Our winter weather woes continue here on Salt Spring Island as the past week has been filled with massive amounts of snow, power outages and water issues that have brought most everything to a halt, along with temps not typical of an island. Hoping our water will return soon as it's so difficult to get much done without it. As a result, unfortunately I don't have a new Monday blog entry today but I'm reposting an oldie but goodie for you below. And I'm still planning to have my upcoming release A REASON TO BREATHE ready to publish soon--stay tuned! My best to you for a wonderful week ahead--and stay warm!
THE MONDAY BLOG
Creating a safe space when you’re talking with family and friends is so important, and it’s as simple as saying, “There is no judgement. Can we all agree? No judgement of me, no judgement of yourself.” If you look back, has there been a time in your life, today, yesterday, where you’ve found yourself judging yourself? We are our own worst critics, and many of the blocks we have, we’ve placed there ourselves. Added to that, we often find ourselves quick to judge others for something we perceive they’ve done when the fact is that we have no idea what’s going on with anyone at any time.
I remember a story Eric Edmeades shared, one that has stuck with me as a mother. He was on a city train with numerous other passengers. It was busy, and he was sitting there taking in a scene of two young children who were unruly, jumping, misbehaving, and annoying the other passengers. He could see everyone becoming frustrated through the way they stiffened and cast an annoyed glance to the father, who was sitting there, quiet and oblivious, not seeing any of it. It seemed as if he was ignoring his kids, who had already become an annoyance to the other passengers.
Now, instead of becoming irritated and saying nothing, as the other passengers did, Eric believes in the saying “It takes a village,” so he leaned forward to the father and said, “Hey, excuse me. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but your children are a little out of control, and they’re annoying a few of the passengers. Is there something I can help with?”
The father looked up, startled. He appeared to be pulling himself together as he glanced around at the other passengers glaring his way, then back over to his kids. He said, “Oh, I’m so sorry. We just came from the hospital. My wife, their mother, died this morning.”
Now, I don’t know about you, but when I heard that story, my stomach bottomed out. Point made. We never know at any time what’s going on with anyone else. We’re quick to judge, criticize, and assume a lot when if we only knew the truth of what others were going through, we would react far differently.
Back on that train, as Eric heard the man, so did the other passengers. Of course, it touched everyone, and it changed the energy from condemnation and frustration to empathy and understanding. What a difference that makes.
Remind yourself, and this is also a reminder to me, let’s not be too quick to judge. Empathy really goes a long ways, and that very negative emotion that was bred in most of us as children, judgement, isn’t it time to let it go?
99CENT SALE
Don't miss Book 3 in the Married in Montana series, on sale for 99cents through tomorrow!
Sheriff Blake Gatlin has moved to rural Montana for a fresh start, but when he meets Brandyne, a single mom of five struggling to make ends meet, he is determined to be the only man around helping her out.
But Brandyne is determined to stand on her own two feet, very aware that Blake isn’t jumping in for a ready-made family. But when Brandyne’s past comes knocking, she is forced to decide between love and what is right for her children.
A PROMISE OF FOREVER is 99cents at Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo and Google Play. Sale ends 2/19/19.
Please, please! Always check the retailer's price before downloading as some retailers may be slow in changing over to the sale price.
CALLING ALL AMAZON READERS! If you've enjoyed A PROMISE OF FOREVER and wouldn't mind leaving an honest review here, I'd truly appreciate it! The number of reviews a book accumulates on a daily basis has a direct impact on its success at Amazon, so leaving a review--no matter how short--helps make it possible for me to continue to do what I do. As always, thank you so much for your consideration and support--I am extremely grateful!
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