Winter might seem gloomy at times, but there is plenty of cuteness outdoors for sure.
And of course, the Forsythia that always blooms during Winter.
Hope you enjoy the pics.
Winter Cuteness
Author: inkspeare
Ahead? No Such Thing Around Here
The calm after the storm before the next storm. My husband and I had been cleaning up the garden trying to be ahead for Spring chores, but a snow and ice storm took us back a few steps. We had serious tree damage, the result of snow topped by two days of freezing rain that added extra weight on trees. For two days, day and night, all I heard was the boom from trees falling all around. We have massive cleanup to take care of as soon as the next storm comes and goes which should be around Wednesday night according to the weather report. It will take some time and effort, but we will get it done. Here are a few pictures of the work pending around the farmhouse.
For now, we are unable to use the driveway, as it is blocked. The driveway is covered with fallen pine trees; yes, my beloved pine trees, around 5-6 trees. Thankfully, the large old cedar did not break but was bent. (Photos by M.A.D.)
Hopefully, we will not have more down trees after the next storm because then it will turn into a real project. This winter has been cold, icy, and wet. I am excited about Spring, and I am hoping to share some gardening projects here.
Love
Love is all kinds of things to all kind of people, but one thing love is to all – it is the only thing left when there is nothing else, and the only thing you have to give when there is nothing left at all.
Wishing you all a Happy Valentines Day!
Don’t Give Your Power Away
Why do we give our power away so easily?
As a Christian I believe that my strength comes from Jesus; however, I also believe that every interaction and decision we make is an exchange of power and energy (physical, mental, psychological …) whether we realize it or not. The other day, I saw on the news frantic people buying eggs in large quantities. Those people were in a panic; it reflected on their faces. I thought, here we go again. A woman had an entire shopping cart full of cartons of eggs only. I thought, how many eggs can you eat? Today, I heard what a huge egg problem we have, and people are stealing eggs left and right. I thought, long gone are the days of stealing diamonds, now we steal eggs. The news report showed empty shelves, and people coming out the store carrying several large cartons of eggs, hurrying to their vehicles, some of them reflecting their satisfaction on their faces – the “great egg hunt.” These were not nuggets of gold, just eggs.
Don’t let the fearmongers take your power away; don’t let them dictate your next step and hold on to your power. You have power to decide, the power of choice. Would you die if you don’t eat eggs for a while? Of course not. There are other choices for breakfast or recipes. Unless you own a restaurant that specializes in omelets, then there is no need to buy a full shopping cart of eggs. Now, I hear, there is an egg limit imposed. If you are not happy with the price of eggs because they are insanely expensive, then make the decision, don’t include them in your budget and your shopping list for now. Eventually, this all shall pass, and you will be able to enjoy eggs at a reasonable price once more.
Sometimes, we let fear dictate our next step/behavior (any type of fear, even fear of missing out on something). With any decision/interaction you make, you exchange power (your power) for something else. Don’t let fearmongers dictate how you exert your power. Sometimes, the bait is so subtle that we don’t realize we are being pressured into an “unfair power transaction.” Next time you feel the need to run and buy eggs or –fill the blank– because there is not enough to go around for everyone, STOP, take a deep breath, and assess the transaction you are about to step into, and ask yourself, “Am I giving my God-given power away to fear?
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
The Next Season
Today, I found myself wishing that Spring was here already. Autumn and Winter used to be my favorite seasons when I lived in New Jersey. For a reason that truly eludes me, Spring and Summer have become my favorite seasons here in Virginia. Sometimes, we find ourselves thinking or wishing for the next “season” in life instead of living and being present in the season we are in. I truly believe that each season in life has something to teach us, whether that season is challenging or one of many blessings.
Many times, we rush through life unaware of our present season instead of living our best time in it. We are always thinking of a future season that may or may not materialize because none of us is guaranteed another day or even another second. We go through life making plans, worrying about the future, and ignoring all the good that the season we are in brings with it. We say things like, “time is money,” or “time is of the essence;” however, in trying to capture time, at the same time, we are letting it go. Call it the pursuit of happiness or the pursuit of wealth, or any other thing that we might spend our entire life going after, when we look back, it is all that – a pursuit through time, always wishing for another season.
“To every thing, there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV
Writing Dice?
I had never heard of writing dice. One of my lovely nieces gifted me with this interesting writing prop. It looks fun and certainly has the potential to spark creativity. It is a series of color-coded dice with words/categories written on the dice. The way it works is by throwing the dice and creating a story with the words/categories obtained. Each color means something, for example, yellow represents time/place, white is point of view, and so on. Here’s what it looks like.
If I was to apply the example of dice in the picture to my first novel, Moonlit Valley*, it would be like this: written from the protagonist point of view (Rose Carrigan)(white dice), who is very witty (green dice), and taking place in a small rural town (Moonlit Valley)(pink dice); she is presented with an unexpected destiny, that challenges her identity (blue dice), as well as everything she thought she knew about her husband (yellow dice), in a supernatural twist of fate (orange dice). Now the funny thing is those were the dice (in the picture) that came out at my first try. Made me smile for sure. What a fun writing prop.
*You can find Moonlit Valley on Amazon, in eBook and printed format.
What Motivates You?
Everything is a system that interrelates.
The first month of a new year is when many people look for motivation in order to set new goals and have a “fresh start.” Although goal setting is a healthy practice, when we do not feel motivated enough, this practice might seem daunting or even hopeless. What motivates us?
Motivation – To stir to action; provide with a motive. (American Heritage Dictionary)
Enthusiasm for doing something; the need or reason for doing something; willingness to do something, or something that causes such willingness. (Cambridge Dictionary)
Both definitions above point to a need, a reason, a motive, to create the enthusiasm to move into action. In other words, without motive there is no action. What motivates us? What stirs the hope that causes us to set goals and a plan? Sometimes, we confuse our goal with our why, or vice versa, and sometimes we focus so much on the reason or the goal that we miss an important point – that we are a system, and everything is a system that interrelates.
It is no wonder then, that we feel defeated, tired, and guilty when we fail to perform, or we do not achieve our goals. We blame and chastise ourselves and we end up feeling defeated, sad, depressed… When we see and realize the complexity and beauty of our being, it becomes harder for us to be so harsh with ourselves and with others, but also, we learn to view ourselves and others with kindness, but most important, as a part of everything else. It is with this new vision that we can find the motivation to dream again, to desire again, to strive and understand the why that will determine the goals that we want to achieve. Suddenly, the why and the goals are just a small part of a bigger existence.
“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:14
Assuming an Identity in the New Year
I have to become before I become. As I wrote a few things that I want to accomplish this year, the thought crossed my mind. I may develop a detail plan, but it truly does not mean anything unless I start modeling behavior, acting as the person I want to become in order to achieve the target goal. I have to become, in my mind and in my doing, the person I want to eventually become. To illustrate, I will use a simple example, a common goal that most people set – to save x amount of money by a certain day. In order to do that, I have to act as a saver. I have to become/model the behavior of a saver, a person who saves money. I have to act/be what I want to become in order to achieve what I want to achieve. That is just a simple example, but depending on how many layers a goal might have, that will determine how many identities I might have to assume in order to make it real.
As a writer, writing characters, identities, personality traits … become second nature. Eventually, by repeating a specific behavior that is required to achieve a specific result/outcome will become second nature as well. Just as a character grows and develops throughout the pages of a story, so do we, when we model what we want to become. With each layer, each modeled behavior, we grow from one initial step to the next, and so on, just as a character grows/evolves from chapter to chapter or a series.
Depending on the complexity of a goal, that is how many identities one might have to assume. Going back to the example of saving money, I will evolve it to a few more layers, let’s say, saving x amount (first layer) to pay debt (second layer) in order to build wealth (third layer) for a safer future (fourth layer). There are a few layers on this financial goal.
Goal layers – Identity/behavior
Saving money = Saver
Debt free = Frugal person/conscientious of spending
Build wealth = Spend less than you earn/Financially literate
Safer future = Wealth manager/manage money wisely
In each level of progress, a new identity emerges that the previous identity will support; it all interrelates and works together, but without “acting out the part,” without becoming or modeling the appropriate behavior, nothing will happen. Many times, we become overwhelmed by looking at the outcome first, but in reality, it is much manageable and real when we just look at the first step/ the first behavior, and let it evolve from there.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 (NKJV)
“And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Colossians 3:10 (NKJV)
Of Plans and Works
A new year represents a fresh start for many of us. We evaluate the previous year, check a few boxes, and set new goals. Sometimes, we are disappointed because we did not accomplish as much as we wanted to in the previous year; other times, we are satisfied with our performance. For others, it represents a challenge because they can already identify the areas of struggle ahead.
Whether dread or inspiration, when we look at the new year, one thing that we can always count on is hope. Hope for a better year. Each day represents a blank canvas. We might have to deal with a few smudges here and there, but as long as we keep hope we can paint a new picture or add some color to the one we are painting.
When we feel hopeless it is as if we are covered in darkness. One cannot see the light; one cannot see the colors. Setting goals and planning is good; however, there are times when despite careful planning and hard work, things don’t go our way, or at first glance they don’t seem to go as expected. Add to that a few years of hard work, determination and no results, and it can break your spirit, and burn you out. If you have experienced it, you know well what I mean.
At one point or another, we all will experience setbacks, disappointments, heartache, hopelessness, and brokenness, to various degrees. It is how we view/react during those times that will determine our comeback and the length of time we stay in the shadows.
“I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4
It is good to set goals and to plan. To get somewhere there must be a destination and a map.
“Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Proverbs 16:3
My best wishes for the year ahead.
Best of Wishes
It is a windy and rainy day; I love days like this one. I can see leaves falling and hear the wind, as the raindrops hit the window glass. There is a mystifying and peaceful feeling about it, very serene. I feel tucked-in, secure inside, the warmth of home. I guess nature mimics that feeling, because all critters do the same; they are nestled in their habitats. On days like this one, one can help it but reminisce and hope for the promises of the new year. Soon, the holidays will be here and gone, and we are left with the expectation of a brand-new year, a fresh opportunity to do better, but in reality, every brand-new day is just that, a gift, a new opportunity. Whether to keep on going, to start over, or simply, be grateful for what is, it is a blessed gift. Some people say, “what matters is this moment;” but I think that what matters is what I do with this moment; we all have to live it, one way or another.
When we cease to exist, moments do not matter anymore; it all blends into eternity. I guess where we’ll spend it matters. Challenges come and go, dreams do as well. We live and give meaning and purpose to our living or we strive looking for it. If we find it, we count ourselves lucky, blessed; if we don’t, we search all our life, or feel cursed, not knowing that the mere act of living has purpose in itself, if we dare to see. Life reveals itself. It reveals its miracles every single day, and all of it in the midst of our challenges and blessings. The breath of the Creator is in every one of us. Every time that we open our eyes to receive the blessing of another day is reason enough, purpose in itself, to make the best of what we are given. Life will never be perfect, and there will always be challenges, ups and downs, the unexpected, and the undesirable, but with it, also the human God-given capacity to dream, to hope, to love, and to feel every second of our experience here, until we come home.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord shine his face upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his face upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6: 24-26
Wishing you a very merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a blessed new year.
Inkspeare 