Okay, this one is for all of us to do! Something your past self would be proud of today.

That’s deep isn’t it? We could look at the Back to the Future Trilogy as a way to show how someone learned from their future and was able to change that! I just made all that up and now I’m chuckling to myself! But seriously, even though he went from 1985 to 1955 then back before he jumped forward to 2025, he learned a lot. He learned about where his life was going and, like most, musicians getting started, he was in for a lot of rejections. Fearing rejections and being called a chicken made him make poor decisions. But, when the newly functioning time-machine-train visited, he had wiped that slate clean because he’d learned and I think that’s something he would, eventually, be proud of.

As for me, well, I honestly, once again don’t know exactly what to say. I think my past self would be most proud of how far I have come in nursing. As a new grad in 1994 when there was no work all the way, over 31 years, to end up director of care. And now, who knows where I will move on to! The sky, is hopefully the limit!

Of course, the writer side of me from 2001 who was just starting to put words on paper, would be proud of 16 novels, 2 non-fiction books and now a regular gig with the Goderich Sun!

What would your past self be proud of?

Today’s entry is A family tradition you love. That is soooo easy for me. Christmas. And I know I’ve shared how much Christmas means to me with all the decorations and movies but I’m talking about the family gathering. That’s what means the most to me. Having dinner, sitting around the table sharing much of what has been happening with each other then going and sitting around the tree. It’s not the gifts, though it’s fun to watch the recipients open what I found for them, but it’s that continued conversation. It’s sitting there and feeling content knowing that it’s exactly where I want to be because it’s family. It’s the people we should, for the most part, want to spend the most amount of time with.

So I’m going to leave it at that for today.

I’m having an incredible amount of pain today in my back, yes, but my hands! I’ve taken Tylenol twice now to reduce some of it. I will be back tomorrow to talk about the past… just a hint!

What is your family tradition that you love?

Good afternoon! Today’s activities also involves updating my website, or get as far as I can before I have to give it up. Part of it’s up so feel free to go check it out http://www.pamelaclayfield.ca

Today’s little piece of gratitude is a song that makes you feel happy and calm.

This is definitely a tough month of these! I say that because I love music. I love so many different types of music from church music… hymns/gospel right up to hard rock… Bon Jovi. To pick one song when so many make me feel happy and calm is a tough one.

IF I had to pick JUST one… I’d probably say How Great Thou Art. Part of that stems from where I am in my own faith but it’s also how reassuring it plus how the music builds, ebbs and flows. These days, I’m partial to Elvis’s version.

What’s your song that makes you feel that way? Feel free to share it!

Today’s journal entry is A time you felt at peace with where you were in life and, to be perfectly honest, I don’t know if I ever have! I think the closest I have come was starting the role of DOC in November and having what felt like the perfect job, with the greatest staff and a great salary. That feeling didn’t last long and, again, I’m doing this month long activity because I need to keep reminding myself that I can find peace, despite facing the unknown!

I feel the most at peace when I’m doing this… writing whether it’s for you, for the Goderich Sun or a novel or short story. I also feel the most peace behind my camera! I definitely have my ups and downs!

I have often wondered if I will ever feel peace or if feeling peace is something I need to determine I feel. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that or thinks that way.

Today I was invited to go back to the next concert that A Royal Tribute Productions is bringing to Goderich to take pictures! Only a few of you know exactly how much that means to me!

Anyway, as all things go, there’s some drama happening here right now so I will say farewell… until tomorrow!

The purpose of this entire month of gratitude is to bring myself back to the point where I’m feeling that way again because I’ve been so put off by what happened that it’s been up and down.

As I start this, I’m struggling with the answer to this one. Does it have to be a big, kind thing? Or something small but meaningful?

I’ve had many people extend kind words about what happened. And give words of hope but there is one person who has continued to check in on me and keep me in check! She asks every few day how I am and sends me uplifting videos as well as messages that are also reminders that I am a good person, that I deserve better, I will find it and to keep the faith as it does slip. She is such a wonderful person who also deserves everything she has received!

I hope that counts as a kind thing someone has done for me recently because, as I finish this, I can’t think of anything kinder.

Who has done something kind for you recently?

Are you following along and writing your own gratitude journal?

Today’s entry is about a piece of advice you received that changed your life for the better. Interestingly enough, I have received small bits of advice over the years that I have taken to heart… and passed on. Do you think I can remember ANY of those?

I have little pieces of advice written all over… especially at the trailer. One of those says: Do what makes you happy; Be with those who make you smile; Laugh as much as you breathe; Love as long as you live.

I think within those words you get every piece of meaningful advice you truly need. I think the biggest, and hardest one to accomplish is DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY… we all have bills to pay and, though, it would be nice to be able to do exactly this, for most of us, it’s not even a remote possibility.

For me, it was after my surgery and health scare that I really wanted to take this advice and add the extra spin of taking the time to enjoy what’s around me. Take in nature, take in the birds and the butterflies, but, again, someone had to pay the bills.

As much as I’d love to sit and write all day and make people happy, it’s difficult to follow through with when the bank account is screaming at me to top it up.

So I guess we do what we can. We squeeze it in amongst the little free time and we hope, we always have hope, that one day, maybe the dream will come tree.

I can say, at least, that I’m getting that chance with the Goderich Sun so hopefully one day I can translate that to more, and more, and more!

Today I’ve struggled with some gratitude because I’ve spent the day in pain but I still need to do this. Again, as with yesterday, at 50-years-old it’s too difficult to identify one person as the most important in my life. We are who we are because of the people in our lives and I’m grateful for all my loved ones and how they support me in all that I do.

That includes my daughter, above everyone. I’m proud of her and I wish her the best always. My parents because of everything they have done for me and the caring and sharing between us that includes the serious talks and all the laughter and joy. I can’t exclude my family because they made me who I am today. And Larry because we have built a life together where we laugh, cry and even dance together through it all.

Despite the pain I have been in today, I still have found time to be thankful for the little things and most of today was spent with all those people. We joked, we laughed, we had some serious conversation and then we told each other that we’d see them soon.

Who is the most important person in your life?

I know it’s been a couple of weeks but I have been busy… the good busy kind. Interviews sprinkled throughout but a magnificent time writing for the Goderich Sun! You read that right! I’m a staff writer for the Goderich Sun newspaper now and I have submitted my first two items. One is the first of my column… you read that right too… and the article was on the Elvis Concert that came to Goderich last Wednesday. Hard to believe that was a week ago!

A Royal Tribute Productions brought three award-winning tribute artists to our town and rocked the night away!

It was fantastic! They also saw my camera that night and asked if I’d mind sharing my shots with them. I have a USB stick ready to put in the mail. To me, this is what it’s all about!

I did publish Hockey Adventures with Benji & Blue because Lulu is putting their prices up on August 1st. I have to try to find another option and I think I have but I have to be careful with spending at the moment.

Finally, Sunday Larry & I shared a quiet sixth anniversary before I left the trailer though I could have stayed an extra day, in retrospect.

I’m madly working on the second book of this trilogy but I’m thinking it might end up being two books instead of three. I have to see how much I can stretch books two and three.

Lastly, my mind is also gearing up for book four of Mysteries of the Past series which is making it hard to focus on the trilogy.

Enjoy your hot summer days!

It has been incredibly difficult the last couple of weeks as I deal with a lot of emotions. I know I only alluded to some work difficulties and the stress I was carrying but with recent occurrences, it was bad and now things are starting to improve a bit. I’m finally starting to relax my mind.

I know that’s still not a lot to go on but, for right now, I need to focus on the positive side and I am doing my best to do that. I am keeping the faith and feeling God in so many things because my heart is open and I’m allowing Him in more than I was. I’m stating my own beliefs.

I’m working on so many new things right now and it’s just come about this weekend that I’m feeling good about that. I spent most of Thursday when I got to the trailer writing and I felt so alive! It has been a long time since I have felt that alive. It’s like the writing is flowing through me and doesn’t want to stop!

I am working on the third storybook Hockey Adventures with Benji & Blue and having a ball. I’m also on final edits, as my previous post alluded to, for the Harmonious Christmas novel I started quite some time ago.

I’m just excited and wanted to share that with you. It’s an amazing feeling as the biggest stressor is lifted off and I can see things on the horizon I couldn’t see before.

As always, I’ll keep you posted on this long and winding road that is my writing path.