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My first performance on stage was in church. I don’t recall what role I played but it was a Christmas play and it was the first time that I had to step on stage and had to do my thing. Mom and dad were so proud of their little girl but I was scared out of my wits and knew I couldn’t do it or rather I told myself that I couldn’t. The church was jam-packed as I stepped on stage. I stood there frozen as my eyes swept the scene before me. All eyes were trained on me and the cue was given to start but I stood there and stared back at the people! I could see the children giggling but it was a lost cause. No amount of cajoling helped and I walked off stage feeling like a total failure.
Little did I know that being in the public eye would follow me throughout my life. It’s just like life. The more you don’t want to, the more you get your face rubbed in it! Years later, I would step up to the podium to give a speech. I froze each time I had to do it but it got better as time went on. The “freeze tactic” was just temporary. The minute I stood there and opened my mouth, I was able to perform like a pro. It took practice but it is not my favorite thing to do. I’m still an introvert deep within but the outside show of confidence masks that fact.
I’m glad I no longer have to do any of that. Oh God, did I speak too soon?!! If life is listening, let it go in one ear and out the other!
Daily writing prompt
Have you ever performed on stage or given a speech?
The magical trio are out and about frosting flowers with every touch and turning them into works of art. The winter landscape and morning sunrise are pure fantasy in the making. It is gorgeous, it is beautiful and filled with wonder. Honey and Hubie can’t believe their eyes as they watch the fairies do what they do best. They always bring a touch of fairy dust to every adventure.
The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie available on Amazon.
It seems like I’ve done this DP before, just feels familiar. Anyway, walking is one of my top favorites. It takes very little effort and the benefits are plenty. Fresh air is one of them, clearing my mind of unwanted thoughts is another, and ideas galore is yet another! It’s where my creative juices start flowing. Not all the time but more often than not.
I love working out and that is no secret. People who know me tell me to take it easy. They say I overdo it. However, I move to my own drumbeat when it comes to working out. I am careful BUT sometimes I do overdo it. A little twinge here and there tells me that I’ve done more than I should and then I back off for a couple of days and come back with a vengeance.
Cardio, weight training, Pilates, fusion workouts, yoga and anything that is new out there, I am willing to give it a try. I was into kick boxing but these days I watch it from a distance and nothing more! I injured myself doing the “kicks” and it took months to heal so I admire the people who can do it but for me, it is a thing of the past. Sometimes you have to learn to let go even if you don’t want to.
Those are some of my favorite forms of activities that I do to keep myself fit and in form. I find that physical activity is not something I do to please someone else, it is something I do for myself. It helps to keep my body toned and fit but my mind benefits as well.
“Exercise not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood.” Unknown
Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?
Honey is a miniature greyhound with more heart than height.
Hubie is a frog with loyalty bigger than his leap.
Together? They’re trouble, wonder, and magic rolled into one unlikely duo.
Their world begins in a quiet garden…until curiosity nudges them past the garden fence and into a realm where fairies whisper, creatures squabble, and courage is measured in kindness, not size. Every step pulls them deeper into a place where the rules bend, friendships matter, and even the smallest adventurer can shake the leaves on the tallest tree.
But behind all the sparkle and silliness lies a gentle truth:
Friendship isn’t something you find once. It’s something you choose again and again – especially when the path gets bumpy.
T. J. Mueller doesn’t just tell a story; she opens a door. Kids don’t read this adventure —they step into it, laugh through it, hold their breath in the tricky bits, and come out feeling a little braver, a little kinder, and a whole lot more magical.
A perfect read for kids who love adventure, animals, and worlds where imagination is the strongest superpower of all.
“Every morning you have two choices; continue to sleep with your dreams or wake up and chase them.” Carmelo Anthony
I’ve found that it’s easy to stay where you’re at. It doesn’t take much effort and it is comforting. You can mope, scream at whoever wants to listen and sometimes look for someone to blame for all your woes but what does that bring you? You’re not going anywhere if you stay put. It takes strength to stand back up. It takes courage to fight the battle and it takes the fire within you to keep on going. There were times when I wanted the world to go away and to leave me be. Let me wallow in misery was what I screamed but when all was said and done, I stood back up as I have done many times before. It takes putting one foot in front of the other and to just keep moving. I didn’t know where I was going, I only knew that I couldn’t stay where I was.
“It’s ok if you fall down and lose your spark. Just make sure that when you get back up, you rise as the whole damn fire.” Unknown
One thing is for sure, standing back up is not for the weak of heart but there is no other choice. You can claw your way back up, grasp at a helping hand to give you the boost you need or you can do it on your own. Whichever way you choose, there is only one way to go. Rise up and stand tall. It’s scary I know and it takes superhuman strength to move even an inch at times and that rabbit hole is inviting. If truth be told, it is not a permanent solution. If you want to feel the light back on your face again, you’ve got to move. You are fully capable of doing it.
“Do not forget who you are and where you come from. You are made of the brightest stars and the widest oceans. You are made of the highest mountains and the tallest trees. You are made of magic and dreams, wishes and light. You have heroes, warriors, kings, queens, gods and goddesses flowing through your veins. You come from infinite possibilities and incredible odds. You are here for a reason.” Nikki Banas
Make that reason count. You, my friend, are invincible. There is magic within you and that wand you hold in your hand, invisible though it may be, it has the power to change your life. Put it to good use and don’t give that rabbit hole a second look, it’s a thing of the past. You are meant for bigger and better things. You are powerful, you are beautiful and you are enough as you are.
“Fall seven times, stand up eight, and with each rise, you’ll find your strength will multiply.” Unknown
“With confidence, you have won before you have started.” Marcus Garvey
I have a hard time with “confidence” because I was an introvert during my earlier years and so when I see someone walk with their head held high, a confident smile plastered on their face and with an attitude that says, “I don’t give a flying flip what you think of me,” I feel the sparks of admiration in motion.
It takes practice to pull off the confidence act. I learned it the hard way. I went from sitting at the back of the classroom so that I won’t get the attention to someone who could walk up to a podium and deliver a message with “confidence” oozing from every pore! It was an act I put on but the more I did it, the more confident I became. These days it is a breeze.
So when I see someone walking into a room like they own it, it sparks my admiration because I know it is not an easy thing to do. The other thing is that confidence makes you stand out from the crowd. You don’t have to be the best-looking person, although, it helps but if you can come across as if, “God sent you!” it makes all the difference.
Daily writing prompt
What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
Sometimes you wake up and you have this perfect plan in mind. Mine was to have a nice and relaxing day today. I was going to head to town after breakfast and get the Christmas presents for the people I mentioned in my post yesterday. The day was brighter than it was yesterday but there was a wind blowing. Bundle up, I told myself.
The village where I usually go to was jam-packed with people! It was still pretty early but I guess everybody had the same thing in mind. I decided to get some money from the ATM and that was where my day took a turn for the worse. The first one said, “Card declined.” Hmm….no big deal, there was a bank around the corner so I tried there. Again, “Card declined!” It was a new card and I got the pin activated successfully or so the confirmation email said. So, I went to the supermarket and the same thing! I was PISSED! Nope, not a good start to the day but luckily I had cash with me. So I bought the box of chocolates for the mail delivery person and I got a box of dates for the people at the cafe.
It was time to have a good cup of Italian coffee so I headed to my favorite place in town. They had a skeleton crew going. Most of the regulars were gone and won’t be back till next year. I took my usual seat and the boss showed up. I gave him the box of dates and his eyes lit up. “I love sweet stuff!” I said, “Enjoy.” We talked for a while and then I left still pissed about the card. Pulling into my driveway, I noticed the neighbor lady and I realized I had forgotten the bouquet of flowers for her. It was still early so I made a mental note to get it done the next time around. She waved and smiled. We talked for a while and she told me about the health issues she was having. Normal stuff in this village. We have an aging population here. I didn’t realize it then but my day was about to get worse!
I walked in, put the shopping away and decided to call stateside about my card. I was transferred here and there, business as usual. I waited and finally a supervisor came on, I told her my problem and she said, “You need to send us some information.” I was getting PISSED again! It doesn’t happen often this pissing thing, but today it was there and ready to go off the rails! I told her you have all that information already. Nope, you’ll have to do it again.
I took out the paperwork and tried sending the information but Microsoft wasn’t having it! It decided to add more oil to the fire! I got the message that my password was wrong and they needed to verify my ID! God! Passwords and me don’t jive. There’s just too many of them and I found out just how many! After going back and forth, I decided to take a step back, figured it out, and got the mail off to where it needed to go. By now, half the day was gone. I had a quick lunch, put on my boots, jacket, and scarf and headed to the fields. I needed to destress.
Once I saw the fields before me, I felt myself deflating! It was cold, the wind was blowing and there was a horde of crows having a conference of some sort cawing up a storm. The witches were not there yet but just a matter of time I figured the way my day was going! I stayed on the graveled pathway, the rest were too muddy. Taking some deep breaths, I let it go. The stress, the anger, the pissed off mood, and whatever else that needed to go. It took minutes and I found myself relaxing. It never fails, nature always has that effect on me.
After half an hour, I headed home feeling like myself again. It was time for a nice hot cup of green tea, a slice of cheesecake, yes cheesecake, and some quiet time with my little sweetheart, Chachi, the cat.
This is the final letter from the series. Thank you for reading and I hope you have a wonderful and joyous Christmas.
To my loyal readers, friends, and WP buddies, (especially the one who gave me a 5-star review) you know who you are.
This year, I want to share with you a series of letters I composed with gratitude for helping make The Excellent Adventures of Honey and Hubie a success. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Dear Readers,
I want to take a quiet moment to say thank you. Bringing this story into the world has been a deeply meaningful experience, and knowing that it has found its way into your homes and hearts means more than I can express.
Every time a child laughs at an adventure, feels brave alongside a character, or asks to hear the story again, it brings the book to life in a new way. Your support, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to share this story with others help its little world grow brighter and wider each day.
Thank you for reading, for imagining, and for joining me on this journey. It is an honor to share these pages with you.
I haven’t watched cartoons in ages so I can’t think of any that I absolutely loved. I recall the “Smurfs” only because my son was into it. It is about “a village of small, blue, elf-like creatures living happily in mushroom houses in an enchanted forest, led by Papa Smurf, who constantly battle the evil, inept wizard Gargamel and his cat Azrael, who want to capture or eat them.”
I didn’t pay much attention to it but I was there to keep him company! That’s all I can remember and the whole Smurf village is still upstairs nicely packed away for his future kids he says. Not any time soon, I hope!
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