It's happened. I've had another birthday. When you get to be old balls, they come faster and faster. I thought I was going to write about something today, but then I saw this video on Facebook and couldn't not share it.

Check it out:
https://www.facebook.com/Plaizir/videos/954714707900386/

I think it's important to remind ourselves to simply Be. To remind ourselves that we're human beings and we can't do it all. To remind ourselves to take time to slow down and savor the moment rather than spend our moments thinking about what is next. To remind ourselves to take the time to be kind to one another. Because that, fully experiencing the moments of our lives and spending those moments with each other, that is what being alive really is. I hope when we are old we can all look back and know that we lived.

Hugs.

The last 6 weeks have been crazy for my writing!

1. My short story "Good Boy" (adult fiction) was accepted and published by The Magnolia Review (Link)

2. My flash fiction piece "Living" was accepted by Riding Light Review in just over an hour of sending it to the editor! This journal is available for purchase via Amazon and I'll send the link when it comes out.

3. For Books' Sake (literary journal) posted a call for submissions for pieces of Young Adult literature with strong female characters. In a month I wrote a spin off story of the novel I hope to write next about Branko and they accepted if for publication! I'm so incredibly excited. Young Adult is my dream genre. Link to come!!

I don't want to say I never thought I'd see my name in print on a book, however, I would have written all of my life and probably been OK never being published. Writing is my dream, my passion, my thing. I'm not the best. I'm not going to win any awards. But for real. Erin Darby Gesell is an author's name now. It's out there in the world and people are reading my thoughts and words. I guess, what I am saying is, whatever your thing is, do it for you. People will notice. It might take a long time, but if you do you, it'll never be time wasted. 

Hugs. 

Next time instead of counting sheep before you go to bed, count all the things you love about yourself:

I love my freckles, my muscles, my laugh, the color of my eyes. I love my ability to run and write and never give up when it’s hard or when I get rejected. I love my passion to fight for what is right. I love the way I use my voice for what I believe and that my strongest strength is compassion.

If that doesn’t work, count all the things you are thankful for:

Sunshine and animals. Water and trees. My family. My friends. Yadi and yoga. Running and my bike. Good food, chocolate, and cake. Pillows and my bed. Having a job I love and a place to call home. Hot showers and rainy nights. Good music, good books, and laughter.

You can probably go on forever. Eventually you’ll fall asleep and wake up more in love with yourself and more thankful for everything you have. That’s worth more than sheep. <3