I was thinking about the summer of 2020 and decided to come up with three positive things going on in my life right now. Despite mostly staying home and wanting to remain healthy, I found it wasn’t that difficult to come up with my happy list.
1. I started the first book in a new four book Heartwarming series. I’m excited to go back to the town of Golden, which was featured in previous books in the Meet Me At the Altar series. It has been so much fun creating new characters, getting immersed in the romance conflict and adding to the footprint of this small mountain town. I have a virtual vacation every time I view these pictures for inspiration. You can see why I'm imagining I’m there right now!
I love jumping into a new story and so far this book has been a dream to write. After this I will write a romantic suspense, then back to the romance series. And most exciting? I’m going to have a Heartwarming Christmas story in the future. Already getting into the festive mood now!
2. When I walk outside in the morning, I get to see new
flowers blooming in my yard. I’m don’t have much of a green thumb and I definitely
don’t have a stately garden—or any kind of garden—but seeing these colorful blossoms
just makes me smile.
3. Camping. My husband and I bought a camper last fall. We've been getting away for long weekends and we love it. While many vacations might be on hold this
summer, campgrounds are busy. I guess people want to be out in the fresh air.
Whenever I look for vacant sites, so many are already booked in the places we
enjoy visiting. Thankfully there are many campgrounds within driving distance
that are lovely and always feel like a new adventure. My husband, daughter, and her dog, are off in a week to unwind
and enjoy visiting with friends who are camping with us.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve found that I don’t need a whirlwind European tour to make me happy, although I wouldn’t pass one up. Being with family and good friends, seeing beautiful flowers every morning and doing what I love—creating stories readers can enjoy— is enough for me.
So this summer, sit back with a tall glass of iced tree, grab that book you've been wanting to read, and spend a few hours getting lost in a story. To be honest, that sounds like heaven to me.
What positive things are going on with you this summer?
Tara Randel is an
award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery
and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes
love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her Harlequin Heartwarming
romance, ALWAYS THE ONE, available now.
For more information about her books, visit
Tara at www.tararandel.com. Like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter and receive a
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Lovely photos! And thanks for the reminder here, Tara, that there are positives in our lives in spite of the Covid cloud hovering over us. The positives in my life are that I still get to write romances (so far!), which I love; that I get to spend my summer in a beautiful calm place; and most of all, that my immediate family (including toddler granddaughter) got to 'bubble' here with us. What more could I want!
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful. Enjoy time with your granddaughter. Doesn't get better than that!
ReplyDeleteI went car camping with my kids for the first time this summer. My daughter counts it as the highlight of her summer so far. I took my son paddleboarding for the first time yesterday, and we've all been on mountaintop hikes we've never taken before. Lots of firsts this summer! Thanks for the colorful post, Tara!
ReplyDeleteSounds like lots of fun adventures! My husband wants to try paddleboarding but we haven't taken the leap yet. Hope it was fun!
DeleteI love that many of us are looking for the good and positive in our lives right now. I’m positive about the YA novel first draft that I just finished. And also very positive about the next project I’m working on and the goals that I’ve set to make it happen. I’m thankful for my family, life and this beautiful day.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your first draft! How exciting! What a sense of accomplishment. Best wishes on the project.
DeletePositives for me include watching the hummingbirds flock around the feeder, my bountiful gardenia bush, a husband who holds hands when we go for our walk, words to put on pages that will hopefully one day be published, and family, it seems like we're trying harder now to stay in touch by email, snail mail and phone since we can't be physically together. But I will be especially joyous when the scourge is gone and the vaccine is available!
ReplyDeleteI hear you! But as you've pointed out, we still have the joyous things in life to fill our days. Your list of positives inspires me!
DeleteYou have a delightful list of positive things. Congratulations on the new series. I hope you have a grand time writing it--such a gorgeous setting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Virginia!
DeleteGood for you, Tara! Finding joy and satisfaction in your new series sounds absolutely perfect. Love your pictures here--the "garden" looks great. I haven't gone camping in a long time, but I remember a three-week trip to New England that we still talk about fondly. And we were in a campground in Rhode Island when the astronauts walked on the moon. Listened to that on the car radio then. Fun times.
ReplyDeleteI think some of the positives in life include our wonderful memories. Yours sound awesome!
DeleteLovely post, Tara! Such a good reminder that it's the small things that count. We live by the ocean so beach time and hiking and gardening are keeping us happy. Also we've started new traditions like family game night and movie night. We also armchair travel by watching episodes of Rick Steves Europe.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you've found many positives. Right now, armchair traveling is probably just as good as the real thing!
DeleteFocusing on positives is so important, and never more so than right now. Love the pictures!
ReplyDeleteLove those pictures, and the flowers. Lots of positives in my life, but the most recent is that my daughter just married!
ReplyDelete