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| So-o-Good to be Alive! An uplifting & inspirational blog. |
To help you get motivated to live your best life, I want to share the text from this interview conducted by James Vil of jamesvil.ws. It reveals my inspiration and frame of reference for writing "Vivere: Live, Laugh & Just Be". But the real take-away are some powerful insights "which can help you live a more authentic, joyous, and fulfilling life".
"To be happy we have to be grateful for what we were given yesterday, content with what we have today, and hopeful that we will be given what we need tomorrow." _Alex
1. James: Alex I read your book and found it therapeutic. I think it can help people heal and find happiness. What inspired you to write 'Vivere' in the first place?
Alex: Thank you so much James. That means a lot to me. I set out wanting to share some lessons I learned in my own life, because I believe most of us live complicated lives. There's no dress rehearsal even when there is a staged performance. Every day we are presented with challenges and opportunities that can change our circumstances. I tried to express some insights and shortcuts which will help readers live a more authentic, joyous, and fulfilling life.
"We have to surrender to each movement of time, the blessings and the discord." _ Alex
2. James: Something I really like about 'Vivere' is that it has lots of variety. I'm referring to design and content. You really mix it up. Speak to us about that Alex.
Alex: The truth is that I get bored real easily so I have to mix things up. For something to be pleasurable and interesting it has to have variety. Design is all about landscaping. A garden is beautiful when it has contrast, color, and form. I wanted to create scenery with layout and layers, soothing words, and photographs. Most books are flat leaving the experience to the reader's imagination. 'Vivere' is similar to a magazine. You can pick it up, read an article, gloss over some pictures, and put it down until the next time. I kept everything short so as to keep it lightweight. I kept it real by inserting items from my personal gratitude journal. I made it fun by using popular film scripts for entertainment. Hopefully I made it stick with questions that help the reader probe into themselves. There is both simplicity and texture in 'Vivere' as is the case in the days of our lives.
"For something to be pleasureble and interesting it has to have variety. I wanted to create scenery with layout and layers, soothing words, and photographs" _ Alex
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| "A garden is beautiful when it has contrast, color, and form" _ Alex |
3. James: Do you enjoy writing Alex? Have you written other books besides 'Vivere'?
Alex: I love to create. The 2007 film, 'P.S. I Love You" says it best for me. When Holly first meets Jerry she tries to impress him with her grand plans and ends up quoting William Blake, "I must create... my business is to create... or be enslaved by another man's ...something." She explains, "Just create something new and there it is. And it's you out in the world outside of you... And you can look at it, or hear it, or read it, or feel it...and you know a little bit more about you. A little bit more than anybody else does."
Composition is my thing. Put a camera in my hands and I can't stop clicking. I'm forever scribbling phrases down on scraps of paper. I come up with 101 ideas for different projects. My to-do list is very long. I'm not good with crafts and I can't paint but I doodle with words and meditate on sounds and meaning. We are so lucky to have been given the gift of gab. I believe that we all have a book within us that we want to write someday. There's a story or a craft that we want to gift-wrap and present to the universe. That's how we satisfy our need to make a lasting connection. And while we may get discouraged at times or anxious, we have to trust that when the time is right it will happen.
"There's a story or a craft that we want to gift-wrap and present to the universe. That's how we satisfy our need to make a lasting connection." _Alex
'Vivere: Live, Laugh, & Just Be" is my first book. I have produced hundreds of publications but most of them were commercial assignments for promotion or education purposes. It's funny because I didn't really enjoy writing then. I do now. I have several books in the works that I hope to publish soon. Stay tuned!
4. James: Why did you pick the name 'Vivere' for your ebook?
Alex: Originally I had chosen a different title. It was 'The Lily Pad Way' which referred to a way of being in the world and the process of finding happiness. I pictured a life of tranquility where one is floating on a lily pad in harmony with their surroundings, sheltered from everything beyond the pond. But just before publishing, I thought of the word 'Vivere' in Italian. I liked how one word captures everything I try to say in the book about life and being alive, and the practice of focusing on what is good in our lives. I added 'Live, Laugh, and Just Be' to expand on 'Vivere'.
"I liked how one word captures everything I try to say in the book about life and being alive, and the practice of focusing on what is good in our lives." _Alex
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| "Originally I wanted to call the book 'The Lilly Pad Way' which referred to a way of being in the world and the process of finding happiness" _ Alex |
5. James: How do you think 'Vivere' can benefit Independent Business Owners (IBOs)?
Alex: My business is to create and to transform. I have been an IBO most of my working life and my orientation is that of an entrepreneur. IBOs have dreams too. They're after tools and techniques which will help them do better and be better versions of themselves. 'Vivere' is a toolkit which allows IBOs to define goals and set expectations. Sometimes we're so busy that we get in our own way. IBOs need inspiration and motivation because they carry a heavy burden. They experience failure and success and need courage to start over or stop before crashing. 'Vivere' is about finding passion and committing to goals. It's about overcoming challenges and accepting people as they really are. It's about creating wealth and being generous. 'Vivere' has a lot to offer IBOs and it's written in short-form much like a report.
"IBO's need inspiration and motivation because they carry a heavy burden. They experience failure and success and need courage to start over or stop before crashing." _ Alex
6. James: What is the main thing that you want people to know about 'Vivere'?
Alex: I suppose the main take away is that 'Vivere' teaches how to live, laugh, and just be no matter what is happening in our lives. It describes a process which leads to happiness despite the loss, confusion, abuse, or chaos. It's an easy read and a delightful experience.
"'Vivere teaches how to live, laugh, & just be no matter what is happening in our lives." _Alex
7. James: Can a potential buyer contact you if they have more questions about 'Vivere' ?
Alex: I look forward to hearing from anyone about 'Vivere'. We all love to talk about what is precious to us and 'Vivere' is part of me. They can post a question or comment here and I will reply. [You can email Alex at so.o.good.productions@gmail.com]
8. James: Are you planning to publish a printed version of 'Vivere'?
Alex: Not right now. Because 'Vivere' would have to be printed in full color, it's quite expensive to print. I am considering other formats and would welcome readers' feedback on this point.
9. James: Where can people order 'Vivere'?
Alex: 'Vivere: Live, Laugh, and Just Be' can be purchased from Amazon at www.amazon.com/author/alex_abaz and Smashwords and its' affiliates at smashwords.com/b/168027.
Click to download Vivere: Live, Laugh & Just Be!
