Personal Diary
Friday, 28 March 2008
I'm here at the Millenia Mall in Orlando, FL killing some time before my 4 PM book signing at Waldenbooks. This is truly an upscale mall from the stores, restaurants and security. This placed is packed on a Friday afternoon, and truthfully speaking, if I weren't doing this signing, I would definitely be lying on the nearest beach. Oh well, this is the life of an author looking for more exposure in new markets. Speaking of new markets, I'll be hitting the road bright and early tomorrow morning for my book signing in Jacksonville at 12 PM since I have two book signings there. At least I'll have the chance to see my friend Sunni again and hang out with her and her girlfriend Kim when the signings are over. I really enjoyed spending time with my brother Mike and his family yesterday. They completely surprised me with a chocolate birthday cake last night. I'm grateful they allowed me to spend the next few days with them because I don't get to see Mike that often except when they make their annual visit to our parents' home in Virginia during the summer and the Christmas holidays. Fatherhood has been such a beautiful blessing to Mike and he's doing such a wonderful job of raising my nieces Cami and Kamiah. I'm also proud of the way he accepted and embraced his fiance Kenisha's children, Yesmond and Cameron, into his life. Sometimes I don't know how those two remain sane with all those children because they are quite the handful, especially Ms. Kamiah a.ka. "Nu Nu." That little woman is 1 1/2 going on 22 the way she tells everybody, "No! No! No!," but I love my little goddaughter with all of my heart and soul. Hopefully, she'll still be awake by the time I get home so I can have the chance to play with her and she can have the chance to get to know me. I don't see Nu Nu that much, but she still has "stranger danger," but gives me this pecuilar look since I resemble her father except her daddy has freckles and doesn't wear glasses. Anywho, I'm grateful to spend a little time with my loved ones because I have my moments when I need to be Bill Holmes the person and not the poet, writer and author. After all, I'm only human.
21 April 2008
"No one can make you feel inferior unless you consent."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Tonight was the last night for me to teach my creative writing class, Write Here! Write Now!, at Temple University's PASCEP organization. I had another rewarding experience working with some talented aspiring writers. Last semester, I felt insecure and unconfident throughout 2/3 of the course because it was my first time teaching the class and I wasn't sure if my lesson plans would keep my students interested in returning next week. Fortunately, that wasn't the case this semester because there were some who signed up that were interested and wanted to pursue/fulfill their creative aspirations. I did lose some students during the first two weeks of class because they didn't bother to return for whatever personal reasons. I will admit that some of my assignments can be challenging, but that was my intention to stimulate my students' creativity. I also participated in a few lessons myself and discovered some very interesting things about myself that completely surprised me. Tonight's final lesson about our association with periods of darkness in our lives made me reflect upon yesterday's sermon at church regarding some people or situations that bring fear into our lives. Yes, there are some days when I wish I could fly away from my troubles, but running never resolved any issue. Then again, neither does hiding in the shadows of my fears. My pastor hit the nail on its head when he recited that quote from Eleanor Roosevelt. And there's no need for me to worry becuase that never solved anything either. Yes, I struggled with isses of low self esteem, but it didn't hold me back in the past, so why should I allow it to do so in both the present and the future? It was a good and enlightening exercise because I was able to confront the darkness of my negative thoughts and to recognize the strength, the determination, the resourcefulness, the courage, the wisdom, the diligence, the faith and the commitment I possess that sometimes I downplay or don't give myself enough credit.
For more insight into my personal thoughts, please check out my the following links: