avatarBarb Dalton

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steam. Add some ear pods and my favourite music, I come back a different person.</p><h1 id="5c27">[4] How has your culture or context shaped your beliefs about what work ethic or productivity looks like?</h1><p id="eb5e">I live by three rules ingrained in me as a child:</p><ol><li><i>Don’t do a job half-arsed; you might as well not do it at all.</i></li></ol><p id="c7d8">I’m fanatical for order and the true Virgo permeates my existence. I have always been a stickler for grammar, and <i>any </i>rules are rules — they are not meant to be broken. When I tackle a project, it’s full-on and I am not satisfied until it meets my standards. It becomes time-consuming and causes me a lot of grief sometimes.</p><p id="bf99">2.<i> If you don’t ask, you don’t get.</i></p><p id="0d4c">I’m not afraid to throw myself to the wolves because if I don’t, an opportunity could be lost. If it doesn’t pan out, at least I can say I tried.</p><p id="2ded">3. <i>When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do.</i></p><p id="9ed6">As a nurse, I’ve learned that paperwork, protocols and procedures can change depending on the institution you are working in. Best to stick to the rules governed by the hand that feeds you. This is so true of the writing world too with all the different demands of each publication.</p><h1 id="7e73">[5] What’s one food you like to make if you don’t want to think or plan or buy new ingredients at all?</h1><p id="c1bc">A pasta dish.</p><p id="49c8">Depending on what is in the fridge/freezer, I can always find something to throw in with this staple. Mac and Cheese, bolognese, a creamy herb sauce or some roasted veggies tossed on the top.</p><p id="b89d">Quick, easy and yummy!</p><h1 id="8ed6">Fave or nah?</h1><ul><li><b><i>Favourite moisturizer?</i></b></li></ul><p id="319c">Can I have two? <i>Aveeno’s</i> stress relief moisturizer and<i> Biotherm’s</i> Bath Therapy. Both smell so fresh and divine.</p><ul><li><b><i>Least favourite car?</i></b></li></ul><p id="5b94">I don’t like the look of those cube-shaped ones, but that is very shallow of me.</p><ul><li><b><i>Favourite chore?</i></b></li></ul><p id="7c17">Definitely not ironing, so I guess I’ll have to go with vacuuming. It’s satisfying to pull mounds of cat hair off the brush and enjoy a day of zero crumbs on my floors.</p><ul><li><b><i>Least favourite tv show?</i></b></li></ul><p id="a3c7">The Bachelor/ette. I want to jump into the set and bang heads together they are so nauseating.</p><ul><li><b><i>Favourite body part?</i></b></li></ul><p id="e5c3">My legs. They have survived the attack of menopause — so far.</p><h1 id="3873">Articles to share</h1><ul><li>A piece that you published in your first moments of being on Medium</li></ul><div id="cc33" class="link-block"> <a href="https://barbaradalton-21201.medium.com/nursing-is-still-a-great-career-choice-6394c56c6100"> <div> <div> <h2>Nursing is (still) a Great Career Choice</h2> <div><h3>They are the unsung heroes of the pandemic. Each day we hear about nurses and essential

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workers fighting an invisible…</h3></div> <div><p>barbaradalton-21201.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*4uHyrpYFIXgoXSJA)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><ul><li>A piece that challenges assumptions</li></ul><div id="7a76" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/im-a-nail-nibbler-and-i-hate-it-7546dad293ab"> <div> <div> <h2>I’m a Nail Nibbler — and I Hate It</h2> <div><h3>Dissecting the psychological torment of a lifelong habit</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*JTS7KCSXfZYuhbp8-ODfwA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><ul><li>A piece related to food</li></ul><p id="0ca8">This one barely is, but I have really not touched on the subject of food. (note to self!)</p><div id="2b24" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-kiwi-is-not-just-a-fruit-5976375d31d8"> <div> <div> <h2>The Kiwi is Not Just a Fruit</h2> <div><h3>Facts and funnies about the bird and the people of New Zealand</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*4goRttt59-A3d37c)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><ul><li>A piece from a fellow writer you love</li></ul><p id="a264"><a href="undefined">Sarah Lau Parker</a></p><div id="74fa" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-nurse-8b55cd767f10"> <div> <div> <h2>The Nurse</h2> <div><h3>A tale from downtown memorial hospital</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*mQV3Z93sPIcVYXl5)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><ul><li>A piece you think deserves more love</li></ul><div id="12ec" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/hallelujah-a-little-one-is-on-the-way-ad76dd15a210"> <div> <div> <h2>Hallelujah! A Little One Is on the Way</h2> <div><h3>But how do you choose a name?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*pP5ymS3B3wvGAavO)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="7de9">Thanks, TBIN for this fun challenge!</p></article></body>

WRITING CHALLENGE

Ask and You Shall Receive

July 2021 The Brain is a Noodle interview

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

[1] If you could go back to the beginning of your writing career, however far back that is, what is one tip you would give yourself?

I’m not sure that 5 months of writing constitutes a career — although according to the trusty Merriam-Webster Dictionary their second definition of the word is indeed true:

a field for or pursuit of consecutive progressive achievement especially in public, professional, or business life

My mediocre existence in this world has taught me one huge lesson: ‘less is more.’ Although financially I have not been rewarded with short-form, my views and readership were.

I need to cut the crap, ditch the diarrhoea and write tight!

[2] In classic group-based ice-breakers format: “Share your name and one random fact about yourself”, how do you choose the fact to share? Do you come up with one on the spot? Does it change depending on who you’re talking to? Do you have one “go-to” answer for all of these ice-breaker situations?

I use ice-breakers whenever I have a new group of students. Although I have used many variations on how to get to know them better, I usually start by introducing myself to give them the idea of how they should proceed.

Hi! I’m Barbara — but please call me Barb because the former sounds so fuddy-duddy. I’ve been told many times that I have an accent; can you guess where I am from?

The usual answers are England, Australia or South African. I guess there aren’t too many kiwi’s in this part of the world to be able to distinguish the difference — heck even I’ll admit to having trouble now that my ears are more attuned to North American accents.

I’ve been caught out on more than one occasion asking someone if they’re Australian and have to sheepishly apologize for confusing their, — my — twang with our rival neighbour!

[3] In what ways do you take care of your mental health?

I walk; used to run but my joints scream at me not to now I am a tincy bit older. Got to be mindful of the wear and tear of ageing and I don’t fancy having a hip or knee joint replacement since I have nursed copious patients through the traumatic process.

Fresh air is the best way to clear a frustrated or overwhelmed mind. It’s the perfect tonic to erode pent-up steam. Add some ear pods and my favourite music, I come back a different person.

[4] How has your culture or context shaped your beliefs about what work ethic or productivity looks like?

I live by three rules ingrained in me as a child:

  1. Don’t do a job half-arsed; you might as well not do it at all.

I’m fanatical for order and the true Virgo permeates my existence. I have always been a stickler for grammar, and any rules are rules — they are not meant to be broken. When I tackle a project, it’s full-on and I am not satisfied until it meets my standards. It becomes time-consuming and causes me a lot of grief sometimes.

2. If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

I’m not afraid to throw myself to the wolves because if I don’t, an opportunity could be lost. If it doesn’t pan out, at least I can say I tried.

3. When in Rome, do as the Roman’s do.

As a nurse, I’ve learned that paperwork, protocols and procedures can change depending on the institution you are working in. Best to stick to the rules governed by the hand that feeds you. This is so true of the writing world too with all the different demands of each publication.

[5] What’s one food you like to make if you don’t want to think or plan or buy new ingredients at all?

A pasta dish.

Depending on what is in the fridge/freezer, I can always find something to throw in with this staple. Mac and Cheese, bolognese, a creamy herb sauce or some roasted veggies tossed on the top.

Quick, easy and yummy!

Fave or nah?

  • Favourite moisturizer?

Can I have two? Aveeno’s stress relief moisturizer and Biotherm’s Bath Therapy. Both smell so fresh and divine.

  • Least favourite car?

I don’t like the look of those cube-shaped ones, but that is very shallow of me.

  • Favourite chore?

Definitely not ironing, so I guess I’ll have to go with vacuuming. It’s satisfying to pull mounds of cat hair off the brush and enjoy a day of zero crumbs on my floors.

  • Least favourite tv show?

The Bachelor/ette. I want to jump into the set and bang heads together they are so nauseating.

  • Favourite body part?

My legs. They have survived the attack of menopause — so far.

Articles to share

  • A piece that you published in your first moments of being on Medium
  • A piece that challenges assumptions
  • A piece related to food

This one barely is, but I have really not touched on the subject of food. (note to self!)

  • A piece from a fellow writer you love

Sarah Lau Parker

  • A piece you think deserves more love

Thanks, TBIN for this fun challenge!

Interview
Writing
Writing Prompts
Writing Challenge
July2021tbininterview
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