Welcome, Bluebird ~ by Marj Ivancic

Photo: IndianaAudubonSociety

I enjoy learning about the origins of things, especially quirky phrases. And so, as winter gives way to spring, and I sit here watching a pair of bluebirds build a nest in their house at the back of the yard, it seems like a perfect time to go looking into the story behind their title as the harbingers of happiness.

Like most idioms, there does not appear to be one, agreed upon source for the saying, “bluebird of happiness.” Google returns results of their presence and influence across the globe and across the span of time, from the Shang Dynasty of China of the second millennium BC to the Navaho, Pueblo, and Iroquois cultures of the Americas. Though these myths and stories vary, the bluebird commonly represents knowledge, hope, and prosperity.

But nowhere in anything I read did I find the answer to the question—Why?

Why the bluebird? Why not the chickadee? Or a goldfinch? What is it about the bluebird that evokes joy and makes people feel as though God, Nature, and/or the Universe is speaking directly to them?

Since the creators of the legends are long gone, I have no one to put those questions to…so, I think that means I’m free to make up my own answer, right?  Well, here goes.

The first thing that comes to mind is a bit obvious—their coloring. In a forest crowded with browns and blacks, whites and greens, their azure hue is rather startling and unique. Not only that, blue is a primary color, one of the elementals from which other colors are born. It has been associated with positivity and calm all on its own. Who doesn’t look upon a cloudless blue sky and breathe a cleansing sigh of “Ah”? 

Photo: Sciencesource.ccom

But, interestingly enough, bluebird feathers aren’t actually blue. That beautiful coloring is an optical illusion of light waves and proteins. So perhaps it was that bit of magic that drew the bards and poets to these birds when they sought characters for their tales of enchantment and charm?

The second reason I’ve come up with is timing. Where I live, bluebirds appear as the world wakes from winter’s slumber. It is a time of birth and hope. The earth is rich and dark. The promise of good weather and fruitful crops sings on the warming breeze. Spying that bit of blue fluttering through the leafless trees is a trumpet call, hailing in the Queen of Seasons—Spring. It is our cue to crawl out of our mental and emotional hibernation and to celebrate living once again.

However, even as I write out these theories, I am wholly aware that

Photo: VectorStock.com

the reason “why” doesn’t really matter. What matters is that we continue to look for signs of hope, reminders to be joyful, evidence that we are loved and blessed. And to look for them every day, in all kinds of weather, in all places. 

Whatever form it takes for you—bluebirds, Bible verses, a song, a loved one’s voice—may you have what you need to continue to believe in a better tomorrow and in the possibility of good!

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