Hello, my friend!
In writing news, my comedic fantasy novel is in the hands of my editor one last time, and my good friend and artist, Ann, is churning out fantastic illustrations for my very first children’s book. Can’t wait to share more!
I recently saw the following two posts on Ken Coleman’s (The Ken Coleman Show and The Ramsey Show) Instagram and had to share:
1a. “I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends”
“The fastest way to get better is to get better friends.”
Caption: “A Harvard study found that 95% of your success and failure is directly related to who you spend most of your time with.”
1b.
2. Feelings Follow Actions
“Instead of waiting until you ‘feel like’ doing something, start doing it now to generate the feelings you want. You may not ‘feel like’ picking up that book on your nightstand, but once you read a few pages, you might find the interest kicking in.
“Sometimes feelings follow actions, not the other way around. Act the way you want to feel.” – Gretchen Rubin
3. Some Reading Tips
Adik replied to my last email with a few questions I am happy to answer! The first one is:
“How do you manage to read a book regularly? Do you have a schedule and/or motivation that you need to read one page a day or something? Or will you pick the lightest book from your shelves?”
Answer:
Reading is the very last part of my nightly routine, right after showering, praying with my husband, and brushing my teeth.
Currently, I’m reading a little every day from a fantastic nonfiction book called Habits of the Household, followed by one chapter or so of Anne of the Island, the third book of the Anne of Green Gables Series. I spend roughly 30-40 minutes a night reading, even when I’m super tired. It clears my head, calms my body, and helps me sleep like a rock!
Question 2:
“What’s your most memorable memory while reading books?”
This is such an interesting question! The following doesn’t exactly answer the question, but it’s what came to mind as I read it….
Honestly, one of my most cherished reading-related memories is that of my father, who went to heaven in 2009, spending luxurious hours on his favorite sofa listening to classical music or jazz while reading his latest sci-fi or graphic novel, poetry anthology, historical nonfiction book, or Popular Mechanics magazine. He had a voracious appetite for knowledge, as well as a lifelong love of storytelling, and always enjoyed sharing snippets of favorite lines, paragraphs, and overarching themes. He passed on his literary passion to me by the simple way he respected and immersed himself in rich literature that taught, challenged, and inspired him.
4. Where I Love to Pray
Jeanna asked: “Where is your favorite place to retreat when you need time to be alone with your prayers?”
I love this question! I love to get alone with God outdoors, particularly somewhere I can walk or hike or ride a bike. Even better, get me on a horse! Something about the fresh air and a bit of sunshine helps me stay focused as I bring my prayers and supplications “boldly to the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). If I’m not able to go outside for whatever reason, then on my knees, next to my bed is my preferred spot. Isn’t it wonderful that no matter where we are, God is there, inclining His ear to us? (Psalm 116:2).
“As is the business of tailors to make clothes and cobblers to make shoes, so it is the business of Christians to pray.” – Martin Luther
I hope you enjoyed this week’s email! I pray you have a wonderful, safe, relaxing weekend! As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or prayer requests – I love hearing from you!
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