“My books are primarily plot driven but the best plot in the world is useless if you don’t populate them with characters that readers can care about.” ~ Jeffrey Deaver
Month: April 2020
🤗 Feel Good Hack ~ The Sun Will Rise Again
“There is strange comfort in knowing that no matter what happens today, the Sun will rise again tomorrow.”
~ Aaron Lauritsen
Today’s Poem ~ The Loom of Time
The Loom of Time
Author Unknown
Man’s life is laid in the loom of time
To a pattern he does not see,
While the weavers work and the shuttles fly
Till the dawn of eternity.
Some shuttles are filled with silver threads
And some with threads of gold,
While often but the darker hues
Are all that they may hold.
But the weaver watches with skillful eye
Each shuttle fly to and fro,
And sees the pattern so deftly wrought
As the loom moves sure and slow.
God surely planned the pattern:
Each thread, the dark and fair,
Is chosen by His master skill
And placed in the web with care.
He only knows its beauty,
And guides the shuttles which hold
The threads so unattractive,
As well as the threads of gold.
Not till each loom is silent,
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God reveal the pattern
And explain the reason why
The dark threads were as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
For the pattern which He planned.
Today’s Smile 😀
Pete: “I warned my daughter about using her whistle inside and gave her one last chance.”
Ken: “How’d she do?”
Pete: “Unfortunately, she blew it.”
COVID-19 Is a Bummer – It Can’t Stop Good Things From Happening
COVID-19 Is a Bummer – It Can’t Stop Good Things From Happening
Here are a few of the good things I witnessed or experienced today:
- The honeysuckle is in full bloom and it’s fragrance is amazing. Grateful.
- The birds that fly into my bird feeder didn’t get the social distancing memo (LOL). Their antics are a joy to behold.
- The local supermarket is extending shopping hours from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Yippee. It’s a good sign.
- A large black monarch butterfly landed on a dandelion near my patio. Beautiful, graceful, and a gift to me. Thanks, Monarch.
- The times are tough, but we can help each other find a reason to smile, even if it is watching birds, a lizard, or a monarch butterfly. We’re another day closer to winning. Hang in there.
What I share are seemingly small and inconsequential things, but they are priceless to me.
Grateful for all the above.
If you’d like to share the good things you’ve witnessed on my blog, Email me (ray.brese@gmail.com) a short list (1 to 5 things. I’ll post and attribute them to you in the way you choose to be acknowledged (e.g., anonymous, name, Word Press blog (etc.).
🌞 Today’s Inspiration ~ Pass on Your Wonderful Smile
“It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald
🍎 Today’s Health Tip ~ The Power of Positive Thinking on Your Health
Health Benefits of Positive Thinking
Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower levels of distress
- Greater resistance to the common cold
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
It’s unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It’s also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and don’t smoke or drink alcohol in excess.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Today’s Poem ~ Let Me Arise
Let Me Arise
Violet Fane
Let me arise and open the gate,
to breathe the wild warm air of the heath,
And to let in Love, and to let out Hate,
And anger at living and scorn of Fate,
To let in Life, and to let out Death.
✒️ Writers’ Wisdom ~ Nothing to Lose
“One thing that helps is to give myself permission to write badly. I tell myself that I’m going to do my five or 10 pages no matter what, and that I can always tear them up the following morning if I want. I’ll have lost nothing-writing and tearing up five pages would leave me no further behind than if I took the day off.” ~ Lawrence Block
COVID-19 Is a Bummer – It Can’t Stop Good Things From Happening
COVID-19 Is a Bummer – It Can’t Stop Good Things From Happening
Here are a few of the good things I witnessed or experienced today:
- It rained today in south Texas. A warm, soft rain. I went out for my walk, got soaked and loved every moment of it. I should have run barefoot through the puddles.
- I had a Texas sized glass of refreshing iced tea to go with my lunch. Oh yes, it was very good.
- On my to do list today: 1) listen to music that makes me sing along; 2) watch a movie this evening that makes me laugh; 3) Take 15 minutes to meditate in my sacred space. When I check off all three, I’ll say it’s been a great day.
- The times are tough, but we can help each other find a reason to smile, even if it is the antics of a squirrel. We’re another day closer to winning. Hang in there.
What I share are seemingly small and inconsequential things, but they are priceless to me.
Grateful for all the above.
If you’d like to share the good things you’ve witnessed on my blog, Email me (ray.brese@gmail.com) a short list (1 to 5 things. I’ll post and attribute them to you in the way you choose to be acknowledged (e.g., anonymous, name, Word Press blog (etc.).
