Last Wednesday, was one of those really long days. I felt sort of blah on the inside, tired from maybe the cat waking me in his usual lonely middle of the night stroll down the hall, or the data charts at work I’d been staring at all day, or maybe just because.

My honey and I sat on the couch, flipping through the amazon prime movie choices. Eddie Murphy’s face suddenly appeared in the options with a mustache, a really contemplative expression, and an intense gaze focused off to the corner somewhere. The fedora hat he wore was pretty great too.

“Mr. Church? Have you seen it?” I asked my honey.

He shook his no and I previewed the trailer.

It seemed promising. We started the flick. I didn’t move from my spot on that couch for the rest of the movie.

Through the tears.
Through the smiles.

Mr. Church made me feel something new, and I felt myself sigh all the way to my toes:

“Never to suffer, would never to been blessed.”

~Edgar Allen Poe

We’re all suffering in some way. In Mr. Church, a little girl grows up at the charity of a catholic school and a rich benefactor who’d passed and left funds aside to take care of his mistress, her mother, under the supervision of an expert cook. Her mother’s health is failing and the girl clings to the only person she has left in the world. Mr. Church, the expert cook. A steady force from sun up to sun down with one spoken rule: my personal time is my time, do not snoop into my life.

Mr. Church had his own sufferings. I won’t reveal the greatest parts, because you really should see it. An absolutely perfect movie with themes we can all ponder.

It was exactly what I needed to restart my heart.  I could watch it over and over and I don’t think I’d ever tire of the lines or feelings I feel with each scene.

Other ways to start your heart:

• Inspire a new emotion. This one comes straight from my own example above. A movie. Music. Something you might couple with a pen and paper to record some personal reflection.
• Movement. Take a walk. Outside, in a mall, at a school track somewhere away from the place that weighs you down.
• Rearrange your surroundings. Maybe you’re office could use a spruce up. Rearrange a desk, or the furniture. If you can afford to, buy something inspirational and hang it up on the wall, these are some of my favorite items in my own area. I also have cards hung up and sweet gifts from my friends all around me like this one.
• Seek Friendship. Reach out to someone you trust. Do something with them. Talk with them. Maybe read a good book jointly and reflect on what you read.

 

My latest motivation?

Ever After, favorite movie of all times. I just watched it last night.

Cling to God: A Daily Devotional by Lynda R. Young

One of my fellow writing friends wrote it. Every day there’s a brief passage to ease your mind and heart of worry. I highly recommend it.

Kindle/ Amazon/ Nook/ B&N/ Kobo/ ITunes

 

QUESTION: What have you seen or read lately that has been a source of your own motivation?

[I wrote this post as a member of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group where we share our worries and also offer support and encouragement to each other on the first Wednesday of every month. If you’re a writer like me and you’re looking for a bit of support, you can click the link and sign up here]

This month’s awesome hosts are, Misha Gericke, LK Hill, Juneta Key, Joylene Buter

Thank you so much!

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Today, I’m digressing.

Today, I scratched my original post for a whole different reason.

I can’t stop smiling and I’m here to share my smile with you.

Sunday night, my kids’ preschool teacher came over for dinner. She brought over a couple of Dr. Seuss books and the stuffed characters to match. My kids quickly ran to their rooms and got out the rest of their Seuss characters, piled them all on the couch and set up a pretend classroom. They read all their characters books about themselves, teaching them important things to remember and asking them some really great questions. In any case, these stuffed characters go everywhere these days. From the breakfast table, to the same table at homework time, to bed, even piano practice.

Moments like these remind me of why I write. Not just because of the passion I feel when I’m crafting words. Not just because of the themes I want to share with the world to provoke thought and inspire hope.

My kids are the reason. Dreams. I’m showing them by dreaming, believing in my dreams, and doing, they can be anything they want to be if they’re willing to work at it.

“Oh The Places, They will,” most definitely go.

So today, no matter where you are in your writing world, you’re giving someone hope.

You’re putting in time and effort to achieve your dreams.

That’s something.

And other miracles?

Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life is proof in hard work and dreams come true. Please check out our new website and blog to find out more about twelve amazing authors with twelve amazing stories of losing it all and figuring out what to do from there.

 

Pretty Please? I have a pretty tasty sucker here 🙂