Love notes to myself

Generally, authors write what they want to read. At least, I do. And today I found I wrote something that I need. I think generally I'm a pretty forgiving person…it might not always be instantaneous, but I work through it and work it out. But this morning, I was torqued. I wanted to make a special trip to see someone who I felt was being intentionally jerky and share some well-chosen biting words at a high volume. It was hard to calm down (Don't worry, I didn't break or damage anything, just felt like it).

I did make an effort to calm myself, though, as I sat in my studio huffing and puffing. Everywhere I look, I see my buddy Petalwink in here and she happened to catch my eye from a framed picture near my desk. I think she was actually winking, which is weird, I know, but true. We had this little conversation:

ME: "Have you ever dealt with someone like this?"

PWINK: "Duh. You wrote the book."

ME: "Oh, right; book 7. Belfry. He was pretty nasty."

THE WINKSTER: "Yeah, and on purpose, too."

ME: "You didn't handle it well at first, as I recall."

PETALDUB: *giggles*

ME: "I remember that you did what I'd really like to do right now which is take it into my own hands. But that wasn't the answer."

PW: *sighs knowingly*

At which point, I decided to pull up said story, Petalwink Makes Peace, in iBooks, and give it another read. I was awash in not only good memories of writing and illustrating the book, but remembering that what I write, I usually have to live (a "walk the talk" kind of thing). I loved being reminded that returning jerkiness for jerkiness is never the answer and that furthermore, the Golden Rule is always applicable.

I felt calmer after reading Petalwink's story so when I came across this Bible verse, I managed to not totally rebel against it: "Who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?" (Gal. 5:7). It reminded me of the phrase my husband so often voices, "Be a thermostat, not a thermometer!" Which basically means that it doesn't matter what anyone else is doing (how badly they might be behaving, for example), I can set the tone and do better if I know better instead of just registering the tone or atmosphere (temperature) and just going along with it.

So I'm grateful for that 7th Petalwink book which turned out to be a love letter to myself. The result is I haven't done or said anything I'll regret to this person who obviously needs a little more tender care than usual. I hope you are able to conquer the Belfrys in your life, too; and if you need a little help, feel free to have a chat with Petalwink. Sometimes it helps.

Belfry & Petalwink from "Petalwink Makes Peace" by me.