Showing posts with label inspirational. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspirational. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

A Favorite Book of Mine

Amazon.com
When visiting my daughter in California I often come across good books to read due to the entire family being voracious readers down to the 12 year old.
   I've read a variety of subjects, from suicide, special pets, to best sellers. All enjoyable. But one book remains one of my favorites, a simple, beautifully written memoir of Anne Morrow Lindbergh when she spent a vacation alone in a small cottage on Captiva island off the Florida Gulf Coast.
   What I like best about this "Gift from the Sea" is the way Lindbergh correlates seashells to the various stages of adult womanhood. You'll have to read the book to understand.
   This is the second time I've read this work. I choose to read it at the beginning of a new year to further ground my outlook of life now as a senior.
   Fascinating for me is to realize that although Anne Lindbergh suffered through the terrible tragedy of the murder of their infant son, she found strength through her writing, her husband, and in later years her five children.
   Not all of us can spend a week or two in solitude on a remote island. But what we can do is step into Anne Lindbergh's experience, read about her journey, and discover that each one of us has the capacity to be a whole person no matter what life hands us.

Please let me know if you have read this book or plan to. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Cheers!

Nancy Jill  
                  

Saturday, October 24, 2015

"A Cup of Cozy 3" is Out!

Amazon.com
And now there are three, with the first book as our free gift. So excited to announce the launch of  "A Cup of Cozy 3"  in this cozy mystery anthology series filled with short mysteries and holiday recipes.

This issue introduces Janice Hanna Thompson, a popular award-winning and well-loved author familiar to many in the Christian literary world.

Linda P. Kozar writes a story taking place in Turkey, while Cynthia Hickey's story revels in a masquerade mystery. My story "Final Performance" takes place in San Francisco when Jillian and her garden club friends attend "The Nutcracker" in the heart of downtown.

I hope you enjoy the stories as well as the yummy recipes at the end. Happy Holidays! And reviews would be simply lovely. Thank you, dear readers.

~Nancy Jill 







Friday, May 10, 2013

A Heartwarming Story for the Weekend

From Marc and Angel  Chernoff
Marc and Angel Hack Life

Marc and took a walk this morning when we saw a homeless man holding a cardboard box with five kittens meowing inside.  The man had a really worried expression on his face.  When I asked him about the kittens, he said that someone had abandoned them next to a dumpster in the alleyway where he sleeps.  “I’ve been feeding them whatever food I could find,” he said.  “But I could use some help if you have some food for them or know someone who could give them a better home.”

Marc and I had a large, unexpected expense pop-up recently, but we decided to use some of the money we’ve made from our book this week to help the homeless man out.  We walked over to the bank, withdrew $80, went to the grocery store and bought two-dozen cans of cat food, filtered drinking water, and a footlong prepackaged deli sandwich.  We then walked back over to the man and delivered the groceries.  He was in shock – smiling from ear to ear and he thanked us repeatedly.

When we got back home Marc called our cat’s veterinary physician, who is the ultimate animal lover, and told her the story about the kittens and where to find the homeless man.  This evening we received a voicemail from her.  She said, “I just wanted to thank you and let you know that I have temporarily adopted the kittens.  I will make sure each of them finds a permanent, happy home.  Also, I was so moved by Shawn’s (the homeless man) goodwill, and the fact that he seems levelheaded, that I have offered him a part-time job at the animal clinic and a free place to stay until he can get his act together.  Not sure how that will go, but I figured it was worth a try.”

The events of today reminded me that, even when we least expect it, every one of us has the power to make a difference in the world.  Our small gestures of kindness can completely change the trajectory of another person’s life.





                                      Enjoy your weekend! 

 ~Nancy Jill 
Mystery novelist Nancy Jill Thames began publishing Christian fiction in 2010. The author of six books in the Jillian Bradley series, she is an award winning blogger and is listed numerous times on the Author Watch Bestseller’s List, this in addition to winning first place for her Chocolate Cream Pie.

When she isn’t plotting her next book, she spends time with her six grandchildren in two states, tags along with her husband on business trips, and plays classical piano for her own personal enjoyment. She is an active member of the Leander Writers Guild and supports the Central Texas SPCA with a portion of her book sales.


nd. Nancy Jill is busy working on book 7 "The Ruby of Siam" a mystery taking place in London.
CONTACT INFORMATION











Thursday, December 20, 2012

Sobering Sensation

Our family visited the recreation of Bethlehem in Burnett, Texas last Sunday - what a moving experience! Eating freshly baked Bethlehem bread, hearing the shepherds announce the birth of a savior in the town square, listening to the priest chant from the Torah...all very moving. We came to the inn, finally, after wandering through shops, homes, and crowded streets (it was the time for the census, you know), and talked with the inn keeper himself. A fearsome Roman soldier stood guard nearby, armed with a steel-tipped spear. He didn't smile once and performed his role so realistically, I was afraid to approach him. The inn keeper shared how cruel the Romans were to the Jewish citizens, taxing them heavily and arresting anyone for the slightest offense. He also shared that there was no room for us in his inn, in fact, he had to turn away a very pregnant young woman and her husband, but gave them the stable in back with clean straw and shelter from the elements. "Funny thing," he said. "Right after they settled in, a bright star arose over the stable. And," he told us, "there were shepherds telling everyone that angels had appeared announcing a king had been born!" The inn keeper chuckled and mused, "Why would a king choose to be born in a poor town like Bethlehem? Doesn't make any sense."

Oh, but it did! Until I visited Bethlehem and saw for myself how truly humble a place it was, I never really felt how much God cares only that we accept and love Him for Him alone - not what He's able to give us, or how important we can feel because we belong to a rich king. And yet, He owns everything, so we truly are rich. In spite of this season's tragedies, including a fire that destroyed three entire apartment buildings in Austin this morning, let us remember that although suffering and oppression (like the Roman soldiers) will always remain, so will the love and mercy of God our Heavenly Father. May His peace rule in our hearts this season and in the year to come.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

~Nancy Jill

Monday, October 22, 2012

And the point is...

Family Members
Ever wonder if you are in control of things, or just the opposite? For instance, last week I truly believed I was in control of every detail of the wedding week from my end. Really. Then the guests left, the caterer came and took his equipment back and I put my house back together, leaving only the guest linen laundry (14 loads of sheets, towels and blankets). So far, so good. 

But then I study the big picture and realize life is going in slow motion. Sure, taking care of details is mind boggling and fun, but what really happens is a family heritage builds, slowly and surely. As one son marries, grandchildren grow older and so do I. 
My Mother and Me

In the midst of celebrating life's wonderful milestones, time passes slowly. What will remain after I'm no longer a part of this world? Hopefully, fond memories of a daughter, wife, mother and grandma who loved lavishing attention on her family members and yes, even memories of the books I'll have written that loosely document the wonderful times we've shared. 

How are you spending your days? Happily working at your job or career? Making warm memories of love and laughter for those you love? The point is, how we spend the few moments of time we're each given is really up to us. I'm choosing to create great times our family can remember and share.

Like the song says, "May your days be merry and bright... "

~Nancy Jill



Monday, September 17, 2012

PLUG IN FOR POWER

Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could plug ourselves in and recharge? For electrical devices we use chargers, for electronics we simply plug the cord into a socket. What about you and me though, especially on Monday mornings? Exercise, good nutrition and rest are important, however there's more. For me, goals are my main motivation. Wired that way I suppose, but it's not a bad thing. What about you? Is Monday your favorite day of the week? Only when I feel in control of my to-do list do I ever look forward to the first day of the work week. 
     Today was tough to get started, feeling overwhelmed with self-imposed deadlines to get "Waiting for Santa" edited for my great Beta Reader Team to peruse. Coupled with everyday tasks, I wanted to run away to Hawaii and veg. Instead, I put one foot in front of the other, made breakfast for my wonderful hubby, threw together a crock pot of chili beans and cleaned off the Adirondack chairs on the patio. Okay, I feel a little energy coming. Nope, went away again. Maybe if I sit and  read something inspirational and pray for God to give me strength...yep! That did it! Perfect scriptures from Isaiah now have me up and running, doing this blog post for instance. Perfect. Sheets are washed, cookies baked and I feel the coffee kicking in! Now on to my list - only nine more things to go. Have a great week, my friends.

~Nancy Jill

Monday, September 10, 2012

"AND THE WHIPPOORWILL SANG"

By MICKI PELUSO


"And the Whippoorwill Sang" is a deathbed promise I made to my lost child. When she was struck down by a drunk driver, her spinal cord severed, and left in a semi-coma for ten of the longest days of our lives, I told her I would make sure the world knew who and what she was; so that her death would not be in vain. As close as our large family was, when Noelle died, we all went our separate ways, unable to comfort each other. One of her sisters became bulimic and suicidal, a brother raced cars to tempt God to take him as well, her other brother had to be constantly pulled back from going after the repeated offender drunk driver who caused our world to dim without Noelle’s presence. Her oldest sister could not handle our great sorrow and stayed away on her own, while her youngest sister was plagued with anxiety and panic attacks at the age of eleven. Her father did not speak her name for five years and barely ever after that. As for me, I wrote. I could not speak or share so I wrote. The short story of the book was published by Victimology; an International Magazine. I wrote slice of life stories about her and all the kids for my new local daily newspaper, which led to a career in Journalism. I started the book about four years after her death, but life stepped in and I had to put it aside for years. When I was able to continue it, I realized the block when I came to the part before she died. My kids, many of whom also had memory loss, helped as we forced ourselves to remember—that and a deadline from my publisher finally got the book done. 


TO READ MORE OF THIS FASCINATING INTERVIEW PLEASE VISIT US ON "QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA." MICKI PELUSO'S STORY WILL TOUCH YOUR HEART.

She's giving away a free signed copy of her book.  Please see the interview for details. Have a great week, dear friends.

~Nancy Jill



Tuesday, September 4, 2012

ARE YOU A GENIUS?


 Benjamin Franklin said:



"GENIUS IS NOTHING BUT A GREATER APTITUDE FOR PATIENCE."

Ah...so if we hang in there long enough and persevere, whatever our aim just might be well regarded as such. I thought this quote was quite provoking. As I considered people whom I regarded as geniuses, I thought of Thomas Edison, inventor of the light bulb. How many times did he fail? Countless. He believed in hard work, sometimes working twenty hours a day. Edison was quoted as saying, "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration." But because of his patience he created the source of most of the power we all use today. Pretty amazing. I for one am going to exercise more patience. Patience in my writing, patience in my editing, and most of all, patience in the journey of being a successful author. In what area in your life do you need more patience? Do certain individuals come to mind when you think of the word "genius?"

Thursday, August 30, 2012

TODAY - HERE WE COME!

Love the Dove wrapper quote that says, "Forget the rules and play by your heart." Sure, we can get criticized for following our dreams - but what should that tell us? Most of the critics wished they had our drive to go after their goals. From the past two years of being an author I've learned many important lessons. But the most important one is to follow my heart.

A few years ago my husband shared a truth that has made a huge difference in my attitude. He said, "No one else can make you happy." Living by this principal each day has made the difference between my being negative (blaming my failure on someone else) or being positive (if it is to be, it's up to me!). The feeling from taking responsibility for my own success is liberating!

Matt Patterson is "King of the Week" on "Queen of Afternoon Tea" Celebrity Author Interviews this week. Here is a man who faced adversity but used his situation to help others living through the same nightmare. I hope you'll read the article, make a comment and if you haven't followed already, take this opportunity to sign up by e-mail. Matt is giving away a copy of his book "My Emily" to a lucky commenter/new follower.

Have a wonderful day, dear friends!

~Nancy Jill

Monday, August 20, 2012

STILL LEARNING

NANCY JILL THAMES
It's true! I drive my husband nuts! Well, at least some of the time. Childlike in my approach to life, I'm constantly learning things I never knew before - like a driver's license is only required at the ticket counter if you're checking bags. My husband looked at me ruefully as I tried offering my license to the agent. Right - we're only checking one bag - got it!

The journey as an author is one of constantly learning new things as well. In fact, the whole process is an incredible learning experience! Sometimes it takes three days to edit one chapter learning how to use a new editing site. Or learning how to show something happening in the story instead of telling what's happening. Not easy! But not impossible either - I just have to learn the craft. 

One author friend of mind, C. L. Ragsdale has this showing business down! I read all four of her Reboot Files within a couple of days. She's having tea with me this week over at "Queen of Afternoon Tea." 

She's giving away a copy of her first book "The Mystery of Hurtleberry House" to a lucky winner who leaves a comment and follows "Queen of Afternoon Tea."

 The winner of "Extraordinary Dreams of an Ireland Traveler" by Rosemary Adkins is Linneann. Congratulations! She commented and started following "Queen of Afternoon Tea" this week.

Have you learned anything new recently? Learning does keep life interesting. Have a great week, dear friends!

~Nancy Jill
 

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

10 REASONS TO BE JUMPING FOR JOY!

1. I'm a Believer!
2. I'm happily married.
3. I have plenty to eat.
4. I have a place to sleep every night.
5. I am in great health.
6. I have wonderful children.
7. I have wonderful grandchildren.
8. I have a rewarding writing career. 
9. I have too many friends to count.
10. I have no time to complain.

Can you count 10 reasons to be jumping for joy? 

Friday, June 8, 2012

WHEN YOU NEED A FRIEND...

Up the "Down" Ladder
Sometimes a person suffering from depression just needs a friend to talk to. And a friend like Dolores Ayotte would be an excellent choice. In her book, "Up the "Down" Ladder", Dolores shares insights from her experience with depression and simple steps to manage it. She cites numerous authorities on the subject, and writes the book in a conversational way, just as if she and the reader were sharing over a cup of coffee. If you are a person suffering from depression, I would highly recommend reading this book. Sometimes, you just need a friend.Thanks for being mine!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

AHH, SUMMER VACATION...

School's out! Hooray! Now
what do we do? Well, as a stay at home mom with not a whole lot of disposable income for expensive summer camps, I created my own diversion for the kiddies. Every week day had a theme: Library Day, Friend Day, Park and Picnic Day, Swim Day, and Craft Day. All the neighborhood kids were invited to participate and we had a blast! My favorite was Park and Picnic Day when we took a lunch and fed the ducks. Fond memories that our children will never forget. Nor will their friends. And now, my son's friend who was such an integral part of those summer vacations is studying for the Bar Exam...Will you be making memories for your children this summer? And then there's Camp Grandma Fun...but that's another story. Enjoy your summer, my friends.  

P.S. And don't forget to get a copy of my new book for your summer reading list. Thank you!

"PACIFIC BEACH" Kindle $3.99  or Paperback $9.89



       

Monday, June 4, 2012

"QUEEN OF AFTERNOON TEA" CELEBRITY AUTHOR INTERVIEW

"QUEEN OF THE WEEK"
CELEBRITY AUTHOR                                    
JENNIFER STEEN 


 

Welcome! Let me pour you a cup of peppermint tea; I heard it was your favorite. By the way, I've included your recipe at the end of the interview. Please help yourself to a roast beef and  brie sandwich. We also have a black raspberry torte for dessert.

Where do you live? Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hey there! I live in Leander, Texas with my family. I’m a mother of three beautiful kiddies. I have two boys and a girl (7, 5, and 3). I love to write (obviously) and I played the marimba and occasionally paint. I also teach the children music at my church. My favorite things to do usually involve do things outdoors in beautiful places, and spending time with my kids. I’m also extremely addicted to writing. I basically write for work AND pleasure. I’m also pursuing an English/Creative Writing degree from Southern New Hampshire University. I’m a Navy veteran, and served for six years between 2000 and 2006. I’ve traveled to many different states, and have been overseas. I decided to stay home with my kiddies while they were young (military life was super hard for my oldest when he was a baby so I wanted to slow things down a bit). Now, I’m gradually getting back into the real world since they are getting closer to school age. I feel like I’ve lived two totally different lives. I understand the working world and the stay at home mother world pretty well. I enjoy writing for women, teens, and I also like to write stories for a general audience. I do fiction as well as theater and I have a goal to add screen plays to my list of accomplishments at some point. I’ll have the opportunity to learn screen play format sometime during my degree program.

Are you a traditionally published or Indie author?
Well, I’m published through Twenty or Less Press and Books to Go Now. I do not represent myself, but those publishers are small, and they are considered Indie Publishers simply because of their size. Each one seems to be specializing in a certain chunk of the e-book market. I highly recommend them for any author who doesn’t have a lot of capital to invest in their own writing, but who would still like to get something out there. They do short stories and novellas mainly, and will do editing, promotion, and cover art at no extra cost—they just take a percentage of your royalties like any typical publisher.

What are your hobbies? 
I play Marimba (it’s like a pretty sounding xylophone), I sketch and paint, and I take pictures to put on my walls. I’ve always enjoyed music, but the other hobbies I picked up in order to make my home look nice while still living on a budget. We are poor college students, but I personally like to feel like I have money, even if I don’t. J Having my own paintings (water color/acrylic) and my own photography up makes me feel a lot of things, mainly artsy, brave, and pampered. All good things.

Tell us about your current book. What was your inspiration?
Well, the two books I have for sale currently are “Rain Plays Barefoot” and “A Little Push”. “Rain Plays Barefoot” was inspired by life as the only girl percussionist in my Middle School. It may seem sort of backward, but in some schools there used to be some unspoken rules about which instruments girls were supposed to play and which instruments boys were supposed to play. I wanted to play the drums, and, I was pretty good. This sort of meant that I was changing things for people, like their mindsets, but really…I just wanted to do, what I wanted to do. There were quite a few awkward moments, breaking into a world of boys that had hither to been closed, and so I thought that some of those memories would be entertaining to people. And of course…there’s a crush and all of that. I’ve jumbled things up rather nicely, and I will never admit which of the parts of that escapade are true or untrue ;-).

“A Little Push” is based on an epiphany I had one afternoon while riding a tandem bike with my oldest son. We always try to save money, and it had been a particularly annoying day, and we were riding up hill, and I had a backpack. I had a lot of worries on my mind, and then I realized that William was helping me get up the hill. Without even realizing it he was there pulling his weight. So, even though most of the events in the story are fictional, the epiphany was true to life, and represents a very special life lesson to me. I hope everyone can use it as inspiration in their own lives, no matter what sort of struggle they are going through.

How did you become a writer? When did you start?
I started writing when I was about 13 years old. My first novel ended up being a copy of Star Wars…only with different names. Yes, it was just bad! J But, everyone has to start somewhere, and nearly everyone (especially children) emulates stories they love when they first start to write. One of the reasons I joined the Navy was because I knew, even at eighteen, that I wanted to be a writer, but I also knew that I didn’t have enough life experience to write compelling stories. I want to go out and explore and live life, and then I’d be able to take those experiences and process them for years afterward. This is very true, but now I understand that the best thing to do is write WHILE you’re living your life. So, it is good to go out and experience things to get inspiration, but you don’t need to wait for grand things to happen to you. You can find inspiration everywhere you are. You just have to have the right sort of eyes to see the stories there.

How long did it take you to finish your first book?
Well, it was only a short story. I wrote it in its first form in just a day or so. Then I let it sit on my Storywrite account for a few years. One day, I randomly decided that “this is the day, this is when I WILL get published!” So I searched through my files for something that I thought might tempt a publisher. “Rain Plays Barefoot” was the first one. First, I thought that Rain was a very compelling character. She just sort of jumps out at you from the page. You grow empathy for her almost immediately, and she’s very unique. Also, I liked that within the limited world of Middle School drama, she was doing a very brave thing. She was like a hero in miniature—if you look at Middle School as being a microcosm of the world at large—and that really appealed to me. So, I sent it into Books to Go Now, and in two weeks they sent me the acceptance letter. Actually, I had also sent in “A Little Push” out to a different publisher just two days after I sent RPB and I got both acceptances back on the same day. It was my birthday last year. Like seriously, that day was the luckiest day ever. I’ll never forget it.
I also recently got “Black Friday” accepted by Books to Go Now. It will most likely come out sometime near the Black Friday holiday. It’s something different than what I’ve done before. It’s a little dark actually. It’s a thriller, involves a serial killer, but it also has those little rays of light which I love. It is extremely dark—for me—but it does comment about our society as a whole. I sort of discovered something just as a person by writing it, and I hope that the readers discover something too. I just wanted it to be a little something more than just another gory slasher story. But admittedly, it does delve into murder, why it happens, how that person’s mind works. If you enjoy human psychology, then it certainly would be a good book for you.

Where do you like to write?
I write everywhere. At my house, at the library, in the car, and I’m actually building my own writing room in my garage. I also just love using pen and paper, and I have favorite haunts out by the lake, or on certain hiking trails. I also do people watching at the mall or I’ll even park at random gas stations and write about people as they fill up their cars. Yeah I know, I’m such a stalker! People probably think I’m weird, but I try not to be too obvious when I do it. Like I give myself one or two glances, and then I have to write whatever comes to my mind about them. That’s a brilliant way to find stories, or find characters by the way.

Favorite author(s)?
I read in a lot of different genres. Here we go:

Science Fiction/Fantasy: Anne McCaffery, Andre Norton, Orson Scott Card, Tolkein, JK Rowling, Frank Herbert

Classic Authors: Jane Austin, Elizabeth Gaskell, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Dickens, the Bronte Sisters, John Steinbeck

Screen Writers: Felicia Day, Andrew Davies, Tim Burton

Playwrights: Christopher Durang, Marsha Norman, Arthur Miller, Neil Simon (some of his plays are awesome, some are boring).

How many books have you written, so far? Do you plan to write more?
I have two short stories published, and I have hundreds of short stories written. I have one Novel written, and thousands of story ideas. I am picky with what I will send out to publishers, but I hope to start a system to get more of my stories out to the public.

Would you like to share a link where we can purchase your books?

Sure. "RAIN PLAYS BAREFOOT"   For Kindle:

What about a link to your website?

One awesome review I’ve received:

Five Stars from Kiki and Jules Reviews: As I have said before, Jennifer Steen is the short story goddess!! She once again pulls you into the life of her main character. You quickly become invested in the small twists and turns in the peek she gives you. This time Steen takes us back to middle school and what it was like to have that first crush. I was so taken back, and loved every minute of it.


Rain is not your typical tween. Not that she is weird, but she's not really on the same page as her fellow classmates. As her best friend, Jacey, and the other girls her age primp and poof themselves in hopes to catch some young man's attention, Rain would rather skip it all and just hang with the boys. She feels very comfortable in her own skin and feels no need to primp for attention. Not that she doesn't care what others think, but feels she has to do what she is most comfortable with. Most of the time that's on the basketball court with James or in band on the drum line with the rest of the guys. But there is a point where all Jacey's talk of boys and her current pubescent emotions get the best of her and she develops her first crush. Rain ends up conflicted and changing her ways to fit the ideals of a boy.


I refuse to tell any more of this delightful short story and encourage you to read. I will say I love, love the ending. It is perfect and sends the message I would want my child to see. Always stay true to yourself. If people don't love you just the way you are, then they aren't the people for you!!”

Jenny, thank you so much for the interview today. It has been a pleasure. I wish you all the best in your writing endeavors, my friend. And for you readers, Jenny has shared her recipe for peppermint tea. Enjoy!
My favorite kind of tea is peppermint. I love love this, and you can make it for a healthy Christmas substitute for hot chocolate.

Peppermint Tea

1 tbsp of peppermint leaves per cup of water. (Can get the fresh leaves they sell with rosemary and oregano at the grocery store)
Boil on stove until tasty
Poor in mugs, and add non-dairy creamer and a candy cane (if desired).
Also you can chuck the candy and creamer and it aids an upset stomach.
<--herbal hobbyist






Thursday, May 31, 2012

THE BIG 'O'...ARE YOU ONE?

Yes, I borrowed this. But when you can't say it any better...thanks Marc and Angel!

Click above for their site.

Optimist:  Person who travels on nothing
from nowhere to happiness.
–Mark Twain
Some people are more optimistic by nature, but optimism is not a fixed attribute.  It’s a choice we have control over.  Every morning, we either choose to wake up grumpy or wake up with a positive outlook.  Research has shown that, in the long run, optimistic people handle stress better, get sick less often, live longer, and are happier and more successful than their pessimistic counterparts.
The good news is that we can all develop skills to improve optimism.  Here are nine ideas to get you started:

1.  Find the opportunity in every difficulty.

‘Optimist’ is a word which here refers to a person who focuses on the positive.  For instance, if an optimist lost her left arm in a car accident, she might say in a hopeful voice, “I’m alive.  I don’t have my left arm anymore, but I do have my right one, and my life still to live.”
Optimism does not mean ignoring the problem entirely; it means understanding that setbacks are inevitable, often temporary, and that you have the skills and abilities to combat the challenges you face.  What you are dealing with may be difficult, but it is important to remain hopeful and positive about a brighter future.  Optimism will inspire a sense of hopefulness and the confidence that is required to take full advantage of the opportunities that do exist.  Remember, the most beautiful rainbows come from the sunlight after a very dark storm.  Read Full Catastrophe Living.

2.  Surround yourself with positive people.

You are only as good as the company you keep.  If you’re around gloomy people, there’s a good chance you won’t to be smiling.  Make it your mission to dodge negativity.  Surround yourself with supportive friends who have positive outlooks.  As they say, if you want to soar with the eagles, you have to stop hanging out with the ducks.
Optimism is a learned habit, and it is positively contagious.  Surround yourself with people who could infect you with positivity.  In turn pass your new good mood on to a friend or stranger in words and deed – let somebody have that parking space, let that person with only a few items cut in front of you at the market.  The simple act of doing something nice for others is actually a good pick-me-up all by itself.

3.  Give love, receive love, and invest in love.

LOVE:  It’s the greatest force in the universe.  It’s a treasure that people would give anything for, yet it costs nothing to give and receive. There is an endless supply, and it can be extended to family, friends and strangers at any moment.  It increases positivity and acts like a shield against negativity.  It forgives, heals, encourages and inspires.
Give love, receive love and invest in love every day.  Because where you invest your love, you invest your life.

4.  Be realistic, and expect ups and downs.

A foundation of realism keeps things in perspective, and helps prevent things from being blown out of proportion.  Just because you’re an optimist doesn’t mean you’re not going to have bad days.  You will – that’s reality.  Life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies.
Trying to be 100% positive all the time is wanting to be an ocean in which waves only rise up and never come crashing down.  However, when we recognize that the rising and crashing waves are part of the same one ocean, we are able to let go and be at peace with the way things are.
Bottom line:  Prepare for the worst but hope for the best – the former makes you sensible, and the latter makes you an optimist.  Read Awareness: The Perils and Opportunities of Reality.

5.  Inspire yourself with a smile and positive reminders.

If you expect the worst, the worst will happen.  If you let things bother you, they will.  But if you smile, you’ll feel better.  Studies have shown that putting a cheerful smile on your face can trigger a part of your brain that actually makes you feel happier and more optimistic about the present and future.
Also, feed your optimism with positive reminders.  Write down short statements that inspire optimism.  Put them in places where you’ll see them every day, such as on your bathroom mirror, the inside of your locker, and on your computer monitor.
  • “Anything is possible.”
  • “Lead a life of positivity.”
  • “The only thing I can control is my attitude towards life.”
  • “I always have a choice.”
  • “Even the longest journey begins with a single step.”
  • “I will look at the sunny side of everything and make my optimism shine.”
Read The Happiness Project.

6.  Work on the things you can control.

Pessimism is impractical because it causes you to spend time dwelling on negative things that haven’t happened yet, while simultaneously preventing you from getting things done now.  Pessimism breeds indecision.  It’s a waste of time, and time is a limited resource that you can’t afford to take for granted.  Every minute spent worrying guarantees nothing but less time to enjoy what life has to offer.
The solution?  Acknowledge the things you can’t control and don’t become a victim.  Stop thinking about what is happening to you, and start thinking about what you can do to make it better.  Know that you almost always have a choice. Is your job a bummer?  Find a new one.  Not ready to leave because of your 401K and vacation time?  Then celebrate those reasons and remember that you chose to stay.

7.  Count your blessings.

There is so much good, so much beauty, so much love in your life.  You have so much right now to be thankful for, you just need to pause long enough to appreciate it.  Do so.  This will help frame a better attitude and take your mind off of the negatives.
Start a feel-good journal.  Buy a blank journal and fill it with things that make you smile, like a photo of your pet, or a compliment a friend gave you.  Use it to track your accomplishments and celebrate your victories.  Stick only positive things in your journal and open it up whenever you’re feeling down.

8.  Appreciate that nothing in life is permanent.

Research has shown that optimists and pessimists attribute the reasons for success and failure differently.  Pessimists tend to attribute negative events to permanent, personal, and pervasive factors.  Optimists tend to attribute negative events to non-personal, non-permanent, and non-pervasive factors.  ‘Permanent’ are factors that will be with you throughout life; ‘personal’ are factors that relate to us as individuals; and ‘pervasive’ are factors that affect our ability in other parts of our life.
Bottom line:  Nothing is permanent.  However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.

9.  Focus on the present.

People often obsess themselves with the past and the future.  But life is happening right now.  You can’t learn something or remember something that’s happening now if your mind is stuck in another time.
It takes about eight seconds of intense focus to process a new piece of information into your long-term memory.  So don’t let your life and your mind slip away.  Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, practice being and living in the present moment.  Remember, right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  Don’t miss it.

So, who's with me?

Monday, May 14, 2012

"QUEEN OF THE WEEK"

CELEBRITY AUTHOR                        
ROBIN JOHNSON 

Welcome! Let me pour you a cup of tea and we'll get started. Please have a chicken salad sandwich and a blueberry scone. We have Macadamia Feast Cake for dessert. I've been making this recipe for over 40 years now. 
       

Where do you live? 

RJ I reside in Castro Valley, CA that’s in the San Francisco bay area.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.  

RJ I am a wife and proud mother of two daughters. I work as a senior property manager. I serve on two boards and work endless hours of Community Service.

Are you a traditionally published or Indie author?  

RJ My book was published by Tate Publishing Co.

What are your hobbies? 

RJ I love to travel, the theater, spending time with family, party planning and scrap booking.

Tell us about your current book. What was your inspiration? 

 RJ "Say it Proud"…provides families with a short ritual to start their day with a positive outlook and the reminder that children have limitless potential. The power of transforming negative thoughts into a positive daily affirmation is beneficial habit that children can apply throughout their lives. Affirmations such as ‘I am a winner’ and ‘I have special talents’ will help children to stay positive even during their tough days. Other affirmations like ‘I am an amazing child of God’ and ‘God loves me’ will remind children that God cherishes them. I began reciting daily with my daughters when my youngest was five years old. These affirmations gave my daughters faith, self-esteem, confidence, self-worth, and amazing strength. I saw them blossom from this practice before my very eyes.   I looked for a children’s book of 365 daily affirmations to give to my niece and I was not able to find one so, that and my daughters testimonial was my inspiration to write.

How did you become a writer? When did you start?  

RJ Well, I had a message that I wanted to get out in the form of a book. I started writing only a few years ago for this book. I have always kept a journal. 

How long did it take you to finish your first book? 

RJ It took 8 months to finish "Say it Proud…Daily Affirmations for Children".

Where do you like to write? 

RJ I generally write at night…in my bed propped up with pillows.

Favorite author(s)? 

RJ Toni Morrison is my favorite author.

How many books have you written, so far? Do you plan to write more? 

RJ  "Say it Proud" is the only book I have written so far. I am working on my second book for teens.

Would you like to share a link where we can purchase your books?

RJ Sure. https://www.wepay.com/shop/view/941551

What about a link to your website?  

RJ www.sayitproud.org

Robin, it has been such a pleasure to have you over for tea. I wish you great success with your book and those you plan to write in the future.