Wednesday, November 17, 2021

LIFE HAPPENS

As we go through life there are many "ups-and-downs". As for the "downs", most times the effect is momentary, and we just get on with life. Some of the "downs" do stay with us such as the loss of a loved one, but many find HEALTHY coping mechanisms and get back to living their lives — never forgetting but managing to move forward. And then there are those who find that they need help… it is not wrong to need help, it doesn't make anyone "less" or "damaged", it is just sometimes we need something more than what we can muster from within (kind of like needing medicine to get over an ailment).

We can find HEALTHY forms of help all around us. Sometimes we need to speak with a PROFESSIONAL, a counselor or psychiatrist. Sometimes we can speak with a compassionate and well-meaning friend. Sometimes we find the strength we need to move on within a group-support system; as a friend recently said, "who else should I turn to but people who know EXACTLY what I am going through?" So long as you don't balk at the idea that you are, after all, only human and sometimes need help mending after a trauma, it really doesn't matter so long as you don't ignore your pain and let it fester (again, an analogy, letting an infection continue to grow instead of taking medicine will only cause a lot more problems).

We are all different and each one of us, AND ONLY THAT ONE OF US, needs to decide when and how to reach out for help. A method which may work for someone else is not necessarily the right method for all. If you have reached out, whether it is a wise-friend, a PRIVATE support group on social media, an in-person group led by a counselor, or a one-on-one with a Social Worker or Psychiatrist, then it is up to you, AND ONLY YOU, to decide if this is the help you need. If you can feel the healing and strength, then you have probably made the best decision for you. If you aren't feeling some form of relief and mending, then it may be time to move to another step. There is NO weakness in needing AND ACCEPTING help. And again, WHAT WORKS FOR ONE PERSON IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY WHAT EVERYONE ELSE (including you) NEEDS.

If you find yourself struggling, there are resources (here are just a FEW):

Online Therapy Services https://bit.ly/3qGXyT8
Alcoholics Anonymous ~ find help https://aa.org/
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
Suicide prevention/Veterans with PTSD 1-800-273-TALK [in the U.S.]
Support for Caregivers https://bit.ly/3Dw4c24
Grieving the Loss of a Child https://bit.ly/3ck3DfM

(no endorsements are implied)

Saturday, February 3, 2018

A Story for Today — Courage of the Heart

About

Courage of the Heart

by Chelle Cordero

When I wrote Courage of the Heart in 1999 it was well before the #MeToo movement, ironically the story is right on spot for 2018.

But in this case it is not the female lead who was victimized; however she does endure many perils in the story. My male lead, Adam, is not the “typical” romance novel hero, he has seen ugliness and cruelty and has lived his life a wounded man. Until Davie comes into his life…

She’s an innocent as far as he is concerned and he believes he shouldn’t muddy her life with his shame, but he finds it hard to fight his attraction to her. He finally brings himself to let her know why he’s “not good enough” for her, expecting her to walk away in disgust — he is astonished when she doesn’t leave him.

Though there are perils and dangers to both of them when Adam’s past forces its way back into their lives they work together to save themselves. Davie’s love as saved Adam and his love, in turn, saves Davie.

The story in Courage of the Heart is touted with “Sometimes love is the only cure for the very deepest of emotional wounds.” Each of the main characters in this story is strong, together they are triumphant.

COURAGE OF THE HEART shows us that sometimes love is the only cure for the very deepest of emotional wounds. Adam Sherman has remained quiet about his scandalous past and is comfortable with his reputation as a womanizing and dedicated bachelor. He is an expert in the field of computers including programming, networking and hacking. At twenty-five years old, he is content with his management job at a local Internet Provider.

Davie Prescott is twenty years old and a college student who is working part-time at the same Internet Provider where Adam is employed. She was raised in a very close knit family of aunts, uncles and cousins. She and her widowed father are very close. Adam is attracted to Davie, but he shies away from her innocence because he feels his shameful past is too harsh for her existence. Adam finally shares his darkest secret with Davie and is amazed to find that she doesn´t turn away from him.

But when Adam’s past catches up to him, he soon learns that there´s a lot more at stake than just his nightmares. Adam is prepared to give Davie up if need be in order to protect her until he learns that she´s got a secret of her own. With Davie´s help, Adam learns a courage that is born of love, courage of the heart.

The story of the two lovers takes a series of unexpected and fast paced turns where lives, sanity and love are put in jeopardy. Their commitment to one another results in a spirit that binds them together and helps them to overcome physical and emotional dangers.