Comments on: Struggling With Self Improvement?

By: Ali

Ali — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 09:36:13 +0000

Thanks! Yes, we’re really looking forward to moving out of our flat (which is nice, but a bit noisy with neighbours, and the general area).

By: Melissa Moreno

Melissa Moreno — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 12:09:25 +0000

I’m so happy for you. Having your own house is a beautiful experience and having a playroom is sure to allow for many joyous occasions. I hope you enjoy it to the fullest.

By: Ali

Ali — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:21:23 +0000

Thanks Melissa! I completely agree with you. There seems to be a sense that fun and play are for children, and that we should “grow out” of these. I’m not convinced that doing so makes us happier!

We’re going to be moving from a flat to a house (with considerably more space) in a few months time, and we’re planning on using one of the reception rooms as a “playroom” that’s set up for hanging out with friends and sitting around eating/drinking without worrying about spilling red wine on the carpet. And maybe we’ll get Guitar Hero too, for some communal video-gaming.

By: Melissa Moreno

Melissa Moreno — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:06:09 +0000

This blog spoke to me. I have always strongly believed that conforming to your insecurities and what you THINK should be done is a form of damaging and inhibiting yourself. We should take all of those fears and ask ourselves why we make such a big deal out of them. Do people really care that we play video games at such a ripe age (according to societal standards)? It comes down to being you and feeling content with who you are. That is what makes life worth living. It’s what produces happiness. Thank you Ali!

By: TurningIris » Blog Archive » The Week in Review

TurningIris » Blog Archive » The Week in Review — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:13:21 +0000

[...] I took a couple of days off from posting to start reaching out to the virtual community by posting a response to a couple of different blogs I read. The first was a discussion on Aliventures.com about Struggling with Self Improvement [...]

By: Words, Writing and Blogging | The BridgeMaker

Words, Writing and Blogging | The BridgeMaker — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:08:59 +0000

[...] love fiction and non-fiction writing in equal measure. I explained in a recent blog post on Aliventures that this causes some tension: is the non-fiction my “real” work because it pays, or is the [...]

By: Where Self Improvement and Self-Love Meet

Where Self Improvement and Self-Love Meet — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:00:58 +0000

[...] because Ali Hale always offers real-life, authentic and honest advice. Here are her thoughts on self-improvement: Self-improvement is about finding and becoming the real you. The potential you that gets squashed [...]

By: Ali

Ali — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:51:10 +0000

Good point, Matthew. There are some things we just *need* to get done — whether it’s responding to a sudden crisis or simply making enough money to pay the rent. I usually find that my genuine “need to” category is pretty small, though I imagine as I go on through the next few years (especially if kids appear on the agenda!) then it’s gonna get a fair bit bigger…!

By: Matthew Needham

Matthew Needham — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:09:16 +0000

Should do is a little like need to. Quite often I fund myself doing things because I need to rather than because I want to. At the moment it’s because the need is greater than the want for some things, but as crisis’ disappear hopefully I will be able to focus on what I want – to spend 2 months off with my son when he’s born in June.

By: Ali

Ali — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:28:57 +0000

I like the idea of unlabelled writing, Ray! I think part of the tension is that some bloggers (not the ones I know, though) prize money way above good writing, whereas the novelists tend to be other way round…

Hope your novel goes well once you do make a start! I usually find that it’s hard going till a few chapters in, then I get on a roll…