Happy New Year 2022!

Positivity-   Combined With Hope-   Is a Vaccine For The Soul

There is no doubt... 2021 has been another anxious year wherein we lived under the veil of an ongoing pandemic. And not only that- the veil has layers and layers affecting our daily lives, our mobility, our social sphere.  Above all, our mental health is tested under the weight of the pandemic brush, painting bold strokes that attempt to dwindle our hope and inspiration. Humanity vs. the virus-  so long... so very long.

To be honest, I never thought I would ever experience a world dominating virus in my lifetime. I mean, sure, I've seen countless Sci-Fi movies and read books about zombie apocalypses, alien invasions and deadly global viruses... but that was all make-believe.  Fantasy. Imagination gone wild.

Looking back a few years, I never saw this coming but movies and books made me question: "what if this happened in real life?" I always told myself that I was silly- a girl with an overactive imagination, that my time on earth would be an easy, boring one. Well, so much for personal pep talks...

Hmmm... pep talks... we can use this to our advantage.  We can guide our thoughts... think positive at this trying time and find happiness in the little things in life that bring us comfort and pleasure, the things we are grateful for, the things that make our hearts smile. This past year I have drowned myself in books- countless books- to take away the pandemic blues, finding solace and entertainment and new knowledge, where applicable.  I immersed myself in fairytales, thrillers, ghost stories, romantic stories, poetry books, recipe books, non-fiction, fiction, biographies, magazines; et al. I did what made me happy and 'happy' is what is keeping me afloat during this pandemic. 

I wrote... consistently, keeping up with book reviews, beta readings and ARC readings. I just threw myself into it and peace and calm prevailed- not the fluctuating Coronavirus numbers dictating my reactions or how to live my life.  This year I am publishing my romantic poetry book and although I scheduled for it to be released in 2021, I had to push the timeline into 2022.  I was not hard on myself.  The last thing I believe anyone must do is berate oneself.  Our current climate does not allow room for this as being gentle with ourselves and doing our best is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. The world is rough enough with us already so adding to it is just not beneficial to our well-being.

This past year I learned how to breathe... freely- without stress or guilt, without making a sound as it was so deep and full of life there was no hardship in inhaling and exhaling. The word "positivity" emblazed itself upon my mind and stayed there, coaxing me to keep setting goals and wake up with a purpose.  It is my own personal beacon.  Positivity combined with hope... it's a vaccine for the soul. Nothing else man-made in the universe will get you through the chaos life throws your way. Nothing.

I hope 2022 will be an outstanding year of resilience and growth for you and your loved ones. I hope you keep feeding your dreams and continue to be inspired by the hidden, little joys in life we often absently overlook.  It's there... but you have to open your heart to see it.

Keep searching. Don't stop dreaming. You are the master of your own destiny.

May everything beautiful happen to you in 2022!

© Mary-Lisa Russo

Author

​You have stumbled into the writing world of Mary-Lisa Russo, an avid storyteller observing the universe around her and her humble place amongst the stars. “Excerpts From The Wandering Mind” is Mary-Lisa’s first collection of poems and she is currently working on her next book, a compilation of romantic poetry. She is a university graduate h​aving majored in English Literature and continues to nurture her ongoing writing education at a local college and other educational avenues. She is a member of the Ontario Poetry Society and various writers’ groups.  She enjoys reading and giving a voice to fellow authors.

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