Mindfulness
Post from October 10, 2022
Quote.
Update.
Highlight of the week: Talking out problems.
Motivate: Mindfulness
Book discussion: The No-Show
Book bonus: How do you pick your next read?
Final thoughts.
Update:
I hope you’re well!
This past week has been a delight. Aside from a little sickness, I’ve spent every “free” moment working on novel edits, and I feel like I’m home again. I’ll do the same this week. Edits are going well.
Finishing a big project can leave you with that “what do I do now?” feeling. And as I dove back into writing this week, I kept thinking about how I’ve created a habit.
This topic came up during the podcast JW and I did this past week with the first prize winner ($500) in the Onyx Publications short story & poetry contest. I’ll be narrating Kevin Broccoli’s story this week, and I’ll let you know when it goes live on the Onyx website.
Kevin writes every day. And he doesn’t feel himself if he skips a day. I could relate. But I didn’t realize how much that was true until I stepped away from writing for a while.
When you do things daily or regularly, they become a part of you. But you have to start, and you have to be dedicated to making it a natural part of life.
Highlight of the week:
Surprise, it’s about writing. My favorite moment of the week was sitting on the floor with my husband, folding laundry, and addressing the problems my beta readers found in my novel.
We talked out a bunch of possible scenarios and had a few “ah ha!” moments. It was lovely.
Sometimes talking about a problem with a friend or confidant can enlighten you. We’re made to work together.
Motivate:
How often do you stop and REALLY pay attention to what’s around you? The smell of freshly cut grass, the sound of the wind rustling through leaves, the way fresh sheets rub against your legs and are somehow different than day-old ones?
I’ve been trying to pay attention to the little things around me and appreciate the subtleties.
I recently bought some candles from FLORA + MOON at the Franklin farmer’s market. Normally, I just light a candle without really thinking about it. But one morning as I was lighting my Heirloom Pumpkin scented delightfulness, I thought about the work behind the finished product.
There’s a woman out there somewhere who takes her time and energy to obtain ingredients and products, she adds natural scents to wax, she inserts a wick, she hand-pours that wax into jars, then she puts a label on it, another item that had to be designed and produced.
A lot went into the candle, and when I stopped to think about all the time and thought and energy that brought the candle to my desk, I was grateful. The candle wasn’t just a candle anymore, it was a whole production. And had it all not taken place, I wouldn’t have it to enjoy.
It makes one think about a trip to the grocery store. I sling products into my cart without thinking beyond my meal plan. But there a slew of steps that got that food to the grocery and then to my hands.
Life is better when you look at the things around you deeper than the surface. It creates a stronger appreciation for the world around us and the creator of it all.
For most things and people, there’s more than meets the eye. What benefit can we get out of taking time to be mindful of those things?
Book review:
The No-Show
by
Beth O’Leary
I found Beth O’Leary from a suggestion online “if you like X , you might also enjoy Beth O’Leary.”
I started with the above, The No-Show. As you’ll see below, this book is listed in the contemporary romance genre as a rom-com (romantic comedy).
It’s definitely witty, but I’m not sure I’d describe it as a rom-com. There’s indeed romance, but this book is a little heavier. It plays with your emotions. Even though it made me feel things other than light and happy, I was still riveted to the page.
The way this book is set up, I really had to know what happened with all the characters in the novel, and there were several to follow and get invested in.
Regard the summary below. If you enjoy a hearty mix of hilarity, sadness, emotional turmoil, recovery from wounds, a display of scars, and a satisfying ending, then I recommend this book. It’s well-written, impactful, and I found it to be enjoyable.
Goodread’s summary:
GR rating: 3.90/5 35,676 ratings 5,541 reviews
My rating: 4.5/5
“Three women who seemingly have nothing in common find that they're involved with the same man in this smart new rom-com.”
Siobhan is a quick-tempered life coach with way too much on her plate. Miranda is a tree surgeon used to being treated as just one of the guys on the job. Jane is a soft-spoken volunteer for the local charity shop with zero sense of self-worth.
These three women are strangers who have only one thing in common: They've all been stood up on the same day, the very worst day to be stood up--Valentine's Day. And, unbeknownst to them, they've all been stood up by the same man.
Once they've each forgiven him for standing them up, they let him back into their lives and are in serious danger of falling in love with a man who seems to have not just one or two but three women on the go....
Is there more to him than meets the eye? And will they each untangle the truth before they all get their hearts broken?
Book Bonus: Do you judge a book by its cover?
I recently discovered this website, Recommend Me a Book. You’re presented with the first page of a book, but you’re completely blind to the title, genre, or author. This is so you read without bias and are exposed to things you might not otherwise consider.
If you hit the “settings” gear at the bottom of the page, you can select a genre so you aren’t wildly getting a sample of everything out there.
The question is, does the opening grab you?
I kind of love this.
Final thoughts:
I challenge you to take just ONE thing in your life today and really look at it.
It’s powerful.
Until next week, much glitter,
Melissa
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