Any Way the Wind Blows

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Laurie Buchanan

Depending on the route, I pass this beautiful weathervane a few times a week on my daily walks. Without fail, it brings to mind the saying: “Any way the wind blows.”

To my way of thinking, that means to be easily persuaded, not to stand firm.

Similar, many people “go with the flow.” In my first book, Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth, I wrote: “Don’t go with the flow or against it. Create your own.”

A friend of mine took a stand to not go with the flow, not go with the wind. She opted not to gather with a group of friends (many of them at risk) because of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Will there be friendship fallout from this stand? That’s yet to be seen. I respect that she stood firm in her convictions.

Do you go with the flow, any way the wind blows—or do you stand firm?

The Eyes Have It

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Laurie Buchanan

When we walk out our driveway and turn right on the sidewalk, we pass over a small stream. The other day we noticed an addition. Someone had affixed a pair of googly eyes to the rail.

I love to people watch. But I have to remember, it works in reverse, too. No matter where we go or what we do, a good portion of the time we’re being watched.

In my first book, Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth, I wrote, “Never underestimate the influence you have on others.” As a grandma-in-waiting (will September never get here?!) I’m aware that a little pair of eyes will be on me; my granddaughter will be in my sphere of influence.

Who do you influence?

Cream of the Crop

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

I was excited to receive a link from my friend Lyndajo to an article that lists The Best Library In Every State. When I read that the designation in Idaho is the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, we made a point of visiting it on a trip to that neck of the woods.

“When you absolutely positively have to know, ask a librarian.” —American Library Association

I was delighted to discover that they carry my book, Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth.

“When I got my library card, that’s when my life began.”
–Rita Mae Brown

I was wowed by this set of moose bookends—they’re taller than I am!

“The library card is a passport to wonders and miracles, glimpses into other lives, religions, experiences, the hopes and dreams and strivings of ALL human beings, and it is this passport that opens our eyes and hearts to the world beyond our front doors, that is one of our best hopes against tyranny, xenophobia, hopelessness, despair, anarchy, and ignorance.” —Libba Bray

October 14th was Indie Author Day. I hope you had the opportunity to attend the festivities at your local library; I had the privilege of speaking at the Boise Public Library that day.

“The truth is libraries are raucous clubhouses for free speech, controversy, and community.” —Paula Poundstone

When was the last time you checked a book out from your library?

Book Fairies

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

Yesterday I took part in Hide a Book Day with Goodreads who’d teamed up with the Book Fairies (#ibelieveinbookfairies) and thousands of authors all around the globe to hide books for people to find, read, and leave for the next person.

After affixing the unique Book Fairies sticker, I bound mine with color-coordinated curling ribbon, then hid ten signed copies of Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth throughout Boise, Idaho. I opted for high foot-traffic locations such as the airport, the Towne Square mall, the capitol building, and several coffee shops in historic downtown.

If you’re an author, I hope you were able to participate. If you’re an avid reader, I hope you found a book left by a book fairy.

When was the last time you were touched by a bit of magic?

Labor Day eBook Sale

Posted on September 1, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

My publisher is offering an amazing Labor Day sale on the award-winning Kindle edition of Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth.

To take advantage of the sale, click on this link: http://amzn.to/2u4Tj3I

Have a fantastic weekend!

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Casting Shadows

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

On Mondays, we drop Willa off at The Lodge for day camp. One afternoon when I arrived to pick her up, the sun was at just the right angle, allowing me to capture the sign’s shadow on the wall.

Just as every object casts a shadow, every person casts a shadow—both physically and figuratively:

Physically, our silhouette against a lighter background.
Figuratively, our influence.

Our figurative shadow (influence) falls on those around us. Our words and actions affect those in our sphere of influence. In Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth I wrote, “Never underestimate the influence you have on others.”

What kind of shadow do you cast?

And the Envelope Please

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

Saturday I was notified that Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth became a 2016 Gold Foreword Indies Winner in the category of self-help.

This is the fifth literary honor Note to Self has received. The other four are:
2016 Nautilus Award
2016 Idaho Author Award
2017 International Book Award winner
2017 International Excellence Body, Mind, Spirit Book Awards finalist

Two of the best ways to support authors are:
(1) positive book reviews
(2) have their books in libraries

If your local library doesn’t currently carry Note to Self, will you please ask the acquisitions librarian to acquire it, and if you’ve read Note to Self but haven’t written a short review yet, will you please post one on Amazon or Goodreads?

Thank you in advance!

Breathe

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Boatloads of exciting behind-the-scenes things are taking place as we—publisher, publicist, and author—ramp up for the November 1 release of Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path for Gratitude and Growth. It’s exhilarating. One might even say, breathless.

With this in mind, Crystal—my publicist at BookSparks—sent me a visible reminder to breathe. In turn, I’m sharing a breathing exercise from Note to Self that has never failed to produce calm for me:

4-7-8 BREATHING

Place a hand on your lower belly to ensure that you’re breathing past your chest.
Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose while mentally counting to 4.
Hold that breath for a mental count of 7.
Exhale slowly through your mouth while mentally counting to 8. Notice that the exhalation is twice as long as the inhalation.
Pause briefly, without inhaling, and then start another round. This natural pause is therapeutic and relaxing.
Once you’ve established a rhythm, identify a replacement attitude. Imagine that with each inhalation, you’re breathing in the color orange and the feeling of that new attitude—increasing joy.
When you exhale, imagine that you’re releasing the toxins associated with the unwanted emotion—offloading baggage.
Repeat for several minutes, drawing the orange breath and replacement feeling down into your lower belly to anchor the new feeling.

When was the last time you focused on your breath?

Decisions… Decisions… Decisions…

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

For the purpose of creating memes, I’ve been asked by my publicist to pull 3 “quotable quotes” from each of the seven selves that are detailed in my soon-to-be published book, Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth.

The three I pulled from the second self, self-gratification, are:

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
“Individual choices have universal consequences.”
“Life is an expression of the choices we make.”

Who to call? What to wear? When to speak up? Where to go? Choices and decisions—some crucial, some seemingly insignificant—each of us makes them every single day.

What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

Book Trailer

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Created by the award-winning talent of Rucinski & Reetz, I’m excited to share with you the book trailer for Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth.

Available for pre-order on Amazon

Transforming intention into action, Note to Self equips you to shed your baggage, bridging the gap between where you are and where you want to be—body, mind, and spirit—empowering you to step into joy-filled living now!

“Laurie Buchanan has a knack for helping others find positive, creative, and clear solutions to life’s challenges. Reading this book was like watching the sun rise for me; every page had bright rays of wisdom that made me smile. Delightful indeed!”
—Christine DeSmet, author, screenwriter, and writing teacher at University of Wisconsin-Madison Continuing Studies

What book are you currently reading?

Available for pre-order on Amazon.

Tuesdays with Laurie

"Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing." —Laurie Buchanan

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