Category Archives: Inspiration

Please help raise Dementia Awareness through film!

Hi guys! I wanted to share an exciting update on the short film “The Nurse” that I’ve been working on.  We now have our production team in place and will begin filming in June. But, I need your help to make this project a success. Please spread the word about this film to your friends and family. And, if you can, please consider donating to our GoFundMe page to bring this story to life. As I’ve shared, “The Nurse” is a powerful and emotional narrative about the impact of dementia on relationships and how love can overcome even the most difficult circumstances.

This story will raise awareness about the effects of dementia on relationships and how one can still find hope and resilience in such a difficult situation.

If you are just now hearing about my project, it’s a short film I wrote that is a powerful fusion of “Still Alice” and “The Vow.” It shares an intimate and poignant narrative about a woman who is trying to care for her husband with dementia. In a raw emotional moment, she is asked to leave their home of twenty years when her husband, unable to recognize her, mistakes her for a stranger. She must now find a way to return and continue caring for the man she deeply loves. In an aha moment, she alters her appearance and comes back as her husband’s live-in nurse, caring for him, cooking his favorite meals and watching his favorite movies. Over time, her husband begins to feel safe with her and eventually realizes he is falling in love with her. Yes. She won his heart a second time.

I’ve heard from several of you that the story really resonates with you, and I can’t wait to share it with the world. Thank you for your continued support! I’ll keep you posted on the progress. Thanks again! You can see the trailer on the Gofund me site. https://gofund.me/f1ea2fe6

The Nurse – A Short Film by Joyce Kostakis

My film project “The Nurse” is moving along. 

When a person living with Alzheimer’s doesn’t recognize his wife and asks her to leave their home of twenty years, she must figure out a way to find her way back to care for the man she loves. Comps: Still Alice meets The Vow.

We film in June. I met two amazing women that are helping. Carole Klinger, CEO of A Dementia Friendly Life – Linking Individuals & Families Through Education and Engagement and Kristin McAdams with the Alzheimer’s Association, Cleveland chapter. Both are Earth Angels! Carole and I are going to work on training videos for caregivers. I’d love to hear any suggestions you may have.

If you or someone you know is living with dementia, I encourage you to reach out for support.

Carole Klingler, BSN, RN, CDP, CEO 440.935.3506 – Website: http://www.DFLife.org

Alzheimer’s Association help line – 24/7 HELPLINE 800.272.3900

Techniques for Writing

I forgot about a podcast I created a while back on techniques for getting in a mindset for an emotional chapter.

I was writing a scene about a father and daughter dancing at her wedding. I wanted it to be emotional, so I listened to several songs about a father’s love for his daughter, and then wrote the chapter. What a great technique. My readers have shared they cried during most of the chapter. I hope you enjoy the podcast.

a

Growing up Army Strong.

I wrote an article for my HOA newsletter and shared it here to expand my thanks for those that serve as well as the military family members.

I try to have a daily practice of gratitude. It helps me start my day with a positive frame of mind. To me, this is more important than ever in these challenging times. It’s easy for me to look around and count my blessings. The community I live in looks out for each other, and I feel fortunate to be a part of it.

I’m enjoying meeting community members and expanding my friendship circles that being a volunteer board member has afforded me. I highly recommend joining a committee, or even better, serving on the board. We have several openings this October. I’ve mentioned on several occasions that this community reminds me of living on a military base and that is because of the love and support of military families that bond together as a loved one serves.

I see that same caring for each other in this community and it reminds me of another deeper gratitude. Being raised a brat. The fact that I choose to serve in the Air Force doesn’t diminish my gratitude at growing up an Army Brat. Being Army strong served me well as an airman and civilian. I am grateful for all those who serve our country and add to that the immense gratitude for the service of the military family. They didn’t stand in front of a flag, raise their hand and swear to protect this great country, yet they make sacrifices every day.

I thank the parents that raised a child that commits themselves to this country. How, despite your worry, your hearts must burst with pride. I thank the spouse that stands by the soldier and braves all the hardships of deployment, long absences, packing and unpacking with a supportive smile and an “I’ve got this, don’t worry about us” mindset. I thank the kids that try their best to be brave, walking into new schools time and time again. Leaving old friends behind and opening their hearts to new ones, all the while trying to behave as to not reflect badly on the parent serving. It wasn’t all hardships. Living a military life, be it as a spouse, service member or child, builds resilience. The diversity of new cultures and environments enriches our lives in ways that cannot be measured. As we learned to be adaptable, we found ourselves able to adjust to change with a tuck and roll attitude that calms others around us that may not be as comfortable with it. So, if you know a military family, be sure to thank them for their service as well.

Which cover?

Does anyone else build their covers before the book is complete? I like to have a final cover once I vet my story out. It helps me manifest the final product. I can’t decide between these two covers. The story is about a dog that helps his owner find love. That makes me lean toward the dog with the flowers.

Please let me know what you think.

Staying authentic and genuine.

I woke up this morning and enjoyed reading people’s posts. The emotions were raw as words spilled out about fears, growth, happiness, and having loved and lost with hopes of letting go and loving again. I want to send a heartfelt thanks to all those who put into words so eloquently all the emotions and experiences I can relate to. I am inspired to get back into writing and reading WordPress.

WordPress is such a juxtaposition against the social media posts that hold smiling faces drinking coffee watching the morning sunrise from their deck or vacation spot and a glass of wine at sunset. Everyone’s kids are excelling in sports, graduating, and getting married. Spouses are the most loving, supportive partners. Congratulations on another year of a happy and content life.

Recently a friend posted a comment on social media about having loved someone without regret but negatively commented about the experience. I reached out to make sure she was okay because she usually posts positive comments. She was fine, just going through the ups and downs of a relationship that had ended. She called me a few days later and told me a family member wanted her to take down the post. It wasn’t the message she should be sending. I told her to leave it, it was authentic and genuine, and it was how she felt. Life’s not always about cute cat videos and plastered smiles. I told her I would have never known to reach out to make sure she is okay had I not seen that comment. Sadly, anyone who dares to post a real emotion or struggle seems to be shot down with comments about the inappropriateness of airing dirty laundry. Somehow WordPress has escaped this, and for that, I am grateful.

Merry Christmas

Good morning. I hope everyone is safe, warm, and healthy this Christmas. I moved to Ohio last year after living mostly in Austin, Texas and a few years in Portland, Oregon. I woke up to my first white Christmas in forever. I think I’ve only had one or two in my life. I seem to gravitate to warm states like Florida, Arizona and Texas. I will admit, the heat in Texas was getting old. I’m really enjoying living in a place with four seasons. I’m sitting on my couch with a hot cup of coffee looking out the window at my backyard. It’s like a postcard.

I finished the sequel to Streaming Sarah this week. Finishing Streaming James was my Christmas present to myself. My writing group meets again in January, and they will edit the last few chapters I wrote this week. I’m not sure how many writers joined groups while working on their craft, but I highly recommended it. Having so many different perceptions really opened my eyes to how readers might see the chapters. I learned so much from reading and editing their chapters as well. We continued our meetings by zoom this year. It made 2020 bearable.

If you haven’t done so already, I recommend setting up calls via zoom, Skype, FaceTime, portal, what ever means you have. I can promise you within minutes, you will forget you are not in the room. I have face-to-face Fridays. I’ll either play Yahtzee with friends or just sit around and chat. For Yahtzee, we each have our own dice and aim the camera at the table so everyone can see the dice. If I’m not playing Yahtzee, I’ll have a glass of wine with a friend. I do Tai Chi three times a week with a friend from Oregon. She has her DVD going to sound and I’ll have mine on without the sound. I aim my camera at me so she can see me. She does the same.

Community is critical for mental heath. We are doing zoom for Christmas this year. Not ideal, but we are all trying to keep each other safe. I look forward to reading everyone’s blogs today and in 2021. I’ve been away from WordPress for most of 2020. Not because of Covid, but because I was focused on finishing my masters, which I did in November of this year.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very healthy and happy New Year.

Joyce

Don’t check my browser history.

I’m finishing the last few chapters of my sequel Streaming James. I’m so excited! I took way too long to finish this novel.

I’m laughing as I finish the chapters. Not because they are funny. It’s a paranormal murder mystery, after all. I’m laughing because of the old joke, If found dead, delete my browsing history.

As a writer, I look up some crazy stuff. You’d think I’m a serial killer or suicidal. My protagonist can stream the dead after a failed suicide, so there was lots of research on depression and suicide. To finish the last chapters, I’m googling behaviors that can mitigate a murder sentence, the average sentence for murder, and what type of drugs can be slipped into a drink that causes hallucinations leading to murder. My husband would be very nervous, looking over my shoulder right about now.

Any thing on your browsing history you would want deleted?