For some reason, the idea of snowboarding is less frightening. Maybe it's the fact of only having to control one stick instead of two, but when my friends dragged me up the mountain, I decided to rent snowboard gear and give it a try.
Um, let's just say that after a private lesson (from a very non-encouraging instructor) the best I did was slide down the warm-up hill. (For the uninitiated, that's even smaller and shallower than the bunny slope.) And most of the time I wound up on my butt at the bottom of the hill. Mentally, I know it's all about committing to the movement, and being tentative only leads to disaster.
That's a pretty good lesson for life, too. Either put all your heart and effort and courage into whatever you do ... otherwise what's the point?
Today's bonus prize comes from an author just as punk and edgy and exciting as the sport of Snowboarding: BALLADS OF SUBURBIA by Stephanie Kuehnert. Here is the blurb:
Kara hasn’t been back to Oak Park since the end of junior year, when a heroin overdose nearly killed her and sirens heralded her exit. Four years later, she returns to face the music. Her life changed forever back in high school: her family disintegrated, she ran around with a whole new crowd of friends, she partied a little too hard, and she fell in love with gorgeous bad boy Adrian, who left her to die that day in Scoville Park. . . .
Amidst the music, the booze, the drugs, and the drama, her friends filled a notebook with heartbreakingly honest confessions of the moments that defined and shattered their young lives. Now, finally, Kara is ready to write her own.
Talk about a powerful story. They don't get much edgier than this.
And to enter today's contest, tell me about something you put all your heart and effort and courage into. (For me, this is definitely writing. It's not easy to write a book and send it out into the world, but I do--again and again--because it's my passion. You can't short-change your passion.) Answer in comments for your chance to win Oh. My. Gods. and Goddess Boot Camp and BALLADS OF SUBURBIA.
SNOWBOARDING CONTEST
Answer this question: What do you put all your heart and effort and courage into? What is your passion?
PRIZES
(1) copy of Oh. My. Gods.
(1) copy of Goddess Boot Camp
(1) copy of BALLADS OF SUBURBIA by Stephanie Kuehnert
Enter below and check back tomorrow (and the day after that and the day after that) for a new contest. Winners of all contests will be posted after February 28th.
And don't forget the other contests:
Gold Medal Contest
COOP2 1 HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter
COOP2 2 MY SOUL TO TAKE and MY SOUL TO SAVE by Rachel Vincent
COOP2 3 TATTOO and FATE by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Hugs,
TLC
67 comments:
I somehow divide my passion and love between my job - working at an elementary school library - blogging and my family. Although as a first year librarian, I'm putting a lot more energy and passion into my job. There's nothing like finding the right book for the right student and seeing them enjoy reading.
My passion is reading so it fits well with my job and blogging - my husband has been fantastic through the past few months with my crazy schedule and I give him my weekends fully. :)
dragonzgoil at gmail dot com
Hmm, I can say that blogging is my passion. I have two blogs - a book blog and a personal one. I get to do reviews on my book blog, which is really very fulfilling as I get to share to others my love for a particular book. I especially love it when I can convince readers to read what I recommend. On my personal blog, I get to shout out to the world wide web my thoughts on anything and everything. That's really fun too! :)
What do you put all your heart and effort and courage into? What is your passion?
I would say my passion is studying. I know it sounds boring, but i'm actually in the university studying Veterinary medicine. I love animals with all my heart, but it's really difficult to study all night long and even more, and sometimes don't go out with my friends and boyfriend.
So I put all my heart and effort, because I really want to be a good veterinary one day, even if it means hard work.
Besides, after all this years studying, I feel very grateful when I can save a life...
My passion is both my job and biking. They require different types of focus and effort, but my undivided attention, nonetheless
I think blogging is so far the only thing that I work hard with. It's the only thing that I put time aside for. Oh! And exercise!
The thing I put the most passion into is sign language. I've been signing since I was 9 and I love when I can interpret for someone who can't hear. It takes a lot of work, and I know that I still have a lot to learn, but I love it.
Querying agents took a lot of courage for me, because I put so much time and passion into writing my first book. Luckily it was rewarded and now it's being submitted to publishers!
For me, it has to be moming. My heart, soul, everything belongs to her :)
I put everthing into synchronized swimming. I may not be the best, and I am convinced that I won't win but I still try my hardest. The three minutes during a competition where nothing but the counts matter is awe-inspiring. It's calming. And it's probably the only time I find total peace. I put everything into synchro.
Oh, I've heard Ballads of Suburbia is such an amazing book. *o*
As for my whole heart and soul, I'm such a lazy bum. I definitely use a lot of energy into playing piano though, and I hate practicing but I love expressing my feelings through music.
I put all my heart into tutoring! It makes me feel so good when I see the direct impact I can have on the lives of others and really teach them skills that will last them a lifetime.
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com
I put all of my energy and heart into running, it's my passion and it keeps me healthy. i love running because it helps me clear my mind, and helps me forget about everything, all there is, is world and my feet pounding the earth. Thats the reason i absolutely loved OH. MY. GODS.
for me it's music...i write it, i play it, i sing it. i even breathe it. nothing better than music for me. i also write poetry, lyrics, stories. <3 writing and composing...thats my life.
My passion is skiing. I live to ski. I love stapping on those "sticks" putting on my helmet and hopping onto the chairlift. I love the feeling of flying as i speed down the hill and the moment of adreniline as i hit a 10 foot jump. i also love to hang out with my family and friends on the ski slope. Skiing is what i truelly live for. Without skiing, i would be nothing. It's the thing i'm best at and the thing i love most. I <3 Skiing!!!
I put all my effort, strength, and time into soccer. I've always loved soccer, but since I tore my ACL last year I appreciate it so much more.
I had to sit out my entire junior year season of high school soccer (but I still attended all the practices and games!) so now I'm dedicating everything to playing varisty next year.
I lift weights and run multiple times a week, play on two teams, and I'm doing track to get my speed back. I'm going to do everything I can to be a better player.
My passion is acting. there is no greater high than the thrill of being alone on the stage in front of hundreds of people with your heart pounding in your chest, your make-up sweating off from the blinding lights, your fellow actors in the wings ready to murder you if you fail, and being afraid of messing up in front of the silent audience before you. i know it sounds horrific to some people, but when i get on that stage i can become a completely different person...and boy does it take courage! some say they don't understand why actors do it. they say it looks to hard, like to much work, too much DRAMA! all those resons are 100% true. acting is tuff...really tuff, but none of that matters when compared to the almost magical feeling you get on the stage. acting is my absolute passion and even though my brain is telling me to quit, my heart will never let it. and i think that's what a passion is supposed to feel like.
I'm going to say blogging. I started it recently and I don't have many followers, but I keep doing it and I'm trying my best. I've though about forgetting it, but it's fun! And it's about my favorite thing ever-books. So I'll keep doing it for myself even if no one else reads it. I'm working really hard on making it better.
I have a passion for working with children because it makes me feel good whenever I see that they are happy.
My passion is dancing.
Yeah, I know it doesn't save lives or help people like others but for me, dancing is the best. I'm usually a person who finds it hard to express my feelings through spoken words, so I prefer to do it through actions. I like to be lost in my own world as well, and just move. Yep, I'm a fidgety person too. I don't like to just leave these faults just lying there so I put them together and it creates my passion. Dance, is sometimes for myself and sometimes for others. When I dance for myself, I'm usually mad or angry or overly excited or just completely absorbed by an emotion. Dance consumes my mind and I kind of fall into an unconscious state where my body does everything, and my mind is just really calm and peaceful. I love to dance for others because it's the easiest and best way for me to express something to them. I do help out at orphanages occasionally and sometimes, I dance for them, and teach them how to dance. It's really nice to see them being happy when I dance. It makes me feel accomplished and I like to think that my dance makes others happy.
my passion is sewing, i love making clothes, totes and pillows (though not very good, i must admit), i enjoy making stuff and it makes times fly by quickly.
my passion is soccer. i started playing when i was little and i haven't stopped since. i watch every game that's on, doesn't matter who is playing. i never miss a practice, i only missed one game and that was doctor's orders because i was sick though i still went to the game. i've been varsity the past 2 years and will (hopefully) be captain next year. for me soccer is life.
Writing! It's like leaving a piece of me on paper everything I write something and I love it!
I guess I have two passions. Writing is the passion that occupies my school life, and I never regret my decision to work on an MFA degree. I love my creative writing classes.
When I need to do something other than write, it's Photoshop. I love creating something in photoshop that feels like an accomplishment.
I divide my passion into looking after and teaching my children and doing all I can to help animals especially those that have been abused by people.
I put all my heart and soul into my family. I know it's a weird thing to say but I feel like the glue that holds everyone together. My family is the most important thing. After that I would have to say getting back to normal, after 2 surgeries. It's already been 1 yr of PT and Dr.'s...
Good luck everyone and Happy President's Day!
I have a couple of things. First and foremost, my family. Then comes my husband's rock band which I manage. These guys deserve to be famous. And, I also am VP of a community theatre group which is going through some hard times right now. I am passionate about so many things and never slow down. I guess I am afraid if I were ever to slow down, I might not get going again.....LOL.
My passion is writing, especially book blogging. It's been so fulfilling and I've never felt happier doing it.
there's a lot of things I care about and i put a lot of effort into - school, my friends (at the moment especially one who suffers from leukemia), writing, my family (especially my 14-yr-old brother)...
what I am most passionate about (at the moment, since i'll have to leave next year :((( ) is Drama Club. I have a quite small role, but i love coordinating all the stuff, i'm sort of a mixture between secretary and assistant for our teacher and a information box/guide for my fellow drama clubbers. I realy love doing that.
My children. As a homeschooling mom, they are my greatest joy and my primary focus every single day. :)
I'm thinking it's cliche, but yes, my passion is my family. I try to put everything I've got into raising my precious little man. And whatever time is left over is inevitably spent on something bookish (so sorta my runner-up passion!)
I'd love to try snowboarding but I'm a little terrified I'll end up the way you did, at the bottom of the hill :-)
My passions vary depending on the day, but my big three are writing, music, and acting. Oh, and animals--I'll do anything for my family's pets!
I would have to say my marriage and my family.
Getting kids to read. That's why I teach. That's why I blog. That's why I go to work each and everyday.
My passion is translate and read, but there are other things like school and my family of course
I put my everything into my friends and family. Without them I would have nothing.
I put all my passion and drive into academics. I love learning and testing my ability to actually know what I've learned, instead of just memorizing/cramming for a test. Plus it also helps that I'm really good at it.
Even though I'm not the greatest! I definitely try to put all my effort into running. I run cross country!
Like Kristen, my passions are divided. I love reading, writing, and blogging. They are all so special to me, and not many people I know understand that. I put everything into them and have found out a lot of things I was naive about before :)
There's a lot of answers to that question for me: music, my friendships, reading, writing, drawing and I'd even put my beliefs in there too - I'm not religious, I'm Agnostic but I have a bunch of set beliefs that I live my life by, things that I stand for and I enjoy debating with people about the subjects and I'm not afraid to stand up for my beliefs. There's probably more that I'm forgetting. If I love something then I'm passionate about it.
Wow. I like this question :)
I pour my everything into writing. It helps me face my worst fears, be myself without having anyone judge me...it's my haven, my comfort zone. My biggest dream would be to get the book I'm working on published.
My passion is making art.
Reading/Writing. You can always find me doing either, and I definitely pour a lot of effort into both because I love doing both so much. Writing is where I really let loose, though.
My passion is working on the Library Mission. (www.librarymission.wordpress.com)For myself, I put a lot of effort into reading in general learning about world issues.
I put everything into supporting my friends and family. That's my main priority. I want to make them feel as loved and privileged as I feel everyday when I'm with them, whether it's just a note on Facebook, a hug, or baking stuff or buying presents for people. They are really what gets me through every day!
What is something I put all my heart and effort and courage into? I would have to say my Master's Degree. I don't think I have ever worked so hard before in my life. I managed to graduate with a 4.0 while teaching full time and taking care of my family. I am very proud of that achievement.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
My passion is definately writing, reading and reviewing books. My life has changed because of my passion, and I can't live without it anymore : )
marjoleinbookblog at gmail dot com
My passion is my friends and family. I can't live without them and I do everything I can to make sure things with them stay well.
I put all my heart, courage, and passion into my job mostly. I love what I do, being a teen librarian, and I love working with children and teens. I've also been putting lots of effort and heart into finishing my Bachelor's Degree in Networking and Telecommunication. I want to do as well as I can so that I can get into a good Grad School, and get scholarships to work towards getting my Master's in Library Science.
I really enjoy the job I'm trained for - bookkeeping. It is only one of my part-time jobs but one I'm working put all my heart into it which normally means working more hours than I'm paid for.
I also really enjoy cooking. So much so that I feel guilty when I spend a lot of time in the kitchen instead of cleaning. I love to invite lots of friends for special meals and I'm always trying out new recipes.
for me it's music. writing lyrics. poetry. singing. i breathe music. and i never get enough. im very versatile with the music i listen to play and write...i just...love it ^.^
I have three major passions: reading, writing, and art. Art is the one that gets my courage, though.
For me is my research. It has been my "baby" since the past one year and half and once I'm finish w/ this project, I think I'll feel a bit lost at first until I find something else to work with later on!
SORRY, I FORGOT TO LOG IN THE FIRST TIME. I POSTED MINE AGAIN:
Emily said...
My passion is acting. there is no greater high than the thrill of being alone on the stage in front of hundreds of people with your heart pounding in your chest, your make-up sweating off from the blinding lights, your fellow actors in the wings ready to murder you if you fail, and being afraid of messing up in front of the silent audience before you. i know it sounds horrific to some people, but when i get on that stage i can become a completely different person...and boy does it take courage! some say they don't understand why actors do it. they say it looks to hard, like to much work, too much DRAMA! all those resons are 100% true. acting is tuff...really tuff, but none of that matters when compared to the almost magical feeling you get on the stage. acting is my absolute passion and even though my brain is telling me to quit, my heart will never let it. and i think that's what a passion is supposed to feel like.
My passion is reading and writing books. Also playing tennis, all I want is to improve!
my passions are reading and watching movies--I love seeing the stories come to life!
I think I can only answer this question partially, as I don't think I do anything courageous. Besides things I do for fun which I put a lot of time into, and the voluntary work I do to help me gain work experience... I think I would have to say my family. We're all very close - immediate and some of my extended family - and so I do my best to be as loving, caring, and helpful as I can. My Mum has an incurable illness, and although she's not too bad, she still needs help, my Dad's the only one who works in our immediate family at the moment, my Nan doesn't have as much money as she used to, and there are other family members who have had their own issues, and I try to be as helpful and as supportive as I can - whether it's going shopping for my Mum or my Nan, visiting often, treating them or taking them out when I can spare the cash, or trying to just be there for my cousins. There isn't an awful lot I can do for them all in the grand scheme of things, but there are little things, and I do want to make things even that little bit easier for them, and make them a little happier. I just hope I'm not doing too badly.
Writing. It takes a lot of passion and heart to make it good and it definitely takes a ton of courage to try and get it published in a traditional publishing house.
without a doubt - my children *although I love reading & music* - my girls rock :)
I have a passion to write.
And I'm doing whatever it takes to make it happen. I swear on this Earth there is nothing more fulfilling to me than just sitting down to dabble in some form be it haiku or short stories.
Maybe if the ones you love give ideas and you can incorporate it, then sure :)
My passion is my family. I would do anything for them, even if it means giving up something I want. They are my whole life.
My other passion is reading. It's my one constant hobby and it will never get old.
Oh gosh - I wish I could snowboard, it looks so cool to watch.
I'm definitely very passionate about badminton, and put a lot of time and effort into it.
Snowboarding looks awesome but I'd probably hurt myself just trying to get into the boots attached to the snowboard. LOL!! I put my effort and passion and effort into dance and writing. I enjoy both so much, and I always try to go above and beyond, or at least to my bestest abilities.
I always have and continue to put my heart into dance.
Right, that is blogging. I decided when I started The Neverending Shelf that I would give it my all. Some days is easier than others, but I have a passion for it and love sharing my love of reading.
I put my passion into my art. I love my art classes. They are so much fun. Art is what I am passionate about.
I put everything I have into my witting also. I'm hoping that I'll be able to fulfill my dream to be an author.
I put all my passion in learning about ancient history. I am a science student so I was so away from it academically that I put in every spare minute to gather as much as possible. History has been my passion since school and still is.
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