Just Me

  Despite a few bad things happening today, there were some good things. A couple of VERY good things that got me really excited! And they totally made me forget about the bad things.  1. I won an Amazon gift certificate! Yay! 2. Wrote a chapter in one of the books I am ghostwriting. I thought this chapter was going to be difficult to write, but I did some research for it first the other day then spent some time thinking about it. When I sat down to write it today, I wasn't sure if I would be able to write the whole chapter. But I did more research as I worked on it and wrote the whole chapter. (All 3 books I am ghostwriting are nonfiction.) 3. My publisher responded to my email today. She said she is interested in the nonfiction book series I had pitched to her on Sunday. Not only this, but she asked if I wanted to be a part of a project being put together by a sign language interpreter. It would be something that would benefit the Deaf community. I got excited about this and...

Today didn't start out very well and a couple of other bad things happened today, too. But I do have some things to celebrate from today -- and that's what interesting. I told my friend, Nita, about how doing this -- looking for reasons to celebrate -- helped me to appreciate the good things that happened in my day despite the bad things. It made me appreciate the good things even more. And there were a few good things that happened today. 1. Our cat, Smokey, had dental surgery this morning and I was worried he'd be too loopy after the surgery, antisocial or not have much of an appetite. But shortly after we brought him home, he was back to being his active, affectionate and Very Hungry self. I'm so glad he's okay! 2. I started reading another novel today and it's really good so far. 3. The VERY, VERY good thing that happened today is that I finally found the strength to write about a traumatic experience I had a long time ago. I can thank William Zinsser for co...

  Here are 7 things I have to celebrate from today   1. I finished reading a novel ( Bronwyn's Bane by Elizabeth Ann Scarborough -- GOOD BOOK!!) 2. I had waffles for breakfast. Yummy! 3. My youngest got a new pair of shoes for free today, along with a free backpack for school. He also won a laptop! And he was never heard from again.... (LOL) 4. Hubby made a very nice dinner this evening. 5. I typed up 5 of the songs I wrote when I was a teenager. One of them is one of my favorites; a rap I wrote called "Please." (Yes! I used to write rap songs!) I'd forgotten how long it was! Now if only I could find another favorite song that I wrote.... 6. I revised a short story that I have been stumped on how to fix. I was thinking about how to fix it for all of last week. I THINK I have it right this time.... but not entirely sure. Maybe I need to just let it sit for a little longer. 7. I got an idea this morning for a 3-book series for three nonfiction books (one written, one a...

  When I decided to go back to journaling – a habit I abandoned since I couldn’t keep up with it on a daily basis – I pondered whether or not I should be careful about what to write in my journal. Then I decided that maybe it’s just better to put EVERYTHING into my journal – every thought, idea, dream, things that happen, etc. One constant I have noticed about my life is that people always, ALWAYS get the wrong ideas about me. They ALWAYS assume the wrong things, jump to the wrong conclusions and think they have me ALL FIGURED OUT when they are not even close. So, yes, I decided that I WILL put everything into my journal. There will be no holds barred. Everything that happens and what people say will go into my journal.   But at the same time, one can’t help but wonder how people reading the journal later on, long after I am dead, will react to it or what they’ll think about the kind of person that I was.   I recently read an editorial in which the author strugg...

My friend and fellow writer, Nita Beshear , has been posting things to celebrate from today an awful lot lately. And now it has rubbed off on me! My first post was on my Facebook page. I am never lucky when it comes to doing a daily habit, although I have managed to write in my journal every day. But I'm still gonna try this. So, here it is, something from my day to celebrate. I have decided to put it on my blog since it is public. Yes, everybody is welcome to read it! And I hope you, too, will also take time to find some reasons to celebrate from your day. 1. Slept in this morning. 2. Had an hour to myself to read this morning. It was nice! 3. Saw a friend's post on Facebook of her son with a Big Mac from McDonald's and I suddenly wanted a Big Mac from McDonald's! And, later, I was craving a chocolate shake. Got to have both of those things for dinner tonight. 4. Saw the sunset. 5. Watched a movie this evening. 6. Got to enjoy the scent of a candle that I bought recent...

      I recently read the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. It’s a really good book and I loved it. Highly recommended. I learned a lot from it. I highlighted many passages in the book that stood out or spoke to me in some way. One quote that stood out for me, though, was this: “Die to the past every day.” When I saw that quote, I was first inspired by how much the very act of dying to our past can help us a lot. Unfortunately, some people remain trapped in the past and they can’t move forward in life. By refusing to live in the past and embracing all of the beautiful things our lives have to offer in the present, we are able to grow, learn and be happy. That is what I have managed to do, anyway. I am no longer a prisoner of my past; the past is only something that I refer to for lessons and information.   This has been a very hard lesson in itself to learn. It’s not easy living only in the present and referring to the past for information and lesson...