Ready, Set... Stop? by @ElsaKurt #RomancesGems

Hello & Happy Spring!

Aren't these some strange times? Scary, too. I've been feeling all the same feels - good, bad, everything in between - as you have, I'm sure. But any time things get scary, I like to do what the great Mr. Rogers said to do:

I am so proud to say I'm married to a helper. My husband has been in law enforcement for over thirty years, and is now a lieutenant for a small PD after spending twenty-one years as a city LEO. To state the obvious, I'm concerned for his safety and health... but then, that's really nothing new.

When we were first getting serious, I told him about my daily worry and fears for him. What he said then still holds true today. He said, "You can't live in a state of fear, or worry about the things out of your control.  If you do, you'll just curl up and die. You have to just live and love more fiercely. Forgive faster. Hold tighter. Be present." He also reminded me that anything could happen to anyone at anytime, not just him.

After I thanked him for doubling my anxiety (lol), I thought about what he'd said. And, of course, he's right. But don't you dare tell him I said so. I try to live as present as possible, let the small things roll off my back, and have faith that no matter what comes our way, we'll get through it.

Anxiety still tries to take control, and sometimes it wins but only the battle, not the war. Conscious breathing exercises help, as does meditation. Since many of us may be experiencing elevated anxiety right now, I like to share some things that have helped me.

1.  The four second breathing exercise several times a day slows your mind (and heart rate!). Inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for four. Do this five to ten times (or more). 
2. Another (slightly strange) helpful technique is called EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique). (See Photo Below)
3. Grounding with the five senses. (See Photo)

I hope these benefit you as much as they have me. Oh, and a huge source of high anxiety? Social media. Even before the pandemic, I made a point of clearing my social media feed of negative/toxic posting and people. It's not "sticking your head in the sand" to virtually walk away from the daily bombardment of opinions, "news" articles, and hyperbole from so-called experts, so consider spring cleaning that Facebook feed!

Without minimizing the effect and concerns about Covid-19, this can be an amazing time of renewal for the world. We are literally be forced to stop. Stop running, racing, rushing everywhere every day. Stop and appreciate nature, our families, our essential workers, our lives.

As an introvert, I love being home for extended periods of time. I've been training my whole life for this (as the meme says) and I have found a million things to do. I cannot fathom being bored! Thanks to the world closing indefinitely, I've cleaned out the basement and garage, started my garden, written three-quarters of book six in Welcome To Chance and... wait. Let me talk about that for a sec!

Book six is well under way and due to release early (May?!) I'm running a "Help me pick my cover post on my Facebook page & I'd love YOUR input, too! Here's the (WIP) blurb and options:

I've also released The Two Tenleys ahead of schedule AND you can have a chance to read it for free! Click HERE for details. You can also find it here: The Two Tenleys

I'm also joining in on the fun for our Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt! Simply check three of my pages

Pinterest ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

to spot my Easter egg, then visit the Rafflecopter entry form and enter the date, author, and where you found the egg for your chance to win! (More details on the Monthly Giveaway page!)