A Few of My Favorites...
It's my birthday week here at Whiskers on Kittens, and since my husband is landside for the occasion, I've given myself grace enough not to have a deadline for a post. Rather, I have decided to compile several previous posts that I believe will be an encouragement to you.
These posts are among my favorites, ones that I personally revisit in order to encourage myself when the going gets tough. And let's be honest, the going has gotten rather tough of late.
I'm including a smattering, too. While several of the pieces I've selected will have a more serious bent, I've also chosen some lighthearted posts, too. Ones that I hope will make you smile, perhaps even laugh.
Encouragement through the Tough Times
Nothing says encouraging like suffering. Am I right?
This post helped me to think about suffering in a totally different light. It's not what you may think. I'm not advocating self-flagellation or anything of that kind. Through a little etymological background, we see that suffering's root comes from that same root that patience does. And while we may not like those times which we feel like we are suffering, it is precisely in those times that our greatest growth can take place. If you've been having a hard time of it, if you've been wondering if there's a light at the end of the tunnel, please, take some time today and read through Why We Need to Suffer. I believe it will truly encourage you.
Within each of us, we possess a potent weapon. It is singular and unique to each person. As with any weapon, if we wish to be proficient with it, we must learn to maintain and operate it properly. Ready. Aim. Fire. is all about why this personal weapon is of such importance and how to utilize it for your greatest potential.
This guest post is one which I return to because it contains a wealth of wisdom garnered from childhood lessons. As I'm reading a great deal more children's books, I am heartened to see the lessons imparted at such an early age, lessons that will carrying even us world-weary adults through the ups and downs of life's journey. Holding up this literary mirror will help us each view The Hero’s Journey we walk in our own lives.
This is an oldie but goodie here at Whiskers. It's one that I have only recently revisited, but am so happy that I did. Firstly, it's got a great message. Secondly, it's a lot of fun for several reasons, one of them being Keanu Reeves and all his coolness. And thirdly, it's a great little rabbit hole to take you to several other posts at Whiskers that will leave you feeling better than when you started. Make It Happen is a good one to read through today or any other day.
Taking a Break
Selah Moments may be one of my all time favorite posts. Seriously. This post is so full of such personal revelation that it continue to astound me that I wrote it. I return here because the reminder of what Selah means has such bearing on my life today. I need this post. I need this reminder. I think you may, too.
The Caesura Effect harkens back to my teaching days. I love when you see a truth repeated over and over. This post explored how the need to slow down is preeminent for our well-being and personal growth. We need to slow down for so many reasons, and this post not only discusses them, but also has some great video examples to boot.
Etymological Fun— Yes, I do actually mean FUN
The originations of some of our readily used phrases has always been an interest to me. This post is focused on phrases that include common food items used at breakfast. The topic is light and just the perfect foam to top a morning London Fog latte or Cappuccino. I also happen to truly enjoy the title Breakfast at Whiskers as it’s such a delightful play on the Truman Capote novel and Audrey Hepburn film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
The English language is chock full of silly words. And while they are ridiculous, they are also wonderful to pepper throughout our discourse. This post highlights a handful of whimsical words that will make you smile that they simply exist, and, if you’re like me, make you giddy that you get to use them. So, if you’re looking for some malarky then check out Let’s Talk Nonsense.
Having a Bachelor in Fine Arts, suffice it to say that I really love colors. I remember my Color Theory class being a particular favorite as I learned about the nuances of how colors relate to one another. This post deals with colors, yes, but specifically their impact of language. So, change up the pact and check out Colorful Language.
Favorite Reads
This was one of the first Books to Love posts up at Whiskers on Kittens, but the books encountered here are still amongst my favorites. I truly enjoy historical fiction. And while that doesn’t always mean that the books are chock full of historically true tidbits, the ones listed in Transport Me Historically are a good starting point if you’ve never given historical fiction much of a shot.
While I am not recommending any one book here, this Lines to Love is positively full of reading recommendations from the Baroness Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel Series to Lauren Willig’s Pink Carnation Series. Between those two, there is ample reading material, all of which will leave you thoroughly satisfied. They are all among my favorites.
I taught Shakespeare for many years. In those years, I developed a deep and abiding love for his play The Merchant of Venice. Of all the plays, it’s actually the one I find myself quoting the most. So May the Outward Shows is a post that takes an in depth look at one of my favorite portions of that play. I believe there is a great deal of truth to be found in these lines.
My Writing
One of the main reasons that I started Whiskers was to have an outlet for my writing. I’m in the process of completing two books- one which is being edited and the other which is awaiting the completion of the first draft. Your Book is How Long? is an introduction into my who I am and my writing journey. While becoming a full time mom has put this goal on the back burner for a bit, I still take pride in my work. In the course of Whiskers on Kittens, I’ve published several short stories. While I love all of them, there are those that have a truly special place in my heart.
Something’s Gotta Give is a vignette. Three of the characters in it can be found in my first book, albeit as minor characters. However, because authors spend a great deal of time thinking about all the nuances of each of their characters, it’s no surprise that even the minor ones become major in our minds. Something’s Gotta Give is a little slice in the life of those minor ones. It’s nothing serious- a little funny, a little steamy.
I’ve always found short stories difficult to write. I tend to want to go for long stories with rich character development. However, from time to time, a short story idea will present itself. In the case of The Problem with Greatness, I was sitting in the passenger seat of our F-250 pick-up truck when the first line just dropped into my mind. The problem with greatness was having to sit next to it in its expensive sports car, especially when greatness was sulking, which was the only description for Leif Reinhardt’s current attitude. From that point on, I was one a role. It started out as a few vignettes between characters. However, I knew that there was something more here. Something worthy of a story but not a book. Presented in three parts, each portion from the perspective of a different character, here’s The Problem with Greatness.
Opera - I promise, it’s not boring
See, you can have your cake and eat it, too. In Mission: Impossible: Rogue Nation, there’s a rather fantastic scene in the middle of it that is so deliciously sophisticated and beautiful, it was demanded a post. This is that post. I promise you, it will make an opera lover out of an action buff and an action buff out of an opera lover. It’s that good. As Ethan Hunt says in the film, if you want drama, go to the opera. Particularly Mission:Impossible and the Opera.
My absolute favorite operetta is The New Moon. Bar none. It’s in English, so it’s easy to follow. Not everything is sung as it is in an opera, so it’s more palatable to the layperson. And the music is divine. So achingly beautiful. And as is the way of operettas, it has a happy ending. In my book, that’s a musical success on every level. Opera to Love: The New Moon is full of the songs that make this operetta so wonderful.
What is it about opera that makes people love it so much? Is it the music solely? I purport that it is as Ethan Hunt says, the drama. Opera is definitely dramatic. Opera to Love: Moonstruck is a deviation from the norm but an odd adherence to the spirit of opera. Moonstruck is not an opera. There are references to opera throughout the romantic comedy; there’s even a trip to Lincoln Center to go to the opera. But it is NOT an opera in the true sense. While Cher has a lovely voice, she’s not belting out arias here. Moonstruck, however, is the essence of what makes opera opera. Don’t believe me? Read the post.
I could make more selections from Whiskers and tell you why I love them so much, but I think this post is long enough. I hope you have or will check out some of these posts. I’ve also included links below to a variety of different posts that I didn’t really touch on here.
What’s your favorite post that you’ve read here at Whiskers on Kittens?
