#70 Doctors And Choices
On A Different Note…
Every minute of every day we make a choice.
We can live that minute as a ray of sunshine or as a cloud.
(Well, we can also devolve into a puddle of goo but more about that later.)
There are really only three emotional directions available to us in any situation – up, down, or sideways.
The truth of our existence is that both good and bad things happen to us all the time and we cannot control that.
I know people who waste so much energy trying to control that. As if it’s just a matter of “living right” to avoid anything bad happening to them.
I guess I have reached a place where I feel the best use of my energy is to move through life optimistically and cheerfully rather than defensively.
I don’t always succeed at this. Sometimes my first reaction to bad news or setbacks is to completely fall apart. That “devolving into a puddle of goo” thing.
But I’ve gotten better at picking myself up quickly and moving forward emotionally.
More importantly, I’ve become better at sending that optimistic spirit to others rather than compounding their negative situation by my own negative reinforcement.
And that’s really the heart of this particular poem.
It isn’t just about my own mental health.
We all play a role in the mental health of others.
And we can choose.
We can be a cloud.
Or we can shine with kindness and optimism and helpfulness.
And even sometimes, with irreverent humor.
Because really, all we have is each other.
Copyright© 2024 Anne Morse Hambrock All rights reserved.
Speaking Of Spreading Sunshine
I have to take a minute and plug another substack - it’s on my recommendations page all the time anyway but I’ve been enjoying it so much that I personally want to encourage you to check it out.
If you are any kind of a foodie this substack is for you. The posts are long but so informative and well written and interesting that the length of the material never feels like a problem to me. Jamie not only digs deep into the history of French cooking and baking, she includes great recipes.
The current one is a fascinating look at “Croque Monsieur” or fancy grilled cheese. It’s so good I want one right now!
Check it out here! “Life’s A Feast” By Jamie Schler
Book Clearance Sale!
My first book collection has been through a few changes since its initial publication in 2018. (It turns out this is nothing unusual - publishers and authors change titles and covers all the time to shake up more sales.)
Long time readers will be aware that the first version was titled “Conversations With The Infinite” and featured the door knocker poem on the cover. Then someone (OK it was me) felt maybe we should lean into the “God” side of things so the second title and cover were the one pictured above.
It turns out adding “God” to the title put me on the radar of some folks who definitely did NOT see the humor in what I was doing and went so far as to label me a blasphemer. On social media and Amazon no less.
Which is how we got to the title “Some Days Call For Chocolate and other pick-me-up poems”.
The material in the books did not change in any substantial way other than the cover, the title and the author’s note.
I still have about 20 copies of the second cover (pictured above) and, now that a few boxes of the newest collection have arrived, I need to free up some storage space.
So I’m giving you, my loyal Substack readers a nice opportunity to grab a couple copies at the bargain basement price of $8 per copy plus shipping.
The store link is here - when they are gone they are gone.
And while you are there, you can, of course, pick up a copy of the new book which is definitely NEW material.
Keep The Messages And Comments Coming!
A big “thank you” to all of you who have messaged me commented or hit “like” after reading my poems and commentary!
I appreciate the feedback and knowing how often I have struck a chord with your lives.
The Grapes That Didn’t. Until They Did.
Many years ago we planted grapes next to the house. We knew they take a while to establish.
So we waited.
And waited.
For YEARS.
We decided maybe they were in the wrongs spot so we moved some of them over to the pergola. Because, you know, every pergola should really be covered in grape vines anyway.
The vines did their “viny” thing and grew and grew and covered the structure but nary a grape in sight.
Until this year.
This year there are bunches of grapes EVERYWHERE.
If you look you will see that the vines are now spreading up over 30 feet into this tree.
The birds are getting those :-)
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