A lyric from a sad song about how tough life is and how terrible people can be. But we’re gonna stick around anyhow to witness how it all turns out. Right?! 

What else can we do, anyway. The alternative is pretty bleak and I wouldn’t wish those thoughts on my worst enemy. 

How about the opposite? What are the beacons that light a path? 

Maybe it’s a cat that stays nestled by your side when you’re sick. 

Maybe it’s a text message received out of the blue from an old friend. 

Maybe it’s picking a perfect leaf up off the sidewalk and pressing it between glass in a frame so you can enjoy it long after fall has fallen away and winter has dug its claws in. 

The short, dark days of December can be really depressing. I personally have to continuously remind myself of positive things just to get out of bed in the morning or up off the couch once I’ve plopped down. 

I don’t really have any updates or new news to report. But since December is also a time I typically reflect back on the year, I’ve been combing through past posts and things I started to write but never finished. 

One thing I came across was a project. I got very excited about while I was writing from my elliptical machine, listening to my favorite music. But once that session was over I quickly forgot about it. My work life sabotaging all my best plans, as usual.  Maybe I will take a little time each day and work on that a little bit. 

My inbox has been nothing but rejection lately (and by lately I mean the last six months) and I’m trying not to be too bothered by it. I’ve gifted myself a big pass because I have a book coming out next year. 

I had a good conversation with my publisher a few weeks ago and have it on his authority that it will be published in 2025. It may be in the spring and it may slip to the fall season, but it will definitely be next year. Woot!!! 🎉

That’s worth celebrating for sure and absolutely a bright light on my path. And for some reason, it also gives me confidence about other projects that I have in various stages. Good gravy I have a second full manuscript that I’m shopping around now, plus a chapbook, and a few other sparks that are currently just twinkles in my eye. 

Best of all, though is that I’m writing again. Poems, flash essays, and daily musings such as this. I joined a group at one of the presses that I follow who hosts a 31 day challenge in December, and provides prompts for writing each day. So far I’ve written a little bit on each and have even come away with a few starter poems. So I guess that’s new news. 

Here I thought I didn’t have anything new to share. I guess that is what happens when I really get going. 

And now that I’m finally on a roll, my time is up. Of course. 😂 Thank you for visiting and reading. 

Peace and love until the next time.

~Miss SugarCookie