Star Wars: Iconic Inspiration

Yesterday was May the 4th which is also known as Star Wars Day. In our Podcast, we talked about the age-old question, “Star Trek or Star Wars?” I don’t really see the debate. They are two completely different entities, to me. I didn’t grow up in a house divided. My parents were equally nerdy when it came to science fiction. I remember watching reruns of the original Star Trek on cable with my dad and the original Star Wars on VHS tapes with my mom.

That being said, I wasn’t a huge fan of the Star Wars franchise until the Phantom Menace came out in 1999. It was the summer after my freshman year in high school, and I saw it for the first time when I attended band camp in Wichita Falls, Texas. It wasn’t that the film was that great. Looking back on the second trilogy as an adult, I find some of the scenes to be cringeworthy (especially in Attack of the Clones), and I think the original trilogy is more iconic and long-lasting. However, the special effects in the Phantom Menace were groundbreaking at the time. I know when you think of 1999 you don’t really think of groundbreaking special effects in movies but it was the Phantom Menace that paved the way for modern digital effects and CGI monsters. 

It was those special effects in the Phantom Menace that mesmerized me and interested me in the original trilogy and science fiction in general, which heavily influenced my future writing and interest in world-building. I went out and bought World-Building by Steven Gillett and the Dictionary of Imaginary Places. My writing became heavily influenced by planet exploration and the idea of building my own space opera. Star Wars also influenced my reading trends as I grew older. I began to read science fiction works such as Fahrenheit 451 and Ender’s Game. To this day, I credit Star Wars for my interest in science fiction writing.

Aside from my new love for Star Wars as the prequel trilogy started to hit the movie theaters, I didn’t think much about the Star Trek franchise until the movie remake starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto hit the big screen. As stated before, I had seen many Star Trek episodes with my father growing up, but I never sat down and watched all of them. So, I suppose you could say, if I had to choose, I would choose Star Wars over Star Trek.

I want to hear from my readers. Do you prefer Star Wars over Star Trek? How do you celebrate Star Wars Day? Please, let’s continue the conversation in our Facebook Group: MMC Chat. Also, check out our Facebook Page.

See you next time for Revenge of the Fifth…

Finding the Fire

I am new to the subject of PowerSheets®. I recently received my first ever PowerSheets® goal planner for my birthday from Cindy. We can all agree that for most, 2020 was chaotic and I’m not proud to say that I didn’t come out of my quarantine a more well-rounded/creative person as most of my friends did. It was a very dark and revealing time for me. At the end of the year, Christen took me aside and introduced me to a creative outlet I could bring with me into 2021 which was the idea of creative goal setting.

PowerSheets® teaches you that to live your passion, it means to live for something worthwhile, knowing that it may cost you something. Living your passion is making bold decisions and enduring challenges, but experiencing the happiness that it brings you afterward.

When you are first setting up your PowerSheets®, it asks you “What makes you come alive?” When you use these worksheets, you really have to sit down and think. It takes goal setting to a new level. 

First, let’s break this down: what makes you come alive? When I see this, it makes me think, what gets me up out of my chair/bed and motivates me to live my day. What are my passions? PowerSheets® then asks you a series of questions to come up with the right answers. When answering these questions, keep your one word in mind. In a previous blog, I told you my one word is “inspire.”

PowerSheets® asks you if you’ve lost your passion. If you haven’t, that’s great! Make a list of your passions and motivations. If you have, begrudgingly admit it. I admit for several years I lost my passion for most things. I decided at the beginning of 2021 that I would get back to me and I DID.

Once you’ve answered that question, PowerSheets® asks you how you feel most days. Lately, aside from school, I feel tired, but I also feel like every day is a new day with new possibilities and new opportunities. Yes, I am overwhelmed and exhausted, but the day still brings possibilities. So back to that first question, what fires me up? What makes me excited?

• Education: I believe that everyone deserves an equally great education.
• Love: I love LOVE...definitely, a hopeless romantic.
• Family/friends: I couldn’t live without them.
• My cats: a huge motivation for me because they are my fur babies.
• The Boyfriend: as of this week, we are three months and going strong.
• My students: they motivate me every day in so many ways because I want to inspire them to be their best selves.
• Reading/Books: one of my favorite pastimes is reading.
• Makeup artistry: one of my new hobbies has been eye makeup artistry. I am still in the experimental stages.
• Writing/blogging: yes, this blog is motivating, as well as the poetry I actively write.
• Coffee: another one of my favorite things to do is try new coffee spots around the DFW area and post about them on my Instagram blog @Ms.Garvin.Writes.
• Cooking/baking: I am a huge fan of the show Top Chef and Food and Wine Magazine. I am always looking for new recipes to try. Years ago, when I was living with my mom and grandma, I would experiment with recipes. My grandma called it “gourmet” cooking because I cooked things that she didn’t normally eat like French Onion Soup from scratch.
• The Arts: without the arts, where would we be as a society?
• Trying new things: this is a broad category, but I am a life-experience junkie. I am always on the lookout for the next cool thing to try, whether it is a new restaurant or staying in a hotel treehouse (bucket list), I want to try it.
• Living a healthy lifestyle: this is a big one for me. Over the last three years, I have lost around 200 pounds and endless amounts of clothing sizes. I want to keep it off as well as maintain an active lifestyle.

Once you have your power list of motivations, you can begin your PowerSheets® journey. What are you passionate about? Let me know in the comments.

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