Lance Greenfield's Blog, page 37
June 6, 2018
Book review: Forgiveness Made Easy by Barbara J Hunt
Forgiveness Made Easy: The Revolutionary Guide to Moving Beyond Your Past and Truly Letting Go by Barbara J. Hunt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book explains the forgiveness process in very simple terms which can be easily understood and followed. Not only that, it explains the huge benefits of forgiveness. The release from the stress that resentment brings can be enormous. It is well known that letting go of the past can be like breaking free from heavy chains.
It is also clear that you don’t have to agree that a particular act was right to be able to forgive the person or organisation. In fact, some things are clearly wrong and evil. That doesn’t mean that they cannot be forgiven, as you will discover if you read this book.
The language that Barbara uses is very clear. The order in which she explains everything is logical. That makes it all very easy to follow.
It is also clear that the author is compassionate and takes time to understand the concerns of her clients. Through he writing, she connects with the reader. At least, that is how I felt.
I confess that I knew Barbara before I read her book, but my what I read in this book just served to confirm my opinion of her as a caring, compassionate person who really understands this subject. She has many years of personal and case experience and refers to this throughout the book.
For me, there was far too much preamble before I reached the explanation of the process itself. Two-thirds of the book is taken up with explaining what “forgiveness” is and is not and the meanings of “resentment” and “ego.” There are also lots of quotes from other books on the topic; too many for me. However, they are all relevant and I am sure that other readers will place great value in them.
I raised my concern that it took too long to get to the forgiveness made easy process with the author. Her advice was to skip straight through to the process. So, my advice to you, dear potential reader, is to start reading from the beginning. If you start getting to the point where you can’t wait any longer to get into the process, go straight to it. You can come back and read more about forgiveness, resentment and ego at a later date.
Having said all of that, I can tell you that this book is excellent and will bring you real benefits. You will learn a lot. You will learn a lot about yourself. You will discover people, organisations, events and acts that you need to forgive, some of which will surprise you. You probably have some self-forgiveness to go through. That’s right! You need to forgive yourself.
Then, when you come to the process, you will find it fairly easy, even if it is traumatic, to follow. And it works!
Finally, and coincidentally, in parallel to Forgiveness Made Easy, I was reading a psychological suspense novella from which I take the following quote. It was like a blinding light, summarising the big message from Barbara J Hunt’s splendid book.
‘Every box I threw away, every cupboard I emptied – it was as though I was peeling layers of resentment off myself. I’d hated the hoard for so long, and now it was disappearing. Guess I cleared the crap in my head as well.’ – from Blackwater Lake by Maggie James.
May 30, 2018
Book Review: Blue Monday by Nicci French
Blue Monday by Nicci French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is an amazingly gripping psychological crime thriller; but only from about half way through. Up until that point it just plodded along, and actually dragged along for a while. There was just too much background building and not enough tension building.
Once it got going though, it really took off and became unputdownable. I had to curse at the stupidity and naivety of some of the characters at times, but where would a good crime thriller be without those silly mistakes?
I would recommend this one to my friends, but I have a feeling that the second in this series will be better than the first.
May 24, 2018
Book Review: I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark
I Heard That Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Just what one expects from a Mary Higgins Clark formula: a few possible suspects from the outset, some twists and turns, and a fairly predictable ending. This is her formula. I always enjoy trying to predict the killer within the first twenty pages. Occasionally, I begin to doubt myself as I turn the pages, but I am usually right with my initial prediction. But this is what makes these books such fun to read!
Almost two days of my reading time on the beach were taken up with this one, and I don’t regret that. I enjoyed the book, and would recommend it to any MHC or crime fiction fan.
May 21, 2018
How To Survive Your Writing Friend Quitting Writing #SundayBlogShare #Writers
There is so much to reflect upon in this article. It is very well written, and there is much that resonates with me from my own experiences.
One point that we should all hold close to our hearts, is that the quitting, writing friend will be back. It may take a while, but be patient because their return is a certainty. Do not grieve or despair. Your writing friend will come back to you!
Writer friends are special human beings. Let’s all take a moment to think about writer friends.
Writer friends understand your creative side, share your writing passion and know all about the emotional turmoil that goes hand in hand with writing a book. You share work regardless of quality / state, give each other feedback and are happy to talk writing for HOURS.
This shared understanding forges a deep bond between you both, especially if you have felt misunderstood by non-writers for years. Suddenly you have someone who gets the creative side of you! This is powerful friendship stuff.
So when your beloved writing friend decides that writing is not for them anymore it can be pretty painful for both of you. Your creative sidekick is no longer there, as they are busy finding some other life path to follow and you are left clutching your notepad and pen feeling a little…
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May 15, 2018
THE ANNUAL BLOGGERS BASH – STUFF YOU NEED TO KNOW
Although I bought my ticket as soon as they became available, there is a chance that I may not be able to make it on Saturday. I’d say that it is about 50:50 at the moment. I’ll be sad if I can’t be there. There is no doubt in my mind that it will, as always, be a fantastic event!
If you’re reading this, and haven’t been to ABBA before, get your ticket now and go! I thoroughly recommend it. Great people, great discussions and lots of fun!
Are you coming to this year’s Bash? It’s on the 19th May and there are no competing attractions, however keen you are on Royal Weddings and FA Cup finals. I’m mean, seriously? Competition? Pah!
If not, why not?
Here’s where you can get tickets.
If you are booked, then this is what you need to know.
The Bash is held this year at The George IV pub in Chiswick. Here’s a link to said welcoming hostelry. We will take over the Boston Room for our glorious meet up.
The fun starts at 10.30 and runs until 4.30. Here’s a link to the agenda post with details.
Before I get into more details on travel and admin on the day there’s one big thing I’d like help with. As there will be a fair few of us coming and we are in a pub that serves food, the options for…
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May 7, 2018
Knife Crime in USA
Whilst I agree with President Trump that knife crime in London is a problem, his statement that the floors of the hospitals is blatant fake news. His proposed solution of arming all citizens with guns, possibly assault rifles, is even more ludicrous, but it is no more than we have come to expect from the Chief Tweeter.
However, I have observed that knife crime in the USA is rife.
I have seen Americans using their fish knives to spread butter on their rolls. I have observed diners using their steak knives to portion their gateaux. Even worse, I have seen our trans-Atlantic cousins cutting their meat into small pieces which they scoop up with a mouthful of vegetables on a salad fork before shovelling them into their mouths.
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Fortunately, as you’d expect, all efforts to carve a filet mignon with a butter knife met with failure.
One thing is certain, knife crime in USA is epidemic.
May 2, 2018
So, You Want to be Rich?
My very good Batswana friend, Boikanyo Trust Phenyo, has just published her first book. It is available, right now, on Kindle and will soon also be available in paperback format.
In this book, she describes how she has become rich by doing exactly what she loves to do. And that is embodied in the title.
Boikanyo was the real life lady who inspired me to write my own first novel, Eleven Miles. She, herself, walked eleven miles to school each day in order to gain an education which would take her on to achieve her greatest dreams. She now funds a school bus to take the children from her home village to the school in town, eleven miles way, so that they don’t have to endure the same dangerous trek. The proceeds of my novel have contributed a large proportion of the funding required to buy and maintain that bus.
Boikanyo asked me if I would write the forward to her book, and I was delighted to do so. You can read my foreword by clicking “Look inside” on the Amazon link.
Boikanyo is an amazing woman and I am sure that she will go on to reach even greater achievements in her life. She has already been recognised by Queen Elisabeth II and by His Excellency Mr Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana.
So, what are you waiting for? Click on the link to download your copy of How I Got RICH Doing What I LOVE!: Its easier than you think!
May 1, 2018
Fishing for Jobs
[image error]My job search reminds me of days when I went fishing on the banks of the River Tay at the North Inch in Perth. I used to go out before dawn and spend all day casting my flies out onto the rippling surface of that beautiful river. There were times when I would be there until the early hours of the following morning and my concerned grandfather would come to find me. I had lost all track of time. I was lost in my own wonderful, peaceful world.
It never bothered me if I went for hours without a bite. I was certain that I would eventually run into frenzy of bites and I was usually right.
My last day of full employment was 13th December 2017. Since then, I have tried every channel that I can think of to find myself a new employment. I really need to work for my own sanity as much as for the necessary income.
This morning, I tried something different and I ran into a frenzy of bites. From six o’clock, I stood on the London-bound platform of Andover Railway Station, with a poster advertising my availability and asking commuters to request a copy of my CV. Five people took a CV and a few exchanged contact details with me. When I got home, just before eight o’clock, I already had two emails from people who would like to meet up with me ‘for a chat.’
I have been following up on these leads all day and still have more to try. These are exciting times. Perhaps it won’t be long before I reel in the big salmon of a job that I’ve been hunting for four months! I hope so.
April 15, 2018
13 Habits of Ridiculously Prolific Writers
by Meg Dowell
Sometimes, writing less leads to deeper, more creative thinking.
Have you ever wondered how some writers manage to write thousands of words every day — while you can barely squeeze out 500 words after an hour of trying (and failing) to focus? How do so many successful writers publish so much — even though one success could carry their careers for years?
These are the habits of writers who cannot stop, who refuse to stop, who somehow do this writing thing and don’t suffer creative burnout in the process.
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April 10, 2018
Book Review: The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yōko Ogawa
The Housekeeper + The Professor by Yōko Ogawa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was such a comfortable read for me and touched me at many different levels.
Firstly, it is a very engaging story, involving just a small number of equally engaging characters. The two main characters are in the title, but they are brought together by their strong feelings for the third character in the book, the housekeeper’s son, Root.
Of course, as explained in the blurb, that is just the Professor’s nickname for the ten-year-old boy, and the name refers to the shape of his profile and its resemblance to the [square] root sign.
Then there is the mathematical thread of the whole story. The professor relates everything in the world to numbers and mathematics. His enthusiasm for these connections is soon shared by the housekeeper and her son.
This approach to life so reminds me of my own childhood that I became excited and emotional as I read. You see, my own father, also a professor, took exactly the same approach with me. Consequently, I LOVE number theory, mathematics, geometry, trigonometry, algebra, fractals, calculus, trees, rivers, planets, gravity, colours, music, and on and on and on!
If you read this book, you may be stirred up in the same way, even if you have never been so stirred up in your past.
And you will want to share your discoveries with others.
Then there is the human relationships aspect of the book. I won’t go any further on this one for fear of the risk of spoiling it for you.
Two other threads which captivated me in this little story were those of Japanese culture and the sport of baseball. A sub theme of the latter, which links nicely back to the human relationships in this book, is the collecting of player cards which many of us must have done, for whichever sport appealed to us, when we were children.
Finally, I would like to mention the theme surrounding memory loss, and the way in which we deal with that in our own lives and those closest to us. The author depicts this so well that I will not even attempt to describe those thoughts here.
This is a relatively short book, and I would classify it as a “must read.” Highly recommended!
