Prison – A Haiku
self-imposed is
the prison holding me now
I long to be free
If you or anyone you know is suicidal, please contact your local help centers or call 1-800-273-8255. Please get help. The world is a better place with you in it.
Tag Archives: help
Anger And Gratitude
the anger behind
that sweet smile you always show
is reserved for me
Domestic abuse – a reality many women – and men – experience in their relationship. The fear of those who supposed to be caring for us, making our homes a nightmare, instead of a safe haven is real, and never the fault of the abused.
Why am I choosing to write about domestic violence in a blog post that usually features “Celebrate The Small Things” and “Thankful Thursday”? Because I am thankful to be one of those women who do not have to live in fear, but I am also aware that this puts me in the situation to choose to ignore the plight of others, or do something about it.
While donating to organisations that assist domestic violence victims might not seem a lot, it is something many of us who live a comfortable and safe life can do. Just because we do not experience this type of environment, does not mean we can let ourselves be numb to those who suffer.
But, I am going to add this for my most eager readers, you should NEVER get directly involved. Domestic violence perpetrators are violent and dangerous, making anyone in their way a target just as much as the actual target they desire. If you suspect anyone you know being abused, or know that they are in need of help, look for local resources they can contact, or call them yourself, and ask them what actions they suggest for the abused to take. Those professionals are trained to assist victims and keep them safe, something that you and I are not.
If you are looking for organisations that help battered spouses, check out the following links:
Women helping battered women
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Leaving Abuse
This blog post is a part of the following blog hops:
Thankful Thursday (Pepi Smart Dog)
The above art piece “Anger” is available on RedBubble, and I am donating 20 % of profits of this digital art piece to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Thank you for your support.
My Love/Hate Relationship With Fall Premiere Week(s)
I love entertainment – may it be in a book or via the small and large screen, it is where my soul and heart lies. Creating my own stories, small and large, has given me a deep appreciation of the art of bringing stories to life. So every year, I am looking forward to discovering what is new to arrive – what new characters I can connect with, and what new stories make my heart pound just a little faster. I am looking forward to getting lost in them, their pace, different from our lives, and merge with the fabric of the story in front of me (if it is good one, that is).
There are just too darn many good stories on television this year.
Trying not to get sucked into this world I adore, too much, is the plight of someone who works from home, on her own schedule. I do not have anyone looking over my shoulder, deadlines are those of my own making, may it be for my writing, or for my designs. Yet the pull is strong, and I usually allow myself a little leeway during these few days of discovering pilots, but whatever happened to just one pilot week? I am counting three weeks now!
Time to eliminate some of the contenders, but which ones?
Minority Report already made space for the interesting and faced paced Blindspot. Apparently other people thought the same, considering that the second week viewing dropped by 17 %.
Limitless might not be limitless in its ability to keep my attention. If it would not have been for the little twist at the end of this week’s episode – no I will not tell you, watch it yourself – , I would tell you, that I am not watching it next week. Now I have to. For now.
Quantico has potential, but will it live up to what it can be? At least it does not compete with the middle week frenzy, like some of the other shows that are premiering this week – I am looking at you, Code Black!
So what are your favorite shows of this season so far? Have you decide to abstain from television (I commend you) completely or are you just watching your favorites from last year(s), like Criminal Minds or Castle?
Have a wonderful day!
Claudia
Best Blog For Zazzle Designers – A Sunday Blog Share
Apparently I am late to the party, but this morning I saw a hashtag trending that intrigued me: #SundayBlogShare. I find the concept of either sharing one’s own blog or sharing a blog, others might not have read before, a pretty cool idea. A few minutes later, I ran across a blog that is a huge resource for any designer, and artist thinking about using Zazzle as a way to market their art.
Called “All About Zazzle” is a highly interesting and informational blog about all of the details of creating your best Zazzle experience, from how to set up your store, to how to use the different features. This blog is sadly no longer updated but has a wealth of information that no Zazzle designer should forgo. Check it out!
Which blog would you recommend as a must read? Why do you find it valuable? Let us know! Oh, and if you have a blog about designing on Zazzle, RedBubble or any other aspect of living as an Artist of any kind, share your blogs link in the comment section. I am planning on featuring a few blogs that are assets to creative people of all kinds.
Four Quick Writing Tips
Here is a quick list of four writing tips you might find useful:
# 1
# 2
# 3
# 4
Fierce and independent blessings!
Claudia
Rescue Me – A Flash Fiction Love Story
His eyes.
It had been his eyes, I had fallen in love with. A mixture of endless blue, with a hint of sadness, that made me want to reach out to him, heal whatever scars he had lived in his relatively short live.
I held my breath, every time I saw him, hoping, wishing and longing for that, what was not supposed to be. After all, I was his boss, he worked for me.
But the quietness of his gentle being had broken something free in me, a boldness that surprised me. I had to take a chance. the hell with the consequences.
I broke all of the rules, and broke through his shell, with every moment we spent together, one brick of the thick wall he had built, to keep everyone out, at a disappeared, until he stood in front of me, raw, open, vulnerable, but the strongest man I had ever known.
His passion and boldness came as a surprise, a welcome one, the sadness in those blue eyes changing to a loving confidence, as he became for me, what I thought I would be for him.
A healer from past scars, my shelter, my rock.
Rescuing me.
Copyright Claudia H. Blanton 2014
Check out the following cool bloggers:
http://abozdar.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/pensive/
http://dragoneystory.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/rose-dancing-in-the-wind/
http://tuckedintoacorner.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/a-block-of-words/
http://epentesi.wordpress.com/2014/08/06/writers-block-party/
Book Review: Optimal Living 360 by Sanjay Jain
Title: Optimal Living 360 – Smart Decision Making For A Balanced Life
Author: Sanjay Jain
Genre: Non-fiction/ Self-Help
Publisher: Green Leaf Book Group Press
Release Date: February 3rd 2014
Rating: 2.5/5
Optimal Living 360 is a very right brain, analytical self-help book that is set up more mathematical and clinical then emotional, which does not work for me.
This book is very detailed workbook with practical advice for those who look for a more structured approach to the self-help process. Filled with facts, it attempts to assist you in every aspect of your life, and considering the space of one book, it does fall short of doing so. No one single book can take on every aspect of living, in enough detail to touch more then the basics, even if it brought forth in such a straight forward way. Because of that, the Author fails in delivering the promise of a major overhaul.
Lazed with personal anecdotes that seem a little out of place in this volume, the writer attempts to connect with the reader by giving the “been there, done that” feel, but it feels forced, because it does not fit with the straight forward, right-brain formula approach of the rest of the book, and therefore seems as if an editor/publisher asked to have that added, rather then a natural development of the Author’s voice.
Overall someone who wants a basic outline of multiple aspects of life-improvement, without the depth of an expert in the individual and complex subjects such as diet, will find some useful information in this book. It is not your typical self-help volume, which will serve some readers who are looking for a different approach. But it is not for me, lacking in depth, in the ability to convince me of the sincerity of the Author or in the attempt of such a large subject matter in a single volume.
I am reviewing this book for NetGalley, who provided me with a copy.
Avalon-Media - A LifeStyle Blog 