Susan Gabriel's Blog, page 6
April 28, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 28th – Day 41
If you’ve read my novels you know that I believe in invisible things: spirits, ghosts, secret sense, sensitivities of all kinds. To me, the experience of joy is often an invisible thing, too. However, I believe this photograph has captured joy and made it visible.
As you know, the world can be scary. People and...
April 27, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 27nd- Day 40
Did you have a treehouse as a child? Or perhaps your kids or grandkids have one now. When I was around 10, my dad built one between two old pines in our backyard. It was very rustic, as treehouses tend to be, and was the size of a small elevator, with a wooden ladder leading up, and walls that had two windows cut out, as well...
April 26, 2020
Resilience Dispatch- April 26th – Day 39
During this challenging time, don’t underestimate the power of a simple thank you. With appropriate physical distancing, thank your mail carrier.
Thank the person checking you out at the supermarket.
Thank your garbage collector.
Thank your pharmacist.
Thank the UPS delivery guy.
Thank whoever delivers...
April 25, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 25th – Day 38
For our Saturday resilience laugh, I offer my favorite quarantine humor. Because some days you just gotta laugh. Isn’t it unreal that this time last year we wouldn’t have understood these jokes at all?
Meanwhile, I hope you are wearing a mask everywhere you go and staying safe. I want you to stick around for a long time....
April 24, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 24th – Day 37
How are you holding up, sweet readers? This post is about checking in with each other. For instance, I never thought I would still be writing a daily resilience dispatch on day 37. When we started sheltering at home, I thought it would maybe last a month at most. Boy, was I wrong.
This virus has a timing of its own....
April 23, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 23rd – Day 36
120 Things That Give Me Hope
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
–Emily Dickinson
Now, more than ever, we need to feel hopeful and encouraged. This list was first published on my blog in 2015, but I stand by it...
April 22, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 22nd – Day 35
We live on an incredibly resilient planet, and as members of the human species we have inherited that resilience. But we don’t always think to offer our gratitude to the planet that provides a home for us, feeds us, and gives us life.
Consider taking some time today to go outside, stand on a piece of earth, and offer...
April 21, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 21st- Day 34
Perseverance builds resilience. I have been writing novels for 25 years, a quarter of a century. As far as authors go, I am very resilient. Most professional writers I know do not make a living writing books. They have other jobs. A few teach at colleges or offer writing workshops. Others have a supportive spouse who is the...
April 20, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 20th – Day 33
Here in the mountains of North Carolina, I spotted my first hummingbird last weekend. As I sat on the deck reading, she buzzed right past me. Close enough to whisper in my ear. To me, hummingbirds are tiny messengers of hope and resilience.
Here are 10 Fun Facts I pulled from kaytee.com, where I also found the...
April 19, 2020
Resilience Dispatch – April 19th – Day 32
Good memories build resilience. With this in mind, tell me about your mother’s kitchen when you were a child. Remember the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. What was your experience of this kitchen? What good memories, if any, do you have of this place?
I realize a lot of people have a hard time finding...
