Donna Galanti - The Element Trilogy

Link to my Email-splatter Page
Link to my Facebook-splatter Page
Link to my Goodreads-splatter Page
Link to my Rss-splatter Page
Link to my Twitter-splatter Page

Visit Donna Galanti’s books for children

  • Home
  • About Donna
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Books for Adults
    • Books for Teens & Tweens
  • Contact
  • News & Events
  • Writers

Pee on a tree to get what you want

By Donna Galanti

Would you wait in line to do it too?

My son was never the kind of kid that would pee in public in an emergency. He was always very modest. If we were out in the woods we would have to high tail it to a bathroom. He always shuts the bathroom door at home and locks it too. (The cats know how to open it. They like to hang with you in private moments).

Imagine a recent day where my now-9-year-old and I go to the local kids castle playground. A peaceful day. No one around (thankfully). I park by a bench and look over to see my son leaning his head on a tree and a familiar stream coming out. He was peeing on the tree.

I stood in shock, not sure that I was really seeing what I was seeing. Then I shouted the heavens down. Stream stopped. Explanation demanded.

So the Butterfly Man came to school and told the kids that butterflies love pee. Animal pee. Human pee. It attracts them. He said on walking tours that he would send out his workers ahead of time to pee along the way so visitors would see butterflies abound (really?). My son loves butterflies. He is obsessed with caterpillars and chrysalis (“because cocoons are only for moths, Mom”). If anyone would want to attract butterflies it’s my son, even if it meant doing something outside of his comfort zone. I understood.

That got me thinking. What have I done outside of my comfort zone to achieve something? First memory. Walking in to the U.S. Navy paxil Recruiter’s office one day on a whim, to soon find myself barely standing on no sleep with a company commander screaming in my face to “shut up, you, bubble-eyed fool”.

But what have I done lately? Go to my first Writers Conference. Yep. Didn’t sleep for days. Didn’t feel like I belonged. But it was fantastic. And I attracted new and wonderful friends that have spread.

I went to my first agent pitch. Thought I would pitch all over her. But that’s how I met my publisher. I read at my first reading. Legs shaking, voice cracking. I did it. No one laughed me out of the room. And I did it again. And again. It became easier and I attracted self-confidence for myself.

Next month I’m going to brave ThrillerFest in NYC. Where I’ll (legs shaking) get to meet the most amazing thriller writers of today and present my debut novel to the conference (I hope I get to sit for that). I’ll have to step out of my security blanket of anonymity and fear of crowded places.

I won’t be peeing on any trees. But you better believe it will feel like I’m doing that in public just the same.

My mother said I always wanted to be a boy when I was a little girl and would stand up and “go” for practice. So even if I did have to pee on a tree to get what I want, I bet I’d have pretty good aim.

Have you done something lately outside of your comfort zone to get what you want?

Share this:

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Inspirational Tagged With: butterflies, comfort zone, pee on a tree, Thrillerfest

Comments

  1. KD Rush says

    June 15, 2012 at 9:53 am

    Donna, I loved this post. Funny and inspiring. Thank you for sharing!

  2. dgalanti says

    June 15, 2012 at 1:40 pm

    Thanks KD, felt like being silly on a Friday…plus it was one of those moments you have to do a double take 🙂

  3. J. Thomas Ross says

    June 15, 2012 at 2:13 pm

    This is right on the mark, Donna! I felt the same thing when I attended my first science fiction convention. I almost turned around and drove home. But I went and made some new friends. Then I tried other science fiction conventions and writing conferences. It gets easier once I know the place and some of the people, but the first time I go to any new event is still nerve-wracking!

    • dgalanti says

      June 15, 2012 at 3:26 pm

      HI Judy, I know just what you mean! It is scary to show up alone, but ever experience I have had I left knowing new folks so I try and remember that. 🙂

  4. Giacomo Giammatteo says

    June 16, 2012 at 1:05 pm

    great post, Donna. And I love that picture. And you’ve hit it right on the head. It is very difficult to get outside your comfort zone. What a wonderful way to get the message across.

    • dgalanti says

      June 16, 2012 at 1:09 pm

      Indeed, Giacomo. I dont think we ever get comfortable being outside our comfort zone – but it gets easier to do it after awhile and knowing there are rewards for doing so.

Trackbacks

  1. Top Picks Thursday 06-21-2012 « The Author Chronicles says:
    June 21, 2012 at 1:04 pm

    […] with advice, as always! Donna Galanti advocates peeing on a tree, or something else that would move you out of your comfort zone. For many writers, their first conference is a big step outside their comfort zone. Colleen Lindsay […]

NOW AVAILABLE!

NOW AVAILABLE!

Reviews for A Human Element

Reviews from Goodreads.com

Short Story Collection!

Recent Posts

  • Love Mystery, Thriller & Suspense? Holiday Kindle Deals! $0.99 & $1.99
  • My Live Radio Interview with Dean Koontz Tonight!
  • Spooky Element Trilogy Blog Tour: Book 1 .99cents, Book 2 FREE + Enter to Win $25 Amazon GC!
  • Spooktacular Giveaway Blog Hop! Books & Prizes!
  • Sign up for Element Trilogy book blog tour, enter to win $15 Amazon GC + get free review copy!
  • Lines To Leave Us Hanging

Categories

  • 9/11 (2)
  • A to Z Blog Challenge (25)
  • Audio Books (6)
  • Authors (106)
  • blog tour (10)
  • Book Marketing (7)
  • Books (80)
  • Characters (14)
  • charity (1)
  • Comic Relief (10)
  • Inspirational (25)
  • ITW Debut Authors (8)
  • Journal Writing (3)
  • Memoir Writing (3)
  • Navy (2)
  • Seasonal (6)
  • Social Media (3)
  • The Dark Side (7)
  • Writing Conferences (6)
  • Writing Resources (17)
  • Writing Techniques (30)
  • Young Adult (4)
World Literary Cafe

Support Indie Bookshops

SAVE Kids Castle!

Blogroll

  • Algonguin Redux
  • August McLaughliin
  • Author Chronicles
  • Blood Red Pencil
  • Casey McCormick
  • Catherine Stine Idea City
  • Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group
  • Janice Gable Bashman
  • Jess Cooper
  • Joe McGee
  • Jon Gibbs
  • Jonathan Maberry
  • Lucas Mangum:Dark Dimensions
  • Marketing Tips for Authors
  • Mina Burrows: Books for Paranormal & Mystic Minds
  • Nicole Zoltak
  • Philly Liars Club
  • Rebecca Rose
  • Stacy Green
  • The Big Thrill
  • The Thrill Begins
  • Write it Forward

© Copyright 2017 www.elementtrilogy · All Rights Reserved ·