Patricia L. Atchison

YA Fiction & Non Fiction Author

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Journal Writing Prompts

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Journal PromptsWhen the call to write comes, it may be challenging to find the right words to put on paper. There is a solution for that. Writing Prompts. I was lucky at Christmas as my daughter, who knows me well, knew I would enjoy a ‘writing prompt’ journal. Not only that, she supplied me a milk frother for lattes and a container of homemade chocolate-covered sponge toffee. I’m blessed!

When I sat down with the journal, a tea latte, and these delectable treats, it made for a moment of pure bliss and happiness. I love flipping through the book and finding a question that speaks to me in the moment.

So as not to trespass on any copyrights with the journal prompts book I received, here is a prompt from one of the exercises in my book, Today I Am… An Empowering Journal Back To Self.

A person’s values change over time. Values are the standards and behaviours that a person lives their life by and are different for everybody depending on how they’ve been raised, the beliefs they grew up with, or the attitudes they picked up along their life’s path.
Grab a cup of your favorite beverage – sorry I’ve no treats left to share and take a few minutes to journal the ideas that come to you from the following prompts. Enjoy!

How have your values changed over the years – from your teens and into adulthood?

If you’ve lost sight of who you once were, what changes could you make to your value system, to find the way back to the person you knew to be you?

These are substantial questions for sure, but if the prompt speaks to you, grab your favourite journal and see what response you write.

Blue Monday

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January 20, 2020, is deemed ‘Blue Monday.’ a name that’s given to the third Monday of January. It’s claimed to be the most depressing day of the year based on an equation that takes into account weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. It was first publicized by Sky Travel, a vacation company, in a 2005 press release. Other factors include credit card debt from the holiday season that is now arriving in the mail, and some people have more substantial sums to pay on their bills. The month seems long and snowy. The ecstatic excitement of the Christmas holiday season with family time is over, and life is back to normal. Not to mention, January is one heck of a long cold month.

All this adds up to the seasonal blue moods, causing people to struggle with sadness and depression. If you are looking for a way to increase your mood on this Blue Monday, an excellent place to start is with gratitude. What are you grateful for today? Grab a pen and paper and set the timer for 5 minutes and list all the things, no matter how small or big that you are grateful for in your life.

Something else that helps is movement. Moving can include walking, visiting the gym, running, cycling, and exercising and more. When we move, stagnant energy that pools in places as we sit – like around the hips – has the chance to dissipate and circulate throughout the body. Something as simple as getting up during the commercials while watching television and walking around the house works. When was the last time you danced? Set some tunes on and move – any which way you choose. Close the drapes if you think someone might see you!

There are many ways to increase your mood like sitting and soaking up sunshine coming in through the window. Watch a funny movie, live-talk (no text messages) to someone you didn’t get a chance to see over the holiday season or volunteer at the local animal shelter.
In my book, Today I AM… An Empowering Journal Back To Self, I list many practices to help increase happiness, joy, and gratitude. If you’re struggling to find more Joy in your life, then be sure to pick up a copy of this book.

Happy Monday!

The Magic of Setting Intention

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Resolution vs. Intention

New Year 2020 IntentionsEvery January, we go about setting resolutions, which after a few days, weeks, or even less than a month, they’ve turned into dust and have floated away like the hours we were so keen on changing.

Defined as a ‘firm decision,’ a resolution is something we make but can change or fade over time. A resolution strikes me as a one-time event where a decision made, and that’s it. There is no follow-through, no follow-up plan.

Defined as an ‘aim or plan,’ an intention is something we can formulate. We can plan for. We set an idea in motion with an intention statement or thought, and whether we acknowledge it or not, The Universe has a plan to follow through and deliver it to us.

In my book, Today I Am… An Empowering Journal Back To Self, I write about setting intentions. Every day when I write my gratitude statements, I also write out three intentions statements determining how I would like my day to go. Of course, I keep this positive. Why wouldn’t I! The magical thing is that when I set these intentions and review them at the end of the day, I find they have almost always come true.

Yesterday we had a power failure in our home. It disrupted our electronic clocks and their alarm settings. My husband didn’t check his alarm time. He just pressed the usual button to set it on for the morning. It didn’t go off at the planned time, and he was about 15 minutes late in getting up and ready for work. He suggested to me that, “My whole day is going to be off now. I’m too rushed!”

I replied that wasn’t a good intention – seeing your whole day, which hasn’t even begun as ‘being off.’ I can’t wait to ask him tonight how his day went (LOL).

You see, setting an intention activates the conscious mind to receive that which is put forth. The Universe sets in motion the aim as you formed and thought it, giving it directly to you, showing you how powerful thought manifestation is.

Setting “the power of intention” to determine a specific outcome is a useful practice. To test it, the next time you are out and about and need a perfect parking space close to the door, set the intention that you will “find the perfect parking spot to meet your needs.” Let it go and see what happens. The result of the aim or plan will come to pass when you are thankful and content – “putting it out there” vs. “I want/need this – give it to me.”

This January, you can make an intention for good health, fitness, and well-being for the remainder of the year rather than the resolution of going to the gym three times a week all year long. You may be surprised at the many different ways The Universe delivers and provides you opportunities to improve your health and fitness over the year.

2020 is a fabulous year!

AWAKENED BY SILENCE (An ACROSTIC STORY)

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Authors Note: An ACROSTIC STORY is arranged alphabetically with twenty-six sentences. Starting the story with the letter A, each sentence progresses through the alphabet ending with the letter Z. Using this method, the author must tell a complete story.

AWAKENED BY SILENCE

by Patricia L. Atchison (From archives 10/2/2003)

Awakened by silence, Jodie wondered why the television was quiet. By now she should have been warned by the automatic alarm. Calmly she reached for her cane.

Photo by Simone Dalmeri on Unsplash

“Dusty, where are you boy?”

Edging off the recliner, Jodie moved the cane from side to side and crossed the living room. Fear was something she wouldn’t give into until she heard a noise that made her catch her breath.

Growling from the hallway meant Dusty was on guard duty.

“Hey boy, what is it?”

Intense images floated across her mind like a slide show. Jodie swallowed, afraid of becoming another statistic like the stories you hear on the news.

Knocking her cane against opposite walls, Jodie made her way toward the dog. Leopard-like she moved cautiously, careful not to trip over Dusty, even though she knew he’d have moved long before she was ever in any danger.

Maybe it’s nothing, the common sense side of her brain kicked into overtime, thinking logically. Needless worry, that’s all. Overconfident now, she stopped at the front door. Patting the air around her thighs, she made contact with her canine companion and tugged his collar.

“Quiet Dusty!”

Reacting to the command, the dog wined and became silent. Seizing courage, Jodie asked if anyone was there.

Photo by Jonathan Simcoe on Unsplash

“Thank God you’re alright. Undo the lock Jodie and let your dear Mother in, as I bet you didn’t even know there was a power outage in this area.”

Various thoughts passed through Jodie’s mind, while she unlatched the door and opened it.

“Wipe that look off your face and let me pass. X-ray vision is what that dog needs instead of snorting behind the door. You should have heard him growl at me as if I were a total stranger.”

Zany with emotion, Jodie dropped to her knees and whispered into Dusty’s ear, “You should’ve bitten her when you had the chance.”  ~ The End ~