New Year Dragons and the End of the World

It seems that I allowed myself to become so occupied with the holiday season that somehow I failed to take the time to wish all of you a spectacular Christmas and New Year. I hope that it was good. I know that mine certainly was. So to make sure that this doesn't happen again for 2012 I just want to wish all of you a spectacular Christmas and New Year!

I'm not sure if anyone else has noticed but the theme almost every retailer adopted for the New Year was:

a new year, a new you

Of course this is really fantastic advertising as it taps into that place in our psyches that is eager for change; either to leave behind parts of our lives that we find undesirable or to gain things in our lives that we want. Unfortunately the majority of those I am closest to seemed to make resolutions for ridding themselves of the undesirable traits. I say unfortunate because very few of them made any resolutions for things they wanted to do. It's no secret that I have put on a few pounds since returning from Baghdad, and by a few I mean 20. I don't like having the extra weight and although I don't show it when clothed I get to see my bulging belly every time I change my shirt or get out of the shower. This of course happened because since I've been back I have had access to a refrigerator and pantry 24-7, which have both been filled with really good food, and I have taken advantage of it on a more than regular basis. But if I just eliminate the food I like to eat it won't be long before I go back to it. So instead I am adding the positive addition in my life of more exercise because I know, for me, when I am working out I don't have that empty feeling that needs to be filled with food.

I think positive change is fantastic for everyone just make sure it's something you are doing because you want to do and not because it is for someone else (this includes loved ones and social pressure). If it's done for anyone besides yourself it will never take.

Now the 2012 New Year we rang in on January 1st is nice but I'm really looking forward to the Chinese New Year on January 23rd. If you don't know your Chinese astrology shame on you, stop living under a rock and gain some life knowledge, after all the way our government is going it won't be long before we'll only be celebrating Chinese New Year. Sorry I digressed there for a moment. Anyway if you don't know Chinese astrology January 23rd begins the Year of the Dragon! As a dragon sign myself I am really looking forward to this year, with all of the additional power and great fortune it will bring to me. Of course it is a little bit of a bummer because I'll be cheated out of having a complete Year of the Dragon, as it will be cut short due to the end of the world in December. Oh well I just have to take extra advantage of the months I do get.

As you no doubt have heard the Mayan calender ends on December 21st, 2012. I know some of you are still writing 2011 on everything but it doesn't change the fact that it is 2012 and an end of an era is coming. Now I don't believe that on December 21st that all life will suddenly flash out of existence, although I am quite positive some peoples worlds will end; it happens every day. However lets just think for a moment that it is all going to end. If you only had 11 months left how would you want to spend them? Think about that for a minute. 


I want you to follow up the last question with these: 

• Are you happy in your life?
• What is your ultimate goal?
• What are you doing today to achieve that goal? 

2011 was a great year for me and I see 2012 only being better. One of the things that I am doing this year is experiencing more. Not just seeing more on some sprint through famous places but taking the time to visit a community and experience it. Two of my first stops will be Butte Montana and Wallace Idaho. Both of these communities are filled with deep history and colorful personality. 
I came to the realization that even though I want to go out and explore the rest of the world there is an awful lot in my own region that I haven't taken the time to really experience. 


Remember that just dropping the bad from your life does not immediately bring in the good. So make some goals this year to not just eliminate but add to your life!

Wishing you the best year ever!

Clark 

Back in the USSA

The Falls

So the past few months have been a crazy time for me. Lots of going here and there and doing this and that. Finally at the beginning of this last week I landed in my home town of Idaho Falls and it has been a fantastic reunion with family and friends.

There certainly have been a lot of changes in the past 13 months. The town has added and lost some businesses (one restaurant opened and closed in that 13 month period and I never had a chance to sample their wares). The politics of the country has certainly become more European and in so doing making the book Atlas Shrugged seem even more relevant (I'm also wondering when I'll need to begin paying my VAT). My nine year old decided he should grow to my shoulder height (I'm six foot one!) and my 3 year old is riding his bike like a pro and using phrases like "you frustrate me." I've certainly made changes. I've come back with a little more gray in my hair, a novel under my belt, and perhaps a little wiser in the ways of the international world. One thing is for sure, change is inevitable. No matter how badly we may want things to be one way it can't be that way forever.
It's like if you want a job very badly, so you educate yourself, you make the sacrifices and after putting in the hard time you get the job. But the moment you get that job you begin to lose it, others want it, the standards change, your priorities change. Life never gives you that moment where you can just sit still in the same place for long. And that's okay, life would be pretty dull if it always stayed the same, besides all you have to do is just let go and enjoy it (easy right?).

Well there are some great changes on the horizon for you Clark Chamberlain fans. Loves Deception is on track for a November release on Kindle and I am already hard at work on my next thrilling novel which will be taking place in the great city of Butte Montana. Also coming soon will be the return of my weekly videos and a new podcast segment.

Talking about the podcast I am in search of podcasting partner, so if you or someone you know enjoys talking about writing, thrillers and life drop me an email writeclarkchamberlain@gmail.com

Come back Wednesday when I will be revealing the last character from Loves Deception.
Ciao,

Clark