My Books For Your Reading Pleasure

My Books For Your Reading Pleasure
Proud Indie Author

Thursday, December 30, 2021

A New Year will soon begin .........

 Today is Thursday, December 30th.  Tomorrow is New Year's Eve.

2021 has been a most interesting year, a good year for me in many ways.   I made the decision to sell my house and to become an apartment dweller.   As the snow falls I'm thinking I made the right decision as this winter I don't need to be concerned about keeping the driveway and back patio & deck clear of the white stuff.  I don't need to be concerned about too much snow piling up on the roof or the old furnace giving up.   

It's true that apartment living is a zero financial investment.  It's also true that there are no, or at least limited, financial surprises.

I've never publicly talked much about the fact that I had a quite severe adverse reaction to my covid-19 vaccinations.  I would not, in any way, want to deter others from getting their shots. But, because of my experience, my specialist has told me to simply not get the booster shot.   I will seek confirmation of this advice with my family doctor within the next few days.

Not getting the booster, I will admit, makes me feel a little more vulnerable to the nasty Omicron that is making itself too much at home in the country, and in my Province of Ontario where today it was announced there are more than 13,000 new cases.

I was hoping, and continue to hope, that the Age Friendly Shopping Service will be reinstated here in our small City of Elliot Lake.   We are still considered a retirement town and I know that many seniors and other vulnerable citizens benefited from the service in the past.   As numbers climb daily, to me, it makes sense to take all possible preventative steps.  

It will soon be 2022.  I haven't really considered making any New Year's Resolutions however I will, as I have done for many past New Years, follow the advice of my late Scottish mother-in-law who taught me to "start the way you mean to go on".     

For me, this means to ensure that the home is clean, the cupboards organized, lots of food in the fridge, and bills paid in full.   

Unfortunately, due to crazily rising covid numbers, I will be starting 2022 in semi-isolation.   I will avoid groups, socialize within my bubble, and find activities to keep body, mind, and spirit alive and well.

I have interesting writing projects; my art table all set up; an autoharp waiting for me to play; Udemy courses to complete; and SingSnap to muddle through.   My only room-mate, Lila, actually likes my singing. 



Princess Delilah (Lila)
 

2021 has been an interesting year and it is my sincere hope & prayer that 2022 will bring about the end of  the pandemic.  The past couple of years have been challenging for everyone.   I remind myself that this, too, shall pass.

I sincerely wish all my family and friends peace, health, prosperity, and gratitude in the coming year.   Thank you for walking with me as we continue the journey throughout 2022.

Happy New Year!












Monday, December 20, 2021

STRUGGLE - To Reach The Bridge of Light -- Free Christmas Eve & Christmas Day, 2021 (Kindle Edition)

 On December 24th and December 25th, my latest novel titled 'Struggle - to reach the bridge of light' will be free in the Kindle Store.

https://www.amazon.ca/STRUGGLE-Reach-Bridge-Audrey-Austin/dp/B08YHYVB2D/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Audrey+Austin&qid=1640012119&s=books&sr=1-1

This is my Christmas gift to my readers. Thank you all for your continued support of my creative writing efforts.
Merry Christmas to all! 🙂 ❤



Friday, December 17, 2021

INVITATION To Be Your Own Light

I'd like to share with you these words that I put together a few years ago.

We are living in transformational times.  Sometimes we allow the fast pace, uncertain economic environment, and rapid technological advances in our world to create stress in our lives.

It is good to remember that we are not strangers on the path.

As we advance through the darkness of winter we will, as the ancients before us, carry the light within.

As the Hindu celebrates Deepavali (Diwali), Festival of Lights; as the Christian celebrates Christmas remembering that Jesus said, "I am the light"; as the Buddhist is reassured by the words of Buddha, "Be your own light"; as the Jewish celebrate Chanuka with the lighting of the candles; the wisdom of the ancients teaches us always to let our light shine.

But sometimes we feel afraid, in the dark, in the shadow.  This, too, is part of the human experience.  And sometimes when we are  most in need of the light we forget where to find it.

We all know that it is easier to see the light in a dark room but when we do find ourselves in a dark room, we worry, we fret, we experience stress and fear.  We will search everywhere outside of ourselves for the switch that will brighten the room and disperse the shadows.

I invite you, instead, to look within for the precious light that is always there in the stillness even on the darkest and coldest of winter nights.

"What else shall beautify a home but the flame of a lovely lamp.  What else shall adorn the mind but the Light of wisdom deep."
  

Monday, December 6, 2021

ATTITUDE

I came across this while organizing some files this morning. Attitude There once was a woman who woke up one morning looked in the mirror and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. Well, she said, I think I'll braid my hair today. So she did and she had a wonderful day. The next day she woke up looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. Hmm, she said. I think I'll part my hair down the middle today. So she did and she had a grand day. The next day she woke up looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. Well, she said, today I'm going to wear my hair in a ponytail. So she did and she had a fun, fun day. The next day she woke up looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. Yea! she exclaimed. I don't have to fix my hair today. Attitude is everything.