Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!


Looking at this photo, you will see a room that could use a little paint, some new carpet, and maybe a new window or two. Upon further study, you will find toys laying around, and maybe some stray wrapping paper that was missed in the hurried clean up. And, if you look closer still, you will see people in conversation, laughing and joking with each other, comfortable and relaxed. This is always my greatest gift of any Christmas. Seeing everyone getting a chance to just take a breath, and enjoy.


So, now that Christmas is behind us, we have the new year stepping ever closer. As always, as the New Year gets closer, a person tends to reflect upon the year past, even if just briefly, before we cross the threshold of the new.


Well, it's been quite a year for this household. Let's see in the past 12 months there have been about.............


10000 kms travelled
1000 little faces to whom I've read my stories.
600 books sold.
15 weddings/karaoke/DJ shows
12 tradeshows vended
2 career curve balls
2 new books launched
1 new grandbaby

Yep, it's been quite a year. Some things were planned, but most, of course, were not.  One of my favorite quotes is "Life is what happens when you're making other plans." Well, that sentiment was definitely proven to be true this year.

Life is indeed an adventure, and I look forward to what lies ahead. It won't all be pretty, it absolutely won't be without it's challenges, but I guarantee one thing, it won't be boring!

All any of us can do is make the best of anything and everything that life throws our way. 

The good things are easy to take in stride, they just seem to work their way into our normal routines without much of a hiccup. Some of the best things happen so subtly they sometimes can get overlooked all together. We all need to do ourselves a favor and pay closer attention to those things.

The "not so good" things tend to stick with us in a much bigger way. These things tend to want to cling to our souls and peck away at our happiness. If we let them, they can weigh us down and keep us from flying at the heights we should. 

Nobody gets through life unscathed. We all have things happen to, and around us that effect us, in both positive and negative ways. How we choose to react, shows who we are.

Personally, I choose to be happy. I've learned over time that happiness is indeed a choice. It isn't something you need to chase, or look for, or something that can be given to you by someone else. You can't find it in a job, in a dream house, or in a fancy car. Happiness just is. Choose it.

Yes, there are hard times, crap happens. You deal with it the best way you are able, do all that you can, so you aren't left with "shoulda, coulda, woulda" syndrome, and then choose to be happy, and move on.  If you've truly done all you can, there is nothing left to do, so you might as well get your happy on. Life is too short to waste too much of it in dark places.

I know it sounds simple, maybe a little too simple, but, who ever said happiness has to be complicated? Give it a shot, you never know, it might work for you too.


So, my friends, for the upcoming week........


Do my level best to assist a great group of people ring in the new year on a great note. (Happy New Year!)

Make a list of New Year's Resolutions.....(will post it next week)

Get our income tax stuff started.....

Get to work on my next book....


So, my friends, thank you so much for another year of incredible support. It tickles me to death to see new readers from new countries pretty much every week.  I always love hearing from each and every one of you.

Until next time, I'll leave you with this wish..............


May your New Year's Eve be legendary in whatever way you fancy.
May you ring it in feeling happy, maybe a little tipsy, and a lot dancy.

May you have a night of great friends and good food, with a killer soundtrack playing under it all.
May you laugh til it hurts, dance til you drop, in short, have a complete ball.

May a special midnight kiss, on that fantastic eve, be ever so magical and full of promise.
May you not recall it the next morning as being a pathetic, drunken drool fest with the slightest hint of vomit.

May you bring in the New Year with dignity and delight.
May your 2013, be nothing but brilliantly bright.


See you next week!

www.margyreidbooks.com