Eva Pasco's Blog - Posts Tagged "gratitude"
In Gratitude for “Enough”
One who knows firsthand how life can turn on a dime so things are no longer quite the same, I’ve learned to pivot from the notion “this is as good as it gets”.
A pragmatist, cynic, and skeptic rolled into one, I’m grounded in gratitude for the blessings of having “enough”.
Since money is the great enabler, having enough enables me to take care of the bare necessities: paying bills, putting food on the table, filling up the gas tank and maintaining my vehicle.
Without going off the deep end, having enough allows me to indulge in superfluous, simple pleasures I never take for granted: going to breakfast or lunch; having fresh flowers in a vase on my dining room table at all times; getting my hair styled at the salon.
An Indie author who dreams of becoming a best-seller, it’s enough for me to sell a book every now and then. I’m filled with pride and gratitude for each merit badge my books have earned for their literary merit.
Retired, I’m grateful for having enough time to ply my creativity to white space for my work in progress to grow in spurts. As for my imagination—I’ve more than enough to further this novel in the genre of Contemporary to the end.
Eva’s Byte #219 – My Glorious Declarations
With the Fourth forthcoming, Americans will proudly celebrate Independence Day commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress. That 243-yr.-old document, particularly its second sentence, makes a profound statement about human rights:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
On a grand scale, I do not take lightly, these precious endowments which endure, thanks to the sacrifices those in our military have made since the American Revolutionary War.
On a miniscule scale, to ward off the “mean reds” Holly Golightly alludes to in the flim 'Breakfast at Tiffany’s', my glorious declarations are cited in gratitude for fostering my freedom via independence and autonomy. It goes without saying that life can turn on a dime, predisposing us to redefine our pursuits of happiness.
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah for:
Good health: mine and my family’s—including my two elderly cats.
Get-togethers with cousins.
My keen mind—at least I think it is.
The joy of writing novels at my own pace for publication.
My vehicle’s reliability for me to navigate where I need to go.
Laundry service: rain, sleet, or snow.
Maintenance on the premises, ready to repair or replace an item with short notice.
The affordable luxury of maintaining regular appointments at my hair salon and day spa.
Procuring what was needed, I survived the DMV in obtaining a Real ID.
No need for me to go overboard; you get the picture.
“Fourth-Coming”—feel free to glorify an overlooked reason for gratitude in your pursuit of happiness.
Eva’s Byte #330 – The Reprieve
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” Cynthia Ozick
While I’m grateful for many things on a daily basis, I become more appreciative of electrical power when stormy weather threatens to snatch it away via downed trees and snapped utility poles. Such was the case when tropical storm – category one hurricane – tropical storm Henri battered the Northeast with brutal winds and heavy rain on Sunday, knocking out power for most of coastal Rhode Island.
Up to and including the aftermath of Henri, I got busy on my desktop computer with proofreading, editing, and revising the finished draft of my Contemporary work in progress. Bracing myself for a power outage at any moment, I saved my work every couple of minutes. As a result of keeping my nose to the grindstone, I had covered ground from chapters 11 through 23, progressing to Part 2. I’m now approaching the halfway mark of my novel.
Had the storm stopped me in my tracks, I would have worked on crossword puzzles and would have written this blog in longhand. It wouldn’t be the first time: Eva’s Byte # 133: Weathering a Storm—Longhand.
While I’m grateful for the reprieve so I could continue working in my capacity as an author, I’m especially grateful because my refrigerator and freezer weren’t adversely affected. That wasn’t the case for thousands of Rhode Islanders, now expected to have their power by mid-day of Wednesday.
Compared to the destruction of major cataclysms and the devastation of war, these hardships wrought by a hurricane just passing through are short-lived in the grand scheme of life.
*May each of us pivot from optimism and gratitude during storms of any nature.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
While I’m grateful for many things on a daily basis, I become more appreciative of electrical power when stormy weather threatens to snatch it away via downed trees and snapped utility poles. Such was the case when tropical storm – category one hurricane – tropical storm Henri battered the Northeast with brutal winds and heavy rain on Sunday, knocking out power for most of coastal Rhode Island.
Up to and including the aftermath of Henri, I got busy on my desktop computer with proofreading, editing, and revising the finished draft of my Contemporary work in progress. Bracing myself for a power outage at any moment, I saved my work every couple of minutes. As a result of keeping my nose to the grindstone, I had covered ground from chapters 11 through 23, progressing to Part 2. I’m now approaching the halfway mark of my novel.
Had the storm stopped me in my tracks, I would have worked on crossword puzzles and would have written this blog in longhand. It wouldn’t be the first time: Eva’s Byte # 133: Weathering a Storm—Longhand.
While I’m grateful for the reprieve so I could continue working in my capacity as an author, I’m especially grateful because my refrigerator and freezer weren’t adversely affected. That wasn’t the case for thousands of Rhode Islanders, now expected to have their power by mid-day of Wednesday.
Compared to the destruction of major cataclysms and the devastation of war, these hardships wrought by a hurricane just passing through are short-lived in the grand scheme of life.
*May each of us pivot from optimism and gratitude during storms of any nature.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva’s Byte #343 – Home Sweet Home
Those who celebrate Thanksgiving are either homeward bound, or homebound in preparation for hosting a holiday dinner. For many, Thanksgiving affords us a rare opportunity to rub elbows with those we hardly see during the year. It also might not be a bad idea to reconcile differences if we have any.
The First Thanksgiving in 1621 was basically a three-day celebration of a successful harvest. This year, in 2021, with all the hype about a turkey shortage, and price hikes for stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and just about anything else that’s edible, we’d do well to focus on giving thanks for the food on our table. And, home, wherever that may be. So many do not have the luxury of a roof over their head.
Essentially, home is where the heart is—our happy place where love and warmth reside.
As the passage of time brings about changes in the dynamics at the dinner table, my heart has become home for hosting Thanksgiving memories of yesteryear.
I’m grateful for the wisdom that comes with aging. It has empowered me to overlook minor inconveniences, seek new adventures, and delight in fresh discoveries.
*As we reflect on things to be grateful for, may health and happiness abound within the comfort of home sweet home.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
The First Thanksgiving in 1621 was basically a three-day celebration of a successful harvest. This year, in 2021, with all the hype about a turkey shortage, and price hikes for stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and just about anything else that’s edible, we’d do well to focus on giving thanks for the food on our table. And, home, wherever that may be. So many do not have the luxury of a roof over their head.
Essentially, home is where the heart is—our happy place where love and warmth reside.
As the passage of time brings about changes in the dynamics at the dinner table, my heart has become home for hosting Thanksgiving memories of yesteryear.
I’m grateful for the wisdom that comes with aging. It has empowered me to overlook minor inconveniences, seek new adventures, and delight in fresh discoveries.
*As we reflect on things to be grateful for, may health and happiness abound within the comfort of home sweet home.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva’s Byte #353 – A Sigh of Relief!
I’m one of nearly 11 million along the East Coast who battened down the hatches on January 29th during a blizzard which dumped up to 25 inches of snow in the throes of powerful wind gusts.
While anxiety-ridden for most of the 24-hour period, I breathed a sigh of relief that I didn’t lose power during temperatures plummeting from 25 to 8 degrees by the following morning. That morning, I breathed another sigh of relief when I discovered there was hardly any snow to remove from my vehicle. The wind gusts had worked favorably in blowing the light, fluffy snow elsewhere. Yet another sigh of relief escaped me when I didn’t have to grapple with frozen door locks.
Sighs of relief, for whatever reason, remind me of a literary denouement: a resolution to a dramatic complication. Speaking for myself—my overactive imagination often creates my own dilemmas.
In the capacity of a writer, my runaway imagination is an asset, often running ahead of me as I draft my Contemporary work in progress. I completed Chapter 6 (1571 words) which is fraught with dramatic complications. Far from resolving anything just yet, I did breathe a sigh of relief for having satisfied my inner critic who will hound me throughout Chapter 7.
*May our sighs of relief accompany a feeling of comfort in the wake of real or self-induced anxiety.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
While anxiety-ridden for most of the 24-hour period, I breathed a sigh of relief that I didn’t lose power during temperatures plummeting from 25 to 8 degrees by the following morning. That morning, I breathed another sigh of relief when I discovered there was hardly any snow to remove from my vehicle. The wind gusts had worked favorably in blowing the light, fluffy snow elsewhere. Yet another sigh of relief escaped me when I didn’t have to grapple with frozen door locks.
Sighs of relief, for whatever reason, remind me of a literary denouement: a resolution to a dramatic complication. Speaking for myself—my overactive imagination often creates my own dilemmas.
In the capacity of a writer, my runaway imagination is an asset, often running ahead of me as I draft my Contemporary work in progress. I completed Chapter 6 (1571 words) which is fraught with dramatic complications. Far from resolving anything just yet, I did breathe a sigh of relief for having satisfied my inner critic who will hound me throughout Chapter 7.
*May our sighs of relief accompany a feeling of comfort in the wake of real or self-induced anxiety.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva’s Byte #362 – At Last
I found a dream, that I could speak to
A dream that I can call my own
(“At Last” by Etta James – Released: 1960)
At this point in time I received an email from Carl Hoffman, the founder and webmaster of The Sixties Official Site, now celebrating 16 years on the web. He wrote to let me know there was a dedication to me on April’s Soundtrack of the 60s with Neal Stevens. Sure enough, the dedication accompanied the same song I’d requested, probably ten years ago, when Carl asked for the members to contribute the title of their favorite song for a Neal Stevens soundtrack composite.
“At Last” by Etta James…
From the Prologue of my nonfiction memoir collection, 100 Wild Mushrooms: Memoirs of the ‘60s, which bespeaks of one dream I can call my own:
A newly published author in 2008, I prioritized increasing my visibility, while adding to my credibility, by binge-writing my way out of obscurity. Having grown up during the Sixties, I drew upon those experiences to write my first memoir, “A Mini Tribute to Twiggy,” and submitted it for publication at The Sixties Official Site. When the webmaster graciously invited me to write more, and offered to set up my own page there, I eagerly accepted and turned out a memoir every week for approximately two years, contributing 100 in total…
In the here and now, I still cherish the honor of being an integral part of the “Baby Boomer’s Top Choice Sixties Website” via a page where my Retro ‘60s Flashbacks continue to flash.
http://www.the60sofficialsite.com/
*May the fruition of our dreams lead to fulfillment.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
A dream that I can call my own
(“At Last” by Etta James – Released: 1960)
At this point in time I received an email from Carl Hoffman, the founder and webmaster of The Sixties Official Site, now celebrating 16 years on the web. He wrote to let me know there was a dedication to me on April’s Soundtrack of the 60s with Neal Stevens. Sure enough, the dedication accompanied the same song I’d requested, probably ten years ago, when Carl asked for the members to contribute the title of their favorite song for a Neal Stevens soundtrack composite.
“At Last” by Etta James…
From the Prologue of my nonfiction memoir collection, 100 Wild Mushrooms: Memoirs of the ‘60s, which bespeaks of one dream I can call my own:
A newly published author in 2008, I prioritized increasing my visibility, while adding to my credibility, by binge-writing my way out of obscurity. Having grown up during the Sixties, I drew upon those experiences to write my first memoir, “A Mini Tribute to Twiggy,” and submitted it for publication at The Sixties Official Site. When the webmaster graciously invited me to write more, and offered to set up my own page there, I eagerly accepted and turned out a memoir every week for approximately two years, contributing 100 in total…
In the here and now, I still cherish the honor of being an integral part of the “Baby Boomer’s Top Choice Sixties Website” via a page where my Retro ‘60s Flashbacks continue to flash.
http://www.the60sofficialsite.com/
*May the fruition of our dreams lead to fulfillment.
My sincere appreciation if you’ve read this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: https://tinyurl.com/yycm7d2w
Eva’s Byte #394 – Bringing it to the Table
I’d recently revisited the original 1940 film based on John Steinbeck’s 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath. Set during the Great Depression, the film details the arduous journey of the Joad family. Dust-bowl sharecroppers, they migrate from Oklahoma to California in search of fruit-picking opportunities.
Purportedly, mechanization and migration had put an end to the sharecropping system by the 1960s, even though some forms of tenant farming still exist. As of November 5, 2022, the average annual pay for a migrant worker in the United States is $43,036 a year.
With Thanksgiving cropping up, my eyes have opened wider to better appreciate what cannot be seen to be grateful for. Just as food brings folks to the table on any given holiday, there are plenty of folks who bring food to that table in addition to farmers and cattle ranchers:
Seasonal fruit pickers, distributors, retailers, truckers, produce managers, stock clerks, cashiers/baggers. And, the list goes on.
Despite rising prices and scarcity of staples, I’m grateful for anticipating a turkey dinner with plenty of trimmings and pies, thanks to the countless number of folks who bring food to the table.
In my capacity of a writer, I’m in plot-wise sync with the upcoming holidays as I continue to draft my Contemporary work in progress. Over the river and through the woods I go, wending along Chapter 23 (686 words thus far).
*Wishing everyone a bountiful Thanksgiving at the table and away from it.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Purportedly, mechanization and migration had put an end to the sharecropping system by the 1960s, even though some forms of tenant farming still exist. As of November 5, 2022, the average annual pay for a migrant worker in the United States is $43,036 a year.
With Thanksgiving cropping up, my eyes have opened wider to better appreciate what cannot be seen to be grateful for. Just as food brings folks to the table on any given holiday, there are plenty of folks who bring food to that table in addition to farmers and cattle ranchers:
Seasonal fruit pickers, distributors, retailers, truckers, produce managers, stock clerks, cashiers/baggers. And, the list goes on.
Despite rising prices and scarcity of staples, I’m grateful for anticipating a turkey dinner with plenty of trimmings and pies, thanks to the countless number of folks who bring food to the table.
In my capacity of a writer, I’m in plot-wise sync with the upcoming holidays as I continue to draft my Contemporary work in progress. Over the river and through the woods I go, wending along Chapter 23 (686 words thus far).
*Wishing everyone a bountiful Thanksgiving at the table and away from it.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Eva’s Byte #416 – A Good Day
At this point in time, the film title, As Good As It Gets, has become my mantra in greeting the dawn of each new day.
Consequently, it doesn’t take much for me to label any given 24-hour lifespan “a good day.”
For instance:
Since the recent surge of COVID cases at my mother’s place of residence, it’s always a good day when she tells me her test was negative. Until it wasn’t.
Last Friday was a good day when I topped off my gas tank before the price went up 10 cents per gallon the day after.
It’s a good day when I can find an abundance of fresh produce at my local supermarket.
It was a good day when a lottery ticket given to me as a gift, netted $20!
I’ve found that good days are all the more precious when they represent victories
achieved from winning a battle no one knows you’re fighting.
A long time coming, it was a great day in the capacity of a writer when I finished drafting chapter 30 (1782 words)—the end of Part 1 in my Contemporary work in progress. I’ve now begun drafting Part 2, chapter 31 (202 words thus far).
*May each of us have a good day that exceeds our expectations.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Consequently, it doesn’t take much for me to label any given 24-hour lifespan “a good day.”
For instance:
Since the recent surge of COVID cases at my mother’s place of residence, it’s always a good day when she tells me her test was negative. Until it wasn’t.
Last Friday was a good day when I topped off my gas tank before the price went up 10 cents per gallon the day after.
It’s a good day when I can find an abundance of fresh produce at my local supermarket.
It was a good day when a lottery ticket given to me as a gift, netted $20!
I’ve found that good days are all the more precious when they represent victories
achieved from winning a battle no one knows you’re fighting.
A long time coming, it was a great day in the capacity of a writer when I finished drafting chapter 30 (1782 words)—the end of Part 1 in my Contemporary work in progress. I’ve now begun drafting Part 2, chapter 31 (202 words thus far).
*May each of us have a good day that exceeds our expectations.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Eva’s Byte #426 – Spare Change
“You can’t understand someone until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes.”
(Purportedly the source of this American saying is lost to history)
This quote rewinds itself during my drive along a certain major thoroughfare on the outskirts of the city where several downtrodden and disenfranchised people dot the sidewalks. As the chasm splitting the haves from the have-nots grows wider, I’m reminded how life can turn on a dime for any one of us with a roof over our head and wheels beneath our feet to start walking a mile in their shoes.
According to Crossroads, Rhode Island—each year, about 4,000 men, women, and children experience homelessness.
Last week, I happened to catch one of the red lights on North Main Street. I tend to keep my eyes straight ahead out of respect for those sitting or standing by the wayside with their worldly possessions. Idling in my vehicle diagonally across from a Dollar Store, my field of vision captured an image which will remain etched in my brain forever, and for the better.
A disheveled gentleman who appeared to be as down on his luck as the next person in the vicinity, exited the store. Rummaging in his jacket pocket, he took a few seconds to scrounge up spare change for a panhandler sitting on the ground near the door.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m at the tail end of drafting Chapter 36 (1292 words thus far) along my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us continue to appreciate what can easily be taken for granted.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
(Purportedly the source of this American saying is lost to history)
This quote rewinds itself during my drive along a certain major thoroughfare on the outskirts of the city where several downtrodden and disenfranchised people dot the sidewalks. As the chasm splitting the haves from the have-nots grows wider, I’m reminded how life can turn on a dime for any one of us with a roof over our head and wheels beneath our feet to start walking a mile in their shoes.
According to Crossroads, Rhode Island—each year, about 4,000 men, women, and children experience homelessness.
Last week, I happened to catch one of the red lights on North Main Street. I tend to keep my eyes straight ahead out of respect for those sitting or standing by the wayside with their worldly possessions. Idling in my vehicle diagonally across from a Dollar Store, my field of vision captured an image which will remain etched in my brain forever, and for the better.
A disheveled gentleman who appeared to be as down on his luck as the next person in the vicinity, exited the store. Rummaging in his jacket pocket, he took a few seconds to scrounge up spare change for a panhandler sitting on the ground near the door.
In the capacity of a writer, I’m at the tail end of drafting Chapter 36 (1292 words thus far) along my Contemporary work in progress.
*May each of us continue to appreciate what can easily be taken for granted.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
Eva’s Byte #447 – Do You Hear What I Hear?
And, do you read between the lines of dialogue?
It’s the writer’s social conscience to delve below the surface of the human condition.
The other day:
Turned off by the commercialization of holidays which capitalizes on spending as opposed to the rightful emphasis on spirituality and extending goodwill to humankind, I overheard a supermarket conversation that roasted my chestnuts over an open fire.
Insensitive to the narrow dividing line between the haves and have-nots, two people in a checkout lane expounded, loud and proud, over the number of people expected to gather at their respective Thanksgiving feasts.
In stark contrast to the illusion of abundance for all, food pantries can’t stock supplies fast enough to accommodate those in need. Then, by choice or by circumstance, many will spend Thanksgiving Day alone.
In the capacity of a writer, I finished drafting chapter 45 (1787 words) along the last lap of my Contemporary work in progress. I’ve begun composing chapter 46 (200 words thus far).
*In gratitude, may each of us be thankful for life’s bare-bones necessities which are hard to come by for many.
All the other stuff is just gravy.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
It’s the writer’s social conscience to delve below the surface of the human condition.
The other day:
Turned off by the commercialization of holidays which capitalizes on spending as opposed to the rightful emphasis on spirituality and extending goodwill to humankind, I overheard a supermarket conversation that roasted my chestnuts over an open fire.
Insensitive to the narrow dividing line between the haves and have-nots, two people in a checkout lane expounded, loud and proud, over the number of people expected to gather at their respective Thanksgiving feasts.
In stark contrast to the illusion of abundance for all, food pantries can’t stock supplies fast enough to accommodate those in need. Then, by choice or by circumstance, many will spend Thanksgiving Day alone.
In the capacity of a writer, I finished drafting chapter 45 (1787 words) along the last lap of my Contemporary work in progress. I’ve begun composing chapter 46 (200 words thus far).
*In gratitude, may each of us be thankful for life’s bare-bones necessities which are hard to come by for many.
All the other stuff is just gravy.
My sincere appreciation to you for reading this far.
Eva’s Authors Den Page: http://www.authorsden.com/evapasco
