Category: Getting to Know You

Don’t Judge…

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

One of my favorite philosophies is: You never know what someone is going through, so be nice.

I also like the idea that “unless you walk in someone else’s shoes, you can’t understand what they’re going through.”

I try to keep those in mind whenever I run across someone. If they’re happy, sad, angry, despondent, etc. it’s important to approach with love.

I can remember how it felt to be judged without that person knowing what was going on in my life, and inside my head.

I remember being the one judging. It makes me cringe and I want to find those people to apologize to them.

I think I’m this retrospective because I’m writing Lady Zepherine’s story. She’s going through a lot that I went through and it can be difficult to open those doors. I’ve been very successful in locking up those memories, especially from high school, and now I am taking a key to those rusty locks.

It’s not as traumatic as other people’s experiences, but it was a lot to handle when I was a young teenager. Wait, aren’t all teenagers the same age? Chronologically, yes. But I was young, emotionally and physically. Which can be difficult when you’re in middle and high school.

I can’t wait for you to read Lady Zepherine’s story! Sonja

#sundayfunday

  • (c) 2020
  • (c) 2020
  • (c) 2020
  • Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash
  • Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash

It’s Sunday. That means it’s a day for fun!

It doesn’t matter what your preference is for your free time (hiking, sitting by a river, soaking in a tub, reading, writing). Just remember to protect others by following social distancing and wearing a mask.

It isn’t just for your health, but for those who are around you.

I plan to spend the day writing and reading. Those are my preferences. I am scheduled for a bit of surgery on Tuesday, so I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I lose function in my wrist (that’s where the surgery will be).

I’ll be in a cast, so using the laptop will be difficult. I plan to try, though. I don’t think I can go weeks without writing. It makes me happy.

What makes you happy? Let me know. Sonja

Snakes

Photo by Yuval Levy on Unsplash

I don’t like them. I do pet the rainbow boa constrictor at the zoo, but it takes a lot of self-talk to get up the nerve.

I think it’s because they don’t have legs. I have a thing for legs. I like ’em on my animals. I also don’t like slimy things. Yes, I know that doesn’t apply to snakes, but there are legged things that are slimy that I don’t appreciate–slimy looking lizards, for example. We had a large hatching here at the house of slimy looking lizards and they kinda freak me out.

I do like frogs. They’re slimy, but also cute. Slimy lizards are not cute.

Anyway, the other day I saw just the tail of something go between the food bins of Guinness the Therapy Dog and Lucy the Wonder Dog (their bins are outside). It was a banded, pointed tail and I didn’t know if it was a snake or a lizard. Nope, not going out there. I got my courageous husband to look, but the pointy tailed thing had already gone its secretive way. We are pretty sure it was a lizard, not a Gila Monster (not the right tail shape) or a snake (we would have seen a snake that was that big and long).

Our lizards are big, like the Collared Lizards and the Common Brown Lizards. And boy, can they run fast when the dogs chase them!

Any close encounters of animals in your world? Sonja

What Are You Reading?

Photo by Priscilla DuPreez on Unsplash

I tend to read lots of books at the same time–in many different formats. I listen to audiobooks in the car and read paperbacks and ebooks at night.

I have about five ebooks going right now, because sometimes I can read the ‘heavy’ history books for only a short time and then I need to move to something a little less dense.

Right now, I’m reading: West of the Revolution by Claudio Saun; The Man Who Could Be King by John Ripan Miller; Filthy Rich by James Patterson (thank you for the recommendation @novelist_george_I_ Fleming); Cooper’s Charm by Lori Foster; The Priest of Santa Maria by Alexandra Kleanthous; and, on audiobook, The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White.

My TBR pile is extensive and I keep adding to it!

What are you reading? Sonja

Weekly Quote

(c) 2020
Photo by Alessandro Bianchi on Unsplash

I completely subscribe to this idea. I think you need to push yourself to a level where failure is a huge possibility to really succeed.

Edison succeeded after a lot of failure.

So can you. So can I.

When I was on a ski team, my coach told me that if I didn’t fall sometimes, I was being too careful. I’ve had some spectacular falls! I’ve also found amazing success after those falls.

Don’t be afraid of the bruises! Sonja