How would you use a candle, matches and a pink jump rope to rescue someone from a dangerous situation? Our main characters—eleven-year-olds Virgil Salinas and Valencia Somerset (aka Just Renee), twelve-year-old Kaori Tanaka and her younger sister Gen—come together in synchronicity, harnessing the power of the universe, which is never a coincidence, in a wonderful coming of age story. Unique characters. Unique situations. The power of intention steering these middle schoolers toward success.
First we meet painfully shy Virgil who has set his sights on deaf Valencia as his love interest. Not having the guts to talk to her at school, Virgil seeks help from the spiritually gifted Kaori who will use her magical gift of second sight to bring Virgil together with V.S. With little sister Gen as her assistant, Kaori unwittingly finds herself in a situation of the universe’s making.
While en route through the woods to Kaori’s house for his appointment for psychic advice, Virgil is harassed by school bully Chet who throws Virgil’s back pack down the old, dried up water well, unaware that Gulliver, Virgil’s pet guinea pig, is blissfully unaware of the fate that is soon to befall him. A horrified Virgil follows his beloved pet into the dark, damp space. Needless to say, trouble prevails.
Meanwhile, Valencia, using the alias Renee, follows the same route as Virgil but unable to hear at an important moment, arrives at Kaori’s house for her psychic appointment and later reveals she “can hear with her eyes.” Kaori is very worried that Virgil has not arrived or texted her. Before long, Kaori realizes Renee’s true identity and the three girls set out to find the still missing Virgil.
The reader will be happy to know there is a happy ending but not entirely the one you might expect. Hint: a leopard doesn’t change its spots and new behavior does not always happen overnight.
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
Yay! Patricia Cornwell is back on track! She’s resurrected her best character Kay Scarpetta and resumed her best writing style. Fans will be thrilled.
Two years prior, top fashion model April Tupelo’s skinless body was found in the Atlantic Ocean as Gilbert Hooke, labeled as the jealous boyfriend, the twenty-five-year-old owner and operator of a forty-foot charter trawler named Captain Hooke is held for murder and mutilation. Virginia Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Scarpetta is called in as an expert witness since the initial investigation was blundered by a previous forensic pathologist. The presiding judge, Annie Chilton, is an old friend of Dr. Scarpetta. The story opens with a hard to believe courtroom scene where Kay is treated as an inept, hostile witness. The grandstanding attorney for the prosecution is continuously out of order, but the judge refuses to admonish him. Why?
Upon leaving the courtroom, Dr. Kay is called to attend to a murder investigation that hits close to home. The judge’s sister has inexplicably been found dead at the judge’s home.
Dr. Kay and Marino, her loyal sidekick, try to race to the scene of a crime. À la Dr. Scarpetta style, after leaving the courtroom, Dr. Kay is immediately called to the scene of a troubling homicide but on the way there, stumbles upon a strange scene which later reveals itself as part of a greater mystery. All of this against the backdrop of an assassination attempt on the U.S. president and investigative questions about a two decades old tragic homicide case.
Everything imaginable happens on the way to the investigation. Protest groups, interference and rivalries among Secret Service, the FBI, local police, the usual suspects (her secretary and the health commissioner) undermining Dr. Scarpetta’s reputation and progress, another odd murder all converge on Dr. Scarpetta and Marino as they fight their way through the detritus of the politics of life in Virginia.
As in all Dr. Scarpetta’s cases, all characters and situations are interrelated. A myriad of subplots emerge to enhance/detract. Without being responsible for any spoilers, you’re sure to run into: a secret biological weapon, Havana Syndrome, and international subversive shenanigans. Way too much going on and hardly anything was resolved. Dr. Scarpetta was returned to the readers in the previous book Autopsy which is wonderful, but what is not wonderful is so much in her daily life has not changed. Same story, different day. Husband Benton, Associate Marino, Niece Lucy, Sister Dorothy are still present in Kay’s daily home and work lives. We witness the never ending dysfunctional antics of colleagues, relatives, and friends who spew nonsense and create upheaval in contrast to the solid, stable, dependable Dr. Scarpetta. This continuing saga occupies a lot of space in this book.
In all fairness, most of the supporting characters have shown personal growth, creating two-dimensional characters so we can understand why Kay keeps them in her life. Marino now takes his health seriously and upon occasion can control his temper and potty mouth. Lucy has lost the drama, quietly does her job, and finally shows affection to her Aunt Kay, even after the unthinkable personal tragedy she experienced in the previous book. Benton shows moments of tenderness to his wife and kindness and caring towards others. Can you believe it? Only Dorothy remains unchanged!
The murderer is caught at the end because of his own carelessness rather than by the result of diligent investigation. This is a no-no in crime novels. What’s the point of having police, detectives, FBI, CIA, yada yada yada if the bad guy is caught because of his arrogant stupidity? Oh, I get it. Maybe it’s a message to terrorists everywhere: Beware of your arrogance – it will be your undoing?
Sounds good? Read the book!
Significance of title? Two meanings: Livid is described as the bluish-purple discoloration of the skin after death and extreme rage. Yes, both things going on here.
A lot of character motivations are glossed over without satisfactory explanations. Ex. The judge’s rulings against Kay, what made the killer go rogue, the killer’s choice of victims, why the US president was a terrorist target – BOGUS! Believable, complete reasons were needed. However…
I couldn’t put this book down for the two days-and-nights it took to finish it. Despite the too long descriptions of roadside scenery, too many sub-plots, the unsatisfactory ending, the unresolved loose ends, I loved it!
I’m looking forward to the sequel I’m sure will follow.
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
Sixth grader at Detroit, Michigan’s Blueberry Hills Middle School, Brianna Diane Justice is a feisty, entrepreneurial, capable, dynamic barrel of laughs. She’s been appointed president of the entire sixth grade and finds clear evidence that everyone doesn’t grow up at the same rate. Brianna and her dearest friends are now going in different directions while her goals are now more aligned with different classmates. Brianna’s old friends are suddenly chasing boys and the social climbing around the popular girls while Brianna is concerned with school fundraisers and school and community improvements. Brianna’s most important task is to raise $2,500 to cover the shortfall for “THE BIG” sixth grade class trip to Washington, D.C. or the trip would be canceled.
Brianna’s take-charge personality is in full swing. Her clipboard is filled with ideas for making money. One of the problems she encounters is the lack of maturity and work ethic of some of the other students. Some are even cheating elderly people out of money by lying about the price being charged to clean out their garages or mow their lawns. Sometimes, the police are called in to apprehend the culprits. Then, there are the haters and the saboteurs. Despite the number of setbacks, Brianna keeps coming up with ideas, and brainstorms with her classmates until their financial goal is met. Success at last!
They students go to Washington, D.C. where Brianna has a chance to meet and interview the First Lady and then, the President of the United States. She is thrilled beyond belief and takes this rare opportunity to ask these accomplished adults advice on achieving success in life. Brianna is an instant media sensation and a star in her hometown, especially after the president’s nephew kisses her after they have formed an instant bonding while stuck in a White House elevator together with a secret service agent.
This is a fun book filled with positive role models. Hard work, kindness, good character, and positive family and community values are praised. Brianna accepts that certain friendships have run their course and it’s time for new friends whose values and aspirations are more closely aligned with her new found maturity. And it’s OK when that happens. People evolve. Situations evolve.
Brianna is studying about Greek and Roman civilizations in school and draws comparisons to life in today’s world in her school and community. Interesting and educational.
This being said, Brianna’s actions, words, and ideas seem much too mature for a child her age. Some events in the book are overly contrived and not at all realistic. Readers, parents and teachers can feel secure in the messages expounding traditional values. The author understands kids with her characters using appropriate street dialogue to keep the story going. Fast-paced. Fun. A great read!
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net.
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
With WWI a not so distant memory, wealthy Americans flock to Miami via Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway in pursuit of new opportunities to expand fortunes and to win the race of he who dies with the most toys wins. Anna Barnes and Carmen Acosta tell their stories in alternating voices: Anna beginning in 1918 and Carmen in 1941. Both women are deeply affected by their time at Marbrisa, a fabulous mansion that brings melancholy to all who enter. If a house could have a personality, Marbrisa would be known for the uncomfortable, misplaced feeling it imposes on all visitors. Ghosts of those who died at Marbrisa? Curses? Evil spirits? Or just the accumulated negativity of its proprietors, filled with secrets, overburdened by lies, and overcome by financial excess?
Anna’s husband, Robert Barnes buys a parcel of swampy land in Miami on Biscayne Bay with intentions of building the grandest, most beautiful home in Miami as a gift for Anna’s fortieth birthday. Anna much prefers life in New York City and is uncomfortable with all the ostentatious trappings of wealth. Anna believes she has a perfect marriage until one day …
Eighteen-year-old Carmen arrives at Marbrisa from Cuba, the stunning estate of her estranged sister Carolina and her husband Wyatt. Orphaned three weeks earlier, Carmen’s brother-in-law is now in charge of Carmen’s inheritance over which she hopes to gain control. Since her marriage, Carolina has pushed little sister Carmen out of her life. Feisty, inquisitive Carmen is hurt but actively seeking answers to her many questions. Carolina appears to have an enviable life until one day …
Peacocks roam the estate screaming at odd hours. Mysterious deaths. Unexplained disappearances. Strange noises. Hidden passageways. House workers run from the site, refusing to return. What exactly is going on here?
Who cares? The characters in this author’s books are generally shallow, however glamorous. She does not spend time on the show, don’t tell revelation of character. I did not find the characters relatable or likable.The house with its descriptions and musings of visitors takes precedence. Guess what? Red herrings!
Characters are robotic and predictable. For example, Carmen at eighteen years old sounds decades older. The innocence that should be present at her age is missing, not allowing the reader to be concerned for the safety of this young woman when the author keeps putting her in potentially dangerous situations. No suspense here. The ending comes out of the blue. No hints or dropped clues along the way. Personally, I think Chanel Cleeton should forget about the mystery and gothic genres and stick with chic lit which is her forte.
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net.
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
This is a wonderful book highlighting the scarcity of clean drinking water specifically in the impoverished African nation of Sudan. Told from two points of view, the stories converge in a heartwarming, thrilling conclusion. The work is not finished but perhaps this book will impel you to donate your time, money or efforts to ensure clean drinking water for all peoples of the world. The story is told with the political violence in Sudan as the setting. It’s hard to read about the upheaval with lives lost and destroyed but for anyone looking for cultural and global awareness, this book is it. Salva’s story is based on actual events.
Salwa Dut is an eleven-year-old boy living in 1985 in Loun-Ariik in the oil-rich southern part of Sudan, a country located in Northeast Africa. The Muslim majority living in the north demands all residents convert to Islam. Much of the population resists but the result is a violent invasion of armed thugs from the north, shooting and killing people of all ages, burning their homes, and driving them as herds of animals out of their country. Thousands upon thousands of people are: forced to walk through desert to Ethiopia; cross the Nile River into Kenya; victims of gunfire, murder, atrocities, hunger, thirst, heat stroke, lack of shelter, disease, crocodiles, and mosquitoes—to give you an idea of the hardships.
The second Sudanese civil war began in 1985 and ended in 2005. South Sudan gained its independence with the deaths of approximately two million people. The journey of more than 70,000 people took years to make. Families were separated. Most children were orphaned and/or unattended. Dubbed “The Lost Boys,” military age boys ran away to avoid being forced to join the vicious killer army of the north.
After many years, thousands of refugees are sent to other safe countries to live with host families. Salva is sent to Rochester, New York where he flourishes. Separated from and missing his parents, three brothers and two sisters, Salva felt love, acceptance and encouragement from his host American family, the Moores, who supported him in achieving all his dreams.
In 2008, young Nya is living in South Sudan with her family is entrusted with the daily responsibility of walking hours to the water source to return carrying the plastic container on her head to provide water for her family. This journey took half a day and she often had to do this twice in one day to meet her family’s needs. BTW, girls were not permitted to go to school so her sole responsibility is to provide for the needs of her family. Even more important, the water was not potable (drinkable) but was used anyway. There was no way to effectively separate the mud from the clear water. Serious diseases like cholera and typhoid and malaria from infected mosquitoes that often are stagnant in the muddied water, often result in death.
Now for the happy part! This is real! Salva becomes educated in the science of purifying water and receives financial and construction aid to return to South Sudan to construct water wells in the villages. In the book, that’s where Salva and Nya meet. Salva’s organization constructed a water well in Nya’s village. Now no more exhausting trips. Isn’t it wonderful to think Salva improved the life of Nya and her family and maybe even kept them alive or families in real life? Salva’s organization, Water for South Sudan, receives donations from schools, churches, and civic organizations such as the Rotary Club.
Since 2014, more than 250 water wells were drilled. Keep in mind, these numbers are accurate at the time this book was published in 2021. In 2011, Salva moved to South Sudan and continues to drill wells.
To young people, Salva gives this message: “Stay calm when things are hard or not going right with you. You will get through it when you persevere instead of quitting. Quitting leads to much less happiness than perseverance and hope.”Salva Dut, Rochester, New York, 2010
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
Apparent strangers, Elena and Catherine are sailing from New York to Cuba on the Morro Castle. Based on the true story of a fire that engulfed the ship in 1934, the author uses this setting as a smokescreen, to use a play on words, to successfully carry out an intricate scheme, adding fictitious dramatic events as needed.
“What do you want more than anything?” Harry asks Elena. “Revenge,” she answers. Elena has returned from the dead, searching for justice.
What motivates Catherine? “This isn’t a game,” she hisses. “Life is a game. Business is a game. Love is a game.”
Who wants Catherine dead and why?
So, now we’ve met our heroines whose lives are inexorably intertwined. Traveling incognito, their true identities and motives hidden from view, they plot to accomplish their ends. Beautiful and classy, these women have learned to use circumstances to their advantage. But in all fairness, many characters aren’t real. It seems no one is as they seem. Jewel thief. Gun dealer. Clichéd stereotypes. Poor character development. Maybe the author was in a hurry to get the story to the publisher??? What do you mean you’re not finished yet? That could explain the shallow characterizations and overly simple plot.
I love the way the their histories unfold and come together. However, the characters do not evoke sympathy. Too wooden. Too cold. They say the right words, but we don’t believe them. This is a departure from Cleeton’s usual sympathetic, relatable characters. Sure, we’ve all been wronged by someone, but why the convoluted, extreme plot? Make us care.
Not one of her best books, the author shines when she has Cuba and its mistreatment of its citizens as a theme. Even though most of her books use young, beautiful Cuban women as protagonists, her passion for Cuba as it was before Fidel Castro and his band of thugs destroyed the Cuba of old is communicated, as are the horrors of a communist dictatorship with its starving people, torture chambers and death squads. That’s when Cleeton shines, however subtle her message may or may not be.
Please, Chanel Cleeton, bring back your old writing style and don’t be in such a hurry next time.
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
Recipient of the Crystal Kite Award, this book is a must for parents, teachers and mental health professionals. Set against the backdrop of the September 11, 2001 tragedy in New York City, the ensuing hysteria and backlash against Muslim Americans is apropos of today’s news events, regardless of which countries are involved. The nationalities and/or religions may change but the sentiments are universal. Generalizations of guilt and involvement become us and them too often.
Thirteen-year-old eighth grader Jake Green is living a normal life in Coral Springs, Florida. His most pressing problem is that his Coach at school makes the students run cross country in the fall or they can’t run track in the spring. Jake hates cross country. To make things worse, his best friend Sam and the new kid Kirk have been named team captains, leaving Jake out in the cold. Adding insult to injury, Bobby, the eighth grade bully, has set his sights on Jake, a thorn in his side at every turn.
Four days later, the terrible news that Muslim terrorists hijacked and crashed planes into both World Trade Centers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and another plane in Pennsylvania where the passengers fought back, causing the plane to crash in a rural area, missing their intended target, thought to be the White House. Almost 3,000 people died on that day.
Jake’s seemingly idyllic life turns into a nightmare. His best friend Sam and his family, as Arab Muslims, become targets of verbal and physical abuses. Sam’s father, a banking official, is seen on a videotape with terrorist ringleader Mohamed Atta. Sam’s father’s business card is found on Atta’s person and he is arrested by the FBI under suspicion of domestic terrorism. An investigation follows.
To fan the flames even more, Kirk’s father, a high ranking military official, is killed during the attack on the Pentagon. Bobby makes Sam’s life even more miserable and Jake is suspended from school for punching Bobby after he attacks Sam. The community comes together in support at Kirk’s father’s funeral but opinions are mixed. Jake’s mother rejects contact with Sam’s family and his father tries to placate the situation by playing peacemaker. Jake is furious with his parents and resents their stance of not getting involved or showing support for Sam’s family who were their best friends before September 11th.
Life returns to normal when the guilty are punished and the innocent vindicated. Some friendships are irreparable as recent memories linger. The important message here: “just a drop of water” which reminds us that every action, no matter how seemingly small, combines with the other small actions to impact lives and situations. Never doubt that one word or action makes a difference. They combine in the universe to create both positive and negative change.
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.ne
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
Book Review: Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe
Upon reading this book, I realized I knew almost nothing about this iconic author, poet and critic and what I thought I knew, was far from the truth. The death and life? That is the first clue. Most biographies would start with the life of the subject but Poe’s death is such a mishmash of facts that there is no consensus on how this acclaimed and popular author’s life came to end on October 7, 1849 at the age of forty.
Rabies? Alcoholism? Adverse drugs reaction? Dementia? Syphilis? Murder? Suicide? So many theories. The author believes Poe died of tuberculosis compounded by a sensitivity and allergic reaction to alcohol. He comes to this conclusion through process of elimination. Poe’s literary works resemble the irony of his life and death. Loneliness, abandonment, lack of familial love, the deaths of so many loved ones, the dearth of financial stability, all contributed to create a genius who died broke and alone in Baltimore, Maryland, wearing another man’s clothes for some unfathomable reason when his itinerary was supposed to be Richmond, Maryland direct to New York.
For my readers who may not be familiar with Poe’s body of work, he is most known for his gothic poems and his tales of mystery and the macabre:
Poems- The Raven, Annabel Lee, The Bells.
Short Stories- The Black Cat, The tell-Tale Heart, The Fall of the House of Usher, The Cask of Amontillado, The Murders in the Rue Morgue, The Mask of the Red Death, The Pit and the Pendulum, The Purloined Letter, MS. Found in a Bottle —to name a few!
Born on January 18, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts, orphaned at age two, adopted by a sickly woman and an aloof, stern man, Frances and John Allan, Poe was raised in Richmond, Virginia. Vacillating between exemplary and rebellious behavior resulted in Poe being expelled from West Point in 1831 for neglecting duties and disobeying orders. This proved to be a pattern for a lifetime. Who was Poe? For as many positive qualities he possessed, there were as many negative bouts of unproductive periods of depressed and ineffective self-destructive behaviors. No one could put a label on him. He was different things to different people. This is often attributed to his sorrow at being surrounded by the deaths of so many loved ones—especially the women in his life upon whom he relied for affection and comfort. He loved many women and tried in vain to keep them in his life, whether losing them to death or his erratic, impoverished lifestyle.
Edgar Allan Poe’s last words are purported to have been, “Lord Help my poor soul” as attributed to an unreliable witness, but even this was never verified. No one could identify the person Reynolds for whom Poe cried out for hours on his death bed. He died in the absence of anyone who cared, and was buried even before any relatives were notified of his passing. Why? No one knew who he was at the time of his death. Poe’s death was a metaphor for his life.
This book is written in alternating time frames which does lead to some confusion at times. The style is more expository than narrative, so there’s a lack of excitement and drama. Still, the extensive research is obvious which contributes to a comprehensive presentation. Will this help you to understand Edgar Allan Poe better after having read this book? No. Because no one understands him. Still.
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
Although this book has been around a few years, I believe it to be so important and praiseworthy in helping children experiencing loss and/or abandonment of a parent or loved one that I am posting this review now. Thirteen-year-old Salamanca Tree Hiddle (Sal) of Bybanks, Kentucky and her father are dealing with the sudden abandonment of Sal’s mother after the stillborn birth of her baby. Needing to get away “to clear her head” no one knows if her intention was ever to return to her adoring daughter and loving husband before Fate interferes.
Both Sal and her father react the same way: anger, sullenness, introversion, lashing out, pushing people away, ignoring each other and never recognizing how they were both experiencing unbearable pain but both incapable of acknowledging and helping the other. Sal’s mother sends a postcard from each stop along her bus trip until Sal’s father receives a dreaded phone call and must leave for Idaho to bury his dead wife. Not having attended her mother’s funeral or burial, Sal refuses to believe that her mother is actually dead and believes she is the reason her mother left. To run from memories, father and daughter move to Ohio. Sal is in a highly emotional state.
Sal meets a kindred spirit in Phoebe Winterbottom, a classmate at her new school. Phoebe’s family problems begin to mirror those experienced by Sal, who begins to see herself when observing Phoebe’s outbursts. Sal begins to regret her dismissive actions and lack of kindness and sympathy toward her father.
A recurring theme: dissatisfied, unhappy women who can’t seem to deal with their unfulfilling roles as wives and mothers, often giving up their individual identities and aspirations in order to care for others.
Sal’s grandparents, Gram and Gramps Hiddle, decide to take Sal on a roadtrip from Ohio to Idaho to see Sal’s mother’s grave, following Sal’s mother’s itinerary, stopping in all the same places, experiencing the wonders of nature and the sites as she did. The message here: We shouldn’t pass judgment on another person, “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked two moons in his moccasins.” Gram and Gramps used an unconventional method to help their granddaughter connect with her mother, feel the closeness, and rid herself of the anger. Sal begins to understand things differently and realizes she does not need to let her sadness consume her or destroy her life.
Sadly, Sal experiences more loss and must accept that sometimes we must accept the memories of the happy moments and cherished events instead of the real thing.
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
So, what’s it all about? Hokey Pokey? No. Keeping balanced? Yes! Do you notice when we’re happily preoccupied, other people’s antics don’t bother us so much? These negative behaviors become only one piece of the puzzle. We don’t allow them more attention than they deserve. The idea is not to allow the events of the day to create a yo-yo effect with our emotions. We’ve heard the expression, “Not my monkeys, not my circus?” Next time your family, friends or colleagues try to pull you into the chaos that defines their lives, put the craziness in perspective and do not allow it to overtake you. The goal is start each day with the “life is too good to worry about nonsense” feeling and sustain it throughout the day.
Photo by George Bakos on Unsplash
It’s important to ground ourselves when so many forces conspire to throw us off-kilter. You know how it goes, “I was in a good mood until….” Feeling like a table tennis ball? We all deal with these pings and pongs but we must learn to keep our mental, emotional and physical aspects in good working order so we may keep these exasperations in perspective. Co-worker carrying on because she ALMOST ran over a bird drinking from a puddle on the road? The other one complaining he DIDN’T HAVE ANY CLEAN SOCKS to wear? Just be grateful these statements don’t describe you and get on with the positive aspects of your life. (By the way, if these things apply to you, work on developing your positive self. Now! And for heaven sake, take responsibility and get that laundry done!)
How to start each day with a smile? Remind yourself of your value, the value of those in your daily life and your loved ones who may be far away. Let your heart fill with love as you think of each person, and pray for their well-being and for the souls of those who have passed away. Count your blessings. Review each step you will take today that will take you closer to your goals. Make up your mind to live your best life, albeit others may be making a mess of theirs. We must each choose our own path. Don’t allow other people’s limitations to define your goals and successes.
We have a responsibility to our family and loved ones. If we keep our balance, we are in a better position to see the situation clearly and help them develop a course of action. Stay your course. The others must be free to choose the direction of their lives. When and if they are ready, they will look to us as an example. They will seek help and we will be there.
You’ve set aside a day “to get things done,” but what things? You may be willing but without a plan of action, your time is wasted. Need help to organize your thinking? You’ve come to the right place. I’ve got advice to pass on. You may think you’ve heard it all before, but you’ll be surprised to find a new slant on this much discussed topic. I can honestly say I recently learned a few new things. What stands out the most is this: Successful people make lists. Either they do the work themselves, delegate, or use a realistic combination of the two. Take it seriously. Organize yourself. Prioritize. Do it. Check it off. Put it on the calendar. Seeing it in print adds weight and importance. Do it. Then check it off. Enjoy the feeling of satisfaction that comes with being a productive person. Successes don’t have to be huge to be relevant.
What’s the perfect day to do all of this? Not on a beautiful, sunny day. That’s when you should be outside communing with nature and regaining your balance. Explore quaint towns. Walk. Run. Ski. Skate. Bicycle. Sail. Cruise. Collect sea shells, rocks or leaves. Take photographs. Read. Breathe deeply. Walk barefoot. Look for constellations or shapes in the clouds. Sit. Be still. Close your eyes. Meditate. Reflect. Listen. Visit museums and ruins where minds are transported to another time and place. Leave heavy thinking to the night when your mind is clear, or the next morning after the wonderful, restful sleep you’ve had after a relaxing day of emotional and mental tranquility.
Now, that’s a habit worth developing!
People chiming in from all directions until your head hurts? Some opinions may be valid, but so is yours. Your intuition gives you an inner sense about what’s right for you. I’m sure you’ve heard if it feels good, then do it. On the other hand, I’m sure you’ve also heard, there’s no growth without a giant leap and trepidation. Sometimes these quantum jumps cause anxiety because they’re out of our comfort zone. So, do we merrily go along with what’s comfortable or do we choose to challenge ourselves? Tough decision but It depends on what it is, doesn’t it?
Let balance be your guide. What’s at stake? Ask yourself: Can I weather the loss or disappointment? If you’re thinking on betting your life savings on Red 9 on the Blackjack table, this would be an obvious no-no. If you’re thinking of packing up your spouse, kids, and dog and moving to Florida with a job transfer from your employer with a great salary and benefits, this deserves serious analysis. If your parents or in-laws offer to watch the kids so you and your honey can enjoy an overnight or weekend rendezvous at a luxury hotel, replete with champagne dinner, massages,, and room service, this is a no-brainer.
Your intuition combines with your rational mind to usher you through life. You’ve heard your inner voice guiding you to action. You might have described it as “something told me” or “I had this feeling” or “I followed a hunch” or “I just knew this was going to happen.” That’s your intuition in play. Don’t confuse intuition with fear. Your inner-sense is rational, not afraid. The dictionary defines intuition as “a thing one knows or considers likely from instinctive feeling rather than conscious reasoning” and “knowing or understanding something without reasoning, proof or inference.” It doesn’t have to make sense. It just is.
My intuition has warned me against certain relationships, conversations, and decisions. The trouble is, I didn’t always listen. I didn’t always trust my inner voice. Whenever I had a prior uneasy feeling, something negative happened with the experience. On the other hand, when I acted on my intuition, the results were noticeably more positive. I’ve made myself consciously aware so that I listen to my intuition more often. I’m still learning to trust my inner voice. It knows what it’s talking about!
How will you recognize intuition when it shows its helpful self? Goosebumps, racing heart, sensitivity to the moods of others, calling a long-absent friend because they’ve “been on your mind,” the Ah-ha moment when the answer suddenly comes to you in the middle of problem solving or even in a dream, when the spirit world reaches out with a vision or message.
Listen to your inner voice. It’s smarter than you know.
Every once in a while I get so bogged down with my “to do” list, I feel overwhelmed by the demands I put on myself. Right now I’m in that mode – feeling as if I’m roller skating towards the jumbled mass that awaits me, hoping to chip away at the brick wall blocking my peace of mind. You see, I’m a doer and cannot relax as long as there is something still needing my attention. Ignoring it until it goes away is not an option for me, so I need to figure a way to handle it as quickly but responsibly as possible.
The important lesson is to start with a simple example, analyze the situation, make a list of possible steps, act, transfer the specifics, generalize, then apply it to a greater situation. Remember, your plan must make sense for you. Since we’re all different, we must find our truth and follow it.
No, thank you. I won’t be joining that organization again. Competitive. Envious. Falsely superior. Demeaning. From the outside, they appear independent, successful and self-assured. Upon closer inspection, their follow-the-leader approach to life is evident. Even as adults, they fear ostracism and crave approval. So, we have the self-appointed leaders and the men and women who are allowed in as long as they continue the adulation. Once the support person tires of that role, the leader will let them know they are worth nothing. Famous last words: Be gone! And take your poor excuse for a self with you!
Truth be told, as long as you’re involved in this type of relationship, you will never evolve into the adult you want to be. Other people’s reactions and perceptions of us can color our view of ourselves for a lifetime.
Many of us are stuck in the roles established in middle school years. We craved validation and security of the group. Have you grown out of your adolescent self?
If we want to find our authentic self, we cannot live in another person’s shadow. We cannot be limited by narrow roles. Our purpose is to be our best self, not a cheering squad for those in need of constant approval. We must realistically accept ourselves. Set our own goals and standards so we can become the person we want to be, not trying to live up to someone else’s ideals. Don’t reward or accept negativity and criticism from the perfect people of the world.
A lack of “self” contributes to many ills of society. Anti-social behaviors, drug and alcohol abuse, violence and aggression come from learned behaviors but also from a lack of personal focus and purpose. Finding your true self is never easy. We must brush away cobwebs, peer pressure and expectations, old habits and fears. The higher “self” teaches us to encourage, build and share. Young people can also make this journey. Maybe you know someone who might benefit from these ideas. Live in harmony with God, Spirit, and the Universe.
Stay positive.Visualize goals. Trust you will become who and what you want to be. Look. Listen. Meditate. Be patient. Think evolution, not revolution. Be happy with yourself.
Write down what you feel, not what you think you should say
Please let me know your thoughts. I’d love to hear from you. You can email me at elainewrites@earthlink.net
I wish you all a life inspired by the wonder of the world around us. May you find and live your truth, in harmony with people, nature and the environment. May you be a force for good and a source of love and comfort. May the world be a better place for you having lived and loved here.
Elaine Donadio Writes 