Until Then, Just Know, We Miss You...

Hi!


This week has been filled with things to be thankful for.

Time spent with grandbabies, mine, and those of others. Time spent in the absolute splendor that nature provides. Finding my novel on the "picks of the month" shelf in a mall bookstore. Having the opportunity to read my stories to some enthusiastic, fantastic munchkins. Working in a business we have built from the ground up. Getting to do all of these things, and doing them with the best partner in crime anyone could ask for by my side.


This week has also been filled with its fair share of crazy.


What the people who are living in these horrible fire zones are going through, is crazy. The fact that news outlets are finding it necessary to band together to fight for the survival of their first amendments rights, is all kinds of crazy. The idea that any one nation needs to manufacture some delusion of power by creating a "Space Force" explores some absurd, frontier of crazy where no man has gone before.


It's like certain people exist in some sort of alternate realm, one in which facts are all-of-a-sudden relative, and, like beauty, are subject to the "eye of the beholder"?! One in which the non-existence of a recording of a President of the United States using the N-word can't be guaranteed by his staff. One in which 500 children are still in the wind at the hand of said president, and all he can find to talk about is how he has the capability to punish people for verbalizing their distaste in his actions. One in which investigating evidence of interference into their electoral process is somehow a personal insult to the guy who sits in the White House.



Yes, this week has seen its share of crazy, and what is even crazier is that it's likely to get a lot crazier before the dust settles.


As we, the rest of the world, deal each day with our own national imperfections, of which there are plenty, we can't help but wonder what our friend, the United States will be like on the other side of this.



Until then, just know, we miss you.




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May you find a way to weather the storm, heal from the hurt, live with the scars left behind.
May you, once again, find your smile, rediscover what binds you, find that visions, though different, can align.

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www.margyreidbooks.com   

That Leaves The Rest.....

Hi,



Right now it seems like almost half the world is on fire and another big chunk is in turmoil over a plethora of other issues.



That leaves the rest.


The rest is filled with long walks on old bridges, drifting in lakes, bike rides, back-to-school plans, birthday parties, skateboard falls, pick up games, swimming pools, camping, street festivals, weddings and other get-togethers with family and friends.

The rest is paying bills, buying groceries, planning meals, cleaning house, painting sheds, doing laundry, clearing clutter, staining decks, working long hours, cutting grass, and talking about how hot it is.

The rest is making the most of each day. The rest is being grateful. The rest is showing compassion to those who are living in fear.


For those who don't dwell among the rest, my hope of hopes is that peace, serenity, and safety soon find you.


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Now, with all seriousness aside, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge what a cruel joke it is for nature to combine peri-menopausal hot-flashes with 40+ degree temperatures! For my American friends, that translates to about 104F.

There are places in the world where these kind of temperatures are pretty common, here, they happen very rarely.

I'm beginning to think nature isn't so much a 'Mother' as a 'Mommy Dearest.'


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Sorry to write and run, but I'm running on caffeine and fumes, and seriously contemplating grabbing a popsicle, a book and taking a nice long soak in a tub full of ice cubes.....


Until next time.....


May peace find you where you stand, where you fall, wherever you find your soul.
May your fears subside, in their stead, the courage and confidence needed to again make you whole.

May safety find you sooner than later, until then, hold those most dear close to your chest.
May you soon awaken to find yourself boringly running errands among us, the rest.

Maybe Not So Much A Drama Queen As A Drama Screen.....

Hi!


At a time when the world seems to be bursting at the seams with negativity, it becomes increasingly important to pay specifically close attention to the good stuff. Simple things like flowers, grinning toddlers, water fights with grandbabies,  sunsets,  thunderous summer storms, the smell of freshly cut grass, or biting into that oh-so-perfect strawberry.


There are some out there who seem to thrive on drama. If they can't find it, they create it. They seem to live under the assumption that the most horrible conclusion is always the most likely. That the person at the other end of the phone didn't answer because they are ignoring them, not because they were taking a shower, or charging their phone, singing, tap dancing, or honing their juggling skills. They think that the server at the restaurant is standing in the back chatting and having a party instead of bringing their glass of water. They always seem to be at the ready to assume the very worst of people.

I don't believe anyone is born seeking negativity. I believe the people who end up wired this way, have had life experiences that, bit by bit, have altered the way they see others and life in general.

Every single one of us is shaped by our life experiences. Yet, each individual reacts differently to these experiences, and processes them in different ways. What traumatizes one, may roll off the back of another. What may cause one to cower may make another vehemently hold their ground. Although I don't believe any one of us is born seeking negativity, I do believe some of us are far more susceptible to having it soak into, and stain, the fabric of who we become.


We all wear our badges of survival in our own unique and individual ways. We are screens that reflect the script of our experiences. That script could read as a cartoon, a romantic comedy, a satire, a drama or a horror show,  and that's just me.......this week


Life can be tough, sometimes. Let's try to be a bit more patient, a bit more understanding. Let's spend more time helping each other find the funny and less time trying to find new and inventive ways to torment each other.

If you feel the uncontrollable need to poke the bear, do us all a favour and use a feather.




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May you find some funny and share it, spread it like a wildfire on a hot and windy day.
May you bring a smile to a stranger's face, it's not hard, where there's a will, there's always a way.

May you, if you tend toward seeing the darkness in people, give it a second thought.
Maybe those you encounter are inherently nasty, but then again, maybe they're not!

May you, if you tend to ride unicorns, give some understanding to those who come off as mean.
May you recall we are all reflections of our experiences, they may be not so much a drama queen, as a drama screen.



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Until next time....  www.margyreidbooks.com

There Will Always Be Another Hill....Make The Best Of The View!...

Hi!


Life is a series of hills and valleys, this in and of itself is not news.

Hills, both high points, and obstacles to climb. Valleys, low points, and spots where we are afforded rest between the climbs.

The trick, as I see it, is to make the best of whatever view we have.

If the hill before you is of the obstructive variety, every laborious step, though a struggle, is so important. Sometimes, the temptation to give up is palpable, giving in to the exhaustion of the effort, the only way. But, that is because in the midst of the climb all we can see is the hill we are on. All we can feel is the fatigue in our legs, our lungs struggling for a full breath, our souls fighting to take a full beat.  If we allow ourselves to look up, take a breath, take a moment, we can see the crest. If we allow ourselves to believe that what awaits us on the other side is worth the journey, finding the strength to keep going seems less impossible. It's just a hill, the climb is temporary.

If the hill upon which you stand is of the high point variety, take the time to truly appreciate it. You deserve to soak in every inch of that panoramic view. Look back on the climb you just completed and be proud of yourself for the strides you took to get there. Enjoy where you are, for as life's history has proven, this too, will be temporary.


If you find yourself in a valley, whether a low point or a rest or a combination thereof, use it. Use it to fuel yourself for the climb ahead. The climb you know is inevitable, because everything is temporary.

Our lives evolve, grow and change, sometimes at the will of our own hand, but more often than not, it's what happens while we are making other plans.

Things have a way of turning out exactly as they are supposed to, maybe not exactly as we think we want, but exactly as they are supposed to. People cross our paths when we need them to, the right opportunities present themselves at the right time, things beyond our control continuously happen conveniently depositing us exactly where we need to be.

Every experience leads us to the next one, and to the next one.....

If you look back, the thread of your life has been stitched together in a complicated pattern, each design dependent on the one directly before it.  Even the bad stitches had a purpose.

Each valley, each hill, each stitch, as important as the one before, and the one that follows.

If we are patient, clarity finds us. Confusion and struggle subside, and we find ourselves comfortable in who and where we are. At least for a while, after all, everything is temporary.

Stillness breeds stagnation, and who wants a stagnant life? Keep climbing, doing your best to enjoy the view.



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That about does it for now. Time for some water fights, pizza and cartoons with some munchkins I hold very dear. Definitely going to enjoy each and every view!


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Until next time...


May your view, for the most part, be peaceful, pleasant, a multicoloured sunset playing in the distance.
May you know you are a beautiful soul, worthy of every happiness, worth everything in your very existence.

May the hills you need to climb be surmountable, yet challenging enough to appreciate the summit.
May you surround yourself with positive people when you feel your spirits attempt to plummet.

May you take advantage of the rests between the climbs, use it to fuel everything within you.
May you take the time, during both the ups and downs to appreciate the view.


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www.margyreidbooks.com

Sometimes Letting Go Just Once Is Not Enough......

Hi!


When life gets chaotic, sometimes you have to grab a bit of time, even if it's just a few hours, and vacate. Vacate and vacation. If you can't take a trip, take some time. Find the beauty close to home and soak it in.

Beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder. Find yours.


Letting go of everyday stresses, new hurts, old wounds, it's all hard, and sometimes letting go just once is not enough.

New events can scrape old scars, making them feel as fresh as the day they happened. Things you had forgiven long ago, that you thought were let go and forgotten, come screaming to the forefront.

You are then confronted with the task of letting them go...again.


It's hard, but for our own sake and sanity, we need to. Continually carrying the hurt gets too heavy, it weighs us down, drags us backward. When crap happens to bring it back, we have to acknowledge it for what it is, stand our ground, and slap it aside, keeping it from prohibiting our path forward.

These scrapes can seemingly come out of the blue, hitting you where and when you may least expect it. They can be hard to recognize. They can feel physical, they can cause panic and anxiety, they can be subtle. In whatever form, they will be.

The scrapes are not fatal, they are there to remind you that you are a survivor, a fighter. You let it go once, you can do it again, and again, as many times as it takes until the scrapes stop. Think about the strength and courage you had the first time you let it go. Think about how hard that was. Think about the fact that you did it anyway, and you're still here.

Maybe, for you, the scars have yet to form. Maybe, for you, the wounds are fresh. Maybe this is the first time you are letting it go, cutting it loose.

Letting go of pain and trauma isn't for the benefit of those who have inflicted it. It's for us.


Sometimes letting go just once is not enough. But that's okay, the practice is making me better.



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May you come back from every scrape stronger than before it hit.
May you see it for what it is, stand your ground, slap it aside, never quit.

May you embrace the healing that comes from letting go.
May you see that it's within your power to rewrite your script, it's your show.

May you find it within to let go, no matter how tough.
May you see that letting go just once is not enough.




Check it out.....

www.margyreidbooks.com

We Don't Have To Know Every Next Step In The Minute...

Hi,


It's been a busy week, crammed with all kinds unexpected turns.

I'm still unpacking, processing, and sorting out the details, but I think the basic lessons I will eventually walk away with, having either learned or relearned are these...



Crowds who lean toward being fans of Gordon Lightfoot are highly unlikely to be fans of metal rock bands.

Big problems can disguise themselves as little ones quite cleverly.

Regardless of our desire to do so, we can't cure a broken heart, especially if it's not our own.


I wish I could put together some incredible words of wisdom that would magically alleviate the pain, create some joy, lift, at least, the edge of a spirit.

Instead, both of us will have to settle for whatever pours from these fingertips.

Heartaches happen often, true heartbreak, if we are very lucky, but a few times throughout our lives. I think the trick is learning the difference.

The two will look and live differently within each of us. What might shatter my heart may only make yours ache a little. Whether shattered or battered and bruised, we have to ride it out until the shards quit cutting and the bruises heal.

Both carry with them some level of shock. We have to give ourselves permission to take a breath, let the tears escape, wash our wounds. We don't have to know every next step in the minute. But, we can't allow ourselves to give in to the tears completely. They can be seductive, if we are seduced, the tears go from being soul cleansing, to life draining.

We don't have to know every next step in the minute. But, as our tears subside and the healing begins, we do need to step, forgive ourselves for the odd misstep, then step again.

Moving forward and living well is ours. We just need to claim it.

Strength is not walking through like it's nothing.
Strength is knowing it's Hell and walking through anyway, even as it burns.



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That about does it for now.......


May you see yourself, really see yourself, you are more than enough.
May you find your way through these waters, no matter how rough.

May you once again find the smile that was stripped at the hands of another.
May you know you got this, you are a warrior, a gift from your fore-mothers.

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www.margyreidbooks.com

As Sunsets Kiss The Clouds Goodnight...

Hi!

As the sunsets kiss the clouds goodnight, a night that, even in its deepest slumber, doesn't quite surrender to the darkness, we know summer is truly here. 

These skies carry with them the endless possibilities of every tomorrow. The distant horizon beckoning the free-spirited adventures that create the memories we cling to when we need to cling.

The weeks ahead of running through sprinklers, learning to ride bikes, skateboards, and paddle boards. Finding pop up carnivals in shopping mall parking lots, learning how far we can push our courage.

The eternal evenings spent around fire pits sharing stories, s'mores, and the search for the perpetually elusive spot devoid of smoke. Learning our capacity for mosquito bites, sticky fingers, and ghost tales

The choruses of boredom echoing through the house seemingly minutes after rising at the crack of noon. Learning quickly how these choruses can turn into verses of chores. 

The days of summer seem to stretch before us, yet they are so fleeting. Do your best not to miss one kiss of a sunset.

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Last weekend we had the opportunity to participate in the end-of-the-day celebrations of Canada Day in Outlook. As folks gathered together around the ball diamonds behind the rink, waiting for it to get dark enough, kids were running around playing tag and other games. 

There were a bunch of families there, some celebrating their first Canada Day. I'm not sure who had a better time, the kids, or their parents. 

It was awesome. 

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Tomorrow I'll be participating in an event in Bruno, Saskatchewan where I'll be doing a reading for munchkins shortly after 10am.

If you are in that part of the world tomorrow, be sure to stop by! There is going to be all kinds of activities and entertainment! A great way to spend a summer Saturday!

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May every sunrise bring you tranquility, every sunset bring a smile.

May you take the time to be, let the sun kiss your face, just be still a while. 

May you savor this summer, for there will never be another like it during this ride around the sun.

May you bask in making every memory, they are treasures to be cherished, created one by one. 

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www.margyreidbooks.com