someday Syndrome did an interview with me about life and stuckification and things like that.

He asked some very useful questions. Good stuff. My duck doesn’t get to say anything because she wasn’t invited. Take that, Selma! Who’s the famous one now?

Anyway, I think you’ll like it.

Item! Indulge me while I go on a mini-rant.

I was on Problogger, reading about Digg and traffic-ey stuff and all the stuff I’m apparently supposed to care about but don’t enough.

And some little troll said the following:

“All social media is a waste of time. Search engine traffic is what you need.”

Hmm. “Social media” is a big word. You’re using social media right now, person making this ridiculous comment, by commenting on a blog and linking to your website.

Your site’s unimpressive Alexa ranking leads us to think that you haven’t in fact been able to do what you’re suggesting (drive search engine traffic from keywords) and you’re trying other things instead.

Like using social media to insist that social media is useless.

Dig yourself. No, not Digg. Just dig yourself. Okay, I’m done.

Item! What to do when people aren’t being supportive …

Interesting post from Jonathan Fields on success and jealousy.

This relates pretty closely to week 5 of the Non-Icky Self-Promotion course that I taught with Naomi where we talked about what to do when you aren’t getting the support and encouragement you need from your family and friends.

I wouldn’t say that agree with him on everything here, but he makes some very important points. This is a huge theme when you’re dealing with wanting to succeed at something and at the same time being terrified of that success. Read it.

Item! Oh the irony!

Is there anything more embarrassing than “abundance”-flavored incense?

Why yes, there is. Not lighting that incredibly yummy smelling abundance incense because they stopped selling it and you’re afraid of using it up. Using up the abundance.

Oh the irony. Oh the screwed-up-ness. Oh the ridiculousness of it all.

Item! Ew ew ew ew!

Every once in a while I stumble upon something especially gross that is so far to the awful slimy side of the sleaze-non-sleaze kosher-marketing-continuum that I don’t know whether to laugh, cry or dance a jig.

Or go take a shower. Man.

This is the most appalling and least yogified advertisement for something that claims to be related to yoga that I’ve ever seen. Join me in being horrified and dismayed, if you feel up to it. It’s fun!

And then we can go breathe and sit with that. That’s my practice for the day.

Item! This is awesome.

Fanmail of the week?

This is from Sarah Marie Lacy who is an artist and a delightful blogger and just generally writes great stuff and kindly gave me permission to share this with you.

Hi Havi!
I just wanted to say that your blog is a total life saver for me right now. I’m going through a healing process and I’m in a place where I don’t know who to turn to a lot (my therapist rocks, but I only get to see her once a week), and your blog is just exactly what I need to hear (or read?). Its wonderful.

Your stuff has allowed me to give myself permission to feel my pain, and acknowledge my fears, and work on moving past them and through them. I feel a little bit freer than I did before. Thank you so much. You rock!

Take care and I hope all of the awesome, wonderful things in the world come to you!

Isn’t that marvelous? I was so inspired by her that I did something I pretty much never do and gave her a copy of Emergency Calming Techniques.

Okay. We’re done.

Are we entertained? Oh good. There will probably be a “real post” tomorrow. 🙂

Until then …….. love from my duck.