Thoughtful Thursday - The Overtoun Bridge Mystery

Photo courtesy of Allan Ogg Creative Commons License 

Overtoun Bridge, an arched bridge near the village of Dumbarton in the Scottish Lowlands, has gained quite a bit of media attention. Over the past 60 years, the crumbling stonework has seen more than 600 dogs taking a 50 foot plunge, with many of them meeting an untimely end at the bottom. All of the deaths have occurred at virtually the same spot, between the final two parapets on the right-hand side.

Rumors have long circulated that the bridge and the nearby Overtoun House are haunted, with the spectres said to be responsible for influencing the living. In 1994, a local man threw his baby son off the bridge, claiming the child was the anti-Christ. Shortly after, he tried to end his own life with an unsuccessful suicide attempt from the same bridge. In Celtic mythology, Overtoun was known as 'the thin place' - an area in which the veil between heaven and earth could easily be passed.

Animal experts have conducted experiments as to why dogs would be jumping to their deaths. Their conclusion? The musky smell from mink living under the bridge was the culprit. For those who are not satisfied with that explanation, you are not alone. Dogs who survived the jump didn't run off to catch those minks--they ran back to jump off the bridge again. 

The bridge now has a warning: "Pet owners should only walk their pets at Overtoun with extreme caution. Dogs should be leashed, leash-trained and under the control of an adult."

The mystery continues.

Thoughtful Thursday: You Don't Need to Write Like Shakespeare to Leave a Book Review

Authors LIVE for book reviews. I don't think our readers know how important they are to us. Reviews get our books noticed. They keep our spirits afloat on those dark days when we feel like quitting. They're just...nice. So why do authors struggle to get them? Especially indie or small press authors. Our books sell, people seem to like them. Why doesn't that translate to hundreds of awesome book reviews? I asked a pool of readers and got the same answer. They didn't feel clever enough to write a review.

Huh???

That surprised me.. Authors don't need much, I swear. A couple of stars. A short, "I liked this book because..." It doesn't need to be an essay. Something like this:

"I liked this book because it was scary and kept me up at night."
"I liked this book because I couldn't put it down, I had to see how it ended."
"I liked this book because the characters were awesome."
"I liked this book because it had a pretty cover."

See? Painless. And it takes less than a minute. So, go on. Review a book you liked. You'll make an author's day.

If you're so inclined, here's the link to my Author Page on Amazon. If you've read any of my books, please leave a review! You'd make my day. 

Thoughtful Thursday - Mental Illness or #Paranormal?

Photo courtesy of Ivana Vasilj via Flickr

The idea for my latest release, VOICES came to me while perusing a paranormal chat forum. Members were discussing the topic of hearing ghosts--not just the occasional bump in the night, but actual voices of the departed. The general feeling was a reluctance to tell others of their experiences because they didn’t want to be thought of as “crazy” or “schizophrenic.” On a lark, I decided to look up a support forum for those struggling with schizophrenia; specifically, those who reported voices. The two forums had some interesting similarities.

Now, in NO way am I suggesting that mental health issues and paranormal experiences are one and the same. Mental health issues exist and can be treated with counseling, and in some cases, medication. Paranormal experiences, on the other hand, pretty much stick around until the spirit decides to move on. So, how does one differentiate between the two? I’m not a psychiatrist, so I won’t try to answer that question. However, I did notice one major difference between the two forums in regards to hearing voices. Those struggling with schizophrenia reported the voices said negative things (ie. you’re worthless, everyone hates you, etc.) or told them to do negative things. Those on the paranormal chat board, reported more incidents of disembodied voices conveying messages and random things.

I watched the boards for about a week while my writer brain percolated a story idea. What would happen if a person confessed to hearing voices and was committed to a mental hospital when, in fact, they were the true voices of ghosts? I found the idea interesting and ran with it. 

Intrigued? You can pick up a copy of VOICES via:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
KOBO
Smashwords

Thoughtful Thursday - Sex, Lies...and Facebook

I may be guilty of not enough coffee this morning but...

Please stop sharing ridiculous things on Facebook. You know what I'm talking about.

"Vaccinated Children Five Times More Prone to Disease Than Unvaccinated Children!" 

"Semen Is 'Good for Women's Health and Helps Fight Depression!"

"Facebook removes amputee photos!"

"People in Denmark are paid twice as much as Americans! America sucks!" 

There's this little site called Snopes. There, you can look up story headlines before sharing so you don't look uninformed. It takes two seconds. Or better yet, JUST LOOK IT UP. Stop reflexively pressing that "Share" button. It's a trap for sharing hoaxes, scams, rumors, urban legends, embellished truths, and flat-out lies.

And as an aside, nobody needs to read bad news. Seriously, why would you share that?

Rant over. Coffee now.

Thoughtful Thursday - Out of the Mouths of Babes

Eloquent 3-year-old, Luiz Antonio

Thoughtful Thursday - And then...the bunnies came

Photo-Wildlife Rescue
One of the wild baby bunnies I helped rehab/release in 2011. 

We have bunnies in our neighborhood. Lots of them. Not that I mind, but it does make driving a challenge. Between the bunnies and the squirrels, I feel like I'm playing pole position when I drive. Do they do it on purpose? I'll be driving along, minding my own beeswax, when "pow!" a bunny will dash out in front of me like a fuzzy streak of lightning. If I have a cup of hot coffee, there's a lot of cursing involved. If I don't...yeah, there's still cursing. Because I like bunnies. I like bunnies alive and fluffy, not flat as a pancake. I have yet to accidentally hit one--if I did, I'd be traumatized. But I swear, they do it on purpose. Squirrels do the same but they do this spazzy indecisive thing that drives me bonkers. I'll see them hesitating, weighing their options. "Big 1000 pound car vs. 1 pound me. Do I risk it? Am I feeling lucky today? No. Why, yes I am! No, I'm not. Screw it, whoo!!!"
At which point I'll slam on my brakes, causing my dog's leashes in the back seat to be propelled at 20 mph into my head...and again, there is cursing involved.

Damn bunnies. Damn squirrels. I know you do it on purpose.

Thoughtful Thursday - Psychic Visions

"The Crystal Ball" by John William Waterhouse
Public Domain

Psychic visions are explained as those moments when physical and spiritual worlds cross paths. The term "psychic vision" is used as a broad explanation to describe three methods of divining information:

 
1) Visualization--seeing events, objects, persons and places in the spiritual realm instead of the physical world. 

2) Auditory--hearing voices or thoughts that impart knowledge and information that was otherwise unknown. 

3) Kinesthetic--obtaining information through movement or physical sensations. 

Within these methods are three classifications: clairvoyance, clairaudience and clairsentience. These classifications are commonly used to describe the different types of psychics and the way they receive their visions.

Clairvoyance refers to the ability to visually see the information. Apparitions appear and pass information to the receiver via images. Some clairvoyants don’t necessarily need a "helper" to pass the information but receive directly from a higher source.

A psychic who is clairaudient hears voices via spirit guides, angels or the higher self of an individual. A clairaudient may hear future or past events. 

A clairsentient may channel the emotions of a departed spirit, feel subtle changes in the immediate environment, and translate those feelings into information. They sense the information objectively.

Intrigued by the concept?

Check out FINDING GRACE by Rhea Rhodan

Sign up for Rhea's newsletter to enter her giveaway HERE

Two haunted souls seeking peace find each other instead

Kidnapped by human monsters, Grace Thorne was ripped from her quiet intellectual life and left deeply scarred. She’s hidden herself for five years, but there’s no escape from the nightmares of the past, or visions of the future. When one foretells tragedy, she gambles her fragile defenses on a haunted man to prevent it—only to discover love is the biggest risk of all.

Jack Daggery doesn’t need a mirror to know why people avoid him, not that he cares. After years working deep undercover, immersed in betrayal and death, all he wants is some peace and the quiet security company he co-owns.

Dagger has no idea why the foul-mouthed little server of questionable gender bothers him. But he does know that living with the ghosts of his past was hard enough without being tormented by the mysterious thorn in his side—or finding how much he needs her.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iBooks
Kobo

Thoughtful Thursday - Aerial Circus Arts and the Flying Trapeze

On my way to class 

I've been taking trapeze classes these past few months and absolutely love it. The series just ended and I'm considering enrolling again. It's a bit brutal at times (bruising) but I'm hooked. It's very similar to ballet in a lot of ways except I get to wear these nifty tights. 

We have high-ceilings in our living room and have installed an aerial hoop and silks for my daughter. She rarely uses the silks anymore, so I was considering replacing them with my own trapeze so I could practice. The carabiners and rigging are both there--all I need is the cotton ropes and trapeze bar. Easy enough.

Barry.com

Dance Trap​eze Bar, 3m Rope​s and Padd​ed Leather Prot​ector​s  

$600 CAD

TrapezeRigging.com 

Single Trapeze with 8 foot ropes 

$305

Bobby's Big Top Circus Equipment

Single trapeze with cotton rope
$595 plus $45 shipping

Nimble Arts

Single Trapeze, no ends

$350

 Photo courtesy of Barry.com 

Yes, I was rather floored myself. I use a three-point dance trapeze which looks like this. Seems simple enough. Cotton ropes reinforced with steel cable, padded leather protectors, steel bar. 

That will be $350-$640 please.

Did I mention we have the carabiners and rigging installed already? 

The search continues...

Thoughtful Thursday - The Day Pollen Stole My Life and 5 Simple Solutions

Photo courtesy of brookenovak via Flickr

Evil pollen. There. I said it. I love trees as much as the next sucker person, but this spring, I've had enough. Last week, I was a useless mess. Running sucked. Ballet sucked. Writing sucked. My sinuses had never been so unhappy and everything took super-human effort. Okay, enough whining.

This week, I've found a sorta-kinda solution: Claritin with a 1/2 shot of nasal spray. Soooo, Claritin makes me jittery. Like, really jittery. No coffee needed because (hooray!) I have Clariton to keep me awake. And because of the dreaded "rebound effect," I can't use the nasal spray for more than 3 days. What's an author to do?

Here are my five simple solutions to spring allergies. Let me know if they work for you.

1) Move to Antarctica I've never considered moving south, but I hear the penguins are lovely this time of year. And with 0 permanent residents, I can't go wrong. I'll have enough quiet time to churn out novel after novel.

2) Hermetically Seal Myself from Head-to-Toe Amazon sells a vacuum sealing system for a mere $69.50. Of course, it's only big enough for cutlets, but I'm sure with a bit of convincing, Foodsaver could be talked into upgrading their model.

3) Exorcise Each and Every Plant  Cast out the demons. Pollen be gone! The power of winter compels you! The power of winter compels you!

4) Condoms Every plant gets one. Yes, yes. I realize that means nothing reproduces. Whatever.

5) Burn it with Fire Torch every single tree because it's the only way. Oh chill. I'm just kidding.

Excuse me while I OD on nasal spray and run a marathon like Speed Racer.

Thoughtful Thursday - Rite of Spring

Ah, spring! The time when all the trees in our neighborhood pop like popcorn. The time when the chill in the air becomes tinged with the most melancholy of breezes. The time my favorite oak struggles to make a comeback from icy vestiges of winter--and the Magnolia tree we planted in memory of our dog Oberon, blooms.

I always do something special to mark the seasons. The "something special" changes from year-to-year, but marking the season in a reverent way is important to me. This Spring Equinox weekend, I decided to have a go at making myself a resin ring. I've never made resin jewelry before (I'm not crafty) but saw this via Faerie Magazine. Cool, isn't it? I thought it was a ring when I first saw the picture, but turns out it was a bracelet--and one I couldn't afford. The design stuck with me, but the price...maybe I could make it? I did some research, bought a silicone ring mold, resin and release spray, and...they sat on my counter top for the next few weeks. Enter Spring Equinox weekend. Perfect timing! I gathered some greenery from the base of my oak tree, mixed it with the resin, poured the mess into a silicone ring mold--and voila!

My Rite of Spring ring.

It was very difficult to get the tiny bits of plant matter into the tiny mold. Unfortunately, it turned out cloudy! I read that if your materials are damp (my plant matter wasn't dried or sealed) it can react with the resin. I will definitely be trying this again--next time, with just moss and clover because the dandelion doesn't work for me. Perhaps I'll get it right by the Summer Solstice.


Follow up: Spring Ring #2

Thoughtful Thursday-Do the Dead Affect the Living?

Photo courtesy of Matt Harris via Flickr

I've heard of ghosts affecting the living in ways that manifest as sickness, paranoia, anxiety and depression. I've even heard of ghosts affecting the living in ways that make them fight, drink and (in extreme cases) commit crimes. On the flip side of the negative, ghosts have been said to offer guidance, comfort and help people make life-saving decisions (ie. taking a different route to work--thereby avoiding an unforeseen car accident).

So...do the dead affect the living?


There are three categories of thought when it comes to this topic.

Self-fulfilling Prophesies: The negative: if you live in constant fear of ghosts=negative entities; then that fear can affect your health in many different ways.
The positive: if you have the outlook that the dead are here to help and guide us, positive influences are experienced as well.

"Out of the Blue" Feelings: "Out of the blue" feelings such as anger, depression or elation have been attributed to the influence of spirits. Sensitive people are said to be especially affected.

Spiritual Residue: While house-shopping--have you ever experienced feelings of anger or anxiety upon entering the house? If there was a great deal of fighting, physical, emotional, drug or alcohol abuse, it is said to leave behind spiritual residue. Until the "residue" is cleansed, the house will hold onto those feelings, which in turn, affect the living. (Likewise, experiencing feelings of peace and happiness would be the same kind of residue.)

What do you believe?

Thoughtful Thursday-Behind the Door

Continuing with my flash fiction month, the photos this week are my own. I had the stories in my head when I took them.

Behind the Door

The door knob rattled. It was a worn-out skeletal sound, like the knob had been rattled many, many times before.

She reached for it, unsure whether she should commit to seeing what lay on the other side. It would be easy to walk away and pretend she'd never seen or heard the door knob move at all. There was nobody around, after all. Nobody to call her a scaredy-cat. Nobody to make fun. She could simply...walk away.

Except she couldn't. She was too curious. The door knob continued to rattle, the seductive sound echoing in her head. It was as if something was trying to tempt and draw her in. As if it dared her to see what lay on the other side. But I've been on the other side, she thought. And there was nothing there. 

She grabbed the knob and the rattling stopped. The metal was cold in her hand. Cold and still. What now? She contemplated opening the door quickly--kind of like ripping off a band-aide. Or maybe she'd open it slowly--like the many times she'd opened cupboards in the house she'd left behind. She was never one to do things slowly. Turning the knob with finality, she yanked open the door.

The ghost was unprepared for the bright light that lay behind it.

Thoughtful Thursday-Do Angels Bite Their Nails?

The photos this week are my own. I had the stories in my head when I took them. Enjoy!

Do Angels Bite Their Nails?

The graveyard was still and silent.

"I don't know what to do." He wrung his hands fitfully. Then stop, his inner voice argued. Your time has passed.

Jumping over grave markers, she ran through the cemetery. She stayed in the shadows, dodging the dappled sunshine. Twirling in ecstasy, the young woman laughed up at the blue sky. Her attention was captured by a bouquet of white lilies. Plucking them from the gravestone's stone urn, she scattered the flowers across another marker.

Wild as she was, he couldn't deny a part of him hoped she'd never change. He chastised himself for his weakness. "Why did you do that?"

Her look of surprise was quickly replaced to one of defiance. "The other had the flowers long enough." Turning her back on him, she continued up the hill.

"Where are you going?"

"To the top of the hill."

"I can see that," he said, wringing his hands. "There's nothing up there."

"I'm up there," she replied. "Are you calling me nothing?"

He ignored her remark. "You're not supposed to be out, you know."

"They can't keep me trapped forever." She glanced back at him, a mischievous sparkle in her eye. "I know how to get out."

They stood next to each other and took in the view. The hill overlooked a pastoral valley dotted with trees. The slope dipped steeply and ran into shadows below.

"I'm going to run as fast as I can," her voice echoed.

He grabbed her arm. "No you're not."

"I am." She shook him off. "And you can't stop me."

He watched her tear down the hill. Faster and faster she ran until her feet couldn't keep up with her velocity. She tripped and tumbled, a tangle of red hair and hospital gown, until she landed in a broken heap. If he could have uttered a curse and gotten away with it, he would have.

She stepped away from her body before he could reach her. The sparkle was gone from her eyes. Ghostly traces of defiance trickled away like sunlight.

"I-I tried." His sense of failure weighed heavily upon his shoulders.

"You couldn't stop me then and you can't now," she said to him, her expression serious. "We need to stop doing this."

"I can't." He watched her body dissolve into nothingness.

***

The graveyard was still and silent.

"I don't know what to do." He wrung his hands fitfully. Then stop, his inner voice argued. Your time has passed.

Jumping over grave markers, she ran through the cemetery...

Thoughtful Thursday-Wildflowers

Continuing with flash fiction based on photo inspiration...
A peek into something bigger—most likely, they will come together as a full-length book later. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of Neal. via Flickr

Wildflowers

It was the wishing that kept her alive.

She lay in a field of wildflowers. Plucking a petal from one, she flicked it away. “He loves me.” She plucked another, crushing its soft smoothness between her thumb and forefinger. “He loves me not.” She rolled over onto her side. Her hair, once secured around the crown of her head, was now tangled with leaves and trailed in a loose braid.

He appeared seemingly from nowhere; walking through the field and crushing wildflowers under his boots. Dressed in black from head-to-toe, his crisp, white button-up shirt stood in stark contrast. He looked as if he were off to a wedding. Or a funeral.

“What are you doing out here all alone?” Removing his top hat, he dusted it across his knee. Long, dark hair blew in the breeze.

“I’m lying here.” She didn't bother keeping the resentment from her voice. He was not the first to disturb her peace, though this one hadn't come the same way the others had.

“I can see that.” His eyes flashed annoyance. “You're in my field.”

“It isn't your field. ‘Tis mine. I've been here longer than you've crossed it.”

“Indeed?” 

She studied his clothing and demeanor; a curious mixture of old and new.

“Well, then. I apologize.” A bemused smile traced his lips. “Perhaps we may share?”

She sat up, the lace trim at the neck of her dress suddenly binding. “Perhaps.”

He settled beside her, long-legged and taking up what seemed like the last available space. “I didn't expect to see anyone else.”

“Nor did I.” She couldn't stop her gaze from travelling up to his face. It was an interesting face. Dark eyes, made to appear darker by the eyeliner he was wearing. A proud nose. Well-shaped lips. A silver ring hung from one of his earlobes. Only one. It matched the silver buttons along his black velvet coat. She gathered her long skirts closer.

“I started to turn back…” His gaze slid towards the line of trees. “But then I saw you from the woods.”

She caught the confusion on his brow. “There is but one path from here.”
It was the wishing that kept her alive.

He turned his attention to her face. “Seems a lonely path.” 

“I suppose it is…for some.”

“Will you walk it with me?” 

She worried her long braid and dropped her gaze.  “I am not ready to leave.”

"Neither was I," he replied. “I suppose we shall sit here and take in the scenery until we're both ready.”

“I suppose we shall.” The crushed petal she held between her thumb and forefinger slipped away like an afterthought. 

The wildflower-scattered graveyard once held headstones. They had crumbled to dust long ago, the dead now forgotten.

It was the wishing that kept them alive.

Thoughtful Thursday-Noise

I'm one of those people who needs absolute silence to write. I can't have anyone if the house either--I find their energy distracting. The other day, I was trying to pull up what a golden bell would sound like (research for The Island) and came across this.

Oddly, I ended up listening to it for the rest of my writing day. Enjoy your day!

Thoughtful Thursday-Totems

Last May, I took a trip to Canada. In addition to uninterrupted hours of writing, I was able to do some sightseeing and reconnect. I grew up around First Nations totem art. I love the anthropomorphic faces and the complexity. Totem poles of the Northwest Coast are probably the most recognizable artifact of the culture.

The poles are usually carved from red cedar and complex in design. They were never used as objects of worship or to "ward" off evil spirits. They tell a story, revealed only if one knows the meaning assigned to various animals, fish, birds and designs and where they are placed on the pole.

This is storytelling at its finest; no written words where the "reader" has free reign to elaborate.

Some Animal Symbols 

(meaning varies according to tribe)

Killer Whale - Representing strength and bravery. The mythology of the killer whale states they will bring food and assistance to those in need.

Beaver - Creative, artistic and determined.

Raven - The trickster. Curious and mischievous.
Sea Turtle - Representative of Mother Earth.
Thunderbird - Manifests thunder while beating its wings and lightening by blinking it's eyes.

Eagle - Intelligent and resourceful. He rules the sky and is able to transform himself into a human.
Wolf - Very powerful with the ability to help people that are sick or in need. Represents strong family bonds.
Bear - Strength, a teacher and motherhood. It is believed that the bear taught the people how to hunt and pick berries.

Dogfish - Persistence and strength.

Moon - Protector and guardian at night.

Seal - Bright, inquisitive.

Dragonfly - Ever-changing life.

Frog - Known for bringing wealth.
Otter - A symbol of laughter, curiosity, grace, mischievousness and empathy.
Salmon - Instinct, persistence, and determination.
Owl - Symbolizes the souls of the departed.

Colors 

(meaning varies according to tribe)

White: Symbolizes the skies and the spacious heavens. Also purity, peace and death.

Red: Symbolizes blood, war or valor. Sometimes, it is used purely as it appears in nature.

Blue: Symbolizes oceans, rivers, lakes and the sky. It stands for sincerity and happiness.

Yellow: Symbolizes the sun, light and happiness.

Green: Represents the earth, the hills, trees, and mountains.

Purple: Used to represent mountains in the distance.

Black: Represents power.

Pole Types

Heraldic totems were carved with human or animal forms. They represented the clans standing, ancestry, rights and accomplishments.

House posts were located the center of longhouses to support the building. Similarly, some longhouses featured a house frontal pole, which would be located at the main entrance and often contained an opening for passage into the house.
Mortuary poles served as both a tomb and a headstone. They oftentimes contained the remains of the deceased in grave boxes at the top, Likewise, a memorial or commemorative pole was often created to honor an important deceased person. These poles carry a story of the deceased.
Legend Poles illustrate folklore or real life experiences.
Potlatch Poles commemorate a festival or event.
Shame poles were less common but served to ridicule neighboring tribes or those who have unpaid debts. Recently, they have been used as a form of protest against the loss of Aboriginal territory or for other political grievances.

Thoughtful Thursday-The Things That Scare

Photo courtesy of Anant Nath Sharma via Flickr

It may be because I write paranormal horror, but there are very few things that scare me. What ranks up there is watching my youngest during her horseback riding lessons and wondering why it takes my oldest so long to answer my texts. You know. mom stuff. The things most people find scary don't do it for me any more.

At what point do classically scary things fade into real-life scares? I can't say that I've ever been afraid of the paranormal. It is what it is. The real fear came after I had kids. The first time my 3-month-old spiked a fever, the first time my 2-year-old fell down the stairs, the first day of Kindergarten when I wondered just how far the umbilical cord would stretch. And it got worse. I still remember when my 7-year-old thought it would be a neat idea to do a back flip off the chair. That went well. Fast forward to school dances, hanging out at the mall, first texts and the internet--all scary, scary things.

That said, I do find this picture kind of scary. Not because of the shades of paranormal within it but because the thought of suffocating behind a sheet is freaky. Have a great week everyone...and mind the bed sheets.

Thoughtful Thursday-All Hallows Read and My Picks

Give Someone a Scary Book for Halloween. 

This is a brilliant idea--Neil Gaiman is awesome for headlining it. (Well, Neil is awesome just because he's Neil.) You probably couldn't get away with handing out books for Halloween instead of candy but...how about starting with friends and family? I think it's time for a new Halloween tradition around my house. 

My picks for gifting:

4-8 year old range: The Witch Next Door by Norman Bridwell
7-10 year old range: Mr. Katz is a Zombie by Margaret Lesh
11-15 year old range (and beyond): The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Adults (and since the shops insist on lumping Halloween and Christmas together): Krampus: The Yule Lord by Brom

I'll offer up my own as well
For adults: Between and Struck by Clarissa Johal

Thoughtful Thursday-Gratitude Challenge

Last week, I did the 7 Days of Gratitude on Facebook. I like to think I'm grateful for pretty much everything so it wasn't difficult. I had my "3 Things" by the time I ate breakfast. What I found interesting was that I looked for more things to be grateful for throughout the day--which kind of changed my outlook of the day in general. The more I found positive things, the less the negative things mattered.

The process was kind of like an internal Facebook feed. Have you ever opened your Facebook to see nothing but a string of bad news and horrible things people have chosen to share? It's enough to make you want to sign off for the day. I know negative things happen in the world but why would you choose to share those? Why not share the good things?

If you want to take up the challenge you don't have to do it via Facebook. I figure they get their fair share of likes and shares. Take up the challenge privately and see how it affects your day-to-day life.

Here's the Challenge:

List three things you are grateful for every day for a week. That's it.

Thoughtful Thursday-Pancake Hypnosis

I have no thoughts today.
I'm working on my book which means they're being All. Used Up. 

Stare at the pancake instead