Resolutions vs Truths ~ by Grace Augustine

I've never been one to set resolutions for a new year or any other occasion. However, with that said, I do set new annual truths for myself, including a special word for the new year. Below you will find my 20 Truths for 2020.

My special word for this year is FORWARD. With this being the year 2020, the year of perfect vision, it is only fitting that I choose this word. I will let go of the past, of all things that no longer serve me, and look solely to the future and what it holds. I will move one step at a time and enjoy every second of that step, making new memories and new friends and achieving new things.

My wish for you during this new year and decade is one of prosperity in all areas of your life. It is one of hope in all good things. It is one of peace and love that you share with all who surround you.

Our Perception of Success ~ by Bambi Sommers

Tell me, are you a success?  If your answer is yes, good for you!  If you’re answer is no, maybe it’s time to look at your definition of what success is.

When I was growing up, people who had “prestigious” jobs were looked upon as being successful; doctors, lawyers, bankers, and the like.  But time and circumstances have changed things.  The cost of day to day living has gone up drastically and wages have had a hard time keeping up.

The cost of insurance has pushed some doctors out of practice. And hospitals are gobbling up private practices left and right, making it easier for doctors because the hospital is absorbing the cost of the malpractice insurance.

So, bottom line is unless you are one of the super-rich, the picture of success is not what it used to be.

In the writing world of indies, self-publishing has become the norm.  What used to be a negative word has developed into something writers actually want and plan to do.  It has become easy and inexpensive and is filled with choices as to how and where to publish, allowing the writer to have the final say on covers, pricing, and the like.  This doesn’t mean that just because you’ve self-published, your books will sell.  Once you publish, now you have to market and, with thousands of books flowing into that market  every day, it can feel like being in a soccer arena with everyone screaming and trying to be heard above the deafening roar.

This is why most indie authors work day jobs and write because they love it.  Very few actually make a livable wage.  It’s not because the books aren’t good.  There are many talented writers who, unfortunately, get overlooked on a daily basis.  It’s marketing among the masses.

Why am I raining on your parade?  I’m trying to get you to see that success isn’t necessarily about money, at least not anymore.  For most people in present day, success equals happiness.  

In the days of success being judged by your occupation, social media wasn’t even on the radar.  Those who self-published were considered writers who weren’t quite good enough to be picked up by a publisher (even though that was not true.) Writers had to send their books to publishers or “query” which many still choose to do today.  This is a much longer process and usually entails the writer having to withstand many rejections.

Modern day comes with more than its share of stressors that weren’t a factor years ago.  Social media has panned out to be both a blessing and a curse.  A blessing in the fact we can instantly obtain information, ideas, entertainment, and conversation.  A curse meaning social media, and technology in general, has increased many stressors in children and adolescents that were not there before, such as the need to keep up in a fast-paced, constantly changing world and learning how to deal with cyber bullies.  

Check statistics of the amount of medication given to children in present day for things such as ADHD compared to the days when children played outside and used their imaginations more.

Not to say it hasn’t affected adults, it has.  The need to keep up, once again, is a huge factor, along with the constant barrage of information, right down to eye strain.  I’m not knocking technology; I actually use it constantly for my business.  I’m just saying that information that we used to take days to absorb now comes to us within seconds.  And it doesn’t stop there. There’s more information right behind it. And so on, and so on.

If you don’t believe technology has caused stress, look at all the information now about self-care.  Books, classes, YouTube videos, CD’s, even entire stores are dedicated to it.  This might not have come about if we didn’t feel the need to disconnect with all the technology that rushes at us every day. 

We used to talk on our land line telephones (corded, of course!) or face-to-face when we wanted to be in contact.  Computers, when they did come, took up almost our entire desks with their bulkiness, and cameras were something with actual film that we had to wait days, sometimes weeks, to develop.  The plus side of this was no one filmed you when you were making a fool of yourself in public!

To sum all this up, things in our world today have changed drastically and our interpretation of success needs to change with it.  If you can find happiness in what you do for a living, you are successful!  If you have happiness and passion – even if you can only do it part of the time, you are a success!  You have found something that brings you joy!

If writing is your joy, keep doing it – even if you’re making little or no money, keep that joy, that positive energy, flowing.  Rethink things and enjoy your success!

    

Bambi Sommers has written eight romance thrillers. She also is a stylistic editor who keeps the author’s style while making their words better.  You can contact her by email at sommersbambi@gmail.com, or by clicking these links.       AMAZON      WEBSITE  

The Year in Review ~ by Bou Kitteh

Well, while Mom is busy, I thought I’d give you an update on 2019 from my perspective. You know I see things differently because I’m only inches from the floor—even though I can jump on certain high surfaces, on others when no one is looking. **paw to mouth snickers.

January, February, and March were dreadful! All that white stuff out there, no one to watch, and the birds weren’t cooperating, either! You’d think with a tree strung with yummy popcorn and berries outside, they’d be grateful. I guess the weather kept them under wraps, too.

April came and it was a breath of fresh air! There were chipmunks! Holy moly…those little things can move so fast! Darting back and forth on the patio. I felt like I was watching one of those tennis things mom watches. My neck hurt by the end of that day! A few squirrels came by, one even up to the door, brazen little brat. Not sure what that one thought, but there was no way I’d be letting it inside. Not on my watch!

My boy surprised my mom one Sunday. He put together the most

amazing urban garden. He painted the bricks and placed them just so and helped plant them. It was cool. They didn’t know I watched, but I did. My boy is a good boy. **eye blinks.

The summer was icky, only because that noisy wall thing was running all the time! There was no fresh air, only the cool stuff coming out of the wall. Scared me when it turned on and off. I was thankful I could hide under the couch or under the beds! Some of the summer storms had me running, too.

September and October were unremarkable, for me at least. I sat

and did some editing, listened to some good music, and took a lot of naps on mom’s lap, of course! **kitteh grins.

Here we are in December. Mom’s been busy editing and writing. My boy leaves every morning and comes home late. I don’t like that much. I like it better when he is here. He gives the best head and whisker rubs. **kitteh sigh.

Now, I’m sure that the pine cones are in the vase and the fancy

wreath is on the door, it won’t be long until that prickly green thing with all those lights and ornaments goes up…and I will be told countless times to leave it alone. Yeah, well, it bores me. Give me the patio door and the critters outside. That’s more my style. Although, that cute little mouse on the tree fascinates me.

It’s been a good year for this kitteh. I’m with two people who love me. I have lots of toys, although a girl could use more **Christmas present hint**, I’m warm, not hungry or thirsty, and I wish all kittehs could have this luxury.

Please, if you’re thinking your home needs a new kitteh, go to your local animal shelter and adopt. You won’t be sorry. Whomever you choose to love will love you back a hundredfold, I guarantee.

Happy holidays, everyone. Eat and drink responsibly and keep Uber on speed dial. (No Uber's needed here, but maybe a wee bit of the nip every now and again. **paw to mouth snicker)

Kitteh hugs and kisses to all.

Bou  =^.^=