The Authors’ Corner

Welcome to The Authors’ Corner.

Take a look at my review for title Breathe Again.

Breathe Again by Adrienne Thompson shows us the power of forgiveness. The protagonist, Maria spends many years as a dutiful daughter until she is rescued. But even after finding love for herself, she can’t fully receive until she lets go of past hurts and forgives. I so enjoyed Breathe Again and found Maria’s character to be relatable. Adrienne provides life lessons in this book worth learning and relearning. I highly recommend, Breathe Again.

Breathe Again is available on Amazon at: http://amzn.to/2u0SuIg

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

and Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2uzskA0

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

 

Tincture of Time

“Tincture of time.” Those were the words spoken to me by a co-worker during a dark period in my life. I was struggling to get through a tough season and she wanted to encourage me. It seemed to me back then, time was more an enemy then a friend. I was hurting badly and I wanted the pain to cease.

As I look back, I realize, she was absolutely correct. I’d lost two pregnancies back to back and I didn’t think I’d survive. A couple days ago, I was cleaning out a drawer and I found two positive pregnancy tests I’d saved from that time. I was able to look at them and remember without pain. I was healed.

I desperately wanted more children and was unable to carry either pregnancy to term. I also found the picture of a young lady I wanted to adopt in that drawer. We had tried to adopt when we realized I couldn’t have children but for some reason, adopting didn’t work out either. I wondered where she was and how she was doing. I wondered if a loving family had adopted her.

It’s true, time did heal my wounds although as I said back then, I didn’t know how I would make it. Perhaps you have a pain in your heart that feels as though it will consume you at any moment. I wish for you, Tincture of Time. I wish God’s healing balm on your hurt.

I know time can seem more an enemy than friend and God’s timing can be perceived as incredibly slow. But I pray you too will one day look up and be pain free. And your heart though scared will be mended.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

The Wisdom Of Bagger Vance part 2

Wisdom can be found in any medium if we look for it. The movie The Legend of Bagger Vance is chocked full. There is a scene where Bagger gives Junnah a lesson on finding his swing by observing another player in the golf tournament Junnah is playing in. Up until this point in the movie, Junnah is still searching for his “swing” or as is obvious, himself.

Bagger points to the other player and simply says to Junnah, “… He got a lot of shots he could choose from… Duffs and tops and skulls, there’s only ONE shot that’s in perfect harmony with the field… One shot that’s his, authentic shot, and that shot is gonna choose him… There’s a perfect shot out there tryin’ to find each and every one of us… All we got to do is get ourselves out of its way, to let it choose us…”

The words Bagger speaks are so indicative of our search for our authentic selves in life. How many times do we allow ourselves to become someone else to please others. Psalm 139:14 says we are fearfully (uniquely) and wonderfully made. There is no mistake to our personalities.

Freedom comes when we release the world’s definition of who we should be and embrace our genuine selves. We allow that perfect shot to find us and it’s a good fit. It’s easy to become influenced by society’s definition of how to fit in, especially if we’re deemed odd. But I’ve learned it’s better to accept our true selves than live a lie.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

 

 

No Do Overs!

In life there are no do-overs. I’m sure every person on this earth wishes at one time or another to change something from the past. We all have painful and/or disappointing memories. Well, to that I say we must move on.

I’ve found myself more times than I can count ruminating on something I’ve done or said that I wish I could take back. I finally learned rehashing those times was only hurting me. I’m a firm believer in filling our mind and spirit with as much positivity as possible and mulling over things we can’t change does no good.

It’s one thing to learn from our past mistakes, it’s another to beat ourselves up. So for this year and years to come, lets make a promise to ourselves to leave the past exactly where it is. Let us look to the future with the excitement and expectation of a child. Have you ever noticed the look in a child’s eyes when experiencing something new? Their eyes radiate with joy. As adults we can learn from them.

The time is now and so lets “seize the moment” and only look back when we need a reminder not to make the same mistake twice. We have today. Lets be present and live for now.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

I Am More Than Capable. Part 2

There is nothing worse than reporting to a job day after day, week after week and year after year that adds nothing but anxiety to one’s life. However, that is exactly what I was did for over twenty five years. To say I was miserable is an understatement.

On quite a few mornings, I pulled into the parking lot of my job in tears. To compound matters, I felt trapped. I was financially unable at that time to return to school to facilitate a change in careers, and so I toiled on.

The select group of co-workers who seemed to enjoy berating and castigating me fueled my dismay. I avoided them as best I could, and at the suggestion of my friend I began scheduling myself to work on days they were off. You see, we work three – twelve hour shifts/week, and so, working opposite them helped some. Eventually, I worked full time night shift which took care of working with them at all but, I still had to give shift report.

For about five years, I received a reprieve when I was recruited to be apart of a five year grant funded project. It took me one full year on that job to relax and accept that my new co-workers respected me as an individual and as someone with a high level of intelligence.  It was also liberating because I realized the treatment I received at the hands of my former co-workers was real and not a misperception as they wanted me to believe.

Something wonderful happened during those five years, I grew in confidence and appreciation of who I was created to be. At the end of those years, I returned to my former job a stronger person. I began to stand up for myself although I continued to avoid the naysayers as best I could.

My mother used to tell me, God would move stumbling blocks out of my way. Even with my new found strength, those women were relentless. I began to wonder how much longer it was going to take God to move them or me again. However, God in His infinite wisdom knew my current situation was just strengthening my wings.

I’ve been told the Eagle is the only bird with the ability to fly straight into a storm until she breaks through the clouds and flies above it. If I was going to be a Harpy Eagle, God knew I was going to need strong wings.

Stay tuned for more of “I Am More Than Capable.”

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

“Am I Real Now ?”

The title of my post comes from a movie I recently watched called The Christmas Bunny. It was a sweet tale of a young girl named, Julia who was in need of a forever home.  In the movie, Julia’s favorite video was The Velveteen Rabbit based on the book and she watched it over and over again. At the end of The Christmas Bunny, Julia’s foster family asked her to become a permanent member of their family. She looked at her family and asked, “am I real now?” I thought about how profound her question was.

If you’ve read The Velveteen Rabbit or seen the movie, you’ll remember Skin Horse, a very wise toy tells Rabbit, toys become real because of the love of children. In the movie The Christmas Bunny, Julia asks her forever family, am I real now because she finally feels loved. I thought of all the people in the world who at this very moment lack the love of another human being in their lives. They probably feel invisible and perhaps unreal.

I’m not one to ponder such things without doing my part to find a solution. Showing love can be as simple as making eye contact and speaking to that man, woman or child walking along with their head bowed. We can visit a neighbor who otherwise wouldn’t have company. Or sit next to someone at church who always attends and sits alone.

During this holiday season, which can be especially painful for some, there are many options open for us to show love. I ask you to join me in doing just that. Lets bless our fellow man, it not only benefits them, but us too.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

“See The End Game”

One of my favorite movies is Life of A King. It’s based on the story of Eugene Brown, the gentleman who started The Big Chair Chess Club for inner-city youth living in Washington D. C. Each time I watch the movie, I learn something new. However, no matter how many new lessons I glean with each viewing, my favorite remains “you must see the end game.” There is so much wisdom in that short sentence.

During the movie, Mr. Brown played by the talented, Cuba Gooding Jr, repeatedly tells his students to “think before you move. You must see the end game.” Regardless our age we can all apply those words of wisdom to our lives. How many disasters or tragic situations could have been avoided had we thought before we moved? I can think of a few circumstances in my life that would have gone differently had a paused and considered the outcome before acting.

As I travel this journey called life, I look for small lessons I can hold onto to help me grow and navigate the sometimes rocky places. Mr. Brown’s advice to “think before you move. You must see the end game” is one such nugget I now use often or at least attempt to. I do hope you, too, will find his advice useful.

It’s not always possible to make the right decision, all we can do is try as best we can. But in that attempt to make sound and concrete choices, lets remember Mr. Brown’s advice. “Think before you move. Remember to see the end game.”

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

Listen up!

It seems to me, listening has become a lost art. One of the greatest annoyances I’ve found is people who cut me, or anyone else for the matter, off before we finish our sentence. Have we become so hurried as a society we no longer have time to listen to one another? I fear it to be true.

We seem to listen while formulating as response instead of paying attention to what’s being said. There are those who will “yeah-yeah” in the middle of a person’s sentence because they think they know what’s about to be said. Then we have some, as I said earlier, who will completely cut the talker off for the same reasons. The worst offender is the one who walks away because they feel the conversation doesn’t even merit their presence. I’ve learned in each case we can be 100% wrong.

Active listening is a virtue it would behove each of us to adopt. It takes practice because it’s easier to just interject. But I promise if we as a people take the time to quiet our minds and hear what’s being said, this world would be a better place. Thanks for listening!

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

Living Fearlessly

One of my favorite cliches is “awwww live on the edge.” The interesting thing is although I  strongly suggested others live fearlessly, and proclaimed to do so myself,  I really wasn’t. I allowed fear to control many of my decisions and often dominate my life. However, I recently resolved to truly live life to the fullest. That includes tossing fear aside and living on the edge.

My decision came about following a recent awakening. The beautiful thing is, I’ve never felt so free in my entire life. I’m doing as many of the things I’ve always wanted to do as possible. With that, I’ve developed a longevity list. I don’t believe in Bucket lists for me because it conjures feelings of having to complete a list of things as quickly as possible. I prefer the term longevity  because I’ll need a long life to enjoy all the activities I have planned for myself.

I want to put my discomfort with heights aside and go zip lining with my family. I plan to audition to sing the National Anthem at a professional sports event. And that trip to Italy no long sounds like too much time in the air.

The amazing thing about living fearlessly is it brings a sense of joy along with the freedom.  Each time an item is crossed off my longevity list, I feel exhilarated and challenged to move onto the next item. As always, I share my stories to encourage others to join me in embracing life. So, toss caution to the wind, as they say and join me in living on the edge. In other words, Live Fearlessly!

 

Casting Pearls

 

Matthew 7:6  AMP says, “Do not give that which is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” It took me years to understand what that scripture meant. One day it dawned on me and I understood it for myself.

I’m one who enjoys a good laugh and I love to smile. I smile when I’m at home, I smile when I’m out and about, I smile because it feels great. I enjoy joking around and one of my favorite things is a good belly laugh. The kind of belly laugh that makes you beg for mercy because your stomach muscles are cramping up.

While out and about I tend to smile at strangers and if they’ll let me, I’ll strike up a conversation in the grocery line. I noticed over the past years that some people just refuse to smile. It didn’t matter how friendly I tried to be or how brightly my face glowed. They just weren’t going to return my gesture.

Recently it dawned on me. The pearls spoken of in the above scripture are things precious to us and God. I came to realize my smile and friendly manner were precious. And so, I continue to smile, but I understand my gesture isn’t for everyone. Please don’t get me wrong. I’m aware some people maybe going through something and have a heavy heart; others may be shy or introverted. In other words, everyone has their reasons for not smiling. I, however, will continue to be me.

Is there something precious in your life? Be careful who you share that precious thing with, not everyone is able to receive. Guard it and your heart. You’ll be thankful you did.

Ciao!

Savannah J.  providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life. 

Http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com 

Follow Savannah on Twitter   http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o 

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP 

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g