Living Together as Brothers & Sisters

 

Our world is on the cusp of change.

The Earth’s energy is shifting and lifting as we collectively raise our vibration to transition into a new age. The Age of Aquarius is expected to usher in peace, inner growth, harmony, and great love.

Yet humanity is still plagued with conflict and division. Around the world, deep divisions occur related to politics, healthcare, religion, cultures, work, and many other aspects of our lives, making us wonder how we can shift to a time of peace and harmony when there is so much discord.

In his fable, “Four Oxen and the Lion,” Greek storyteller Aesop states, “United we stand, divided we fall.” This wisdom is as true today as when it was written in the mid-6^th century BC.    

“We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools.”—Martin Luther King Jr.  

My beautiful mother passed away last September. She was a role model in so many ways, including how she didn’t judge others and the way she could find goodness in everyone.

One of Mom’s favorite questions was, “What’s it matter?” By posing this question, she helped us put any situation into perspective.

Over the years, this question made me pause and contemplate before getting wrapped up in irritation or frustration over what was often something trivial.

I began asking myself whether the situation at hand would matter in a week, a month, or a year. Most of the time, the answer was a resounding “no.” With that wisdom, it was easier to move forward instead of getting caught up in drama and distress.

In our society, we’ve been taught to hold strongly to our beliefs, which can be a positive, yet it can also be a detriment.

We are all unique, and because of this, we have different approaches, styles, and preferences. What if instead of digging our heels in and focusing on our differences, we attempted to consider other perspectives? If we take this a step further and reflect on what we truly want, we can find common ground.

Deep down, we all want the same things—love, kindness, joy, peace, ease, grace, etc. It’s the approach—how we get there—where we differ.

There are so many different ways to solve any given issue. Considering this, why not allow others the space to try their approach and see what happens? Or we could join forces, brainstorm together, and develop a creative, enhanced idea or solution.

As we move into a new year and a new age, I invite you to join me in reflecting on my mother’s wisdom, “What’s it matter?” Instead of focusing on our differences, let’s rally around our common values and desires (peace, love, kindness, joy, etc.) and create the world we want by nurturing and expanding these inner qualities and reflecting them into our outer world.

Photo by Steve Leisher on Unsplash.

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TRANSFORMED BY FIRE—RISING FROM THE ASHES TO FIND MYSELF by Chris Clifford: Work left me exhausted and lost. When everything I owned went up in flames, rethinking my priorities changed my life forever!

Reader Review Excerpt: “...a true story about finding strength and purpose even in the worst situations...Chris is like the Phoenix...she rises from the literal ashes, helps heal her family from trauma, sets an example for all of us to follow, and through all of this, finds true inner peace.”

TRANSFORMED BY FIRE is an Amazon Bestseller! Purchase link: https://amzn.to/3RawJBR.

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CLOUD WHISPERS by Sedona Hutton: A novel of family and forgiveness with a strong spiritual message: The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate….

Reader Review Excerpt: “A beautifully woven story filled with love, loss, betrayal and renewal. It touches the heart of the reader as life unfolds for Liam and Katie. Peppered throughout the story are spiritual awakenings and life lessons, which help to clarify many of the whys in each of our lives. While Cloud Whispers includes passionate love stories, it also feeds your spirit and renews your soul. The gifts from this novel are unforgettable.”

CLOUD WHISPERS Awards: IPPY Bronze medal winner for Visionary Fiction, Reader’s Favorite Finalist for Visionary Fiction, and Official Selection in the Summer eBook Awards for New Apple Literary. Purchase link: https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc.

What Would LOVE Do?

 

Some time ago, a trusted mentor suggested I approach life by asking, “What would LOVE do?” She went on to indicate that this includes everything in my life—big and small, extraordinary and mundane, challenges and blessings.

 

At first, this advice was perplexing. But over time, as I began contemplating and asking this all-important question, positive changes followed, and my life evolved for the better.

 

I looked at the basic qualities of love. Love is kind, generous, and compassionate, so I looked for more opportunities to express those qualities. I found this was easy when things were going well and challenging when the going got tough. Yet even during difficult times, with awareness and intent, I could respond to any situation with a smile, kindness, honesty, an offer to help or simply listen, while holding the love question in my heart.

 

As I continued asking, “What would LOVE do?”, my perspective shifted. I’ve always looked for the positives, but I began looking for even more goodness, hope, and silver linings and expecting loving, win-win outcomes.

 

When one listens to their heart, the need to blame and judge lessens and the desire to forgive increases. Life becomes easier and smoother. Of course, one will still experience issues (we all do!), but even when challenges arise, greater ease and grace are available along with the ability to move within a divine flow.

 

I contemplated what love really is, who we really are, and how love flows to us and connects us through the ether. God is love, the Universe is love, Mother Earth is love, and as a part of Creation, each of us are love, both individually and as a human collective. 

 

Our true essence is love... it’s really that simple and that profound!

 

Think about the power and privilege of representing love, exemplifying love, and offering love. What would the world look like if every single human embraced their true essence of love?

 

How does one go about embodying love? It entails loving and accepting yourself as you are and showing up as your true self.  

 

Embodying love is about being your authentic self despite what others may want or expect from you. It’s about finding your talents and passions, and your unique way to serve others. As Yoko Ono said, “You change the world by being yourself.” Standing in your truth and finding your own path takes courage, self-appreciation, and self-love. 

 

For many, self-love is a hard concept, in part because we aren’t taught to love ourselves. We are usually taught the opposite—that loving ourselves is egotistical or selfish—but nothing could be further from the truth. If we don’t love ourselves, it is difficult to fully love others, to embody love, and to live in alignment with one’s heart.

 

Here are 3 quick and easy ways to love yourself more:

1.      Recognize that you are doing your best in each moment and appreciate that you are on your own life journey and are not meant to look like, talk like, or respond like anyone other than beautiful, unique you!

2.      Practice forgiveness—of yourself and others!

3.      When you make a so-called mistake, look for the gift (what can you learn or how can you do better next time?) then forgive, release, and move on! 

 

“Listen to the inner light; It will guide you.

Listen to the inner Peace; It will feed you.

Listen to the inner Love; It will transform you,

It will divinize you; It will immortalize you.”—Sri Chinmoy

As this quote so eloquently states, living from your heart changes everything!  

As 2023 draws to an end and we embark on a brand-new year, I invite you to join me in focusing on self-love, living from your heart, and asking, “What would LOVE do?”

 

I wish you peace, love, joy, and an abundance of blessings in the New Year 💖– Chris/Sedona  

 

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TRANSFORMED BY FIRE—RISING FROM THE ASHES TO FIND MYSELF by Chris Clifford: Work left me exhausted and lost. When everything I owned went up in flames, rethinking my priorities changed my life forever!

Reader Review Excerpt: “...a true story about finding strength and purpose even in the worst situations...Chris is like the Phoenix...she rises from the literal ashes, helps heal her family from trauma, sets an example for all of us to follow, and through all of this, finds true inner peace.”

TRANSFORMED BY FIRE is an Amazon Bestseller! Purchase link: https://amzn.to/3RawJBR.

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CLOUD WHISPERS by Sedona Hutton: A novel of family and forgiveness with a strong spiritual message: The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate….

Reader Review Excerpt: “A beautifully woven story filled with love, loss, betrayal and renewal. It touches the heart of the reader as life unfolds for Liam and Katie. Peppered throughout the story are spiritual awakenings and life lessons which help to clarify many of the why’s in each of our lives. While Cloud Whispers includes passionate love stories, it also feeds your spirit and renews your soul. The gifts from this novel are unforgettable.”

CLOUD WHISPERS Awards: IPPY Bronze medal winner for Visionary Fction, Reader’s Favorite Finalist for Visionary Fiction, and Official Selection in the Summer eBook Awards for New Apple Literary. Purchase link: https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc.

It Comes from Within

 

Everything comes from within. 

Our thoughts, emotions, and actions have an energetic frequency or vibration, which creates our individual and collective reality. Therefore, we must look within to change our world and our experiences. 

Jesus said, “The Kingdom of heaven is within.”

The Egyptian Book of the Dead, thought to have been written thousands of years before the Bible, states, “The kingdom of heaven is within you. And whosoever shall know himself shall find it.”

Everything—individual and collective—starts within us. Given this, we can consider:

- Are we carrying peace and love...or division and anger?

- Are we expecting positive outcomes...or something negative to occur?

- Are we looking for joy and fun...or for the proverbial shoe to drop?

- Do we see the world through rose-colored glasses...or through a gray, murky haze?

The answers to these and similar questions create our reality and also contribute to the whole of humanity. 

The good news—if you don’t like your current reality, you can change it. Do this by changing your thoughts, your perspectives, your expectations, your actions. It doesn’t have to be an overnight, 360, turn your life upside down kind of change. But each small step—adding more joy into your life, cultivating peace within, giving someone the benefit of the doubt, helping a person in need, finding beauty in yourself and in the world—will make a difference. 

And it will impact everyone around you. 

“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”–Scott Adams

When we find peace, love, and joy within, it has a ripple effect that spreads to others. This is the root of the expression, ‘joy is contagious.’ Your peace, joy, beauty, and other positive vibrations ripple out to the collective, benefiting all of humanity. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Be the peace you wish to see in the world.”

Imagine what the world would look like if we all had peace in our hearts and joy in our spirit. What if every single human being had a mindset of celebrating and embracing our differences and learning from one another? Of sitting around the table to work issues out with dignity and respect toward one another and peace in our hearts? 

Simply put, the world would be a better place. 

Each of us contributes to one another and to humanity as a whole more than we can imagine. 

“Every loving word and action create far-reaching ripple effects – like the waves of the ocean.” – Swami Dhyan Giten

Photo by Sean Oulashin at Unsplash.

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TRANSFORMED BY FIRE—RISING FROM THE ASHES TO FIND MYSELF by Chris Clifford: Work left me exhausted and lost. When everything I owned went up in flames, rethinking my priorities changed my life forever! 

Reader Review Excerpt: “...a true story about finding strength and purpose even in the worst situations...Chris is like the Phoenix...she rises from the literal ashes, helps heal her family from trauma, sets an example for all of us to follow, and through all of this, finds true inner peace.”

TRANSFORMED BY FIRE is an Amazon Bestseller! https://amzn.to/3RawJBR

10 Ways to Love Yourself More

During the month of February, thoughts turn to love. It’s delightful to be in love with that special someone, especially when spring is around the corner and love is in the air. Yet having a significant other and being in a relationship isn’t the only way to find love.

Loving yourself is much more important!

Self-care is a buzzword these days, but few people talk about self-love, perhaps because we aren’t taught to love ourselves. In fact, we’re taught the opposite—that loving yourself is selfish.

But nothing could be further from the truth. Loving yourself is one of the best things you can do for yourself! When you love yourself, you have greater self-confidence, a higher sense of self-worth, and you are able to experience greater grace, peace, and joy in your life.

So, what exactly is self-love?

Self-love is fully accepting yourself, treating yourself with patience, kindness, compassion, and respect. It’s nurturing your personal growth and overall wellbeing. Self-love is knowing that you’re doing the best you can and thinking about yourself in a positive and loving way.

It’s making sure you nurture yourself first, so you have the time and energy to be there for others. The relationships in your life are a mirror of your relationship with yourself, so loving yourself enables you to love others more deeply. 

10 Ways to Love Yourself More:

1. Practice positive self-talk.
2. Don’t beat yourself up over mistakes; instead, think of them as learning opportunities.
3. Remember you are doing the best you can.
4. Leave the past where it belongs—in the past.
5. Forgive yourself.
6. Give yourself permission to say no.
7. Make time for what makes you happy.
8. Notice and appreciate your efforts...and remind yourself of your worth.
9. Cultivate self-acceptance...love yourself just the way you are.
10. Don’t compare yourself to others...instead embrace beautiful, unique you!

On this Valentine’s Day (and this week, and next week, and the next...) shower yourself with all the love you deserve. You deserve it...remember, there is only one beautiful, unique you!

“You have within you more love than you could ever understand.”–Rumi

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This blog was written by Chris Clifford/Sedona Hutton, bestselling author of stories with uplifting themes and inspired ideas.

Photo by Averie Woodard at Unsplash.

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Transformed by Fire—Rising from the Ashes to Find Myself 

by Chris Clifford:

Work left me exhausted and lost. When everything I owned went up in flames, rethinking my priorities changed my life forever!

Reader Review Excerpt: “...a true story about finding strength and purpose even in the worst situations...Chris is like the Phoenix...she rises from the literal ashes, helps heal her family from trauma, sets an example for all of us to follow, and through all of this, finds true inner peace.”

Amazon Bestseller! Available now: https://amzn.to/3RawJBR

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THE PERFECT LAP by Sedona Hutton:

His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line?

Reader Review Excerpt: “It’s sweet, inspiring, and a love story about two people and three children that find hope, their own voice and realize that family doesn’t have to be blood-related.”

THE PERFECT LAP is an Amazon Bestseller and a Reader’s Favorite Finalist for Contemporary Romance. Available as eBook, paperback, and audiobook. Purchase link:  https://amzn.to/3Hx86w4

Power to the People

 

We are a divided country.

But we don’t have to be.

The power is with the people.

We have the power—and the responsibility—to choose our responses to the world and the people around us. Instead of focusing on our divisions and our inherent need for rightness, we can choose peace. We can choose forgiveness. We can choose love.

Regardless of your political affiliation, religious beliefs, or any other polarizing factors, you can choose to see that which unites us instead of that which divides us. You can choose kindness by listening to your neighbor or colleague even if his beliefs differ from your own. You can make a meal for someone who is shut-in, even if she holds radically different political beliefs. You can forgive someone who has ‘wronged you’ by remembering he is doing the best he can.

We can work together, play together, and live together peacefully despite our differences. We can choose inner peace by not allowing others to create waves of anxiety in our ocean of calm. We have the choice to respond to any situation with composure, understanding, and love.

I’m not suggestion we shouldn’t have an opinion or that we should blindly accept and walk away. I am suggesting that we embrace one another’s perspectives and engage in respectful conversations. I’m suggesting we look beyond politics, religion, sexual preferences and all other dividing factors. When we take the time to look deeper, we begin to see our connections.

When we are continually bombarded with negativity, it’s easy to get sucked into a lower vibration, which results in stress, agitation, and even depression. Once again, we have the power to change this. Turn off the TV, put down your phone, end the conversation that’s spiraling into a negative vortex. Use your free time—even if it’s just a few minutes here and there—to ground yourself. Focus on your breathing, take a walk, gaze at the sunshine, pet your dog.

Always remember that you are in charge of your response and you can change your response at any moment. Changing your response in a positive way increases your energy vibration. When you raise your individual energy vibration, you contribute toward raising our collective vibration.

It’s time for peace, love, and unity…and we the people have the power to usher it in.

“Power to the people, power to the people, right on!”—John Lennon

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction blended with new age spirituality. 

Restart in Bristol, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—He’s a hot mess. She wants stability. Will these childhood sweethearts risk another pass at love? Kindle: https://amzn.to/37cCw1b. Audiobook: https://adbl.co/3hgKZpF.

 

The Perfect Lap, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—2019 Reader’s Favorite Contemporary Romance Finalist: His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line? Kindle: https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv. Audiobook: https://adbl.co/2WAsOnp.

Nora’s Promise, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance— Reader's Favorite 2019 Contemporary Romance Bronze winner and 2019 NIEA Bronze winner: She trusts animals more than men. He races through women like checkered flags. Can one orphaned boy bring them both to the finish line? Kindle: https://amzn.to/384lB1f . Audiobook: https://amzn.to/2OktquX.

To sign up for my Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/.

 

Recommended Reading:

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: https://amzn.to/2GwSGJc

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra: https://amzn.to/2C9BF5k

The Success Principles by Jack Canfield: https://amzn.to/39SgKSt

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.

Photo by Wylly Suhendra on Unsplash.

30 Inspirational Things To Do Without Leaving Your Home

Many of us are staying at home these days because of a ‘stay in place’ regulation or to support social distancing. Being at home can feel stifling or it can be exciting…it all depends on your perspective! Choose a positive mindset and look for the opportunities this situation creates. Below is a list of 30 activities sure to inspire!

30 Inspirational Things To Do At Home

1. Watch the sun rise or set.
2. Create a gratitude journal.
3. Take a walk.
4. Visualize your perfect future.
5. Meditate.
6. Write in a journal.
7. Practice yoga.
8. Watch an inspirational video.
9. Check out the free resources at Calm: https://bit.ly/2WzJdbW
10. Make a vision board.
11. Make a list of 101 goals you want to achieve in your life.
12. Find your muse—write a song or short story, or paint or draw.
13. Visit a museum virtually. Try the National Gallery of Art : https://www.nga.gov/.
14. Commit to one new daily activity that will improve your life (exercise, meditation, journaling, pre-day planning, visualization, walking, etc.)
15. Listen to uplifting music.
16. Watch clouds float across the sky.
17. Think about your most important goal and write down what it would take to achieve it.
18. Gaze at the stars.
19. Put your phone down and have a real conversation with a loved one.
20. Visualize world peace.
21. Read a book or listen to an audiobook.
22. Call, text, or video chat with someone who could use a lift.
23. Sit on your front porch or look out your window and watch the world.
24. Create affirmations and read them daily.
25. Listen to an inspirational podcast.
26. Take a nap.
27. Take a bubble bath.
28. Tell someone special something you appreciate about him or her.
29. Look at yourself in the mirror and say something positive.
30. Watch the moon rise. 

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction blended with new age spirituality. 

***New Release!***Restart in Bristol, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—He’s a hot mess. She wants stability. Will these childhood sweethearts risk another pass at love? https://amzn.to/37cCw1b 

The Perfect Lap, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—2019 Reader’s Favorite Contemporary Romance Finalist: His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line? https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv

Cloud Whispers—2019 IPPY Bronze winner for Visionary Fiction: The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate: https://amzn.to/2IZ6DRc

To sign up for Sedona’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/ (No spam—ever!)

Recommended Reading:

The Success Principles by Jack Canfield: https://amzn.to/39SgKSt

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne: https://amzn.to/2GwSGJc

The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra: https://amzn.to/2C9BF5k

Disclosure: The above links to recommended books are affiliate links. If you buy the book through these links, I receive a small commission on the sale. I’ve recommended these books because they’ve been meaningful to me personally and not because of the affiliate program. However, from a legal perspective, I need to identify these as affiliate links.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

5 Gestures to Show Your Love & FREE Romance eBook

Let’s be honest—there’s a lot of pressure on Valentine’s Day. We tend to think of romance as big, grand gestures and strive to find the perfect gift or arrange the perfect outing. However, there are plenty of small ways to show how much you care.

In my contemporary romance, The Perfect Lap, AJ and Ella learn that perfection is overrated. In honor of this novel, I’m offering a list of small gestures that deliver big impact. I’ve also included two excerpts along with a link for a free Kindle eBook of The Perfect Lap, valid between 2/10 through 2/14: https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv.

5 Gestures to Show Your Love:

©     Put your phone away for the night and engage in conversation.

©     Tell your special someone what you appreciate most about him or her.

©     Write a positive message and put it in his or her lunch bag.

©     Forgive a perceived wrongdoing.

©     Say, “I believe in you,” and mean it!

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Excerpts from The Perfect Lap

Excerpt 1:

“I bet you have a beautiful smile,” he drawled, then lowered his mouth to hers.

She should have pulled away—she didn’t know this man from Adam. But everything inside her protested. After gazing into each other’s eyes, she felt like she knew him intimately.

His lips were warm and tingly, his kiss pure perfection…and he drew back way too quickly. He blinked those deep blue eyes and gave her a lazy grin. “I knew it.” He rubbed the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. “Beautiful.”

That’s when she realized she was smiling.

He rose, and she gave him a quick once over, taking in the sexy stubble on his face, the taut muscles of his chest, his lean physique. As good old-fashioned lust rolled through her like a quick-moving thunderstorm, she silently bemoaned her situation. This was a hell of a time to have a newly implemented man-ban.

“Keep smiling.” Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he winked at her. “It suits you,” he added in that low, sexy drawl. Then he sauntered off.

Her breath caught as she spun around to gape at him. He’d just kissed her and now he was leaving? She contemplated calling him back, then reconsidered. She had other fish to fry.

Even so, she couldn’t stop herself from tracking his every move as he swaggered toward the party, his backside looking every bit as fine as the rest of him. Pressing a hand to her chest, she let out a slow exhale. Even though she was one-hundred percent committed to her man-ban, she could admit—at least to herself—that the sexy, charming stranger had intrigued her.

Excerpt 2:

“You’re too hard on yourself, darlin’,” he said. “You’re the most focused, persistent woman I’ve ever met.” He lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes. His eyes were a deep, soulful blue and as he intimately held her gaze, it reminded her of their first meeting and their instant, almost spiritual connection. “You’re kind, compassionate, caring.” His voice was so low that it was more like a whisper fluttering against her cheek. “The kids need that.”

She’d barely processed his sweet words when he leaned in.

He was going to kiss her! Holding her breath, she told herself to step back. It wasn’t appropriate—they were working together, he wasn’t her type, she was on a man-ban. The reasons to stop him were endless.

But as he continued to move toward her, she couldn’t. He grazed his lips overs hers in a tortoise-like motion as if testing the waters. His lips were warm and moist and her body pulsed and sparked as they generated heat hotter than hell and half of Georgia.

He drew back and held her gaze, presumably giving her one last chance to move away.

But she couldn’t. His consoling words had comforted her, his embraced had warmed her, and his kiss had left her wanting so much more.

As she acquiesced, the world around them transformed into a magical wonderland. The moon’s light softened and the stars appeared so close that she could reach out and touch them. Light glittered across the dark water like pixie dust and her belly fluttered as if it had been brushed by fairy wings.

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I wish you romance and sizzle on Valentine’s Day, whether you find it curled up on the couch reading your favorite romance or on a cozy date with your special someone. 

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction  blended with new age spirituality. 

The Perfect Lap, A Racing Hearts in Serenity Romance—2019 Reader’s Favorite Contemporary Romance Finalist: His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line? https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv ***FREE eBook 2/10 THROUGH 2/14***

Restart in Bristol—He’s a hot mess. She wants stability. Will these childhood sweethearts risk another pass at love? New release, available on February 14.

To sign up for Sedona’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/ (No spam—ever!)

Gratitude in THE PERFECT LAP: You can't be stressed when you're feeling blessed!

“You can’t be stressed when you’re feeling blessed!”

This quote is from The Perfect Lap, my recently released contemporary romance novel. In The Perfect Lap, Ella and AJ unexpectedly join forces to co-foster three children, and quickly learn they’re out of their league. They attend a New Age Parenting class, and one of the topics covered is gratitude.

Sometimes kids and adults make poor choices that lead to negative energy. How we respond makes all the difference. In The Perfect Lap, Ella, AJ, and the kids come up with a time-out word that any of them can call out. Once the word is said, they all take a few minutes of silence. During that time, they reflect on where they are mood-wise (energy-wise) and consider if that’s where they want to be. Often, after this pause, they each share a few gratitudes.

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." - Thornton Wilder

Ella and AJ experienced positive results when practicing gratitude with the kids. Negativity disappeared, bad moods faded, and spirits were lifted. I've found the same results in my own life. Not surprising since it’s backed by science! Studies have shown when you’re feeling genuinely grateful, it’s impossible to at the same time feel angry, anxious, or any other negative emotion.

When we’re stressed, our minds and bodies are pummeled with strain. Blood flow redirects to muscles needed to fight or flee and brain functions are minimized. Physically, ongoing stress can cause a long list of health issues.

On the other hand, when we’re focused on our blessings, our minds and bodies are relaxed and we experience positive emotions like love, joy, and hope. Gratitude helps us fully experience happy moments in life, build strong relationships, improve health, and deal with hardships.

How can you bring more gratitude into your life? Let me count the ways…You can write your gratitudes in a journal, say them out loud, or recount them silently. You can share your gratitudes in a group setting like Ella and AJ did with the kids. The method doesn’t matter as much as the exercise. Practicing gratitude in any form connects you with the present moment, creates positive energy, and generates feelings of love and compassion.

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of romance and women’s fiction novels with new age spirituality. 

The Perfect Lap—If you like bad boys with a heart of gold, strong women, and love stories with a spiritual twist, then you’ll adore this racing romance novel. To purchase, please click on this link: https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv

Cloud Whispers—The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate… To purchase this mind-expanding, award-winning novel, please click here: https://goo.gl/N9aC38

To sign up for Sedona Hutton’s Peace, Love, & Joy blog newsletter, please click here: https://www.sedonahutton.com/

8 Spiritual Themes in The Perfect Lap

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

As an author it’s my desire to write stories that entertain and inspire. To this end, I’m blending traditional romance and women’s fiction with new age spirituality. My novels include plenty of romance, conflict, and family drama, along with new age concepts like the Law of Attraction and Focusing on the Now.

There are many thought-provoking themes in my newly released contemporary romance, The Perfect Lap, including:

©     Non-judgment

©     Everyone is doing the best they can from where they are

©     Giving from a place of love

©     Prioritizing joy

©     Living in the now

©     The difference of one

©     Gratitude

©     No such thing as perfection

Below I’ve included select questions from The Perfect Lap’s Reading Group Guide related to these themes to prompt further contemplation.

1.     Non-judgment: Ella has a preconceived notion about the Piper kids’ mother before she meets Clare. After she gets to know Clare, she finds someone entirely different than what she had envisioned. Have you ever experienced this? What did you learn?

2.     Everyone is doing the best they can from where they are: AJ’s grandfather taught him this concept. What do you think this means? Do you agree or disagree with this philosophy, and what supports your position?

3.     Giving from a place of love: Cruz tells AJ that he needs to give from a place of love. Do you think the reason for giving makes a difference, or is it just the gift that matters? Please explain your position.

4.     Prioritizing joy: AJ suggests that Ella make an important job decision based on what makes her happy. What do you think about this advice and why?

5.     Living in the now: AJ’s granddad used to tell him to “stop fretting and live his life.” What do you think he meant by this?

6.     The difference of one: Ella’s aunt taught her that one person can make a difference. Do you agree? Why or why not?

7.     Gratitude: In the New Age Parenting class that Ella and AJ attend, they learn that giving gratitude shifts your energy from negative to positive. Do you believe this? If so, how does this work?

8.     No such thing as Perfection

a.      AJ’s grandfather taught him that there’s no such thing as perfection; in racing this translated to no such thing as a perfect lap. What are your thoughts on perfection?

b.      AJ taught Ella and the kids that you don’t need to be perfect to be successful, you need to consistently do your best. Do you agree? Why or why not?

A full list of Reading Group Guide questions can be found at the end of The Perfect Lap and on my website at: https://sedonahutton.com/the-perfect-lap-rgg.

This blog was written by Sedona Hutton, author of romance and women’s fiction novels with new age, spiritual twists.

The Perfect Lap—His job is to drive fast. Hers is to put the brakes on him. When sparks fly, will love cross the finish line? To purchase, please click on this link: https://amzn.to/2VkXIkv.

Cloud Whispers—The daughter she gave away. The family she always wanted. The journey to redefine her fate… To purchase this mind-expanding, award-winning novel, click here: https://goo.gl/N9aC38.

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