Sara, a Canadian Saga

 https://www.amazon.ca/SARA.../dp/B00H0H33JG/ref=sr_1_1...

And the first shall be last! Sara, a Canadian Saga, apart from a few articles and short stories, is my very first important publication. Sara is my first novel published by Wynterblue Publishing Company. This post about Sara shall be my last post about my publications in 2023. Sara received many positive reviews and, because of Sara's success, I have continued to write creatively over several years.

If you haven't read Sara, a Canadian Saga yet, then I do hope you will order a copy. Sara is available in Kindle, Paperback and Audiobook formats exclusively on all Amazon sites.

The time is 1916. Sara is a 10 year old girl in rural Prince Edward Island. Roy is a 10 year old boy in mining town, Nova Scotia. Through their eyes we see, feel and experience their childhood challenges. We follow them through adolescence and their turbulent teen years. We celebrate their courtship and suffer their lost innocence in the wedding ritual. They take us through the Great Depression and share with us the frustrations, dreams and challenges they face in adulthood. As parents they introduce us to their children. This story appeals to all ages because Sara and Roy hold up a mirror and ask the reader to recognize truth about the human condition for many Canadian families through difficult economic times. We witness love that does not come neatly wrapped and experience the quiet, sometimes desperate, drama of lives unfolding.

Some of the many positive reviews received by SARA:

Top reviews from Canada

Rhonda Woodworth-Tardif

4.0 out of 5 stars A very real story

Reviewed in Canada on August 26, 2014

Verified Purchase

Sara, A Canadian Saga is a poignant story about life during the depression on Prince Edward Island, Canada. One feels the hopes and dreams, and also the disappointments of Roy and Sara. I found the story to be so real I wanted to give Roy a shaking for his temper tantrums and Sara for acting like her mother. Their love, through all their trials, was refreshing. The author didn't tell you they still loved one another, but showed it, which takes some skill. It's not an exciting, edge of your seat kind of story, but a story about people who seem so real they could be your mother or sister. People who do ordinary, stupid things. I found myself wishing that Rebecca could have seen the good things in her life before they were gone, but understanding how the same thing happens to so many people. The author does a great job of creating very real characters. I liked the story.

Nadia E. Toski

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!

Reviewed in Canada on March 21, 2014

Verified Purchase

So enjoyed reading this book! Very well written! My first time reading Audrey Austin's books and will definitely read more of them!

Top reviews from other countries

Barbara Mojica

4.0 out of 5 stars STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2014

Verified Purchase

This novel of historical fiction begins in the maritime provinces in Canada in 1916. It features two protagonists Sara and Roy, who are both age ten at the time. The reader experiences their struggles as children determined to succeed in troubled families whose lives are complicated further by the Depression years. Roy vows to “make something of himself”: Sara works hard to be an independent woman able to support herself.

When Sara and Roy meet and fall in love, circumstances will force them into the same unhappy lives that plagued their parents. Sara’s father is broken by the loss of his business; Luke loses his mother and detests his father’s remarriage. After Roy and Sara marry, the economy will turn sour, Luke loses one job after another. Sara gives up her good secretarial job to follow Luke. Not long after children are born who turn out to be much like their bickering parents. Eventually, Sara and Roy will be separated as he is forced to move to the city of Toronto to find employment. Finally things seem to be improving economically, but their personal struggles intensify.

Despite the turmoil, their family seems to be able to overcome one obstacle after the other. Luke and Sara both have conflicting personalities which are mirrored in their offspring, yet the family always manages to survive, The novel ends in 1942 with Sara rediscovering her childhood journal and reflecting upon her life.

I enjoyed learning about the history of Canada during this time period. The characters are well developed and true to life. This novel is a wonderful coming of age book for children age twelve and older. It is realistic family fiction that is an engaging quick read. If you enjoy historical fiction with strong compelling characters, this book is a good choice.

Michelle cooper

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

This is a superb book,the story of Sara and Roy is told so beautifully,I thoroughly enjoyed their story through their courtship.to adulthood,it was nice to read,and couldn't put it down at times,Audrey has become one of my favorite authors,and I have already downloaded a couple of freebies of hers today and will be using my Prime library to download one each month in the future,well done for an excellent read.

Visit my Amazon author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

My Books on Goodreads

 https://www.goodreads.com/search?page=1&q=Audrey+Austin+&qid=K2I2CvOkrN&tab=books

Setting a Goal for 2024

Another Christmas is over.  And we look ahead to a new year.  

I also look ahead to a new year and pray that it will be a better one for our world than the one we are currently sharing.   For too many of our neighbours, the gifts received during 2023 are hunger, poverty, illness, violence, hatred and war.  

Yes, there are pockets of light in this dark world.  We all need to let our light shine.

Setting a goal for the new year is always a good idea.   Mine is to write THE Great Canadian Novel.  I have my idea.  I've begun my research and I plan to have my 26th publication available before Christmas of 2024.  I don't have a title yet.  Once I do, I'll let you know.

If setting a goal is too big a challenge in these difficult times, then having a direction is a good place to start.   Take the first step and then the next.  If there is the occasional backward step, that's okay.  It's okay because you have your direction firmly in your mind and sometimes, surprisingly, what seems like a backward step is a necessity allowing you to see greater possibilities.

Despite personal losses, periods of illness, moments of indecision, 2023 has been good to me.  I hope it has been good to you too.

I wish my readers all good things coming your way in 2024.  Most of all, I wish you peace and love - just like the hippies back in the sixties.    Loving one another!  What a victory that would be for our world!  To love our neighbour as we love ourselves sounds like a simple matter, doesn't it?

But most of us have learned the lesson.  We have learned that it is not always easy to be simple.

To my fellow authors, keep that ink flowing!  Don't be discouraged.  Take the first step.  Set your writing goal for 2024.

One of my favourite movies from back in the nineties, is The City of Joy.   I think of Hasari's father who said to his son,  "Remember, a man's journey to the end of his obligations is a very long road.  It may not be what you expect." 

When we set a goal, choose a direction, take the first step, we are demonstrating intention.   

Having said that, I immediately think of my dear mother who often shared the cliche, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Still we take the steps.   Set your goal.  Choose your direction.  Mostly, I wish you peace as we look ahead with hope to a new year.

MORE POartRY and PROSE

 I am very excited to announce my new release exclusively on Amazon.  MORE POartRY and PROSE  is now available in both Paperback and Kindle formats.

In this book I celebrate the trinity of creative writing, painting, and poetry.    The second book in a series, MORE POartRY and PROSE joins POartRY and PROSE for your reading and viewing pleasure.

Although these books come in both Kindle and Paperback formats I recommend you choose the Paperback to enjoy the artwork in colour.  Kindle is okay but the paintings are presented in only black and white.

I hope you will enjoy both books and thank you to my readers for your continued encouragement and support.   

My author's page is found at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1979092613/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ETP5CYTQ8V0Y&keywords=Audrey+Austin&qid=1703204371&s=books&sprefix=audrey+austin%2Cstripbooks%2C118&sr=1-5

Life is good and life goes on..........

 My dear sister, Eleanor, passed away this morning, December 17, 2023.   I'm one of six siblings.  My elder brother, Ken, passed away in 2017.  My lovely sister, Muriel, passed away in 2005.   My husband, John, father of my children, died fairly recently.  My dear Brian passed away August 29, 2017.   My mother made her transition in 1990 and I was just a child of thirteen when my father died.

I have also lost grandparents, mother-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, many dear friends and many precious pets who have passed away.

I am well acquainted with grief and loss.  There are many beautiful people I have been blessed to know and love.

Still, I believe that life is good and life goes on.

I believe in life after death - life everlasting.   

Very recently I was quite ill with covid which, combined with COPD, gave me a very nasty month to endure.  At one point prior to my trip to our local hospital's emergency department I seriously thought that perhaps it was my time to leave.    Thankfully, I have survived.

I've always said that I am unafraid of death but I do fear pain and suffering.  I know that fear is the opposite to love.  I am trying to release myself from that fear because, for most humans, pain and suffering is the inevitable introduction to death.  

Once we die, we are alive again, and we are able to leave all pain and suffering behind as we continue our life adventure.

I loved my dear sister and I have loved many who have passed.  My love for them is alive and well.

Rest in peace, dear Eleanor.  May you be peacefully reunited with all those you have loved who have passed before you.  Life is good and life goes on.  xoxoxox

Covid

Today is Saturday, December 9, 2023.  Here in Elliot Lake, it is a mild but rainy day.  

Thankfully, my covid experience is on its way out.   Symptoms like a cough, shortness of breath, and tiredness remain but each day I am feeling a little more like my healthier self.

Covid has given me a most undesirable, sometimes frightening, month.  At one point, when I could not catch a breath, I was most grateful to my grandson who wasted no time getting me into the emergency department of our local hospital.

My underlying COPD condition assisted the nasty covid to do its best to stop me in my tracks.   I truly thought maybe it was time for me to exit the planet.

Believing transition was a good possibility, my biggest concern was my little cat, Misty.  Who would care for her?  Who would love her as she deserves to be loved?

Today I know I need to do one of two things.  I must outlive my adorable little Misty.  Or I must find someone willing to share their home with her should I need to leave.

I found no pleasure in feeling unmotivated to paint, to write, to cook, to clean, to do anything.   At the same time, I allowed myself to slip into the tiredness allowing it to be what it needed to be.  

I do not like to take medication but I am very grateful for that received.   Breathing became less a challenge in time.

Finally, I tested negative for covid.  I wish it on no one and I pray I will never experience it again.

I am living in a complex, complicated world.  It isn't always easy to remember to be in the world but not of the world.   But I try.  I'm told God loves a tryer and I know I must be found very trying.

I am an old lady, yet even this old lady can attest to the fact that life is very short.  Monday, Friday, Monday, Friday over many years, many events, many discouragements, many successes, many memories have come and have gone.  

I think of my friend, Jane, who asks why.  Why do we have war?  Why is there hunger?  Why can't we all just get along?    

When will we ever learn?   Never?  Too much time is squandered.

The most wise man said, "love one another".   It sounds like a simple thing to do.  But, I guess, it's not always easy to be simple.

In this world of darkness please keep your light shining.  

Sing your songs, paint your pictures, write your stories, love your neighbour, and take good care of yourself and those you love.

Trust the power of love, the power of one.   Do your best!  That, I guess, is all any one of us can do.

And, since this is my books' blog, thanks for buying a book or two.  

Thanks for listening.  

Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy

 Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy has received many positive reviews.  Let me 

share one of them with you.

A review by Alan Black

5.0 out of 5 stars Tragic and compelling

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2014

Verified Purchase

Austin has written a not so simple story, weaving the lives of multiple residents on 

Moose Road around one tragic accident that leaves no one on the road or in the nearby

Northern Ontario Canada town untouched. The subplots tug at our desire to comfort 

some residents of this town with a hug and those same subplots yank at our exasperation

 switch yelling at us to slap sense into some of these same people. The main story cries

 for our attention and gets it.

Austin is able to show us one tragedy from every point of view except the moose. The

characters are so real that I wonder what Austin's neighbors thought about having their

secret lives dragged into the public view. I started this book just to have something to 

read in between my own chores. However... to heck with the chores, I finished the book

 in one sitting.

Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy is available exclusively on Amazon in both 

Kindle and Paperback formats.  It is also available as an audiobook on Amazon, 

Audibles, and ITunes for your listening pleasure.

Thanks for visiting my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin   

Audio Book Cover

Paperback Cover

My friend Kathleen Burke's Book Launch

 

My 24 paperback publications

 

These are the very first copies of my 24 paperback publications exclusively on Amazon.

Please check out my books at my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 

POartRY and PROSE

 Creative Writing is my passion. Creating paintings with oil or acrylic paints is also my passion. POartRY and PROSE is the marriage of the two.

To create POartRY and PROSE, I began by posting the photos of some of the many paintings I have created. Then, beginning with the first painting, I looked at it before simply allowing words to flow.

With regard to the cover painting these were my feelings. As the river disappears behind the mountain, I feel the urge to follow it. I want to know what lies behind the mountain.

As I filled these pages with words, I had no idea what I would be thinking about, writing about, praying about. I had no agenda. I simply followed the river of photos of my paintings.

When the river flowed behind the mountain of another page, I hung onto the urge, and I followed it.

When I was faced with another painting, I was faced with a decision. What shall I write? Will I write a poem? Will I write prose?

This manuscript has been a writing adventure. I had no idea what I would write until I began writing.

And how does this creation of a manuscript differ from the way I live, and have lived, and will live my life?

I am open to life. I am prepared to meet whatever it may offer. I wish you, my readers, the same.

And now I continue this writing adventure. I'm just over 10,000 words written in the second book of the POartRY series. Its title is MORE POartRY and PROSE.

I hope to have this book ready to join its sister in time for Christmas shopping on all Amazon sites.

Thanks for checking out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

The Man on the Bench

 This short story is free in the Kindle store for your reading enjoyment on Sunday, October 29th, 2023.  

Cover photo:  Kathleen Burke 

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Confidential Counseling

 

                            “CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELING”

 

    

“Empowering Table Talk for Women”

You may feel alone walking your path toward personal growth and spiritual development.  Talk, Experiential, or Art therapy, to name a few examples, may be just what you are seeking.

You may be on a journey of emotional healing.  You may be grieving losses, dealing with relationship issues, or any one of many personal issues.

You may want and need an opportunity to talk with someone about confidential matters.

Over the years, here in Elliot Lake, in addition to authoring books focused on social issues,  I have offered personal counseling, in addition to meditation circles and healing workshops. 

It has been my pleasure to facilitate classes and Empowerment Workshops for  Women on topics including “Emotional Healing”;  “Grieving our Losses”; “Relationship Issues”; “Is Age Just a Number?”; Meeting Your Inner Child”; “The 7 Major Chakras”;  “Letting Go”; and “Forgiveness” to name a few.

I am a retired psychospiritual practitioner but through Confidential Counseling I am offering  Empowering Table Talk for women one day per week. 

I am offering four individual one-hour sessions Thursdays, at 10 a.m., Noon; 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.

For more information or to book your appointment you can email me: audrey@persona.ca or you can message me on Facebook.

Let’s talk about it.  

THE LINEN CUPBOARD - Free this Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in the Kindle Store

 It is moving day; a most difficult time. Not only is she saying good-bye to the house but also to her mother. She feels okay though, keeping herself together, until she reaches the linen cupboard..

This Sunday, September 10, 2023, The Linen Cupboard, a short story, is FREE for your reading pleasure in the kindle store.

Top review from Canada

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories

Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

This story brought back many loving memories of my Grandmother and her house. I can even remember the linen closet.

https://www.amazon.ca/LINEN.../dp/B0182ON15Q/ref=sr_1_1...

Being Old

 I'm blessed to enjoy the companionship, love, and time shared with friends and family today.  

Although I've grown used to it, I am sometimes left to wonder why no one I know is older than me.  How on earth did this happen?

I have amazing happy memories of dear friends and family members who are no longer sharing the adventure of life on this planet.  I believe they are not far, and I hold them close to me in my memory, in my thoughts, and in my heart.

I also have very happy memories of time spent with other dear friends and family who, of necessity, have left my small town and are now living in other, usually larger, centres to be near to their children or other family members.

I miss these good people.

I miss the wonderful friendships and the gift of their support of my writing adventures.   I miss the laughter, the closeness, the wonderful sharing within these strong friendships.  

There are still a very few of these dear, old friends who remain in touch through the internet.  I'm thinking of the lovely Shirley and the clever Lucy who loved to play with my long hair when she sat behind me in church.   I treasure my time spent with the very spiritual, caring Marleen.  And I'm thinking of the talented Goldie who worked so hard beside me as we prepared what has, so far, been the only Writers'  Festival in Elliot Lake.

But the sad reality is that the majority of my dear old friends are alive only in my fond memories.  

This is something that is not always easy to deal with as I continue to be old.   It is not always the easiest thing in the world to make new close friendships late in life.  It is not always a good feeling to know that no one is older than me.

How blessed I am that the wonderful younger people in my life share their time and include me in their activities.    How blessed I am that I am given the opportunity to enjoy my retirement; to stay busy and useful with my work; to enjoy my passions of painting and writing.  How blessed I am that my closest family members live nearby and are counted as my best friends.

Being old is a gift.   It has its own challenges and its own rewards.  

Since this blog is about my writing adventures, I guess it won't hurt to mention that I have not done a lot of creative writing about age and aging however I have done a little.  

The characters in  When God Gives Us Spring share their later years with a reader.   Sara is left alone after the too early death of her husband.  Ellen shares her memoirs from childhood to old age when she, sadly, endures Alzheimer Disease.  She even shares her personal death, ascension experience.

So the topic of being old has not been totally ignored in my creative writing.  Nor has it been ignored in my painting.  I am not a portrait painter.  I'm a wanna be portrait painter.   But I do attempt to paint people and some of them are far from young.

There is beauty in aging and I make my own attempt to not only paint it, but to live it.

Thanks for listening.  And thanks for buying a book or a painting from this old lady.  xoxox  https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Below are some of my paintings of others who, if not already there, are on their way to 'being old'.  :-)

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy

 Excerpt from: 

 Road, a Canadian Tragedy by Audrey Austin

Chapter One: SEVEN DWELL NEAR

 “Tell me a story, tell me a story, tell me a story and remember what you said.” Ever since that terrible day of the tragic accident each of the residents who live by my side has a tale to tell. Yes, everyone has a story and each story teller speaks his own truth. What I do find curious is the fact that no two stories are alike. Each is unique in its own way. I am of the opinion that truth is multi-sided and speaks from many hearts.

 A very long time ago I heard someone repeat the words of Winston Churchill who is purported to have said, “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Yes, indeed, there it is. Truth is multi-sided and it dares to speak from many hearts. I have been around for a very long time. I existed in this very location even before man decided to give me a name. I guess that makes me old and, that being the case, I confess I am very old. I was here before any person chose this place to build a home. 

 I have always thought I possessed a firm grasp on reality but since the day of the tragedy I am questioning for the first time the meaning and the impact of truth. I have more questions than answers. Is it possible that truth is, indeed, no more than one’s personal perception? Each individual’s truth, until shared, is locked in a sacred space in one’s memory. Memory does have its share of weakness. It can be faulty. As weeks turn into months memory is often tested.

 “Tell me a story and remember what you said. ”I find it very interesting that the residents of the seven farms impacted by the tragedy each retain a different personal memory of the accident and its aftermath. Although I am well aware that it would not occur to any ordinary human that an old long-travelled country road could possibly have the capacity to remember, I can assure you that I do. Yes, indeed, I do have a memory. Even though I am very old it remains a good one. I do remember well. 

Some thoughts give me reason to smile while other memories I would prefer to forget. I have learned that the more painful memories are the most stubborn; the least likely to be forgotten and the most likely to be remembered. Even when a human believes he has managed to bury a painful memory he has not. That remembrance will pop up like a jack-in-the-box. It will present itself at the most odd and unexpected of times and sometimes even in the form of a recurrent dream. 

Of course, I am not a human. I can assure you that I am a no nonsense road; plain, practical and from my very first appearance on earth many generations ago I have made it my focused mission to do my duty and fulfill my purpose as I see fit. I have always taken great pride in my existence and to this very day I do my best to serve those who choose to travel upon my surface. Unlike humans who are, I have learned, sometimes very superficial creatures, I am not shallow. I don’t blame the travelers for being unable to see beneath my surface. But I assure you I am not just the visible thin layer of gravel you might observe at first glance. I do have substance. 

Yes, I am old now. I have been here in this spot in northern Ontario, Canada for many interesting and enduring lifetimes. Although I am a road less travelled I am still in pretty good shape. I expect I’ll be here for a few more generations. I can see no good reason why I should not continue to be here. I have never existed anywhere else on this earth and this is my home.

• Best Sellers Rank: 
  • #51 in Canadian Drama
  • #62 in Canadian Dramas
  • #166 in Canadian Dramas & Plays

Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy is available in Kindle, Paperback, and Audiobook formats.

Visit my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Who is this author, Audrey Austin?

 

Audrey Austin, Aug. 1, 2023

Audrey Austin’s books demonstrate an eclectic vision.  She has written primarily fiction novels in the historical, sci fi, romance, mystery, and metaphysical genres, as well as novellas, poetry, personal growth manuals, plays, anthologies, and short stories focused on social issues which dare to stand alone. 

A prolific writer, she currently shares 77 publicatiions on all Amazon sites.

A retired psychospiritual practitioner, her hobbies include painting in oils or acrylic media but her true passion is creative writing.

She lives and works in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada with her little twelve-year-old cat, Misty.   She and Misty share their comfortable apartment.  During the summer season they also share their ‘tiny house’ in South Bay.

Her many publications are available exclusively on all Amazon sites.  Visit her blog at https://writecreatively.blogspot.com        And check out her Amazon author’s page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Austin’s work is also found in Penpourri; an anthology of short stories published by Elliot Lake Writers; in poetry anthologies published by The Ontario Poetry Society; in poetry anthologies published by White Mountain Publications; and in short story anthologies published by Wynterblue Publishing Company.

Austin's current work in progress is titled MORE POartRY and  PROSE  with anticipated release date in the fall of 2023.

The bold print, and the line spacing chosen for Austin's manuscripts are in response to requests from readers who, like the author, are visually challenged.

THE OBSERVER - His Eye is on the Sparrow

 THE OBSERVER – His Eye is on the Sparrow is a story told by three generations of women; Karina, Anna, and Karen. I was privileged to meet these women throughout my NaNoWriMo writing experience in November of 2019. Three women, yet two souls, share their experiences. The story begins with Karina in Bangalore, India. She makes the challenging move to Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada and is overjoyed when her daughter, Anna is born. Time passes and sadly, Karina dies. Three days after Karina’s death, Anna’s daughter, Karen is born. Anna realizes that Karen is her grandmother all over again. Is this possible? Certainly, Karen believes that it is.These three women bless us with their understanding, knowledge, and experience of the Christian and the Hindu religions. Each woman lives her own separate life; has her own personal struggles; yet family patterns repeat. Karen’s search for authenticity enriches the story and, yes, a beautiful love story is woven throughout the pages.

I currently have 3 copies of The Observer here at home. They are $20 a copy. Please message me if you would like one. Sorry, I can't deliver but, if interested, we can arrange a time for pick up.

Also available on all Amazon sites. https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

An Interesting Life

 I have been blessed with an interesting life.   My life choices are evidence of the truth in the old saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss".

From the earliest hours of my life, material possessions have come and gone; come and gone; and come and gone often enough to teach me that, although some material possessions are necessary, they, alone, do not provide the assurance of happiness.  

I have learned that happiness is elusive.   It is not a permanent fixture in life but one that is appreciated when it visits.

I can't recall when I stopped striving for happiness.  Perhaps this decision was made after I finally realized that it cannot be found in material goods.  After I became aware that happiness cannot be found in anything, or in anyone, outside of myself.   

I am not sure when I realized that another cannot make me happy.   I am not sure when I realized that I was not responsible for another person's happiness.  But this knowledge was gained long ago and I gratefully accepted the learning.

At some point along life's road, I discovered that expectation was often the killer of the happiness I was seeking.    I learned that the less I expected of others, and the more I expected of myself, the more contented I simply felt.  

Reducing, with the goal of eliminating, expectation, I learned that my journey was becoming more peaceful.   I learned that reducing expectation also reduced disappointment.

Once I became aware of this knowledge, I found that the trick, for me, was to accept the truth of this awareness.  It was not easy, for me, to reduce expectation of others.   In fact, this is something I still work on, but the longer I live, the easier this challenge becomes.

With clients, I often share the equation taught to me years ago in college.  "Awareness plus acceptance plus action equals change."    This is an equation I, personally, have taken very seriously.

The awareness of my reliance on expectation of others to validate myself, once accepted, offered me a gift of freedom.   I was free to let expectation leave me.  It was no longer welcome as a need within me.  

Without expectation, I have the opportunity to learn to simply let go.   

This action of letting go allows me to cease expecting the actions of others to have deep impact on my inner peace.    

This, for me, is not a one-time, cut and dried decision which has permanently eliminated expectation from my being.    Instead, it is a process; a process of letting go, of knowing I am okay, of knowing that my authentic self is strong; physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Expectation is a stubborn aspect of human existence.

It can be a challenge to let expectation go, but, with time and with love, it is a challenge that can be met.

Releasing expectation results in the gift of less disappointment along with the gifts of greater gratitude and appreciation.

I continue to live an interesting life of learning.  Life is good and life goes on.  

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Confidential Counseling

 In case the printing on the diploma is not large enough, the modalities I've studied and services I offer through Confidential Counseling can include Focusing; Guided Imagery; Inner Child Work; Voice Dialoguing/Sub Personalities; Experiential Psychotherapy; Family Sculpting; Chakra Psychotherapy; Energetic Work; Group Dynamics; Dream Work; Addictions; Sexual Abuse; Body Psychotherapy; Intuition; along with talk therapy which is what most seem to prefer in 'Table Talk' currently offered weekly through Confidential Counseling. For further info or to book your appointment, please message me.

I have written several short stories and novels based on social issues and emotional/spiritual healing.  Please check out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin 

For those interested in chakra healing - Keeping it Simple