Wisdom and Advice

Even after children are grown and ready to leave home, they will still look to their fathers for wisdom and advice. Fathers continue to play an essential part in the lives of their children as they grow, and perhaps, marry and build their own families ~ The national Fatherhood Initiative

With Father's Day later this month, today's quote is focused on fathers, but I think the same thing can be said of mothers.  When you're working on a dream journey, this parental advice can take many shapes and forms.  Remember, parental advice doesn't always come from someone older than yourself.

Who are your mentors, male or female?  Mother's Day is a great time to reach out to your female mentors and Father's Day is a great time to reach out and thank male mentors. 

Which male mentors do you have to thank this year?

Become a Person of Value

Being successful is easy. Being respected and appreciated is special. Rather than becoming a person of success, become a person of value ~ Ed and Deb Shapiro

Do you truly understand the value of what your dream journey brings?  It's my opinion that the best dream journeys bring value not only to yourself, but to others as well.

When I was in direct sales, that value was bringing valuable products and services to the masses.  For some, that was also offering a career that could provide a few extra dollars a month or replace income from a traditional job.

Now that I'm a writer, I have similar goals.  Although I enjoy writing and just write some of the stories I'd like to read, the bigger goal is educate, entertain, and inspire.  I hope that my work inspires others to reach their goals.  I hope my work educates on the realities of LGBT issues.  I've written before that it's hard in the current political climate for any writing to not have some undercurrent of equal rights.

How does your dream journey benefit others, directly or indirectly?

Respect and Peace

When we respect everyone around us, we are in peace with everybody around us ~ Don Miguel Ruiz

Are you meeting some new people along your dream journey? I've met many new people, both online and in person.  And respect is deserved by all.

No matter what your dream journey, there will be people along the way that you meet that might rub you the wrong way at first.  But if you stick in there and look for the good in all people, I'm sure you'll understand and respect them more.

Who have you met lately that took some time to understand? 

Cover Art Reveal

Pinch me!  Am I dreaming?

Here is the cover art for A Place to Call Their Own.  Earlier this week, I submitted the manuscript one last time for line editing.  Things are well on their way for a July 5th release.

I have a signed contract, I have weekly contact with my editor, I have daily contact with other authors at Musa Publishing.  And sometimes I still can't believe I am just 30 days away from being a published author.

Thank you for sharing this moment with me today.  If you're already published, you know how I feel.  If you're not a writer, but pursuing some other dream journey, I am sure there are stepping stone achievements you can remember. 

Don't you think they did a great job on my cover??

Your Greatest Strength

When I walk into a boardroom or stand before an audience or just move through the world, I bring all my history with me--all the the people who paved the way for me are part of who I am. I take my greatest strength from their strength ~ Oprah Winfrey

Where do you get your greatest strength? Maybe it's from your dream journey community. That's where I get a lot of my strength. I love following fellow writers on Facebook and Twitter and seeing them reach their daily goals.

I'm also finding strength from my writing group. I belong to a group of six other beginning writers who critique each others work on a weekly basis.  Each of my partners has a different strength in their writing and suggestions.  As I rewrite Disappear with Me in preparation for submission, I hear their individual suggestions in my head.  All their suggestions strengthening my writing.

Who do you gather strength from on your dream journey?

Life

Life does not come with instructions on how to live, but it does come with trees, sunsets, smiles, and laughter, so enjoy your day ~ Ed and Deb Shapiro

I hope you're enjoying the weekend. If you're caught up on your dream journey, maybe you can relax today.  I worked double hard yesterday so I could do just that today.

But if not, maybe you can work it in. Some of my best weekends have been those that I was not only productive in my writing but also had plenty of time to relax and have fun.

What are you doing this weekend?

Peace of Mind

Peace of mind is ultimately achieved only when the characters opt out of active emotional involvement in life and accept the fate they have been given ~ James Higgins