Optimism – Jenny Grace's Poetry and Creative Writing Techniques

Quoting Kafka

“Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old-” Franz Kafka

Beauty. What is beauty? Beauty is timeless. Like Kafka said, the ability to see beauty keeps us young. That ability to be optimistic, to see the sunlight even when the gray sky blocks the sun. The sunshine is still there.

A few years back my dear friend Maria and her husband Abraham were blessed with their precious son. There is nothing more beautiful than a newborn’s smile. It confirms the timelessness of this existence; it is a promise of hope. It is the promise that yes there is a tomorrow and there are endless possibilities. That smile connects us to something far greater than ourselves; it connects us to something spiritual beyond our own comprehension. It reminds us that this life is so much more than we have the human ability to comprehend. That little newborn nestled in my arms confirmed for me that yes God does indeed create miracles. Life is a miracle.

Life is a beautiful miracle. Our souls are timeless. To see that, to have the ability to see that beauty is to remain young, to never give up on hope for tomorrow.

This little newborn nestled in my arms smiled at me and I knew that yes miracles happen, that yes tomorrow is full of hope.

May God bless us all and keep us all and give us the ability to recognize the beauty that is in this life.

Be Awesome! Go ahead, You Can Do It!

A few months ago, I was browsing in a bookstore and I saw this neat little journal with the title “Make Today So Awesome Yesterday Gets Jealous.” I have no idea who said this, so unfortunately I can’t give credit to that writer, but I really like what this says.

This past year and a half has taken a toll on all of us. It zapped me of my creativity for a while, to be honest.

As a consequence, I stopped writing. Writing is my passion and it really hurt not to write. It has taken me a bit of time to get back in the swing of things that resemble normalcy.

When I bought this little journal, I had hoped it would inspire me. Needless to say, I put it on my shelf and ignored it until one morning I saw it just laying there with sunlight trickling through my window. I picked it up and with the neat little pen that came with it I started to write the first thing that came to my mind.

Unfortunately, the word “nothing” came to my mind. “Absolutely nothing.” That was back in March.

This week, I decided to open up the little journal and think about the words in the title. Just for fun, I wrote the words “I am awesome.” I laughed because I felt a little embarrassed; after all, I was raised not to boast about myself.

But, I wondered what was so wrong about feeling good about myself by writing “I am awesome.” Why not?

I laughed and decided to title each page I wrote in with the words “I am awesome.” Then, I proceeded to write out a plan for my writing. For example, I wrote that I had started chapter fifteen of my new novel, then the next day I wrote that I had started chapter sixteen. I also wrote that I had watched the exercise youtube channel Bodyproject low impact. I also noted that I have written on my WordPress blog this week.

Just seeing my accomplishments, just seeing that I am trying to move forward with small steps, has helped me to look forward rather than backwards.

Just for fun, I wrote “My awesome self has accomplished a lot this week.”

Yes, I laughed. I laughed because it feels good to laugh and to feel good about myself.

After all the sadness, anxiety, and stress of this past year, it feels good to laugh.

It feels good to believe in my ability to try again. It feels good to not give into the sadness of this life.

Yes, there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Sometimes, that light comes in the form of sunlight shining through a curtain in the early morning.

I love this little journal and I intend to write in it everyday.

Thank you to whomever wrote those inspiring words on the cover.

So, everybody, go be awesome!! You can do it!!

Can We Please Just Be Thankful?

This has been a very, very difficult year. The truth is, unfortunately, I am not altogether sure if it has had to be this difficult. Follow me on this for a second. I am baffled by all the conflicting news reports that have joyfully dwelt on darkness, death and destruction. There I said it, joyfully dwelt on darkness, death and destruction. Media outlets, news pundits, politicians, activists, actors, et cetera, et cetera have worked overtime to scare the living daylights out of us. Anxiety, depression, suicide, domestic violence, increased substance abuse have been the results of all this terror we have been subjected to on a 24/7 basis. To listen to news feeds and the talking heads one would think that we are on the brink of destruction. Are we really? Who profits from all this mass hysteria? I call it hysteria. And after almost a year of it, I call it what it is and I declare that I will not listen to any of it anymore.

Life is way too short; we are all living on borrowed time. Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, nor is the next breath promised to anyone.

That sobering thought inspires me to cherish each moment, to cherish each sunrise and sunset that God blesses me with. That sobering thought inspires me to call family and friends I haven’t spoken with in years so that I can reconnect. That sobering thought inspires me to stop and enjoy the cool ocean breezes and the warmth of the sun on my skin. That sobering thought inspires me to live each moment with thankfulness. Any moment could be my last, no matter how socially isolated I am, no matter how safe I am by staying home. And no we are not alone together as the slogan goes that is being touted in my community. Truth is, I hunger for community, in person, not on a virtual screen. Truth is, nothing can stop the inevitableness of life’s ending. Nothing at all.

I am exhausted by the restrictions of 2020. I feel as if something precious from my life has been stolen. I am now trying to regain the ground that I felt I lost. I refuse to enter 2021 with fear and trembling.

I rely completely on the words of my Lord Jesus Christ:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

I refuse to be troubled; I refuse to be afraid.

I place my soul in the comforting and protecting hands of God. He keeps his promises. He never fails.

Romans 15:13 says: “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.”

Isaiah 26:3-4 says: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (4) Trust ye in the Lord for ever; for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

Perfect peace. Hope. Joy.

Joy. Hope. Perfect peace.

These are guarantees from God.

As I look towards 2021, I encourage you to join me in turning your heart, mind and soul completely over to the loving, unfailing protection of God.

Switch off the media’s hysterical histrionics and enjoy time with family and friends. Enjoy time outdoors in this beautiful world that God has given to us. Enjoy this brief life, make every precious moment count.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, shine his face upon you, and be gracious to you, lift up your countenance, and give you peace (Numbers 6: 24-26).

God’s peace,

Amen.

Onward to 2020

photography of fireworks display — Photo by DreamSky on Pexels.com

2020 is just around the corner and I am inspired to focus on what I can accomplish in those 365 days. In years past, I wasted far too much time looking back at my mistakes and mulling over my regrets. I have come to realize that life is about ups and downs, successes and failures. Sometimes I win; sometimes I lose. That is just the natural rhythm of life. In this post-modern age we have unrealistic expectations that there is some “perfect” state of being we are supposed to become. It is a taboo to admit that we are sad, angry, lonely, confused or otherwise not “centered” and “mindful.” We are supposed to be “enlightened,” whatever that is supposed to mean.

The truth is that it is emotionally, spiritually, and physically messy to be human. There is no perfect state of being. I say it is more emotionally, spiritually, and physically healthy to just fess up to the hard truth that our lives are not always going to be perfect. There are going to be those inevitable days that we veer off the road and land in the ditch. There are going to be those inevitable days that we just want to sit in the dark and cry. There are going to be those days that we order a large sugary, five-thousand calorie coffee drink from our favorite coffee shop and top it off with a side order of a three thousand calorie chocolate infused pastry. There are going to be those days your mouth opens up and your true thoughts spew out and the sound of your escaping words sound very, very ugly. Life is very, very messy, indeed.

We all make mistakes. We all have regrets. In this upcoming year, my focus is going to be on the future not the past. I have promised myself that if I do make mistakes (and I will inevitably) I will pick myself up and brush myself off and show grace and forgiveness to myself. Maybe in some circles that attitude would qualify me as “enlightened.” I think it just qualifies me as showing self-compassion.

In 2020, my goals include finishing up my writing projects and publishing my work. 365 days are a lot of days. I promise myself not to procrastinate. What is my passion? Writing is my passion. If I don’t focus on my passion I have no one else to blame but myself, after all I am in charge of my own life. I claim 2020 as my year to succeed in my goals. I set my sights on the future.

The writer George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) wrote “IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO BE WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN.”

Actor John Wayne said “COURAGE IS BEING SCARED TO DEATH-AND SADDLING UP ANYWAY.”

We are all scared in this life. If you are not scared you must not be paying very close attention. It is a very scary world. It is also a beautiful, wonderful world filled with kind people. Surround yourself with beauty and kindness. Be the change you want to see.

Just as John Wayne said, I plan to saddle up in spite of my fear. Just as Eliot (Evans) wrote, I plan to be who I want to be.

Happy 2020 to everyone! Have a blessed New Year!

Source for quotes:

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes