Kindness, it's the real thing

I have always enjoyed reading Our Daily Bread and thought the one for June 2 (today) especially relevant to my once a week post about kindness. (Which hasn't been done with any regularity in some time)

It is so obvious to me that we all need to take the time each day to consider what others might be going through before we fly off the handle at them. How do you know that the man racing through traffic, cutting you off, isn't trying to get to the hospital where they just took his kid after she got injured playing a sport? Or how do you know that the woman who "took" your parking space at the store wasn't hurrying to get in and out because her four month old son is violently ill at home and she has to hurry to get meds in him?

There are oftentimes reasons why people are not courteous to us, just as there are oftentimes reasons why we are discourteous to others. And remember, the Bible says men have entertained angels unaware, so how do we know that isn't the case with us? I would rather err on the side of being kind to someone not deserving than to be unkind to an angelic being!!

So, in a way, this is a reverse kindness post. Please show kindness to those who do not show kindness to you, just in case they are in need of more grace than you are at that moment.

(i took this from Facebook and have no idea who to credit for it- but it is appropriate to this post

Wake up Wednesday

Because of the Monday holiday, I am a bit behind this week. It's wake up Wednesday, however, and I am tryiing to do just that.

Yesterday, I had strange eye issues, including flashes of light on the peripheral of my eyes and it scared me so much, I went to my family doctor. She sent me to the opthamologist and she did all manner of tests. The prognosis? Ocular migraine. What??????

Apparently, we can get migraines in our eyes. There is no headache, for which I am terribly grateful, and yet we have the same sensations, flashing and sensitivity to light *which my eyes were just plain old tired* -- so anyway, I am tip top today, and now have my annual exam under my belt. Whoo!

So, I have been trying to figure out what to do with my latest book. I subbed it to one place and then took it back as they are not reopened yet, and to be honest, I was a bit anxious to see it placed and out there.

I considered self-pubbing it, as that seems to be what everyone else is doing. But when it got down to it, I couldn't decide on 35% or 70% royalty rate. Now before you say, that is a no-brainer, there are special circumstances to consider. If it were just as easy as saying you want more money so go with 70% - I would have.

And have you checked out murder by 4 lately? We recently had a fabulous guest or two and you really should go and read! You can never learn too much from experts *smile*

Hope you are having a great start to summer!

Tuesday, my day

Today, I want to talk about another way to get creative.

LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC.

Not the thing you love the most, but something else. I tried listening to New Orleans style zydeco. Do you know what that is? Wikipedia says of zydeco:

Zydeco combines elements of an even older American musical style which began in the late 1700s: Cajun music, which comprises French fiddle tunes, Irish Celtic fiddle tunes, German button accordion, Latin rhythms, and Appalachian styles.
Zydeco music was born as a blend of Cajun music and two other "new" American music styles: blues and rhythm and blues.

At any rate, it really worked! I got into a particular mindset that jerked me right into the mood for writing a certain type of work. I wonder what would have happened if I had chosen gospel????

Seems like I am back on a Tuesday regime again. Oh well, at least I am showing up here a little!

So- summer is on the doorstep. The kids are either on the way out of school this week, or already out, and it is witnessed by the lighter traffic every morning. I have once again decided to celebrate the advent of the warmer weather by again starting a diet and exercise routine. I feel my age, you guys.

I will try to join a gym that is in the building where I work, once I get hired on permanent. To be honest, I need to in self-defense. The co. I work for is a food service place and oh my goodness! They eat. ALOT. Cross your fingers, folks.

Crooked Angel is featured at Fictionwise

My good friend, Sonya Bateman, let me know that Crooked Angel is now featured on the New and Featured Ebooks at Fictionwise.

Check me out!
Crooked Angel at Fictionwise

critique partners

It has been a lot of years since I started writing.

I have written six published works, novels, short stories, and one novella. I guess when you get into being multi-pubbed, you think you don't need critiques anymore. ha. No way man.

I haven't needed a crit partner because I have had a publisher! They have editors to do all that leg-work of making the book polished and perfect. But now, I am considering doing some solo work, going out and publishing some stuff on my own and viola! I need a crit partner.

The thing is: I don't know where to shop for one!!!

Tuesday Ruminations---Be kind!

Sorry y'all, I missed the Monday post, and it was supposed to be like a create Monday! oh well, it was such a full weekend, I was pretty brain-drained yesterday.

So let's do a kindness Tuesday post :) -- this one is for Suko-and are you following her blog? you should!!!!

So, everyone should know that kindness is contagious. It seems like whenever you do a good deed, it gets passed on and others benefit from it. This is what happened to me over the weekend...

We went to a festival in a nearby town, it was called Greekfest, and there was a TON of people. Parking was pretty limited, as it usually is at these things. So, when we were going through the guardshack at the place where everyone was parking, a lady walked by and said, "hey, if you want my parking place, I am parked four cars up."

So excitedly we said yes! we would love that. And after she pulled out, we pulled in. It was about as close to the festival as we could get on such a day. It was the sweetest thing I'd seen done in a while, so my husband and I agreed before leaving the car that we would do the same thing when we got ready to leave. And we did. And the guy we gave our space to I would be willing to bet - played it forward as well.

See? Even giving up a parking spot to someone who is going to need it is an act of kindness,but especially when you make it a point to OFFER it to someone in particular. That person feels gifted in a small way. I know we did!

By the way, we had a great time at Greekfest and ate great food, watched awesome dances, and watched it pour down rain. Getting that parking spot so close was a true blessing to us and I am so thankful that lady was that thoughtful.

Have a great day, y'all! go out and show some kindness!!!

copyright kim smith

Mother's Day

I haven't written much poetry in my life, and certainly haven't published much, but for some reason, Mother's Day always makes me think of poetry. I guess because when we think of the woman who has given us so much throughout our lives we get a little poetic and mushy.

So, happy Mother's Day out there to all the mothers who are celebrating with their kids today.

I know I will be!!!