The Struggles Are Real

Photo by Sergey Zolkin on Unsplash

When a story doesn’t unfold in my brain, it’s a struggle to get it down on paper–or, rather, in ones and zeros. I’m having this issue with Lady Zepherine’s story. She is reluctant to tell her story, and I am having a difficult time writing it. Difficult is putting it mildly. It’s like hammering dull nails into an oak board with a sponge. Yes, that’s impossible.

The hard thing is not writing her story. But I feel like it’s a tortured mess. That’s what editing is for, right?

It’s also tough because parts of her story are so personal to me. Diving into my memories, and interacting with the mean girls and bullies who live there, makes me sad. I wish I had the knowledge that I have now, back then, so I could stand up to them and defend myself instead of ‘taking it’ like I did.

Even now, I try to take the high road and not get pulled down into what I consider trite arguments. The unfortunate side of that is the number of people (who I though were friends) believing the liar and rumor-spreader.

Aren’t you glad that it exposed your false friends? Yes, but it makes for loneliness, too. I wish they had taken the time to find the truth rather than believing the person who had no issues dragging my name through the mud. I hope I haven’t made the same mistake.

I hope I am the friend I wish to be. Sonja

Still Recovering…

Photo by Matt Chen on Unsplash

While I continued to wear a spiffy blue cast on my lower arm, I imagine it actually looks like this. I’m charmed by this photo.

Plus, I am writing about Lady Zepherine in the fourth installment of The Fairies of Carlow. Her namesake rose isn’t such a light pink but is equally beautiful. It’s a more cerise pink, maybe a medium dusty pink, so she makes a statement when she enters a room! There’s no blending in for someone wearing a cerise pink gown.

While I’m unable to write without sending pain throughout my hand and wrist, I am busy plotting in my head. My notebook is filled with ideas (my right hand, my handwriting hand, is fully capable!) and I’m starting to form another novel under a different author’s name.

The next Guinness the Therapy Dog book is also close to being sent to the illustrator.

Exciting stuff, huh?!?!?

I hope your week is filled with success, too. Sonja

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