C.R. Richards's Blog, page 15

Which Bucket Will You Fill in The New Year?

Thoughts are like water buckets waiting to be filled. One bucket holds positive thoughts we use to inspire our dreams and give us confidence. The other bucket contains negative thoughts from the droning self-doubts we whisper to ourselves each day.

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Each thought, act or wish puts a little water into a bucket. As the positive bucket spills over, it washes us with creative energy. We accomplish our goals and feel good about the work we’ve done.

If the negative bucket fills first, we are drenched in dirty, putrid fluid. The stain upon our self-confidence is nearly impossible to clean away. It can take years to overcome just one splash from this bucket.

As we head into the new year, think about the words you whisper to yourself. Are they kind and encouraging? Or are you dragging the smelly bucket of negative thoughts into the new year?

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From me and mine to you and yours

Happy New Year,

C.R. Richards

Are You Sharing Your Truth?

Writers are given a sacred trust to share the truths we are given. Do we decide what those truths are? Nope. And sometimes it gets very uncomfortable putting our sacred trust out there. Not everyone wants to hear the truth.

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I’ll share one of my ultimate truths with you now: Words have power. They are neither good nor evil. Words are tools in the hand of the person who chooses to use them.  Intent is everything. This is why writers must be careful about how they use their words. Are you sending out messages that inspire and encourage? Or are you spreading falsehoods and hatred?

Words are ideas. They have the power to change lives. Use them wisely.

In this special season, I want to share a quote (and modernize it a bit to fit our world today)

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Peace on Earth. Good will toward ALL men, women, children, animals and most especially – our home, Earth.

From me and mine to you and yours,

Best Wishes for Peace, Hope and Joy

C.R. Richards

 

The Healing Powers of Peppermint and Other Holiday Treats

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If your life is anything like mine, everybody is hounding you to “get something done for me” before the holiday break. Then there is the unfinished gift shopping. Stress, stress, stress and more stress.

“Hold it! Enough. Celebrate the holidays rather than dread them.”

Peppermint – Elixir of the Gods

You think I’m kidding, don’t you? Peppermint has amazing healing properties. It’s an anti-inflammatory, invigorates and can help with digestion. I use peppermint oil along with lemon oil to refresh my house in winter.

While oils are well and good, nothing gives you that peppermint pep like actually digesting peppermint. For a mood boost, try:

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Candy Canes and other Hard Candies

Peppermint Brownies (I use peppermint extract. If you like using peppermint oil, please make sure it is the edible kind!)

 

 

 

Not everyone is into Mint. Here are some other options to help you kindle that holiday cheer:

Our old friend – Baileys

Sugar cookies

Fruit Cake (Not my thing)

Champagne

Pick your holiday cheer. Savor it and forget the stressful stuff. Focus instead on the good things in your life. These are the things you’ll carry into the new year.

Only A Few Days Left To Enter!

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Fuel Your Creative Energy by Embracing the Joy of the Season

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I love this time of year. Negativity takes a back seat. Everyone is a little brighter and lighter (in the heart anyway). The Joy of the Season changes attitudes like magic. We’re nicer to one another. Kindness and generosity rule the day. I keep this happy hypothesis by limiting my time at the malls between Nov 23 and Jan 5th.  

Embracing the JOY is the opportunity to renew our spirits and shake off difficulties from the past year. It gives us new (and hopefully positive) perspective on our lives and the world about us.

How can you use this December Joy to fuel your creative energy?

Wear your new positive perspective like a pair of

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glasses.

See a creative project you’ve been working on with a new hue.

OR use your magic glasses to begin something completely new.

 

 

Holiday Blog Tour! Dec 8th – 17th [image error]

It’s a Holiday Blog Tour!

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Join the fun!

Enter at each stop along the tour for a chance to win a

Stocking Full of Prizes

Gift Box

 

TOUR SCHEDULE – Dec 8th thru 17th

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Being Thankful for the Now

Our lives are busy. We hustle to make a buck. Strive to climb the career ladder faster than our parents once did. And those dreams won’t chase themselves. One misstep and they may escape into the clouds, out of our reach.

This week as we’re hurrying to cook our Turkey with all the trimmings, it may be time to stop for one hot second. Pour a glass of wine and just sit still. Observe your life. What is the one positive constant you can count on to get you through the crazy days? Hold on to whatever it is. Keep it close to your heart. Know all the negative litter filling your life doesn’t matter.

From Me and Mine to You and Yours…Happy Thanksgiving

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Are You Ready to Continue the Journey?

Crystal engines thunder as they lift the airship into a midnight sky. Sails catch the wind. Then the vessel bursts forward into the unknown. Two breathless stowaways hide below decks, anxious to avoid the relentless hounds hunting them.

The scene is set and the characters are ready. We’re only missing one thing. You!

Continue the journey on Friday, November 17th

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Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Colorado Residents: Tattered Cover

(Available in eBook on January 26th)

Coming Soon: Details about my Holiday Tour December 7th thru 18th

Are You Celebrating the Big W?

You did it! The creative project you been sweating blood over is done. Now you can finally move on to the next fun project. Hang on a second. Aren’t you forgetting something important? It’s time to celebrate your win!

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Why Is Celebrating Achievement of a Goal Important?

Encouragement – Rewarding and praising children or pets is a great way to encourage them to keep up the good work. It helps them to want to do better next time. Are we any different? I know rewarding myself after I’ve finished a book makes me want to start the next one.

Self-Confidence – Tell me recognition of an accomplishment doesn’t make you feel ten feet tall! If you can finish one creative project, then you can do another. And so, you take the first giant step toward achieving your long-term goals.

Reputation – Each achievement builds your credibility. The more creative projects you successfully complete, the more clients and customers will have confidence in your product (and you).

Take some time to celebrate what you’ve accomplished. Go on a special trip. Buy the item you’ve been eyeing for your collection. Treat yourself to lunch. Whatever you do, make certain it’s a positive experience.

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Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Colorado Residents: Tattered Cover

 

Have A Happy Halloween!

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Have a creepy time tonight, Boils and Ghouls!

Dark Fantasy: The Best Parts of Two Great Genres

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Dark Fantasy is my creative playground. I love reading it almost as much as I love writing it. This special genre takes the magic of Fantasy and mixes it with the terrifying themes of Horror. Still not clear on the difference between the three? Here is my oversimplified cheat list:

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Fantasy – Epic adventure involving magic and some sort of quest

Horror – Story themes designed to tap into your darkest fears and scare the hell out of you

Dark Fantasy – An Epic adventure with magic and a quest that unearths your darkest fears

Urban Fantasy – An adventure involving magic and some sort of quest, but takes place on the mean streets of a modern-day city

Curious about Dark Fantasy? Goodreads.com offers a list of awesome books in the genre. Perfect for the season!

ONLY 3 Days Left!

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Rafflecopter Giveaway Link

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