Happiness and Contests

I recently read a quote that was almost right, but I wanted to reword it. I didn’t write it down and can’t remember who said it, but here’s my version:

“Any time you spend not being happy is wasted time.”

The thing is, as a writer – and perhaps as a human – I have to experience sadness and anger and even a little craziness… Otherwise, how could I write books? When my mom was going through a bad stretch and we knew it wasn’t going to get better, I can remember driving home from the rehab center, thinking that I should get a supplement that’s supposed to make me happier and calmer. Then I thought, No, this is a time when I’m supposed to be sad.

If I’d been to the point where I found it hard to function, then I would have done something. But I’m normally an even keel type of person. Still, I have a friend who’s been fighting cancer for many years, and she’s one of the most positive people I know. Unless she’s feeling really crappy, she doesn’t turn down opportunities. And if you need someone to help you do something, she’s probably the one you’ll turn to.

Maybe it’s just her normal disposition. Some people turn sour, and some people turn sweet. My friend turns strong and positive. She takes in all the happiness she can get, without denying the sad.

So maybe that’s the final version: “Unhappy happens, but when you have a choice, it feels a hell of a lot better to be happy.”

On my publishing news, STARDUST MIRACLE is still free most places. I expect to leave it free for a while.

I have a contest going on at Fresh Fiction. I’m giving away a $25 gift card. And Stardust is listed at Ask David, which is a great place to find new books. And if you’re an author, they list your books free. As soon as I have a chance, I plan to list all my books there.

Over the holidays, my husband and I saw Parental Guidance with Billy Crystal, Bette Midler and Marissa Tormei. It was my husband’s choice and I didn’t expect to enjoy it. I was wrong. I enjoyed it a lot. I’m looking forward to seeing Les Miserables. My husband doesn’t want to see it, so I’ll go without him some day. We’ll probably see Promised Land with Matt Damon.

What about you? Have you seen any shows, or do you plan to see any?