Do You Have Any Regrets in Life? A Personal Diary Entry
Here on ReviewThisReviews, I've made several personal diary entries. My latest entry was "Everything Will Be OK." Today I'm wondering whether you have regrets in life?
I'll Go First - Do I Have Any Regrets in Life?
Yes. I have regrets. Inside, I'm a happy person; no matter the obstacles I've faced, I have been able to maintain a peaceful soul. I've had to deal with being let down multiple times by someone close to me. It hasn't been easy. I'm not one to whine, so I hope this doesn't come across as whining - I don't mean to sound like a whiner. I accept full responsibility for where I am in life. Every decision has led me here, so I'm equally responsible for the good and the bad.
There have been good days and bad days in my life - just like everyone else on earth - however, I've tolerated a lot in my life. I've been disappointed and treated without regard at times. I've gotten through it, and I've held onto myself through the drama and disrespect.
The way I've gotten through my hurt is to not become that which I rail against. Fortunately, I'm not a vengeful person or one who seeks revenge. Thank goodness for that! I know a few vindictive people, and I honestly believe that's an unhealthy way to live. However, who am I to judge. For me, I need to get as far away in behavior from the behavior that hurt me. I don't want to become that person who intentionally hurts others out of revenge.
A friend of mine once relayed this quote to me, "hurt people, hurt people." That's not who I want to be. That's not who I am.
So What Do I Do With This Regret? - What Do You Do With Yours, If You Have Any?
To say I don't struggle with it would be a lie. However, I turn the pain and the regret into something constructive. I focus on the good, and I focus on love. I know this sounds too simple, but for now, that's what I do.
We can't fix other people. They have to step up. What I've learned over the years is that I can't make that happen - the person who does the hurting has to take responsibility and, God willing, change. I'm at the point where I don't expect change and don't try to make it happen. I work on myself and send love.
If I Could Go Back in Time and Change My Destiny, Would I? Would You?
I don't know. Part of me says yes I would, then another part of me reflects on who I have become "inside," and I'm really very proud of the person I am today; strong, tenacious, forgiving, filled with love despite the hurt, compassionate, tolerate and I like to think that I'm kind. Sorry, I don't mean to toot my own horn, lol - I'm just expressing what all this pain has taught me. So I'm not sure about whether I would change my stars. Some days it's a blatant yes, but for the most part, I'm not sure.
How about you?
I've written poetry for over 50 years and put my life out there for everyone to read. My book, We Will Have Morning Smiles, is available on Amazon. I started to write at eight years old and continued through my entire life. The writing process, as those of you who write know, is therapeutic. My whole life is on display, via poems, in that book.
Here's a video poem that reflects one of the poems in my book - I think this one speaks to the topic of this article. If you're reading this via mobile, you can see it here.
Remember Who I Am - A Video Poem
In the end, I hope for the best, plan for the worst, but always hold onto who I am and keep my heart filled with love. How about you?
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Do you remember the fun you had as a child when you got given a new colouring in book? I'm sure that is part of the appeal of colouring in books for adults. The other part is that colouring in can be a fun way to alleviate stress.
Our state called a snap 3-day lockdown a couple of months ago and I was in a local discount store on that day looking for something when I noticed the printed stretched canvases waiting to be coloured in. The next thing you know they were in my shopping basket along with some felt tip pens.
As it happens the lockdown wasn't extended past the three days so I didn't need to have lots of things to keep me busy. The 3 days were long enough for me to find that I really enjoyed the colouring in.
As it happened a few things happened in the following week that I found very frustrating and that is when I discovered that colouring in was very calming for me. I started to spend a few minutes every day doing a little colouring in. For me, I felt it was like other's feel when practicing meditation (my mind doesn't like to quiet itself during meditation, but it does during colouring!).
I started to do a little colouring in every day and I really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I can't find the exact canvases that I did online. I went back to the store where I got my two canvases and the remaining ones are clearly designed for children and I found the same lack of printed canvases for adults when I looked online.
Feeling a little frustrated that perhaps my colouring in activities was going to have to change to a book or be replaced by something else I discovered another option in an unusual place - Facebook!
As I'm sure you're aware there are groups for just about anything on Facebook and I belong to quite a few of them. One group that I belong to is dedicated to a popular store here in Australia and in this group, I came across a really cool idea.
This store sells amazing black and white printed canvases with images like koalas, kookaburras, zebras, elephants and more. One day a lady in the group showed off one of the black and white koala canvases - she had coloured in the background and added some details. It was amazing.
This thread soon exploded with a plethora of images from different people across the country who had taken these prints and added colour - sometimes colouring in the images, sometimes just the background. Basically, adult colouring in just turned into designer art pieces for the home!
Allowing a little creativity into your life is a great way of balancing out the stresses in the world while having fun and I think colouring in is a great way of doing this.
Of course, if you don't feel up to tackling an entire canvas by yourself you could always look at one of the amazing colouring books for adults that are available.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
As a special treat for Halloween a few years ago, I gave my all-time favorite
trick or treater (my son) the Lego Scooby-Doo Mystery Mansion. He loves
it!
Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Daphne, Fred & Velma have been the source of
entertainment for many years in our household. All ages seem to adore them,
laugh with them, sing along with the intro music, and even call out the
question "Scooby-Doo, where are you?"
We are also fans of haunted houses! Therefore, the Scooby-Doo Mystery
Mansion was a perfect "treat" choice. Not only does the set come with
members of the Scooby-Doo gang, it also includes a ghost & a
vampire. However, there is one notable missing character and I have
given the information below on how to buy him separately.
One very unique feature of this set is the "man" eating plant, reminiscent
of the
Venus Fly Trap plant
recently reviewed by our own contributor, Raintree Annie. (You can
read her Venus Fly Trap review by
clicking here.)
This fabulous set has 860 pieces and would be a fun project for the family
on Halloween, or any time. Over the years, I have been blessed many
times by our son sitting at the dining room table, letting me sort out
pieces for him into like piles, while we talk and he builds the set. These
are memories that I cherish and I know you will too. I highly
recommend taking the time to sit with your Lego builder while he or she
works. You will discover a totally different reason to love Legos!
Lego Scooby-Doo Mystery Mansion Kit #75904
The mansion alone is awesome with it's clock tower and adjoining rooms, but
when you add the Halloween pumpkins, the black knight, a vampire, a ghost,
and the Scooby gang, you have perfection!
The set also includes a motorbike with a sidecar, the fabulous man-eating
plant with a snapping mouth, and a bunch of additional accessories including
food for our always hungry friends.
When completed, the Scooby-Doo Mystery Mansion is 14" tall, 12" wide, &
5" deep.
This Lego set is retired, therefore, you will need to search for the set on
Amazon,
Ebay or a different
secondary market. If you don't see it today, check again on a later
date. Sellers frequently add new items on Ebay. It is one of my
favorite source for retired Lego sets!
(links for Mystery Mansion (shown above) on Amazon or on Ebay)
Oddly enough, Fred was not included in this set. He can be pretty
expensive when
sold separately, so
I would recommend pairing the Mystery Mansion Lego set with the Lego
Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine Set #75902. (The following words are links to the Mystery Machine on Amazon
or
on Ebay)
The images below are linked to the sets available on Amazon.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
This was another book I downloaded from Amazon Prime and I was absolutely
captivated from page one. In this book the author, Barbara Davis, weaves
a wonderful tale of two woman decades apart whose lives are very
similar. Both have a fiance' who is missing and they fear they have
lost. Both are devastated by their tragedies and at first have trouble finding
the strength to continue on with their lives.
Soline
Soline Roussel has learned the bridal industry from her family. For
generations the family has had a bridal shop in Paris where they are well
known for the magic in their dresses that bring happy endings to the brides
who wear them. The dresses are all hand made and beautiful and Soline
learns to carefully stitch the dresses. All is well till the war comes
to Paris along with the German occupation. Dresses are no longer in
demand and Soline is pulled in many directions including working with the
resistance. Heartbreak and grief lead her to America where she starts
a new life.
Rory
Decades later Rory comes in contact with Soline when she leases Soline's
old bridal shop for a gallery for unknown artists. Rory has a tragedy
herself in a missing fiance' and a domineering mother. She is torn
between hiding and moving forward. I would love to tell more of the
story but do not want to spoil the surprise and twists and turns of the
story. Let us just say that the two women meeting will become a
turning point in both of their lives.
Other Books by this Author
I first read a book by Barbara Davis when it was an Amazon Prime
first read last year. The Last of the Moon Girls was another
book the captivated me right from the beginning. Here is a review I
wrote about it.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
October is the month that most people know is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness, but it is NOT the only disorder we should be aware of.
Every year beginning on the First of October, you will start to see ads and lots of references on Social Media about Breast Cancer and getting your mammograms done. For the women out there who have not done so yet, there is still time to book your screening before the end of the month. Prevention starts with getting that mammogram done.
I have several friends that over the years have had Breast Cancer or are still dealing with this cancer. Some, unfortunately, have also died from this disease! Do whatever you can to help prevent Breast Cancer from invading your life or that of someone you love. Encourage your gal pals to get their screening done every year! We have enough statistics already and no one wants their friends or family to join that long list.
October is also SUDEP Action Month. SUDEP is the acronym for Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy. Most unexplained deaths are subject to autopsy and when someone presents with this type of death, no other reason can be found for their demise, it is called SUDEP. Epilepsy affects 50 million people around the world. I have a young nephew who has been diagnosed with epilepsy. With medication he is living a life that is normal in most ways. He loves everything, plays sports, swims and hikes just like any other child!
Awareness and action are needed to make this neurological disorder better understood and you can also learn how to reduce your risks. If you want to know more about this here is the official website dedicated to teach everyone about this disorder!
And while we are at it, October is for SUDEP and November which is just around the corner is the official month to make people aware of Epilepsy as this disorder continues to affect many people young and old.
More October Awareness Days
October is also the month where DOMESTIC VIOLENCE is brought to the forefront. There are so many people that are suffering from violence within the home. Some is physical, while other forms of this violence might not be as noticeable. I'm talking about the mental and verbal abuse that can happen within a family.
I'm sure that there are many of us that can say we personally know someone who is in this situation. We need to encourage those who find themselves in the cycle of abuse to come out and find the help they need. Quite often friends and family of someone in a domestic abuse situation will try to help, but find themselves hitting the proverbial brick wall. When you try to help, the couple all of a sudden stand together in trying to make people believe there is no problem. Worse yet, if you step into that situation, you yourself could become the target of the violence.
Most often Domestic Abuse has the wife/mother as the recipient of the abuse, but there are also signs that Men can be abused as well. Domestic Violence in either form is not acceptable.
Domestic Abuse, especially if it involves children, cannot be tolerated, and our efforts should go to finding safe places for moms and children to be. There are websites that strive to help anyone who finds themselves in a position where violence seems to be the answer to every problem. Children as especially vulnerable to the ravages of domestic violence and there are places to get help for them too.
https://ncadv.org/2021DVAM is a great place to start your search for yourself or someone you love or know needs help. Many hospitals will have information for you as well. Don't wait to get help, it is there if you need it. In Canada you can visit the website : https://endingviolencecanada.org/about-us/
During this month of October, let us become more involved in a cause that can help so many people. If you cannot help this month, maybe making a Christmas donation to one of these causes would be something you could do. If everyone helps we can move mountains!
May you enjoy the rest of October and remember those fighting Epilepsy in November too!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
An unofficial holiday celebrated annually on October 26th.
The pumpkin is one of the main symbols of Halloween (in the U.S.) and is a central component of many fall festivals, Oktoberfests and similar celebrations. It is also delicious when served as food in a variety of ways. So it really shouldn't be a surprise that this orange squash has its own holiday.
Pumpkin Facts and Trivia
The name of this squash comes from the Greek word Pepõn – a word that means “Large Melon.”
Pumpkins are thought to have originated in North America, as seeds were found in Mexico dating back about 9,000 years.
Pumpkins and other forms of squash were an important food staple to the Native Americans.
Jack-o'-lanterns carved from pumpkins are a yearly Halloween tradition brought to the United States by Irish Immigrants. Read all about the origin of the Jack-O-Lantern here.
Pumpkin Dishes
There are many ways to cook and enjoy this squash called a Pumpkin:
Angela of Colorado hand-crochets this beautiful pumpkin in an earthy peach and creamy white stripes. It is stuffed with poly-fil, and features a birchwood stem and two faux fall leaves are secured to the pumpkin center with a dab of hot glue.
This pumpkin measures between 3” tall (4” with stem) and 15"-16” around which is approximately 4” wide. It is featured in her Etsy Shop 209 Divine, along with a variety of other holiday items.
The Pumpkin Patch
So get ready for National Pumpkin Day by visiting a pumpkin patch near you for a selection of pumpkins to cook, decorate your home for the Fall Season or carve into Jack-O-Lanterns for Halloween.
Tyler in the Pumpkin Patch
My favorite photo of a pumpkin patch was taken by my son of my grandson Tyler as a toddler on his first-ever visit to a Pumpkin Patch.
*National Pumpkin Day Review written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Whoops! Crunch! Ouch! From the "that does not sound good" to the visual inspection of "No, that is not good." And so goes the tail light or a healthy part of the tail light. Which began the search for a DIY tail light fix until the professionals can attend to the injured party.
After the inevitable google and youtube search for a tail light bandaid I decided upon the 3M lens repair tape to repair the injured party. The red part of the tail light was missing about 25 percent and it is a large tail light!
Application
The tape is very easy to apply. Simply decided upon the length and cut the tape. The tape adheres very quickly and is very sticky. If absolutely necessary (though I would not recommend) the tape can be removed after applying, but for maximum adhesion another piece of tape should be cut.
There is enough tape on the roll for a few applications which does allow room for a redo if necessary.
TIP! If you desire to trim the tape I highly suggest the tape is trimmed prior to attaching the tape to the tail light. The tape is very sticky and difficult to trim once the tape begins to adhere to the tail light. All trimming is easier accomplished after the tape is unrolled to the desired length.
Why I Chose The 3M Tape
After researching my options the 3M Lens Repair tape was highly rated with over a 4.5/5 online rating. One of the main factors is the design of the tail light. Is it rounded? The tape allows easy application for tail light fixtures that are rounded and this is key for a waterproof repair. I had looked at a repair tape that in a sheet and many reviewers mentioned - for obvious reasons- how difficult it was to make a sheet bend to fit a rounded corner.
Recommendation
The tape and what is left of the tail light is holding up well until its' repair appointment. I recommend the tape as an easy fix to keep the tail light working and sealed from the elements until a permanent fix can be installed. And yes as I found out ... the entire tail light fixture is one unit so no repairing just the red part - of course that would be too easy.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
In the October 10th, 2021 article "What to Write in a Birthday Card," I mentioned a new expansion into another area of activity books - Yep, it's Word Search Books.
Since October 2019, my journey into the self-publishing world has been, shall we say, intense. I'm not going to pretend that self-publishing is easy; however, the more research you do and the more books you publish, the easier it gets.
Why Word Search Books?
I've been writing riddles and publishing them in books since 2019 and recently decided that it's time to expand out into another type of activity book.
The reason for expanding my self-publishing horizons is to have enough topics to reach the initial goal of 100 books published. There's a long way to go! The Christmas Word Search book puts my current publishing total at 11 books.
Another reason for expanding into word search books is that I was looking for fun, activity-driven books. Given the world's never-ending problems, I want to continue contributing to the "light, love, and learning" side of life.
What's The Christmas Word Search Book About?
It's precisely what it states; word search puzzles about Christmas. It's been written with the entire family in mind and is good clean fun for adults and kids. I would say kids over eight years old could tackle some of these puzzles.
Features one puzzle per page
Each puzzle covers a separate Christmas related topic
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Twenty years ago, while Paul Copeland was a counselor at a summer camp, his
sister and three other teens disappeared into the woods surrounding the camp.
Two were found murdered; the other two were never seen again. The event
changed the lives of four families forever.
Today, Paul (called by his nickname Cope) is now a prosecutor in Essex
County, New Jersey. His mourning of the loss of his sister has only just
begun to subside. He keeps busy with his job and raising his six-year-old
daughter as a single father after his wife died of cancer. His busy life
distracts him from his past traumas.
But when a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to Cope, the
well-buried family secrets are threatened.
Is it possible that the homicide victim is one of the campers who
disappeared with his sister? If so, where has he been all these years?
And is it possible that his sister could be alive?
Cope left so much behind that summer 20 years ago ~ his first love, Lucy,
his mother who abandoned the family, and the secrets that his Russian
parents might have been hiding even from their own children.
Summary
Which is better – secrets that are best left in the dark or truths that
should be brought to light? A dilemma the reader will find themselves in as
they near the end of the story.
The Woods is a
suspenseful and compelling story with bizarre plot twists by best-selling
author, Harlan Coben. It is definitely a page-turner.
More Harlan Coben Book Reviews found on ReviewThisBooks
*The Woods – a book review written by Wednesday Elf
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
Sometimes you pick up a book and know you are going to love the plot from
the very beginning. That was the case for me with
Full Steam Ahead by Karen Witemeyer.
I want to start this review by saying that I don't think the cover does this book justice. It looks too whimsical in my opinion for a story that is not silly or juvenile. I almost didn't read this book because of the cover image, but since I am familiar with the author, I trust her to provide an excellent story. I am really glad I ignored my first impression based on the picture and read the book. Frankly, I was rather sorry when it ended and I found out there isn't a second book to continue their story.
The book is set in 1851, but begins with a prologue that is essential to the plot. It is
about a catastrophic event in 1849 that changes the course of Darius Thornton's life
which puts him right in the path of Nicole Renard, who is also experiencing
unexpected life changes.
You can read the entire prologue by clicking here and opening the "look inside" tab at the top of the book image.
Full Steam Ahead Synopsis
Full Steam AheadNicole Renard is summoned home before the end of the school year due to her
father's deteriorating health. When thieves break into their home and threaten her parents, an unusual plan is made to secure the family's future and fortune.
Nicole's father needs an heir for his business. While his beloved daughter is smart enough to run his business, she is not a man. Therefore, he needs her to get married before he dies. Since he previously agreed to allow her to choose her own husband, an arranged marriage is out of the question. However, he believes if he sends her to New Orleans, she can choose a husband from his business acquaintances and their sons. After all, it is preferred that she marry someone knowledgeable about the shipping business since he will not have time to teach them.
Because they know the brothers who broke into their home, they want to secretly get Nicole on a ship bound for New Orleans. However, when they discover the men are watching the docks, Nicole leaves her luggage behind and jumps on a boat headed to Liberty using an assumed name. She believes she can book passage to New Orleans once she arrives in Liberty. However, once she is there, she realizes she doesn't have money for a ticket to New Orleans. Therefore, she needs a temporary job and is eventually hired as a secretary by Darius Thornton, a man who the whole town believes is quite mad because he has spent the last year blowing things up.
Casting all caution and warnings aside, Nicole moves full steam ahead!
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
