Being Grateful - Nov 7th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov. 7th:

Did you know that if you had $10,000 you could trade it in for a million pennies? I know, right? Why would you want to? I mean, a penny is only worth 1/100th of a dollar. We tend not to notice them anymore, even when a handful are scattered on the ground. Why bother breaking your back to retrieve one? Well, let me tell you why. 

Regardless of a penny’s monetary worth, I am actually grateful for the coin. Yes, I usually take the time to stoop down and pick one up. I started doing this regularly after hearing a comment that, in my eyes, shone a bright light on their greater worth. 

"A penny’s value is in what it represents more than in the candy it can buy." 

I doubt a single penny can be exchanged for any amount of candy these days, yet it is valued by me. I read the words printed on the face—In God We Trust. This maxim is a reminder of the principles and beliefs our country was founded upon. It is a reminder of my own faith in a living, loving God. 

Finding a penny has become a good-luck charm of sorts, like finding a four-leaf clover, because it makes me stop and think about the things of real worth in life: things like faith, integrity, relationships, gratitude, happiness, friends, and family. Like the penny, these things may not have high monetary value yet they are priceless in intrinsic worth. And though I cannot take a penny or a dime or a dollar with me when I pass from this life to the next, I do believe I will take these other precious gifts with me if I am found in possession of them here and now. Pennies remind me of this, and for that I am grateful.

November 8th 

Being Grateful - Nov 6th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov 6th:

I was recently watching a cartoon about a teenage vampire. The show pointed out how to identify vampires—you simply look for their reflection in a mirror because they won’t have one. In this particular episode, however, the teenage vampire was surprised to view her reflection for the first time by aid of a special dark mirror. (Turns out it was cursed.) Nonetheless, she became fascinated by her pretty face, thrilled to glimpse her mirror-image for the very first time. It made me think. 

How strange would it be to live for years and years yet never see myself? How differently would humanity behave if there were no means by which we could see our own reflections? Would cosmetics still be popular? And who would apply the face paint for us? Would we trust them to do a good job without a way to personally judge the end-result? It’s sort of entertaining to think about. Yes, one could easily argue that vanity would shrink if reflections were not a thing. Still, I am grateful for mirrors. I am grateful I can see my own, unique reflection. (Whew… not a vampire.)

November 7th 

November 6th

Being Grateful - Nov 5th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.


Nov 5th:

You know how it sounds when the house is quiet? Kids, spouse, pets, visitors all departed, leaving you the only soul at home. Television and radio off. Technology and appliances unplugged. Life at a standstill, inside and out. 

This silence isn’t inaudible but deeply hushed. Tiny clicks. Mild creaks. Gentle, steady tick-tocks. A tranquil hum sings in the air so soft and serene it lulls you in whispers, soothing to the ear. It is the sound of peace. It is the sound of relaxing quiet. I am thankful for moments flooded with this sweet sound.

November 6th 

November 6th

Being Grateful - Nov 4th

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.


Nov 4th:

Today I was breathing. You too?

It’s funny how we inhale and exhale roughly 20,000 times each day without considering how miraculous and vital this automatic process is. It got me thinking about air and how grateful I am for it. Not just because it provides oxygen that maintains human consciousness… and ultimately life, but air performs other jobs—critical jobs—for which I am grateful. 

Air carries carbon dioxide to plants that in turn create oxygen for humans and animals to breathe. (Nice dependent bond there.) Air also holds tiny particles that attract and accumulate water droplets, allowing rainclouds to form. Air moves fast and far, which allows winds to move rainclouds inland, bringing water to drier lands. The wind carries living organisms from place to place. It keeps pollutants from building up and stagnating. The Earth’s atmosphere provides a form of insulation that keeps the planet from getting excessively cold or hot. It also provides the ozone that helps to protect life from the harmful effects of too much sunlight. 

Though I scarcely stop to think about the air around me, I am truly grateful for how it aids and protects life on Earth.

November 5th 

 

Being Grateful - Nov 3rd

 

This November, I have taken on the challenge of pondering blessings that I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss if they were gone, yet scarcely give much thought. My goal is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.



Nov 3rd:

I am grateful for hellos. Every language around the world has its own way to say it—from hola, hallo, bonjour, dia dhuit, sveiki, xin chào… to… សួស្តី, வணக்கம், Здрастуйте, and many other versions of the same friendly welcome. 

Hello is a universally peaceful form of acknowledgement. It is an effective tool for painting smiles on human lips. It is a magic word that warms the hearts of recipients. I appreciate hellos. 

The word is often taken for granted, yet put to use multiple times a day as we seek to gain the attention of others and start up friendly conversations or just make someone feel welcomed and accepted. Uttering a simple “hello” is the best way to begin new friendships. I am grateful for this well-used and underappreciated word.

 November 4th

Being Grateful - Nov 2nd

 

It is the first day of November, a month of change and transition. A month in which many people celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. It is a time that usually includes pondering personal blessings deserving of gratitude. I was thinking about the concept of gratitude when it occurred to me there are blessings I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss yet scarcely give much thought. My goal this November is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.

Nov. 2nd:

I am grateful for the natural ability to grow calluses. When I was a child, I spent a lot of time outside, running around barefoot in the yard, through the garden, and down the road. My heels and toes grew thick calluses to protect my feet from the abrasive edges of rocks, fallen branches, and other potentially hurtful debris. I ran across them without a second thought. It never hurt because of the thickness of the skin underlining my feet.

  

During a short period of my middle-school years, I took up playing the guitar. It was difficult to play at first because it hurt my tender fingers. Again, natural calluses developed to protect my fingers from pain. As a result, playing the guitar became easier.

 

I am thankful for another type of callus that develops as a result of pain and friction, one not physical but emotional (perhaps spiritual) in nature. It forms around the mind and heart when criticism, ridicule, scorn, gossip and such abrasive behaviors are forced on a human being. These calluses help protect a person, making the endurance of malice less painful. They are a blessing of safety and refuge. I am thankful that both types of calluses exist.

November 3rd 

Being Grateful - Nov 1st

 

It is the first day of November, a month of change and transition. A month in which many people celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. It is a time that usually includes pondering personal blessings deserving of gratitude. I was thinking about the concept of gratitude when it occurred to me there are blessings I commonly overlook. Things I would certainly miss yet scarcely give much thought. My goal this November is to share daily one typically-ignored blessing for which I am truly thankful.

Nov. 1st:

I am grateful for the ability to stop and start most anything at will. It seems an odd thought, perhaps, yet consider how awful it would be to lack the capacity to start a behavior or end a behavior when you wanted very much to do so.

 

Imagine whistling without the power to cease until someone closed your mouth. Or gripping a pencil but lacking the power to write until someone pinched your hand. More relatable examples might be these: the ability to start a new life; the ability to stop a harmful habit; the ability to start a new talent; the ability to stop a hurtful rumor; the ability to start a friendship; the ability to stop a biased tradition.

 

I am grateful that I can start new things I deem worthy of my energy and attention while at the same time possess the power to put a stop to unwanted behaviors. It is a blessing of agency, strength, and courage. And I am indeed grateful for it.

 

November 2nd

Being Bold

       Introducing the successor to Slaying Dragons, Making Wishes, and Smile Anyway; another book filled with motivation and inspiration, designed to be used on a day-to-day basis.

Being Bold

by

Richelle E. Goodrich

Available at AMAZON or BARNES&NOBLE

A note: This book was written as a graduation gift. Half the royalties are gifted to the author's son to help with college and living expenses, so keep in mind that every purchase is a donation to help put this young man through college.

       Being Bold mirrors its predecessors, Smile Anyway, Making Wishes, and Slaying Dragons, with new and inspirational quotes and short stories written by American author, Richelle E. Goodrich. This book gives you something to ponder every day of the year. For those who enjoy poetry, a variety of poems are scattered throughout the reading as well. Being Bold is motivational, inspirational, and entertaining. It can be enjoyed one entry per day or, if preferred, taken in at one sitting. Enjoy the following excerpts:

"Sometimes happiness quietly curls up in your heart just to snuggle."

“Sometimes you save people with your words or with acts of kindness. Other times people save you. That’s what we were meant to do on this earth—be heroes.”

“I am accountable for every lie that I tell, but I am also accountable for the effects of every harsh truth I deliver.”

“Surround yourself with those who voice more gratitudes than grumbles.”

“Whether or not you believe isn’t half as important as whether or not you want to believe.”

“Friends make everything easier. If you want to succeed at a challenge, involve your friends. They have an amazing capacity to lighten physical, emotional, and mental burdens by simply being there.”

And your thought for the day...

"Don’t whisper your wishes to faraway stars, shout them boldly at the sun."

                                  -Richelle E. Goodrich

Being Bold - Available to Pre-Order NOW!

     Introducing the newest book in a line of inspirational and motivational books by American author, Richelle E. Goodrich. Being Bold includes original quotes, poetry, and the occasional short story for every day of the year. In the same vein as Smile Anyway, Making Wishes, and Slaying Dragons, enjoy a fresh collection of daily quotes in the new book, Being Bold.

 

Being Bold: 

Quotes, Poetry, & Motivations  for Every Day of the Year

by 

Richelle E. Goodrich

Being Bold was written in the same style as 

Smile Anyway, Making Wishes, and Slaying Dragons.

     This book offers readers original daily quotes, poems, as well as the occasional short story. Ponder meaningful quotes like the popular following:

"Sometimes you save people with your words or with acts of kindness. Other times people save you. That’s what we were meant to do on this earth—be heroes."
“Don’t sink too deep into yourself. That is the secret to happiness.”

“Friends make everything easier. If you want to succeed at a challenge, involve your friends. They have an amazing capacity to lighten physical, emotional, and mental burdens by simply being there.”

“Life can be awful. Life can be ugly.
And still there are those who smile at the darkness, anticipating the beauty of an eventual sunrise.”

“Yes, love is a super power. It is the ultimate super power.”

“When a monster grows quiet and crumbles to the ground weeping, you feel sorry for him. You may approach with caution and hope, whispering words of peace. But in the morning he will rise to his full height, roaring and stomping and baring his sharp teeth because he is, after all, a monster.”

 

This book was written to entertain, inspire, and motivate individuals on a daily basis.

Being Bold is available to pre-order at

AMAZON KINDLE

and

SMASHWORDS

And your thought for the day...

"Don’t whisper your wishes to faraway stars, shout them boldly at the sun."

~ Richelle E. Goodrich

 

Meet the Llessurs, the Semmians, the Hoj y' man, and the Boarattas

       Meet a few characters from the Harrowbethian Saga—a fun, adventurous, romantic young-adult series starring the young Queen Eena and her loyal friends.








The Llessurs are one of many species who share the planet, Moccobatra. They are a thin, delicate people that live in homes carved from existing caves in the southern, mountainous continent below the Red Desert. The Llessurs share the mountains with the Monturians but live higher up than their dwarf neighbors. These fair-skinned people tend to keep to themselves; they are too elusive to detect when they wish to be unseen. They have pastel eye colors, predominantly violet or blue. Green is a rare pigment in their bloodline; yellow is even rarer. Owing to ancient folklore describing an influential queen possessing hypnotic golden eyes that brought good fortune to her people, those born with yellow eyes are automatically given royal status.

---

The Semmians are a race of people with porcelain-white skin and silver-white hair. They live near and below the equator in and around the Semmian Rainforest. The Vang Isles lie off their eastern coast, a tropic vacationing spot for many Moccobatrans and a substantial source of tourism income. The Semmians are a militaristic society—though this is more visibly reflected on the main continent than on the Vang Isles. They are governed by military leaders overseen by a solitary director. The average male serves ten years in the armed forces and has two or more wives.

---

The Hoj y' man are identified by their blue skin, with hues ranging from periwinkle to indigo. They live in Middle Mei Jamay in the same hemisphere as Harrowbeth but on the opposite side of the planet. On their eastern border they neighbor the Doroj while on their western border, they neighbor the Braetics. A frequently-uttered slogan among this proud people: Car’ un em doy’ Hoj y`man deria, or Faith in the Hoj y`man nation.

---

The Boarattas are a race of nomads similar in appearance and customs to the Mishmorats but lacking cheetah-like spots. They generally camp in the warmer climates of Moccobatra on the same continent as Harrowbeth. They have been known to share temporary dwelling sites with the Mishmorats, although the Boarattas are careful to keep intimate relations separate due to concerns about offspring being born with identifying spots.
​

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8 Truths About Change

       Last month I decided to take more time from my busy schedule and devote it to working on certain things I want to improve in my personal life. How is it going, you ask? Slower than I had hoped and yet I do see real progress being made. While concentrating more intently this past month on purposeful change, I have learned a few valuable lessons. Isn't that how it usually goes? I thought I would share these truths; you may find them helpful and enlightening:

1) The worst day is always the first day. Changing a habit or instigating something new is toughest at the start. Through repetition, however, new habits grow. They are strengthened with familiarity.

2) Friends make everything easier. If you want to succeed at a challenge, involve your friends. They have an amazing capacity to lighten physical, emotional, and mental burdens by simply being there.

3) Know what your objective is. Anything that does not contribute to that objective is unnecessary―let those things go.

4) Patience is not only a virtue, it is power, it is influence, it is the richest soil for personal growth.

5) Success is the result of moving forward. Concentrate on that fact, regardless of how slow or fast, how poorly or well things seem to be going. If you are moving forward, you are succeeding.

6) Believing in yourself is enough, but it sure is nice when another's kind words of encouragement kiss your ear. There is genuine strength in verbal expressions of support.

7) Laughing at yourself does more to heal the heart and mind than any medicine. Discouragement and despair cower under a good dose of laughter.

8) It is okay to alter your original plans. To try means to learn. To learn means to grow. To grow means to change.

       I plan to keep at it this month and the next, and the next, and so forth. Time is a critical part of the equation when it comes to change and improvement. Wish me luck on my goals. Best of luck on your own personal goals as well. Remember, never give up!

The Month of May —The Month of Me

I was thinking back over the past few months, savoring a sweet mix of relief, joy, and fulfillment at having finally published an entire young adult series. On April 26th, the last book in my Harrowbethian Saga was released. Not only did I write and edit this entire six-book adventure, I illustrated the covers and self-published the crazy story. It was more than I initially set out to do. Now that it's finished, I can hardly stop gazing at the completed saga sitting on my bookshelf. Who knew I had it in me to do something this big? 

Honestly, if you had suggested that I attempt such a feat when I first set out to write a single book, I would have crinkled my nose and thought you were signing me up for a climbing hike where the goal was to reach the end of a rainbow. Yet here I am, basking under the colorful lights where an illusive rainbow has touched ground in my life. An enormous sense of satisfaction comes from accomplishing something so challenging. This truth got me thinking today.

There are other things I would love to accomplish. There are personal attributes I would like to improve upon, goals I long to finally reach, and certain wishes I hope to someday see come true. Most of these goals involve only me, my dreams. I have set them aside numerous times for the sake of priorities. They call this sort of patient procrastination a form of selflessness. They call it being mature and responsible. I don't regret the sacrifices I have made for the benefit of worthwhile people and causes, but I am growing older and feel my determination increasing with age. With my boys reaching adulthood, I find I have greater amounts of time to myself—as well as less time left on this planet—which makes me think that now is when I can and should invest in my own dreams. 

Silly thing—I was thinking about how tomorrow is the month of May, a new month, a new beginning, another stretch of springtime where many things are born and blossoming and sprouting from seed. I had the thought that this should be my month to concentrate on improving certain attributes about myself. Things I want to improve. It should be the month of me. Yes, a month all about me. Not in a selfish, irresponsible, ignore-the-needs-of-others sort of way, but in a growing, developing, mending, and moving-closer-in-line-with-the-person-I-visualize-myself-to-be sort of way. It is possible and it is productive to concentrate on yourself unselfishly—as paradoxical as it sounds. 


So this is my goal. The month of May will be the month of Me. I expect great things from myself. The way I see it, any lady who can write an entire six-book, young adult series must have some magic and muchness in her. Wish me luck. I have things to do.

The End of a Saga—I Miss Them Already

     The final book in my young adult series, the Harrowbethian Saga, has been released as a treat for the imaginations of all avid readers. This day has been a very, very long time coming. For me as a writer, it is a momentous and emotional occasion. I have spent the past twelve years creating the most incredible adventure, which stars the young Queen Eena of Harrowbeth. I have come to know in-depth and personally a host of diverse characters—both friends and foes—who lived together in my mind, laughing, groaning, encouraging, taunting, comforting, and often crying with me.

     On many days, these wonderful characters were the motivation pushing me forward to tell their story. And though it often took stolen moments in a grocery-store checkout line or during lulls at my place of work or in the quiet, late hours of the night, I finally did what they dared me to do: I completed the last heartfelt chapter in their saga.

     It is done.

     So why am I overwhelmed with such joy and melancholy at the same time? I think I know why. Because I will miss my dear friends of so many years. Yes, I will miss Sha Eena’s young, determined, impetuous nature and Derian’s strict, authoritarian personality that could only be tempered by Eena. I will miss Ian, the queen’s dutiful yet jesting protector. I will miss Shanks and his crew of overgrown warriors who laughed like children when in leisure circumstances. I will certainly miss Kira, the spotted Mishmorat whose spirit could never be broken. And I will even miss the self-indulgent and annoying Edgarmetheus whose heart does indeed possess some warped sense of goodness.

     I spent this past weekend reading my book again for the umpteenth time, and I loved every minute of it. Despite knowing how it ends, I laughed and I cheered and I cried a river of tears. You will too. It is a satisfying ending that will leave you contentedly lost in wonder. So after you finish reading the final pages and you naturally continue onto further dreamed adventures with Eena and her companions—oh, be good to them. They are my dear friends.
I miss them already.