future-focused – Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques

Update after a Break

It’s been several months since I wrote on my blog.

Honestly, I haven’t felt much like doing anything since my husband passed from this valley of sorrows last September. I truly believe his soul is at peace on the other side of the veil with God, the angels, and all his loved-ones who have gone before him. I truly believe that he was greeted into the warmth of God’s eternal love. These are truths that have sustained me on a daily basis. These are the truths that get me from moment to moment.

It has been eight months since that rainy September morning.

Eight months later on this sunny spring morning I listen to birds singing high in the oak trees and I consider the future, the years that lie ahead of me. This life is a journey filled with twists and turns, with heartbreak and joy. It is a rollercoaster of emotions. I have run the gamut of emotions these past eight months.

God has sustained me through the darkness. He is my fortress, he is my strength. I turn my soul completely to God and trust that I will move forward on my journey and that I will live my days with purpose, that I will serve him with my life.

I have been working on my writing projects: Two novel ideas, and a poetry book. I plan to put them on Barnes and Noble Press. Oh, also, an art book. Yes, I consider myself an artist of sorts. I love colorful drawings so I have been trying my hand at my own art book.

I am being intentionally happy. Yesterday, I took a river cruise. It was spectacular to see such wilderness on either side of the river’s bank. There were cypresses, oak, and pine, and several crocodiles.

Feeling the cool wind, the warm sun, and just basking in the loveliness of this earth’s beauty revived my soul.

I have to move forward from this grief of the past eight months.

With God’s help I shall. Only God can heal us in this life. Only God. Not religion. Not money. Not acquiring things. But only God.

So, with intentional happiness, each day I will find joy in the beauty around me.

I will set aside time for my writing projects.

Please pray for me; please pray for this world and the hurting souls that dwell in it.

May we all turn our eyes to God who loves us and gives us peace in the storms of this life.

There is light at the end of the darkest night.

God is that light.

Thank you for reading.

Jenny

Fears, Hopes, and Dreams. . .

“Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but think about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”- Pope John XXXIII (Brainyquote.com)

I keep this quote near me whenever I get discouraged. We all get discouraged; discouragement is just apart of this journey here on earth. But, we don’t have to live from a place of discouragement; we can choose to think about our potential and we can choose to take positive steps to fulfill our potential. The most discouraging strategy is negative self-talk in which we tell ourselves that there is not a reason to even try, and, of course, another discouraging strategy is to listen to negative comments from other people. “The sky is falling down; the world is a dangerous place. Nobody can ever get ahead. . .Blah! Blah! Blah! And, blah!”

In this coming week, make a point to dedicate at least an hour to something you love to do, be it writing, painting, sports activities, reading. . .Do something that inspires you, and don’t look over your shoulder and wonder what anyone else might think.

In my heart, I sincerely believe God designs each of us for a purpose. Pray that God will help you discern that purpose. Plan a strategy with God’s help to fulfill that purpose.

And if you are in a dark place in your soul where sadness and depression has completely obscured the beauty, joy, and light of this life, please seek professional help from a qualified mental health provider.

You belong in this life; God has a purpose for you. Pray and seek out that purpose.

Here are some links if you need help:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/suicide-prevention

Suicide Prevention – NIMH

https://www.nimh.nih.gov › health

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Home

Dancing in the Rain

woman holding umbrella dancing in the middle of the road near cars and buildings — Photo by Alex Qian on Pexels.com

“It isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain-” Vivian Greene

Yesterday marks one month since I taught in my classroom. In my community, restaurants have been reduced to only take-out service, other businesses have been closed indefinitely. The plan is for us to get back to normal by April 30th; some speculate it might not be until May 15th.

The media outlets have overdosed on the worst possible case scenario stories with emphasis on the problem rather than a solution. Is there a solution other than locking down the entire world? Surely, scientists with their wisdom can come up with a solution. Surely.

While I am teaching online now, I prefer to be out of my house and in the classroom.

Social distancing/social isolation is not emotionally, mentally or spiritually healthy. People need actual interaction with others.

Curious fact alert: In my community, the liquor stores are open with lines out the door, but houses of worship are closed. Seriously? Who came up with this plan? Obviously someone who did not have their thinking caps on. Standing in line at the liquor store a few feet from each other? Ha! Ha! Ha!

That’s a great recipe there for disaster-alcohol use while in social isolation.

No one thought this through-did they?

What could possibly go wrong?

I’ve tried to keep my spirits up. I am a positive soul and I focus on solutions rather than problems. I’ve tried to share positive and uplifting messages here on my blog.

I like this quote “life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain” because it focuses not on the storm but on what can be done in the midst of the storm.

In the midst of the storm that we are all in right now I ask what can we do. Can we adjust our thoughts toward learning something positive about ourselves? Have we learned to persevere in the face of discomfort and fear? Have we learned to slow down and take a closer look at our lives and decide to make changes that we hadn’t previously considered? Have we learned to find joy in the little things?

For me, I have revisited my art work and I have started to edit that novel I kept telling myself that I didn’t have enough time to work on. Well, time is all I have had these past few weeks. I have taken the time to organize family photos and clean out my closets.

In the midst of this storm I have decided to focus on the joy of painting, the joy of writing, the joy of early morning and watching the birds flying into the blue skies and landing on the branches of the old oak trees.

I’ve decided not to give into the panic; I’ve made a conscious effort to focus on the future.

I cannot change what is happening around me but I can control my reaction to it.

I prefer dancing in the rain to complaining about the storm.