To Be or Not To Be Jolly: 5 Ways to Light Your Holiday Furnace

And I don't mean a literal furnace.

I grew up with cold winters. (Who's with me?) Snow on the ground, twinkling lights, indoor fires, mittens, moonboots... (That may be a bit too far...)

For the last 16 years, I've lived in a tropical climate -- so different from my upbringing. Our fist year in the south, I didn't know HOW to find my holiday spirit. 

• It was too warm
• Too sunny
• Too colorful (talking about the greens, blooming flowers, tropical birds)

In fact, it took a few years before I figured out how to feel the holidays when I couldn't feel the weather I'd associated with them. It revolved around

Our December traditions center on Christmas -- starting with the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday *gasp*) when we 

1. Put up decorations

We surround oursevles with things that say to the subconscious -- "This is special." Seeing those reminders daily, whether we consciously acknowledge them or not, establishes a different atmosphere, emphasizes the importance.

2. Foods!

Unless you hate eating (my daughter does -- too many food sensitivities), this is one of the quickest ways to remind the heart, mind, and tongue that it's time to be festive! Gingerbread is my go-to for this season, since I grew up mass producing gingerbread houses with my mom every Christmas -- one for Dad's work, one for our house, one for each kid's classroom (all 8 kids), one for our grandparents... 

3. Activities

We have so many traditions here -- advent calendars, gifts to Christ, movies, tree strolls, wrapping gifts, holiday performances, tree lighting, etc.

4. Music

Obviously, I'm a little biased, but music is the BIGGEST mood chaser I know. I love the traditional Chirstmas songs out there, but my favorite are the sacred songs, the ones that point at the heart and purpose of a celebration.

And if NONE of that is working, we break out the BIG GUNS:

5. Thinking outside ourselves 

Christmas presents, food donations for the poor, service to community or neighbors... A celebration becomes something more when it's not all about us, but we look for ways to share it with others (kids included). It makes it sweeter (cookie plates), brigher (Christmas lights), more joyful (caroling, singing in/listening to choirs). 

Whatever the case may be, I'm wishing you a wonderful Christmas & holiday season! 

AND as my gift to you, enjoy some music. These aren't holiday songs but ones you can listen to all year round. And they're free. And they cost to produce. So yeah, a true gift.

See All HERE

The awesome co-hosts are Tara Tyler, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, Liza, and Natalie Aguirre!

The question for this month:

As a writer, what was one of the coolest/best gifts you ever received?

It was probably my first book, completed in 3rd grade. We wrote an informative story, complete with a hardcover (wrapped in contact paper). It was the first time I saw something I'd written as a "finished" product -- and it wouldn't have happened without an incredible teacher who initiated, formed, and executed the projet.

What are your favorite holiday traditions? What are you doing this year to get in the spirit of the season? 

A Whole Month of Thank You

 For those who live in the United States, we celebrate one of the biggest holidays of the year this month -- a feast (based on a series of feasts in early American history) to celebrate friendship with the native people who fed locals and KEPT THEM FROM DYING when they first settled in the land and DIDN'T know how to survive.

It is now celebrated with too much food and expressions of gratitude.

Which, really, can you get more epic than that?

I live off gratitude these days. It keeps me sane. It's a power that brings positivity, LITERAL changes to the body's chemistry, and a kindlier response from the world around us. 

My BIG 5 for today:

1. Getting to share MUSIC VIDEOS. (And so, SO much more.)

Check it out!

I've been living with these songs in my head for ages. Glad to finally be sharing.

2. Laughter.

Part of our recent online campaign has been about sharing the funny moments, because life gets WAY too serious and heavy without them.

3. Memories.

Some days I live on the moments when life was awesome and things just felt good. They're enough to make it through the tough days.

4. People.

Friends who support us, the kindness of a stranger, likes, comments, pick-me-ups from other humans. They keep me going.

5. Writing.

Writing keeps me sane--mine or other people's. Grateful for good stories (the ones I get to pen, included) that give my brain a place to go when life gets heavy.

I'm participating in a month-long gratitude challenge on social media. Join in, eh?

How about you? Can you list 5 things you're grateful for today?

The awesome co-hosts for the November 5 posting of the IWSG are Jennifer Lane, Jenni Enzor, Renee Scattergood, Rebecca Douglass, Lynn Bradshaw, and Melissa Maygrove!

The question for this month:

When you began writing, what did you imagine your life as a writer would be like? Were you right, or has this experience presented you with some surprises along the way?

... Was there ever a time I wasn't writing?

Um, no.

I started telling stories with pictures when I was old enough to hold a pencil (in pictures) and that eventually evolved to cartoon strips, then just words. It wasn't a question of what I imagined my life of writing to be like (because it had ALWAYS been) -- more of, how do I share the stories that ARE my life? I dreamed of publishing my first novel at age 16 and although I'd written my first two novellas by age 13, I took a break in my teenage years to focus on living, picking up the pen again when I was married with a baby. It was always just a question of WHEN and I didn't care about money or noteriety or any of that. How naive I was!

The industry is not all about writing. Mostly, it's about marketing--since publishing houses DON'T do that for authors anymore (unless you've magically found your audience already). If you aren't a marketing genius (or willing to grow into one), writing probably isn't the right field for you. That's been the biggest lesson this journey taught me. Every industry boils down to the almighty dollar, and this one is no exception.

I LOVE writing. I LOVE tellings stories.

I do not LOVE all that goes with publishing.

How about you? What 5 things are you grateful for? What was your writing vision? Will you join me in the gratitude challenge?

Why You Are Destined to Offend Others & IWSG

Relationships are messy. 

Right?

Just as soon as it seems everything is going well, something pops up that needs to be straightened, fixed, discussed, changed.

This is life: Change. Always.

We all have thoughts, feelings, influences, moods, (hormone swings -- ugh), and more. There's no way you can go through life without saying or doing something that will strike someone else poorly. And even offend them.

In fact, you may do things intentionally that will offend others.

I might too.

Ultimately, we will all be offended, hurt, or broken at some point. And if we're fully living life, many times -- perhaps even in a single day.

Something I learned when I was being bullied as a kid: It was my choice HOW to react. I could lash out and add to the animosity, ignore it and hope it would go away, shrink into myself and nurse a poor-me mentality, or I could choose to understand that people make mistakes and perhaps they were acting as a result of their own trauma.

I mean, not all of them. People are lemmings and some were just following the crowd.

The point is, I could CHOOSE to be offended.

And yes, it's a choice.

I could also CHOOSE to let it go and focus on happiness rather than obsessing over how everyone else was acting.

Being angry or hurt happens. It's an instant reaction and that's aceptable. But holding onto it, that's a decision that we make consciously or subconsciously, and we darn well better make a conscious, mature decision because we are adults. (Haha! I mean, some of us are. Sometimes.)

Being hurt is a choice.

Being angry is a choice.

Hurting others will happen--no matter how careful we are. Apologies are great but we have no power over other's decisions to accept or not accept.

So my advice today: Decide to let things go. Realize all people are impulsive, offensive, and broken sometimes. It's up to us to choose if we will be one of them or if we will let go of pain and anger so we can embrace the joys these emotions blind us against.

As for me, I'm choosing joy. As often as needed.

The awesome co-hosts for the October 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier (Me!), and Cathrina Constantine!

The question is optional.

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

Haha! This is easy. Immortal the Musical. Okay, so there is a book version, pending publication, along with a huge social media release, but the ACTUAL musical? I'd have to say it got its first sneak peak debut back in March. And it was well received. This is the culmination of all my writing expertise, decades of music, singing, orchestral study, composition, lyric work, and poetry of the heart (as my great-grandmother calls it). I don't think you can get more epic than that, right?

Give me your thoughts! Have you been deeply offended? Let go of a deep offense? What is your favorite project you've ever worked on (writing or otherwise)? And do you have a link?

The Magic Word: And It's Not Please (Plus IWSG)

Or abracadabra!

Or wha-la!

Or thank you.

It's not even cheese. *gasp*

(But it does make things better. Here, have some while we chat.)

What is this magical word that makes everything awesome?

Yup. That's the one.

“The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” -- Thomas S. Monson

My favorite t-shirt reads:

True principle--whether in our personal lives, the countries we live in, the homes we have established. This is why I keep a journal--trying to reinforce memories so I won't make the same mistakes again and again.

At the same time, keeping good memories close--the ones that build us up, that encourage us, that fill our hearts with joy, this is the KEY to happiness. On top of a journal, I like to keep a gratitude journal. Every day I list a minimum of 5 things I'm grateful for. This practice ensures I review the day for the best parts and focus on the things that bring me peace, happiness, even pain followed by resolution.

So is this concept magic? Remembering? Yup. Totally. 100%.

Let's reinforce AWESOME memories, holding onto the ones that shape us, and aiming to create a history we can be proud of.

The awesome co-hosts for the September 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Natalie Aguirre, Nancy Gideon, and Diedre Knight!

September 3 question: What are your thoughts on using AI, such as GPChat, Raptor, and others with your writing? Would you use it for research, storybible, or creating outlines\beats?

Here's where I admit I use it. Not for outlining. Not for story bible. I like AI for inspirational image generation, research assistance, and when my brain occasionally struggles with rephrasing a sentence, I really LOVE getting a few suggestions. (Normally, I'd go to a critique partner for this.) 

What about you? Do you use AI regularly? What for? And how do you keep your memories?