Chachi, the cat, or Little Einstein as I call him understands a lot but if there is one thing I could make him understand better is that he is loved unconditionally and no matter what, he is part of the family and as such there is nothing to worry about.
Pets tend to have abandonment issues and I see it with Chachi. When I leave the house or if someone comes to visit, he runs and hides or meows in a small voice showing fear and only settles down after I pick him up and hold him close for a while.
I call him my “mini-me” and there is an unbreakable bond between us. It is hard to describe but there is a certain kind of love there and it transcends the human variety, just something very very special. If I could make him understand that, I think his world would be less stressful and he would be more at peace.
Daily writing prompt
If you could make your pet understand one thing, what would it be?
The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie by T. J. Mueller
About the Book
In The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie, author T. J. Mueller takes young readers on a wild and colorful journey into a world full of imagination and wonder.
Honey and Hubie set off on an exciting adventure together, exploring the unknown and discovering that the greatest treasure of all is friendship. Along the way, they meet magical characters, face challenges, and learn what it truly takes to hold onto the bonds that matter most.
This enchanting tale blends fun storytelling with a heartfelt message, making it a perfect read for children who love make-believe worlds and meaningful lessons.
✨ Magical adventure – A journey into a whimsical world full of colorful characters ✨ Friendship at its heart – Teaches kids what it takes to build and keep strong friendships ✨ Captures imagination – Encourages creativity and wonder in young readers ✨ Engaging message – Fun storytelling with a positive lesson woven in
About the Author – T. J. Mueller
T. J. Mueller is an author who masterfully combines fun, imaginative storytelling with heartfelt messages for children. With The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie, Mueller brings young readers into a magical world of make-believe while reminding them of the very real importance of friendship.
If your child loves fantasy adventures filled with magical characters and meaningful lessons, The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie is a must-read.
Perfect for bedtime reading, classroom storytime, or family fun, this book captures the imagination while sharing a timeless message: friendship makes every adventure better.
I never gave it much thought until now. Someone told me that Tia means “aunt” in Spanish. Okay but not that enticing so I looked it up or rather I googled it. I’m known as the Google Queen and it did bring up some interesting meanings.
I found out that Tia is a girl’s name of Arabic origin and it means “happiness,” “joy,” or “princess.” Tia also means “goddess” or “divine” and it is a very versatile name that can be used in a variety of contexts.
Do I want to know those different contexts? Not really. Let sleeping dogs lie, I say and we’ll leave it at that.
Daily writing prompt
Write about your first name: its meaning, significance, etymology, etc.
I took my early morning walk and it was COLD! The sun was shining but the fields were covered in white. It was not snow but frost and everywhere I looked there were sparkles as if the fairies had waved their wands overnight and covered everything in fairy dust! Yes, my imagination is running wild but it always does when I make my way to the fields. It takes a while before my mind calms down and I feel at ease again. This morning, it was no different.
The snow and ice have left us and in its place, cold, bitter cold, has stepped in. The good part is that there is sunshine and it makes for a spectacular scene before me. The birds are chirping although I don’t see them. Spring is in the air? Not really, still a long ways to go but I did notice that the tulip bulbs in my front garden are sprouting and showing green as they peek hopefully from the ground. It is strange this weather but nothing surprises me anymore where the weather is concerned. It does what it wants.
Halfway through my walk, I met my neighbor and she was bundled up against the cold. We stop and chat for a while. She says that it is a gorgeous day and I would agree if not for the biting cold! Then it is time to take my usual route, up the hill, to the left across the fields, to the apple trees and back again. Nothing much was moving out there and it was a pristine day, the kind that promises much but delivers little. The weather is supposed to stay cold for a couple of days and it will make for “good walks” but come prepared. I have my Down jacket zipped all the way up, a scarf bundled around my neck, gloves on my hands and boots on my feet, and I still feel its cold fingers reaching out to let me know just how cold it is! Tomorrow, I will have to add my winter hat to the ensemble.
My mind seems to be resting and taking a break from running circles around me as it usually does. Suddenly, a loud squawk from a crow passing by catches my attention as it flies to a nearby tree and takes refuge there. It is quiet, peaceful and absolutely beautiful. Time to make my way back home and warm up with a hot steaming cup of coffee and maybe some cheesecake? I bought two slices yesterday and it has my name written on it! Willpower do your thing. I think I will write instead and sip on coffee sans the cheesecake.
“To me, a rich and satisfying life means one full of contrast. Give me sleep ins. And soft rains. Coffee shops and conversation. But also adrenaline and adventure. And drunken bellows to the stars. I am determined to embrace this extravagant life for all that it has to offer.” Beau Taplin
It wasn’t a great day for a walk, grey clouds were gathering and as promised rain was on the way. What a difference a day makes, weather-wise. Yesterday it was picture perfect, warm and absolutely mesmerizing but today it had turned tables and was ready to show another side, a grey and wet one. There was no beauty to speak off as I trudged nonchalantly through the muddy and leaf-strewn path heading for the forest line. Oh, but I was wrong for I had only to open my mind and my senses to see the contrasts between a beautiful day and a bad one. To my surprise, each had its own brand of beauty if only I wasn’t so quick to pass judgement.
The not so subtle rustling of the leaves caught in the interplay of wind and absolute silence was balm for my anxious soul. I needed peace but somehow it was missing today. Glancing into the forest, I noticed that it was quiet, too quiet. The trees were tight-knit and hidden in shadows of its own making echoing the onslaught of rain that was to come. I usually don’t like walking close to the forest because a feeling of unease usually envelops me and my senses are usually on high alert as it was today. There was no room to relax. I walked on in silence and in the distance, the hoot of an owl could be heard. I welcomed the distraction and made my way to the stream. It’s gorgeous in spring, its banks overflowing with golden daffodils but today it droned on in silence, devoid of color as the slow-moving water made its way to the pond where the storks gather. Today, there was not one stork to be seen. They too had gone hiding from the oncoming force of nature. Standing at the tiny wooden bridge, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. It was peaceful but the unease was still there. Enclosed spaces are not my cup of tea and neither are deep dark forests. I moved on, got back on the path and made it to the fields.
My mind began to relax as I took in the wild open spaces before me. I was free again and standing at the bottom of the hill as I took in the panoramic view. It was grandiose even through there was no sun to speak of, only a light purple haze enveloping the distant mountains. It was beautiful just the same. Just a different kind of beautiful.
Contrasts are necessary to show the light and dark aspects of life and today nature decided to show my jaded mind, come rain or sunshine, there is always something beautiful about each aspect if only I would open my mind to it and embrace it with open arms to reap the full benefits. The rest of the walk was uneventful, an ordinary walk but my mind knew that if I kept my eyes peeled, I would capture the extraordinary. It was just a matter of time and if nature was willing to throw it my way. As the first droplets of rain hit the muddy path, I pulled my jacket tighter around me and ran back home leaving nature to do what it does best.
The ebb and flow of life was at work and who was I a mere mortal to question the order of the day or how it was brought about to life. Just accept and enjoy was the message and I bowed my head to its all-knowing wisdom. I was at peace.
This is a hard one. These days I don’t work because I have chosen to step back from the chaos that reigned supreme in my life to a much quieter one where I can concentrate on writing. I am currently working on two books and I take my time doing that.
However, if I had to choose, I would say working in the White House. This would have been a dream job. I think it would be exciting, adrenaline pumping and I would be right there where it all happens. The hub so to speak. Nothing would beat that but I think it would be very exhausting not to mention the stress factor which would probably be through the roof!
In my next lifetime I would like to do that! For now, I am happy where I’m at.
Anxiety is defined as, “a natural response to pressure, feeling afraid or threatened, which can show up in how we feel physically, mentally, and in how we behave. It’s common to describe anxiety as a feeling of dread, fear or unease, which can range from mild to severe.”
It can also be a normal reaction to stress and it walks in and stays for awhile sometimes making your daily existence a living hell. It can overwhelm at times but the mild variety doesn’t stay for too long. Occasional anxiety is normal and it dissolves when whatever got you “hyped up” dissipates.
“Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” Khalil Gibran
Sound familiar? Something is not working right and there we go. Sweating, breathing hard and to make matters worse, we stay fixated on the problem wanting to control the outcome. I’ve been having such episodes lately. I love fixing things and sometimes even before they happen! When it doesn’t go as planned, my thoughts get erratic, I experience restlessness, and irritability. I’ve been looking at ways to not let “anxiety” get the better of me. One method is to focus your thoughts on things that bring “good vibes” into your being. The other is to exercise for all you’re worth or to just get out in nature, breathe and let go. If that doesn’t work, here’s something that might just do the trick.
Mantra for anxiety:
“Anxiety isn’t you. It’s something moving through you. It can leave out of the same door it came in.” James Clear
AND
“Trust yourself. You’ve survived a lot, and you’ll survive whatever is coming.” Robert Tew
I like what Dr. Lucy Russell has to say about this topic.
“We have anxious thoughts because the brain is trying to keep us alive. To the brain, survival is much more important than happiness. So, the brain often conjures up worst case scenarios and “what ifs”, so that we can prepare for disaster. The trouble is, the brain regularly gets it wrong.”
All that preparation for nothing? Well, sometimes it is and at other times, it is needed to wade through the murky waters of anxiety.
How do you lessen anxiety naturally?
You can practice mindfulness, try different breathing techniques to calm the nervous system, practice daily meditation and use guided imagery to lessen the stress and to get clarity on the problem at hand.
If that fails, try the following.
“Breathe. You’re going to be okay. You’ve gotten through so many things in your life. YOU’VE GOT THIS.” Karen Salmansohn
I wrote this before the current president took office and it still stands true today. He is showing us everyday what a good leader should not do. Does he care? Not one iota!
This question couldn’t have come at a better time. The 47th president is in the wings ready to take the helms of the highest office in the land as many of us grit our teeth and wait with bated breath to see the unfolding of what he has in store for America and the rest of the world.
The man is bold when it comes to certain issues BUT he is also impulsive, undisciplined, tradition-defying and doesn’t speak the truth. Shading the facts is his expertise and blowing hot air from both sides of his you know what is another area where he is well-versed in. Put this together and you’ve got what a good leader is NOT about!
That said, a good leader is a person who has integrity, courage, one who commands respect, who is able to communicate effectively and a leader who puts the will of the people front and center and the “me” concept somewhere in never never land!
“The hardest part of leadership isn’t making decisions – it’s making them with integrity.” Unknown
The king wanted to go fishing, and he asked the royal weather forecaster the forecast for the next few hours. The palace meteorologist assured him that there was no chance of rain.
So the king and the queen went fishing. On the way he met a man with a fishing pole riding on a donkey, and he asked the man if the fish were biting.
The fisherman said, “Your Majesty, you should return to the palace! In just a short time I expect a huge rainstorm.”
The king replied: “I hold the palace meteorologist in high regard. He is an educated and experienced professional. Besides, I pay him very high wages. He gave me a very different forecast. I trust him.”
So the king continued on his way. However, in a short time a torrential rain fell from the sky The King and Queen were totally soaked.
Furious, the king returned to the palace and gave the order to fire the meteorologist. Then he summoned the fisherman and offered him the prestigious position of royal forecaster.
The fisherman said, “Your Majesty, I do not know anything about forecasting. I obtain my information from my donkey. If I see my donkey’s ears drooping, it means with certainty that it will rain.”
So the king hired the donkey.
And thus began the practice of hiring dumb asses to work in influential positions of government.
I would un-invent emojis. It was created in 1999 by Shigetaka Kurita to facilitate electronic communication but it has taken the world by storm and now there is one for any emotion you can think of sans the emotion of course. In a world where everything is digitalized and emotions are taking a backseat, this is the last thing we need.
Reaching out and showing any kind of compassion or emotion is done by sending emojis. Sad? Here’s a sad face emoji or a tear-drop one. Happy? Here’s a smiley face. In love? Here’s a heart emoji or kisses. Whatever happened to good old-fashioned hugs, the compassionate voice on the telephone or even the human touch?
In my opinion, we are becoming too digitalized and hence I would un-invent emojis if I could. Cute but some things need or deserve the human touch.
Daily writing prompt
If you could un-invent something, what would it be?
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