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Category: Life

Parents Need a Time Out

Published by Autumn Brooke on January 19, 2017

I overwhelmed myself today as I contemplated what I should blog about.  The possibilities were endless and it was hard for me to focus on one topic long enough to wrap my head around a central idea, that’s when it hit me….. I was just complaining to a friend of mine about my lack of focus about life in general.  I came home yesterday after retrieving kids from school and was just lost in a state of melancholy.  It was so noticeable that my oldest son even asked what was wrong, but I had no true answer for him.  I wasn’t sad, nor grumpy, I just was and couldn’t shake it.  As the night continued with the regular daily motherly chores of checking homework, laundry, and dinner; I did my best to not share my mood.  However, as I served myself last of a painstakingly long and in-depth dinner, I took my first bite to find it delicious but already cold.  I warmed up my plate but it was too late.  I just couldn’t eat.  I realized why I was so out of sorts and knew that it was no ones fault but my own.  Mommy needed a Time Out!

Yes, as parents one of the first and most common pieces of advice that you here is “Take time for yourself.”  “Don’t feel guilty about needing a break from your kids.”  “Me Time will essentially make you a better parent to your child.”  All True!  I had just let life get so busy and complicated that I had not scheduled that all important Time Out.  I had the wine, the longer shower, even the piece of chocolate while watching a new Prime TV series, all things that help me decompress and re-energize, but not this time.  I still felt off.

It was not until the conversation with a friend that we realized together what was missing…… I needed GROWN UP time.  For me this equates to No Children present and actual adult conversation.  This means that I had to actually go out and socialize with other adults.  Being a single mom to 4 and making my living as a writer, I don’t tend to interact in the real world as often as I should and I was seriously lacking in the Fun department.

I am betting that we are all guilty of this far too often and I am here to say “Stop whatever you are doing and make a plan to make a date with your significant other or a group of friends.”  Don’t let yourself become so busy that you miss out on your life too.  One day these little people that control our whole world will be grown and gone.  So busy with their friends that they will forget to call home and you will have lost contact with  your own friends.  We need adult interaction, we need to connect with those people in our lives that keep us sane and give us joy.  It doesn’t need to be long or expensive, just a cup of coffee or walk will do.  Time to talk, engage with no social media or distractions, time to focus on all or nothing.  And, if like me, you took that time to feel better about yourself then repay the favor by finding another parent that may need help with child care so they too can take their Parent Time Out!  We are all in this together and we need to support each other in this most important mission of our life…. Parenting!

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Butterfly Beauty

Published by Autumn Brooke on January 12, 2017

Butterfly Beauty….. Delicate Strength….. These are the words that surround this post.  What isn’t there to love about a butterfly?  They flutter with an almost majestic presence yet are silent in nature.  It is their unassuming existence that actually catches your attention before one sees the glorious coloring of their wings.  Even those without bright color have a depth of shading that is beautiful in its own right.  Yet, upon further investigation these wings may appear nearly translucent by the sun, showing the intricate details of their delicate exoskeleton.  It is the realization that these creatures have an undeniable strength within themselves that makes them so undeniably breathtaking.

Upon even further study, it is not only that a butterfly can fly up to 3,000 miles to reach their destination with little rest, or that their life spans are short, only serving as a mating process to release more butterflies to the earth but their journey in this process that fascinates me.  They live in a series of 4 life cycles, gaining strength throughout each phase.  From a human perspective it should be noted that these life phases are all completed alone, total isolation after emerging from their egg.

Locked in a chrysalis, surrounded by total darkness, a butterfly must use their wings to set themselves free by breaking the barrier that held them within a self-made prison.  Their wings are crumpled and wet once emerged but the struggle served to strengthen their wings, preparing them for flight.  At times a witness may have observed the struggle of the butterfly.  The desperation apparent as the butterfly worked its way through, but had they stepped up to help the butterfly, they would have only weakened its wings.

So… in reflection of the strength in the delicate beauty that encompasses a butterfly we learn that their power comes from the fight that they are forced to face alone on their personal life journey.  They encounter more in their life then most of us can even imagine but they overcome in a feat of pure courage, to grace the world with their beauty and strength.  I leave you with the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson; “Believe in yourself, our strength grows out of our weakness.”

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Dedication, Consistency, Restoration

Published by Autumn Brooke on January 5, 2017

Happy 2017!  I have never been a fan of New Year’s Resolutions, choosing instead to constantly push myself towards the positive which ultimately means changes occur within my life all year long.  One of those, I am dedicating to the New Year and that is stated within the above picture.  I am committing myself to posting a new blog each and every Wednesday.  This may not seem like much of a challenge to many of you, but I posted in July of 2015, titled Worst Blogger Ever, because I recognized that consistently writing on the blog is difficult for me.  It is not that I don’t write, or have anything to say, it is simply taking the time to make it worthy for my readers.  I struggle with knowing that the content that I put out is intriguing enough to be shared.  

I made a personal choice this Holiday Season as I sat down and evaluated what changes I need to make within my personal and business life so that I truly can #BeInspiredToInspire.  I realized that I was finding myself in a rut.  I have been focused on the novel, turn screenplay, Brides Aweigh and in order not to distract myself from this unbelievable opportunity, I’ve stepped back from a lot of my free writing and I believe that this has unfortunately separated me from my blog.  However, that is not good for me, nor my followers.  It disconnects me not only from my readers but also from myself.  

Writing for me is my way of finding ME Time in the midst of being a Full Time Single Mother of 4 Beautifully Busy Boys.  I have adult conversations by sharing my blog with the world even if it is only for a few minutes a day and I owe it to myself to stay Dedicated and Consistent in order to Restore myself to remaining AutumnBrookeOnline.  I was inspired to start up this blog on the continued request of my mother.  She told me repeatedly that my life was full of enough fodder to maintain a blog and it wasn’t about the content as long as I was writing.  So, with that being said and by sharing this post, I am dedicating myself to all of you and me too.  I will trust that you will hold me accountable by checking in every Wednesday to see if I have indeed succeeded in Sharing My Words; Heart, Mind, & Soul with all of you.  Here is the First for this Weds of our New Year…….

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John Grisham – #GiveaBook

Published by Autumn Brooke on December 20, 2016

#GiveaBook

Grisham says give a book for Christmas.  Yes, that is the John Grisham, the best-selling author of one or more books a year after his first publication in 1989, with A Time to Kill.  Then leading the Best-Seller List of all 1991 with The Firm, that’s 35 books with this year’s newest release, The Whistler, and if that wasn’t impressive enough, 9 of these books were made into major motion pictures.  As an aspiring writer with dreams of reaching the masses with my own feature film adaptation based off my novel, I listen when Grisham speaks, or in this case, I read when he writes.  I’ve always been a fan, but I can admit I started to pay more attention when he ‘Liked’ an Instagram post of mine (I was ecstatic), then to see that he ‘Followed’ me (I was on Cloud Nine.)  It actually encouraged me to buckle down and pay more mind to what I was writing and posting.

I claim my writing as words of heart, mind, and soul.  I don’t stick to one specific theme in my blogs, instead choosing to write by what weighs on my mind.  My voice to the world in an effort to inspire, motivate, and educate.  I hold myself accountable to how what I write may influence others and the fact that these words are forever more a part of history once posted.  It was with this thought that I saw the above image shared on Instagram by Grisham and knew that was ‘it.’  I reached out to the Grisham Team for permission to share his image and was even emailed a better resolution copy.  (I may have danced around my kitchen at such personal acknowledgement.)

Now comes the hard part, to write a blog worthy of sharing his words, with very little to add as Grisham pretty much says it all, “Give a Book for Christmas.”  The 10 listed reasons are more than enough, but for me, I advocate book giving because of the educational benefits.  I’m known for gifting books or gift cards to bookstores; is there really a better gift?  When you give a book as a gift, you are investing in the future.  Promoting an increased knowledge in comprehension skills, spelling ability, and imagination.

Take time to give the best gift of the season, the opportunity to travel the world in multiple time periods or dimensions.  To lose yourself in another life, spawning new career opportunities that may never have been considered had it not been for that one year, that one specific book was placed under the tree.

          Invest in future generations providing promises of unlimited potential, in hope that they dare to dream and realize that nothing is impossible.

 

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Carousel of Life

Published by Autumn Brooke on October 15, 2016

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Lately I have seen a lot of memes across various social media platforms that depict an individual tripping and falling, or sliding gainfully downhill reaching wildly at side lying branches to stop their fall or at least slow their descent.  These images come with the caption of “My Life” or “My Day” or even “How my Month is going.”  We see these on our friends posts and tend to Like, Comment, Share as we have been automated to do.  Today, I saw one and laughed, as I too, chose to re-share it in a private message thinking how much it related to the chaos of my life and knew my friend would understand the humor in the meme.  Then, I couldn’t get the image out of my head and the more I thought on it, the more I realized that I didn’t think it was funny and certainly wasn’t true.  I have blogged before about how crazy and chaotic my life can be and there are days, weeks, months that seem like I just may not be able to keep it altogether.  Like everyone else in the world we all have times that we slip and fall, sometimes far and fast and on those times we shouldn’t laugh, but be there to help our friends in need.  Maybe by simply asking “What can I do to make your day better?”  Our lives should not resemble a slippery slope but that of the carousel .  Everyday is full of ups and downs as the circle of life takes us round and round but we continue and if we stay focused we can make sure that we enjoy the ride.  The music, the lights, the laughter of those with which we share the adventure, these are the memories that we need to remember.  Stay True to Yourself, Be Kind to Others, and Never Give Up.

 

 

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Dance in the Rain

Published by Autumn Brooke on September 17, 2016

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“It is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but learning how to dance in the rain.” 

This is the quote that I have framed next to the mirror in my restroom so I can’t help but see it every day.  Such a simple concept, right?  Take joy in the here and now, no matter your surroundings.  I foolishly believed that this was how I already lived my life, or at least how I tried to live my life.  Life has a funny way of taking everything that you think you know and changing it up on you.  Just when you think that you have it all figured out, all your ducks in a row, waiting to take on the world….. you trip, that stumble turns into a fall, and suddenly everything is in a downward spiral no matter how hard you try to hold on.  I work hard to keep myself motivated, mostly because I am a mother and I can’t afford to fail.  I am determined to be all that I can be for my sons, so that they will know that I never gave up, no matter how complicated and difficult the situation. 

Which brings me to why I am writing today.  The last six weeks of my life have been a roller coaster that took me on such ride that I can barely tell one day from the next, as it feels like, in between the highs and lows, I must be on a merry-go-round of dizziness.  I didn’t expect to dance, because I couldn’t even walk in the rain, I was being soaked to the bone in this storm.  Finally, I cried out to God why He couldn’t give me shelter, a raincoat or umbrella to fight some of the wet and cold.  I stood in my independence asking God what I had done to deserve all that was happening.  I felt as if I was following His Will, I was certainly trying hard.  I questioned how much I needed to endure before I could feel His grace.  That was when I heard it……  I heard Him tell me to just look up, and I saw His hand extended to raise me off my knees.  I felt contrite, but still arrogant, as I placed my hand in his, immediately warm and dry, although the storm was still over us.  Yet, He did not just help me to my feet, He held me in an embrace so that I could once again, dance in the rain.  I leaned my head against His shoulder and realized my foolishness.  God does not ask us to struggle on our own but to lean on Him.   He is my Father and when I was too young to dance, he held me up so I could stand on His feet as he would spin me around.  Now, I am older and I tend to look to Him less and less, forgetting that He always held me up, instead blaming Him for not being there, when it was I, which failed to pay attention to His offer of support.

It is through the Joy of Christ that We learn to Dance in the Rain. 

 

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Maiden Voyage of Queen Mary; 80th Anniversary

Published by Autumn Brooke on May 30, 2016

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Pictured Above is Autumn Brooke & Gabriel Alvarez (writer and illustrator of the History Comes Alive Series and Brides Aweigh), at the Media Event for the 80th Anniversary of the Maiden Voyage for the RMS Queen Mary!

Privileged to meet many distinguished guests.  Those included in the photo collage above would be Commodore Everette Hoard, June Allen (war bride), and her grandson Chris Boots.  Next is the extremely charming Ralph Rushton (bell boy, 1948).  My in depth conversation with Randolph Churchill, Great Grandson of Sir Winston Churchill follows.  Following is the PR director and his son, with the ever so beautiful war bride, waiting gracefully for her daughter.  Two serving Bell Boys for the opening of the gallery opening, of Sir Winston Churchill’s paintings took time to pose, and ‘The Polka Dot Shoes’ (Deservedly worth a mention).

Thank You to Everyone that sacrificed a few moments of their time,

I am truly grateful & honored.

The past four days was a year in the making for myself and business partner/best friend.  At the beginning of 2015, I made a decision to write a historical literary fiction novel that highlighted the Queen Mary’s service in WWII but specifically in relation to the War Brides and their incredible journey.  I was hopeful to share their story in such a way that held commercial appeal so that I could reach a broad and varied audience.  I have been fortunate to have some screen writer’s interest so I hope that I achieved my goal.   History has always been a love of mine, but once I had children it became a true passion.  I began to realize that the past, our history, fades over time and although some may be recorded within the history books, it often becomes lost.  I decided that I needed to teach my boys as much as I could about past events that created or changed our World.  When it is possible to interact with that history, the experience is that much deeper, bringing the history to life.

Almost exactly one year ago today, I was honored to meet a part of living history!  When researching my novel, I reached out to the Queen Mary and was given many resources, but the best was being put in contact with a War Bride, by the name of June Allen.  We shared many conversations but after a few months I was able to meet with her personally aboard the ship.  The more I read, learning about the War Brides and GI’s traveling when she was in-service as the Grey Ghost, the easier it was to imagine how they may have walked the corridors, but awe inspiring to know I was literally sitting with June where she had sat 70 years before.  What a responsibility I was undertaking by not just trying to Keep History Alive, but in the realization I was sharing living history.  Writing their thoughts as they relived what they felt seeing rooms where they had slept as they crossed international waters. 

This week my illustrator, Gabriel and I were presented with an opportunity to attend several Media Only events aboard the Queen Mary to celebrate her Maiden Voyage 80 years ago.  There were many honored guests in attendance, more words to preserve so that we may keep the Memories Alive.  I was star struck, blessed, and thankful creating a feeling of euphoria that glowed over the few days of celebration.  I am sure that I often appeared nervous and scattered to most and if not, I am proud of my composure.  How could one not feel anxious when standing in front of Randolph Churchill as he talked about his great-grandfather, Sir Winston Churchill’s paintings?  Or having the opportunity to dance with Ralph Rushton, a bell boy to 1st Class Waiter serving in 1948. 

It was an incredible week and we will never forget it.  I treasure the memories that were shared with me I we created new memories aboard the extraordinary Queen Mary for future generations.

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Live in the Moment

Published by Autumn Brooke on May 22, 2016

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As most of you know, I am currently waiting……  waiting to be read, to be heard, to be accepted.  Submitting the book for publication or even agent representation is a waiting game, there is no way around it.  For every positive feedback, there is multiple rejections, presenting opportunity for self doubt and reflection.  It is easy to get caught up in missing life moments because I am focused on continually pushing to soar ahead.  What I am coming to realize is that maybe I am not always as focused as I am dwelling, twiddling my thumbs as I wait.  Resonant of waiting for the toast to pop,  or the pot to boil.

I did my part in sending my query and manuscript to available agents and publishing houses, but it doesn’t end there.  I have to keep talking, keep writing, and making connections because maybe my agent wasn’t on my email list.  Maybe I have to take that risk to put myself out there and make them take notice.

This is my approach to most of the rest of my life, why should it be any different when it comes to my writing?  If I am shy, or unsure of myself, then I lack the confidence to ever promote myself.  I need to learn to take a breath, let it go, and live in the moment.  I have been blessed with many opportunities and supportive friends to encourage me in this journey and I need to take back control.

I can’t focus on the rejection of yesterday, or the possibility of the rejection tomorrow but focus in the positive of Today.  The Sun is shining, the boys are happy, healthy, and fed, so it is a great day to add a few twists and turns to my path.  Always moving forward but maybe reaching out and making a few new contacts.  Try to think outside of the box, be unconventional.

This girl is hungry so I am going to shake the tree and stop waiting for the nuts to just fall.  Time to Knock on Doors, or Scream from the Mountain Tops.  If you know a publisher or agent, let me know……  if you want to scream with me, please feel free to Share any and all you find on the Blog Page or my Facebook Page @autumnbrookeonline.  Lets Make Some Noise!

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Letter to Heaven

Published by Autumn Brooke on May 12, 2016

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This is a different type of blog for me, but after realizing that today was the One Year Anniversary of my blog and that my first post was one for my mother, the following felt appropriate to share…..

A few months ago, I lost a mentor to a long, but courageous, fight to cancer.  Watching her journey was awe inspiring as I had always admired her but now witnessed her strength on a completely different level.  About a week ago her husband made a Facebook post about how he had taken the time to write her a Heavenly Letter as recommended by his grief counselor and how he found it extremely therapeutic.  It struck a chord within me as the anniversary of my mother’s passing was also quickly approaching.  I still have such a wide range of emotions when I think about her that I thought the idea of communicating them through not just words, but a personal letter, might be just the trick to help release some of the pent up grief, frustration, sorrow I feel when it comes to her.  I do not think that there is or should be a time limit to grief, especially as I don’t believe that it ever really ends.  I believe that we just learn how to better cope, and sometimes mask the pain until we can deal with it.  Some days are just going to be better then others and that is okay, as long as we make a point to continue living and find joy again in the world around us.

I am going to share my letter with all of you.  I think it did help a little bit as I enjoyed the feeling of talking to her, but I know that I did not fully vent all of my emotion.  I am sure that I will try the letter thing again, but maybe not anytime soon as it does bring a lot of feelings rushing back.  I’m in the process of learning how to use those vast emotions for good.  I want to help other people know that we are never fully alone, somewhere there is someone feeling just as you feel and that there is Healing within Communication.  We need to reach out and draw strength from one another.  Isn’t that essentially what Facebook and blog posts are…?  A social media site to connect with other likeminded individuals?

Dear Mom,

          This Saturday, 14 May 2016 it will be three years since you left us.  I try not to dwell on how much you are missing here on earth, but that can be easier said than done.  I am often told how you are happier in Heaven but honestly that never makes me feel better.  Actually if I am completely honest, that thought makes me a bit angry.  I don’t want you to be happier in Heaven, I want you to be here with us.  I want to talk to you, I want to see you, and I want you to be there for all the boys’ events and life milestones, no matter if they are big or small.  I hate that you left us so soon, and even more so when I know that I never got the chance to say Goodbye.  Maybe I am being selfish, but I don’t care, I think that in this situation I am allowed to be unreasonable and selfish.  I just want to have you back in my day to day life.  You used to be the first person that I called when I was upset, scared, confused, or happy.  I miss your advice, your jokes, and even your bad days.  I know that things got hard in the end and that I was often frustrated with you.  I am sorry for that, it was really never you, but the circumstances.  I know that you were just as frustrated at being trapped in a body that no longer worked as your mind did and that is my only silver lining in knowing that you are no longer in your earthly body. 

I miss you everyday mom, and I pray that you can are able to see my accomplishments and even my sorrows.  To feel that you are still present in my life and supporting me from Heaven helps.  You were always my biggest cheerleader and fan.  You were the first to teach me the concept of Unconditional Love which is the best gift you gave me in life. 

I love you and hope that I will continue to make you proud as I celebrate your life and honor you by being the very best Me that I can be! 

Forever Your Girl………..

 

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Brides Aweigh Synopsis

Published by Autumn Brooke on April 29, 2016

Mockup BridesAweigh

I have had many people ask about the details of the novel.  Below is a brief synopsis, but there is so much more to the story I don’t believe that this description does it justice.  I chose to write this piece of historical fiction not as a love story but to share the remarkable lives of the WWII War Brides and the undeniable importance that The Queen Mary played in their journey.  The strength and resilience of all involved had a story of their own.  One deserving to be told.

Brides Aweigh

Synopsis

 Emma, like many other young British women, falls in love and marries one of the American GI’s who are stationed in her town during the course of WWII.  Her husband is shipped out and she remains at home in worry and wonder for more than a year; when a letter arrives from the Army stating that she can be reunited with her American husband.  The Queen Mary, still in military service, will ferry War Brides to the United States for the “Operation Daddy” mission.  With two other brides from her town, Emma sets sail on the biggest adventure of her life, leaving behind all she has ever known. 

Emma faces more than loneliness onboard the ship.  Self-doubt, self-recollection, and adversity force her to wonder if her husband is little more than a stranger.  Fortunately she encounters many characters on the Queen Mary who help her discover who and what she wants to be in the future.  Her traveling companions include a male War Bride, a child who is meeting an unknown American father after the death of the child’s mother, and many other women from different backgrounds and stations.  Emma encounters true tragedy for the first time in her life, as an American soldier dies just days prior to arriving on American soil, and she loses the friendship of her best friend over circumstances involving morality. 

In the end, her journey teaches her the strength to walk off the ship and become the woman she has been destined to be always.

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