Warm Christmas Wishes

Sending warm Christmas wishes to all the wonderful readers and writers out there. If you're interested, my historical novels will be free on Kindle from 15 to 18 December, with Julien's Terror also free on an extra day, up to 19 December. This is for all Amazon territories. 

It's a little gift from me to anyone who has wished for more books in these times but has had to endure financial restrictions. It doesn't seem like much, I know, and it doesn't compare to a good meal but the value, believe me, is significant, because due to my nature and the conditions in which I choose to write, it so happens that for every book I wrote, I temporarily gave up a job and therefore my income. Writers are a little crazy, aren't they? 

Sometimes senseless things take over your life.

Like 2020.

Hardship has the power to bring out the best in people or to exacerbate their worst. But we always have the choice. If you had to examine the year that just went past (yes, that year!) and indicate your highest achievement, what would it be? 

Was it that you kept your head cool and showed endless patience during those periods when you had to juggle working from home, online schooling and children's homework while also running a home? 

Was it that you reached out to the aged and the isolated by sending a warm letter to a stranger? 

Was it that you developed better communication skills and finessed your diplomacy when dealing with particularly difficult co-workers while all of you were forced to work from home? 

Did you find yourself thinking more of others, those who have less than you? 

Did you appreciate moments of humour? 

Did your creativity explode in the kitchen as a result of restaurants having closed? Did you support your local struggling businesses? 

Did you spend more time with your child? Did you read more? Write more? Say I love you more? 

Did you rediscover the awe of nature? How utterly precious it is...

Were you kind?

Were you kind to yourself?

Some people may feel they achieved nothing, but they would be wrong. For certain individuals, each day may have been a struggle; to eat, to feed their children, to avoid crying, to stay alive... They were in fact the highest achievers this year.

With ongoing social distancing rules, the near absence of smiles occasioned by the persistent wearing of masks, the loss of this positive emotional contagion during good times - parties, sport events, large gatherings, concerts - people of all ages have been threatened with or felt alienation and loneliness. It would have taken them enormous spiritual courage to keep functioning.  

At the same time, the most difficult challenge for those who struggled with loss of income, who were cut off from their job network and who felt a sense of failure, or lack of control, was to avoid succumbing to anger, depression and despair. To know that you were dealt an unfair blow and yet to continue to hope, is true power. 

To remain strong, to learn to calm the mind, is an achievement in itself. An achievement in resilience and human courage.

I wish you peace.