2014 (1) Nike Attitude

Here I am again in front a blank screen for a blank blog post that should soon be filled with witty and charming tales of my daily meandering around. The last time I hit "publish" on this blog was back in August, and even then several posts begin with a sincere apology for my absence since I know (hope) that the tiny little things I write inspire something (laughter, thoughtfulness...etc.) in those who read. This isn't the first time I've sat in front of this screen between my last post and now, it's just the time that I've decided to suck it up and write, the longer you prolong it the guiltier you'll feel. So here I am. I know it's not totally rational that I feel guilty when not writing things in my blog, and of course seeing things like this makes it even more sad.

2014 (0)

This blog started slow because I was crazy in my senior year of college, and I didn't really have time to fit in blogging in the mere 24 hours that we have in a day. Jump to my first year in Spain lots of posts leading up to my departure and the several (mis)adventures that popped up along the way. I was also churning out a lot of posts because I involved myself heavily in the blogging community, and wanted to give my readers something worth coming back to my page for. When I found my niche in Spain, it left less time for me to be blogging about the things I was doing, and instead I was just doing them. Comments and readers dwindled and so did the posting. Now we are in 2014, and I'm not really sure what the fate of this blog is. I don't think I have the heart to close it down completely, because it does give me a space to share my thoughts in a different way than I can on facebook and/or twitter, but I am not quite sure I have the same aspiration I did 3 years ago with having a super popular famous blog where everyone reads it, and not only my family. Even though there is a high number of page views on my blog I'm sure 80% of them are spambots from Russia. I also want to keep writing because I am a bit of a nostalgic person and having something to go back to is important.

It's funny though, I really thought that by living in rural Spain I'd write so much more! There weren't going to be lots of distractions like activities and lots of friends that I had in Madrid, and even a fellow writer friend of mine told me that what a lot of writers want is the time and space to write. That's what I got lots of time and plenty of quiet moments to just sit with a pen and a pad (or a blank blog screen) and just let the words flow from my brain to the page. It hasn't happened quite as I'd planned. I haven't been completely dry on the writing block. My poetry blog has had a few entries, and I'm excited that my Spanish skills are evolving to a place where I can write poems that aren't half bad.

I think part of my lack of motivation/ inspiration is partly due to this "fish out of water" feeling I sometimes have in my current place of living. I hadn't anticipated missing Madrid as much as I do, now that I am so close yet so far, and that in turn has occasionally not really allowed me to connect with the place that I live. It doesn't help that I commute to work so the friends I make at work are far away, and the friends I have where I live I can count on one hand (yeah, it could be much worse--- I've been much worse, but it's my blog and I'll cry if I want to :P ). It doesn't help that I have several moments like this in Navalmoral de la Mata, but I'm growing and learning to not shut down because of it.

But I guess with all things you want to accomplish you kinda have to put yourself in the Nike attitude (Just do it!) So that's what I'm doing--- Just do it (write!) Just do it (be happy!) Just do it (clean your room!... well) lol. I think it has also really helped me to take part in the #100HappyDays challenge. If you're curious to see what it is take a look at my fb album and check out www.100happydays.com.

That's all for now, let's hope you'll be reading me again soon! <3

Ciao Ciao

@CathyArely

Stories, Pictures, Rants, and Memories [100 Posts]

Hey Readers!!

 So today I'm writing my 100th blog post for Mi Nuevo Capitulo, and I while looking back today exactly three years since I wrote my first post: A New Start. It's amazing to see what a transformation my blog has gone through in these last three years just as I have also transformed and grown from that girl who clicked that "create blog" button.

Three years later I realize how relevant the title of this blog still is. We do live our life in stages and hope that we are moving on and progressing with each passing chapter in our own story.

I celebrated Milestones of reaching a thousand views, and here we are 3 years in at nearly 15,000!!

Mi Nuevo Capitlo, has seen new blogger friends, vlogs, funny stories, thoughtful pieces, lists, and many apologetic posts for not writing.

What's to come is unknown, but here I'll leave you with popular posts from my blog.

1. The Nightmare Before Halloween (Eviction from la casa de las brujas)
2. 7 Things I've Missed While Abroad
3. Student Comments 1-- 2-- 3-- 4-- 5-- 6
4. The Money Runaround 
5. Online Food Ordering
6. Your Bad Luck is Impressive 1--2--3
7. Oui What?
8. ExtranHero Abono Adventures
9. A Love Story Waiting to be Written
10. Pay It Forward


So a BIG thanks to everyone who has kept this blog going by reading and commenting. Keep a look out for more of Mi Nuevo Capitulo and CathyBean Poetry.  Here's to 100 More <3

Much Love!
@CathyArely

A Poetic Absence

So I know 2013 hasn't been my year for blogging... but I'm looking to change that (really, this time).

But my time away from this blog was not totally without words. April is National Poetry Month, and in that I participated in the challenge of creating 30 poems for 30 days. You can see the product of that here.

They say the way you become a better writer is by writing. I know I've made reference to this before, but during the month of April I really found this to be true. Even though it wasn't always easy to find something to write about on a daily basis, and trying not to sound too repetitive or too emo (not sure if I accomplished this one) but all in all I think it was a fabulous experience.

I reached a personal goal, which was to write poetry in Spanish. I churned out dos of my own mini masterpieces.

April is over... and there are still so many more things to write.

Write, Write, Write...Right?

So given the fact that it's been over a month since my last post, the title doesn't make much sense, but despite my minor absence (okay, you can say it...you missed me a whole lot... lol), a bunch of writing has been going on, and even more writing ideas have been forming in my little mind to share with you all. I promise I will fulfill them...eventually.

The reason why I guess I actually gave my self the kick in the pants to get on here and start writing something is because I was reading an article about Carlos Fuentes, one of my favorite author's who passed away this week. In this it gives Carlos' 10 tips for Writers, and number one is right on the ball with what I need to work on.

1. Discipline: Not as an antidote to dreaming but as a necessary regimen to focus on the purpose of your task. It won't write itself. One must dream, but not in a place of working, and never await inspiration. Work in focus, get it done.

So from today I can say I'm going to put effort into getting from the brain waves to the page ( and the added step from the page to the website most of the time too.. lol). A bunch of more poems to post on CathyBean Poetry for April's National Poetry Writing month.

Not last (because I have lots of writing to do.. lol) and certainly not least... I was afforded the great opportunity to be a contributor for MadBudget, a local guide to Madrid. So without further ado my first piece was published this month, and I'm working on a second!!

Anyway, thanks for reading and staying with me everyone, it really does mean a lot. Oh and I gave in, now you can follow me on Twitter @CathyArely.

Much Love,

Cathy

Reader Spotlight

Hey Hey All,

So I'm sure some of you have navigated around my wonderfully redesigned blog and seen a the tab entitled:

 

"What is this Reader Spotlight?" you ask.Well to be completely honest I'm not 100 percent sure. 

Something that I want for my blog is for there to be a sense of community among the readers, which vary from family members, friends and colleagues from high school and college, future colleagues from SPAIN, and other random intrigued people here on the world wide web. 

So here is how it is going to work:

The first person to comment every month will get to have their own picture/bio/personal interview in the Reader Spotlight section, and readers may not have 2 consecutive months as the spotlight.

I do anticipate for this to evolve eventually to who ever comments the most during the previous month to earn the Reader Spotlight. And who knows what it may evolve into that we can't anticipate. 

I hope you all are as excited as I am about this lol. I feel like my blog is really taking off. On my Facebook the other day on the "On this Day in 2010" section, my status said "Just so y'all know, I'm going to be a famous writer someday." Which I'm sure I can trace back to Mi Epiphany. I still haven't started on the book that I'm going to write, but the way that this blog is coming along, is kinda exciting for me. I've gone from 3 to 11 readers, from 100 to 800 views all in the last month or so of revamping. So I'm anxious to see what the future holds not only for myself and my journey to Spain, but for this blog and what turns it will take.

What do YOU think about the Reader Spotlight idea?

Thanks for reading. And who knows come September 1st the Reader Spotlight could be YOU!

Much love,

Cathy

Mi Epiphany :)

Hey hey :)

The school year has started, and I'm back grounded in the 818. As I was getting ready this morning, putting mousse in my much too long (but I want to grow it longer) hair so that it would be more on the "curly" side instead of the "poofy" side, I had an epiphany. I am going to write a book :) I was day dreaming back to when I went to the Latina History Day Conference as a Latina to Watch honoree, and I was thinking of one of the many great women I met that day, Michele Serros. She is a Latina author, who has traveled on many paths of life, but despite all of the people who told her she was crazy with all her big dreams, she's an established author, and wonderful motivational speaker. At that conference I bought her book How to Be A Chicana Role Model (pictured below)





In this book, the stories were so funny I read the book every chance I got (In between all of hard core text books I was reading for school of course ;) ) As I read, I felt that the tone that Michele uses, would be the same way I would tell a story, or react to a certain situation.

So with all of this floating through my mind this morning, it came to me, if Michele Serros can write a book, then so can I, and who knows maybe one day we'll be sharing our books together at some conference.

I've come up with a great title and tag line that I'm going to with hold for now (I know I'm mean, but I'd rather go into it in a little more detail in a later blog), but I'm really excited about this new can of worms I opened up today.

I still plan on being a great inspirational teacher/professor someday, as well as a part time successful stand up comedienne, along with several other aspiration that my heart has called me to.

Well thanks for reading :) Remember comments are always appreciated <3

~Cat