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Military Romance Author

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Happy New Year

A Fresh Start For Kindness

January 18, 2023 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

Happy New Year, my fellow earthlings. Think I was kind of waiting to see if we actually made it. So far, so good. Bumpy, but we’re coping.

My goals this year are kindness, play, writing, and decluttering.

While I have been doing the last two, I need serious retraining for play, plus I’m working on kindness by trying to do a good deed each day. If I make you smile, this post counts for today’s good deed.

One article I read a long time ago said if you changed three things in your morning routine, it would turn your world upside down. Can’t even imagine what a multiple-year worldwide tri-demic does, but we’re beginning to find out. Think we are upside down, turned inside out, and floating in space.

While the entire planet is in various stages of flux and upheaval, we can recognize we are all in recovery. And that will take as long as it takes and is individual for each person and animal. Basically, this event screwed everybody, mammals, insects, all organisms.

Kindness to ourselves and others is a powerful way to move forward.

On Dec. 8, 2013, I was standing in the customer service line at Kohl’s to pay my almost overdue credit card bill. My dad had died early that morning, and my family were on our way home from saying goodbye to him at the foster home.

Sleep-deprived, grieving, in shock, and pretty exhausted, I felt like an empty vessel. Standing in line was taking way too much energy. After I paid my bill, the clerk gave me a business card. On it said #SHOWKINDNESS. I held onto that little card as if it was a surprise daisy in winter. I still have it.

You never know how you will touch someone’s life in a positive way. And sweet sea biscuits, we need as much kindness and love as we can produce right now.

Take positive baby steps. Whatever you can handle.

Elizabeth Lyon, a favorite writing instructor, talked about one percent improvement a week at a long-ago writing conference. She said we have to “chop wood and carry water” every day to be better writers.       

That goes for kindness and love too.

In that vein, I’m adding some of my new favorite videos to enjoy. I need more play and nature in my life, and given our winter weather, these videos help a lot.

The Movie Squirrels are from Norway and their humans are working to save the forest for the animals. Let’s do this!

(It’s eight hours, so pace yourselves. I watch it on my TV. You have to see The Nut Bar!)

https://youtu.be/cIvEGjm0qGM

And let’s finish up with some positive news from the Oregon Zoo!

https://youtu.be/gwBkeiHfFds

Gear up people.

Let’s get kindness trending!

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Filed Under: Motivation Tagged With: A Fresh Start For Kindness, animals, goals, good deeds, Happy New Year, Kimberly A. Cook, kindness, later in life romance novels, later in life romance readers, military romance author, Norway, Oregon Zoo, recovery, romance readers, squirrels, winter blues

Kick 2020 To The Curb!

December 31, 2020 By Kimberly A. Cook 4 Comments

I’m sitting here with Crunchy Cheetos dust on my fingers while I fire up a send off to 2020. A year that defies description. But like steel, when forged in fire, we get stronger. And part of that is to acknowledge the staggering loss of life here in the United States and around the world, due to the pandemic. A moment of silence with respect and compassion for all the families and friends grieving right now.

Things will get better. Our science and health care warriors are geared up and wearing invisible capes every day.

So let’s celebrate what makes us human. Joy and laughter. Because without the pain, we wouldn’t appreciate the joy. And we will work together to make sure this doesn’t ever happen again. I’m thinking AI robot dogs virus sniffer teams. They’re working on them!

So let’s dance with robots, appreciate the animals, support our troops serving around the world and thank our veterans. 

Happy 2021 everybody!

 

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Filed Under: Personal Essay Tagged With: 2020, 2021, animals, dancing, dancing robots, Happy New Year, Kimberly A. Cook, military, Oregon Zoo, pets, zoo animals

Happy New Year’s Eve!

December 31, 2018 By Kimberly A. Cook 2 Comments

It’s amazing to me how the holidays can roll right over us. Sometimes like a steamroller. So to wind up the year I thought I’d offer a trifecta of Quirky End of the Year videos. Then I plan on getting organized for 2019. Wish me luck!

So first we will have a late Merry Catmas, then a walk through Christmas decorations at a Chateau being refurbished in France, and then wind up with a compilation of 2018 Oregon Zoo babies. All topics I can get behind for the New Year!

Have a great, safe, New Year’s Eve and let’s make 2019 stellar!

 

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: 2018, animals, cat, cat shaming, France, French Chateau, goats, Happy New Year, Happy New Year's Eve!, humor, Kimberly A. Cook, Merry Catmas, New Year's Eve, Oregon Zoo, pets, relax, travel, Warrior Tales, zoo babies

Bring On 2018!

December 29, 2017 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook

It has been a really nutty year. Many times I felt like we were in a squirrel rodeo combined with a rat race and a bad SciFi movie. Imagine my delight to find out we are not alone, even the squirrels have wacko race events.

While we kick 2017 to the curb to start a shiny New Year on Monday, let’s practice the Golden Rule, be kind to others and help each other out. We’ve got work to do to save the polar bears and each other in 2018.

But this weekend it is chips and dip time. Regroup and gear up.

Happy New Year and Happy Quirky Friday! Hugs to you all!

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: 2018, Happy New Year, humor, Kimberly A Cook, kindness, New Years, pets, Squirrel, squirrel obstacle course, squirrel races, Warrior Tales

Happy Baby Bunny New Year!

January 1, 2016 By Kimberly A. Cook 1 Comment

by Kimberly A. Cook                  (Twitter@   WarriorTales)

Happy 2016! Starting a New Year always gets me excited about possibilities. One favorite ritual is putting up all my new calendars. I have a set group I buy every year from Garfield to Tea Pot Collections and 365 Cats to Greek Isles and Islands. Love the photos.

So on this first Friday of the New Year, what better way to start than to enjoy some snoozing baby bunnies. None of these baby bunnies were harmed at all by sitting in the wine glasses and most of them are napping. Pretty hard. Especially the second bun.

So regardless of what you’re doing and where, maybe following the baby bunnies is a great example for the New Year. Let’s slow down and smell the naps! Have a great weekend and Happy Quirky Friday!

P.S. Thanks to my sister for showing me the Baby Bunnies!

 

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Filed Under: Quirky Fridays Tagged With: Baby bunnies, bunnies, bunny, Happy New Year, Kimberly A Cook, New Year, pets, Quirky Fridays, rabbits, Warrior Tales

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