Simplicity in Life: A WOW Blog Tour with Memoirist Jo Ann Simon
Posted by Kathleen Pooler /@kathypooler with JoAnn Simon/@ForgetMeNotJoSi
Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things. ~Isaac Newton
Photo Credit: Free Google Images
Welcome to JoAnn Simon’s WOW Blog Tour for her new memoir, Rose Colored Glasses: A Memoir of Love, Loss , and Hope, the poignant story of how one woman stayed afloat, upbeat and connected to her husband while he was suffering from a debilitating illness through devotion, love and donning rose-colored glasses.
My reviews can be found on Amazon, Goodreads, LibraryThings and Riffle Books
Welcome, JoAnn!
Memoir Author Jo Ann Simon
Simplicity in Life
Simplifying life is one of the most satisfying efforts I have found. It is the euphoria after eating and drinking the most luscious, decadent five-course meal, but you ate only one long, slinky green bean. That sounds crazy and I’m not recommending only eating green beans; I’m illustrating how living with simplicity has the power to grow the inner peace of your life and happiness to give you a level of comfort that is life changing.
My simplicity in life started when I was grieving for the loss of my husband. It was hard to move forward in life with decisions to be made every day. One would think that deciding what to wear would be an easy decision. It is not if your mind is scrambled eggs. The easiest thing to do was choose one or two colors and just go with that so I didn’t have to decide every day. I started with white, a cloak of honor which also brightened my day and made me feel alive. Silver was a form of white, so that helped with some bling. Since I wore those Rose Colored Glasses, pink was my second choice of color.
Photo Credit: Unsplash Free
Life was so much easier. Everything and anything was pink, white or silver; no debate. Shoes, sandals, flip flops, panties, bras, pants, shorts, shirts, dresses, wallets, sunglasses, scarves, lipstick, pocketbook, computer case, wireless mouse, tablet, towels; all white or pink with or without bling. It sounds outrageous, but it worked and filled me with the serenity of simplicity.
I used to be a person who always wore jewelry of bracelets, necklaces, earrings, etc. that matched outfits. My new method of simplifying my life changed to wearing only starfish earrings, and a watch. The starfish is an energy sign, and symbolizes re-generation. That’s what I needed in my life. They help me every day to be stronger and not spend time deciding on what jewelry to wear. I did have a watch addiction, collecting over 100 of them, but now I have a small group that matches what I wear, and that is easier too. Now, I can be up in the morning, showered, dressed and out the door in fifteen minutes if necessary, and I am happy with how I look and feel.
Life is full of decisions to make every day which are opportunities to complicate or simplify. Stop for a minute and just think about how to simplify a decision, stick with it, and enjoy the results. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
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Rose Colored Glasses Synopsis:
Dear Tom,
I’m back on Anna Maria Island… missing you.
But walking down these beautiful beaches reminds me of us and makes
me feel a little less far away from you. And that encourages me as I am writing our story.
Hopefully this will help other people who are feeling our pain too.
I love and miss you every day, darling.
Love,
Me
When he first saw me, Tom said that he would spend the rest of his life with me. To my surprise, he actually did. He was the love of my life. We shared a story that felt like a dream. Every moment was an adventure… and then Tom became ill.As his mysterious symptoms persisted we were hurtled through a maze of fear, tests, doubts and sorrow. But while doctors toyed with diagnoses- Lyme disease, ALS- we filled each day with joy, hope, good food, wine, music and travel.Even when death came to crush our storybook romance, we found that the human spirit is greater than the frailties of the body, greater than suffering and grief.
From the fateful tick bite on Block Island to central nervous system failure, to healing my grief and loss, I stayed afloat, upbeat, and connected to Tom through devotion, true love, and by donning my own special pair of rose-colored glasses.
Paperback: 288 Pages
Publisher: WiDO Publishing (May 29th 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1947966049
ISBN-13: 978-1947966048
About the Author:
Jo Ann Simon, a corporate executive, is a lifelong nutmegger, living in various locations in the Nutmeg state of Connecticut. She is a constant traveler, exploring the world including her favorite country, Italy. When she is not traveling, Jo Ann loves spending time with her family, friends and her seven grandchildren. Her day job running a company, painting fine art, gardening and writing fill in the blanks of her life. Palm trees are essential in her personal landscape with beaches to match.
Find JoAnn Online:
Website: https://www.joann-simon.com/
Blog: https://forgetmenotjosi.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ForgetMeNotJoSi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannsimonauthorpage/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-ann-simon-27626518/
Instagram: forgetmenotjosi
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WOW Blog tour Dates:
Monday, July 23rd @ The Muffin
Author Interview and Giveaway
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
Tuesday, July 24th @ JoAnn Simon
Crystal Casavant-Otto reviews “Rose Colored Glasses” by JoAnn Simon – don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about JoAnn’s touching memoir.
https://forgetmenotjosi.wordpress.com/
Wednesday, July 25th @ Bring on Lemons with Michelle DelPonte
Wisconsin mother, wife, and autism advocate Michelle DelPonte reviews “Rose Colored Glasses” by JoAnn Simon and shares her thoughts with readers at Bring on Lemons. This is an unforgettable memoir!
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
Thursday, July 26th @ Beverley Baird
Beverley Baird reviews “Rose Colored Glasses” by JoAnn Simon. This touching memoir is one readers won’t soon forget! You’ll want to add this one to your #TBRPile today!
https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com/
Friday, July 27th @ Choices
The readers at Madeline Sharples blog, Choices, are in for a special treat today as JoAnn Simon pens the guest post “Seeing Art Through the Artist’s Eye”. Readers can enjoy this post while also learning about Simon’s memoir “Rose Colored Glasses” recently published by WiDO Publishing.
http://madelinesharples.com/
Monday, July 30th @ Selling Books with Cathy Stucker
Cathy Stucker interview JoAnn Simon about her recently published memoir “Rose Colored Glasses”
https://www.sellingbooks.com/
Tuesday, July 31st @ World of My Imagination
Nicole Pyles reviews “Rose Colored Glasses” by JoAnn Simon and shares her thoughts with readers at World of My Imagination. Don’t miss a chance to learn about this memoir of love and loss.
https://theworldofmyimagination.blogspot.com/
Thursday, August 2nd @ Memoir Writer’s Journey
Today’s post at Memoir Writer’s Journey includes a guest post titled “Simplicity in Life” written by JoAnn Simon. There is also a link to Kathleen Pooler’s review of Simon’s recently published memoir “Rose Colored Glasses”. Readers won’t want to miss this opportunity to learn more about Simon and her lovely memoir.
https://krpooler.com/
Tuesday, August 7th @ Bring on Lemons
Today’s author spotlight at Bring on Lemons is JoAnn Simon featuring her recently published memoir “Rose Colored Glasses”. Don’t miss a chance to learn about Simon and check out Crystal’s review of this touching memoir.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 8th @ Lisa Haselton
Lisa Haselton interviews JoAnn Simon about her memoir “Rose Colored Glasses” (and more)!
http://lisahaseltonsreviewsandinterviews.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, August 8th @ Margo Dill
Today’s guest author is JoAnn Simon of “Rose Colored Glasses” – and today’s topic is “A Positive Attitude”. Don’t miss this blog stop!
Monday, August 13th @ Write Happy
Catherine Brown reviews “Rose Colored Glasses” a touching memoir by JoAnn Simon.
https://www.writehappy.net/blog
Monday, August 13th @ Coffee with Lacey
Lacey reviews “Rose Colored Glasses” by JoAnn Simon. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about this inspirational memoir about love, loss, and hope!
https://coffeewithlacey.wordpress.com/
Thursday, August 16th @ Ellen Valladares
Fellow author Ellen Valladares reviews “Rose Colored Glasses” by JoAnn Simon.
https://ellenvalladares.com/
Wednesday, August 22nd @ Linda Appleman Shapiro
Fellow memoirist Linda Appleman Shapiro shares her thoughts after reading “Rose Colored Glasses” by JoAnn Simon.
http://applemanshapiro.com/category/book-reviews/
Thursday, August 23rd @ Bring on Lemons with Cathy Hansen
Wisconsin educator, mother, and business owner Cathy Hansen reviews the memoir “Rose Colored Glasses” by JoAnn Simon.
http://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/
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How about you? Do you strive for simplicity in your life?
We’d love to hear from you. Please join in the conversation below~
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Next Week:
Monday, 8/6/18:
“My Journey to Memoir by Lyndon Back”
Lyn is the author of Treading Water at the Shark Cafe, an American Quaker woman’s extraordinary journey of witness and discovery from her suburban Philadelphia home to the war zones of the former Yugoslavia.
