Tuesday Inspiration

I think Mr. Napoleon Hill was onto something here. Not everyone can be great. Not everyone can make a huge splash. But you can affect the lives of those around you. It may feel like a small thing, whatever you decide, but it may mean the world for the person you are giving to. Whatever you do, do it well. Do it large. Do it your best.

If you do your best, then there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Is there someone who needs a smile?

Is there someone who needs to hear some music?

Is there someone who would love to receive a card from you?

Reach out to someone who needs a pick-me-up and you will have accomplished something small for yourself and something gigantic for them.

Be big! Sonja

Happy Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day!

I hope you have a chance to enjoy the origins of this federal holiday. Columbus Day is meant to commemorate the voyage of Christopher Columbus to America. This day was first celebrated on the 300th anniversary of his landing, on October 12, 1792, by New York’s Columbian Order, also known as the Society of St. Tammany. It became a federal holiday in 1937.

You may prefer to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This holiday is also called First Peoples’ Day, National Indigenous Peoples’ Day, or Native American Day. Celebrated on the second Monday in October, this day directly opposes Columbus Day to commemorate the histories and cultures of the Native American people.

Some Italian-Americans observe Columbus Day as a celebration of their heritage. Since Columbus hailed from Italy. He searched for a faster route to the Far East by crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and instead landed in the New World. His first trip comprised of three ships, the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria. When he and his crew arrived after a three-month voyage, they initiated the Columbian Exchange. This program introduced plants, animals, culture, settlers, and technology to the New World, but also brought invasive species and communicable diseases to the region.

It is because of these and other negative associations with Columbus’ arrival that eleven states celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day rather than Columbus Day. Wisconsin became the latest state to observe this day, formally recognizing the day on Tuesday of last week.

Whichever day you observe, I hope you enjoy the day and what it represents to you. Sonja

Happy Birthday, U.S. Navy!

Photo by Michael Afonso on Unsplash

The Continental Navy was originated during the American Revolutionary War in 1775. The fleet comprised of two armed vessels which were tasked with the job of hunting down ships supplying weapons and ammunition to the British army. The Continental Congress wanted to decrease the power of the most powerful military force at the time, to allow for the Whigs and non-royalists in the colonies to fight their way to independence from the British crown.

When the American Revolutionary War ended in 1783, the Continental Navy was dismantled. However, the Naval Act of 1794 was enacted by President George Washington due to threats against American merchant ships by pirates. This created a permanent U.S. Navy.

Today, the fleet consists of more than 300,000 active duty personnel and 100,000 reservists in the submarine, aviation, and surface divisions. This year will also mark some historic milestones in the U.S. Navy’s history. 2019 is the 25th anniversary of women’s first assignment aboard a combat ship, the 50th anniversary of Top Gun, the Fighter Weapons School, and the 100th anniversary to mark the end of World War I.

2019 is the 243rd birthday for the U.S. Navy. The theme for the year is “Forged by the Sea,” which refers to the Navy’s fundamental relationship with the sea and its mission to retain U.S. maritime superiority.

Photo by Adam Pacanski on Unsplash

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How Do You–

One of the questions I am frequently asked is: “How do you come up with your ideas?”

The quick answer is that ideas are everywhere. I simply have to look around and see what interests me.

The long answer is that an idea comes to me and I mentally inspect all its edges and corners to see if it is truly interesting. If it doesn’t hold my attention, or if I can’t see a series of drawings in the text, then I file it away as a partial idea. No idea is sent away for good!

Every idea has value. If you think it up, or it comes to you as you take a walk or stare out the window, then you should pursue it. Sometimes these ideas aren’t sturdy enough to stand on their own. Sometimes they have too much to them and need to be pared down. But they mean something and can be a part of a lovely story. It may not be the story you intended, but give your story a little freedom and it can surprise you (more on this another day!).

I will write more about using ideas on a later date. For now, have the courage to take out one of your ideas and make it into a story. You never know where it will take you until you give it wings.

Enjoy! Sonja

Guinness the Therapy Dog

(c) 2019

In the summers here in the Desert Southwest, the monsoon rains don’t soak into the ground easily. Instead, they fill dry rivers and run downhill. Lucky for us, it gives us a chance to enjoy having flowing water run through our neighborhoods and take part in things we normally don’t have a chance to do.

One of those things is playing in the water. When I took Guinness to my favorite place, the river was flowing too quickly for safety. Happily, a small lagoon had been formed. Guinness needed some coaxing to get into the water, but he took to it very well (as you can see). Within a few minutes, he was soaking in the muddy water.

Yes, he needed a bath to get all the dirt out of his coat. But that was a good exchange for the fun of playing in the water. Plus, he gets peanut butter when he takes a bath!

You’ll see a version of this photo in an upcoming Guinness the Therapy Dog picture book.

I can’t wait to share his adventures with you! Sonja

The Artwork is Coming!

The artwork is coming for my new picture book, The Wing Family: From England to the American Colonies. I think you’ll love it. It’s a blend of watercolors and pen and ink detailing. The artist is incredibly skilled and you will find yourself immersed in the world of 1600s England.

This is an interesting story of one of America’s founding families. The patriarch was an impressive young lad who made a huge impact on history as he aged through adulthood.

Stay tuned for my announcement that the book is available!

I can’t wait for you to read it! Sonja

Yom Kippur Begins Tonight

Image by hurk from Pixabay 

What is Yom Kippur?

From the time the sun sets tonight until the first stars tomorrow, the world’s Jewish and Samaritan populations will celebrate Yom Kippur. Considered the holiest of days in Judaism, Yom Kippur is also known as the Day of Atonement.

For approximately 25 hours, those who observe this holy day will fast, observe intensive prayer, and refrain from work. Yom Kippur comes about a week after Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year.

The week prior to Yom Kippur is knows as the Ten Days of Repentance. Those of the faith make special additions to their prayers and are very careful with their mitzvah observations.

There is also a custom to request and receive some honey cake. This ensures that the coming year will be sweet. Two celebratory meals precede sunset on the first day and the children are given a Priestley Prayer. Special candles are also lit prior to the holiday as observers prepare for five prayer services.

Once Yom Kippur has ended, plans are made for the next holiday. Sukkot begins in just five days and a sukkah must be constructed. This is a temporary tent-like structure meant to symbolize what the Israelites used during their 40-year wandering through the desert.

Most information is from Chabad.org

May you be blessed during Yom Kippur. Sonja

Last Chance!!!

This is your last chance to get the ebook of The Fairies of Carlow: The Commoner at a sale price. The sale ends at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. This is a lovely story that tells of Princess Cecilia and her adventures as a commoner. You’ll also learn more about Princess Morgen from Book 2 of The Fairies of Carlow: The Outsider and Fern the Gilded from The Fairies of Carlow: The Gilding (book 1 of the trilogy). If you love stories about magical fairy princesses, then take advantage of the sale.

You can access the links in the left margin of my web site, or go to Amazon.com and search for my name, Sonja Danielson. That will bring up all three books of The Fairies of Carlow and you can select The Commoner for the sale price or get either of the other two books at their regular price.

Today is also ‘Bald and Free Day’. It might be nice to buy the ebook for your favorite baldy….. ha ha ha ha!

I hope you take advantage of this special sale, crafted just for my social media folks.

Enjoy! Sonja

It’s Sunday Funday!!!

What fun do you want to do today? As you prepare for another week of work or school, Sunday is the day to either relax or make a memory.

Taking a look at past posts from this week, you can imagine what I’ll be doing: I’ll be outside! I think it’s going to be too hot to go on a hike, but you will probably find me in the garden or taking a walk with Guinness the Therapy Dog. He loves his walks!

His big sister, who is actually smaller than he, has a number of health issues and can’t go for walks. She is always there to welcome us home and I have fun imagining their conversation!

“Where’d ya go?”

“Outside!”

“Duh, but where?”

“Dunno. But there were good smells everywhere!”

Have a Fun Day! Sonja