Saturday, April 7, 2012

Are You One Of The Walking Wounded?

I look around me and see bodies everywhere.
I'm not referring to the series, Walking Dead.
I'm talking about those torn apart in relationship battles, personal and professional.

What has puzzled me,
were the large numbers of intelligent people begging for the zombies to bite them.
I have, at least, a partial answer.

Desperation.

Not a good place to make decisions from.
Desperation brings desperate action.

There are endless reasons we become desperate so I won't go there.
We're dealing with being that wounded person
 flailing in the woods screaming for help.
It's like ringing the dinner bell for the zombies.
Stand back, baby, and let the feasting begin.
You're on the menu.

Imagine that you're bleeding
and are sure you'll never make it back to camp on your own.
There are zombies out there, you know it, but help is there too.
You haven't seen any walkers, so you holler your guts out.

That's when some cute guy shows up sporting a grin.
He promises you safety, love, a contract.
He loves you or your work, maybe both.

Red flags.

Did you miss that besides the smile, he also smelled bad?
His arm dangled funny from his shoulder.

You did miss it and fell into his arms.
And he devoured you.

Great, you groan, as he gluts himself on your love, money or your talent.
You could weep and say poor me.
But that's pointless.
He's just chomped your ear and is chewing briskly salivating over eating the other one.

Yeah, yeah. So I let myself be eaten by the monsters.
Now what?

I've given this some thought.
First, if you feel desperate--recognize it.
We can't fix what we refuse to acknowledge.

If we know we're hanging by a thread,
best to not draw attention by screaming in zombie infested woods.
Trust me, they are out there.

Next, stop beating yourself up.
It never was about you, your love or your writing.
Zombies only care about their next meal and you just happened to be easy pickens.
Save yourself.

Get the hell out of the woods.

Drag your damaged self out if you must,
 or rely on the people you know you can trust to help.
Those who've proven themselves in the past.

When we're wounded is not the time to enter into new relationships of any kind.

I've seen writers desperate for publication
 sign with a publisher they didn't take time to check out.
This would be the dude with bad breath and the funny hanging arm.
Wake up!

Stop.
Take time to know what you're getting into.
If they push and tell you the offer won't last.

Run! It's a zombie.

Those that care about you or desire a real working relationship
 will honor your need to ask other people questions.
This is where the trusted friends come in.
Talk to them.

If five people who love you say,  stay out of those woods, you're bleeding,
 believe them.

Most of the carnage happens, because we don't recognize our wounds.
We stubbornly tell everyone we're fine and plod on out to meet our fate.
Oh, our friends see the danger and warn us,
 but they can't keep us from being consumed,
 not if we're determined to play with monsters.

The walkers don't have the cure.
Chances are, other zombies caused the damage.
In the end, healing our wounds takes time and effort.
 There's no short cut.

And until you're no longer desperate, stay out of the woods.

18 comments:

  1. Gross- but accurate and very good advice, Sandy! I've personally been in those woods and am thankful to my more alert friends who led me out safely. Friends like you! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've warned a few friends about a publisher--after I met the owner and worked with her. They all signed a publishing contract with her. Now, they're all complaining. Not a darn thing I can do. They refused to listen to me when I told them about her ethics or rather, her lack of ethics.

    Excellent post! Loving the Walking Dead references.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sandy, I'm going through something right now in my personal life that I cannot control. I related to this blog. Sometimes I wish my life were one of my books so I can write a 'happily ever after'.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post. A little self-preservation goes a long way.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sandy, I always love it when I make the time to "drop in":) Your smiling face and wonderfully free-spirited hair, always make me smile:) (I'm a freedom haired girl too) As for your post. Excellent advice. Whether it's a relationship or writing related. I've used this practice in both area's of my life. On the personal side, I talked to those that knew me and loved me, and stayed the "H*ll" away from any other involvements until I was bandaged enough not to draw vultures or zombies. It worked well. Same goes for publishing or working with an agent, if it doesn't look right, SPEAK right (a little respect for the author) or comes at you with strange offers, keep walking and rake off the bandage aisle again.
    Great advice, and great fun! Enjoyed it, gal:)
    Lo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Love the Walking Dead, Sandy, and great advice. It's too bad more of us don't take it on a daily basis.
      Sheereen

      Delete
  6. Just say no to Zombies! I'd much rather bleed from the work of toiling the soil and planting my own forest one tree at a time. Lovingly care for each branch. I love your spirit Sandy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow, great post, Sandy! Sadly, in life, and especially in the writing world these days, those zombies are popping up daily, and you wish the warnings were not taken so lightly. Oh, well. I guess all we can do is keep trying:-)

      Delete
  7. Excellent post, Sandy. So true on so many levels. Been in those woods and gladly got out alive.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great advice, Sandy. Both for the lovelorn and for writers!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Loved this very different and intriguing post, Sandy. Thank you for that. It made me think of how at times I seemed a little desperate when I received interest in some of my work and the "interested party" was not right for me. Rein in that desperation, girl! You're right. Good advice.
    Patti

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wonderful advice and great analogies! Loved it. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great words of wisdom at a time when the publishing labyrinth seems impossibly complicated. I always get nervous when someone is sprinkling me with salt and pepper.

    ReplyDelete
  12. A great blob, Sandy. Really enjoyed it and I thought it an interesting way to impart your knowledge and wisdom.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oops. I meant blog. Can you tell I've had a glass of wine?

      Delete
  13. Sandy, great advice given in an interesting point of view. Happy Easter. Judy

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks, honey! Great blog. I'm walking out of the woods, now :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi! Please contact me about the ebook you won on Star-Crossed Romance!
    Nancy@nancyleebadger.com

    ReplyDelete