Thursday, January 17, 2019

Out with the old, by Myra Johnson

Certain times of the year naturally bring a sense of newness and anticipation. When I was growing up, it was always September and the start of a new school year. In my adulthood, I get a similar feeling as the old year rolls into the new. Taking down the past year’s calendar is like closing a door, often on plans and goals that never saw completion. Hanging this year’s calendar is my chance to re-evaluate and begin again.


After dumping, culling, and reorganizing our kitchen junk drawer!
The problem sometimes, though, is holding on too tightly to things from the past—possessions, attitudes, perhaps even relationships. This winter my husband and I have tackled some heavy-duty purging of closets, shelves, and drawers. We found stashes of outdated computer accessories, ancient cordless phones, small appliances we’ve rarely used, expired contact lens solution (I haven’t worn contacts in 10 years!), and all sorts of other odds and ends. It’s amazing how much space we reclaimed by getting rid of useless junk.


Anybody else have a quesadilla maker lying around from the 1990s?
Cleaning up our attitudes can sometimes make an even bigger impact on our lives. A biggie for me is wasting time worrying over situations I have no control over. Another is harboring resentment over real or perceived slights. Do either of these emotions serve a helpful purpose? Usually not. 


Coming May 2019!

There are times, though, when our emotions can clue us in on faulty relationships—a friendship gone sour, a family member we just can’t seem to get through to anymore. When we’ve tried every possible step toward reconciliation, including fervently praying for God’s intervention, sometimes the only remaining option for preserving our own spiritual health is distance. The heroine of my upcoming Love Inspired romance, The Rancher’s Redemption, must do just that as she seeks freedom from the effects of her abusive first marriage.

Are there things in your life that are unnecessarily taking up space? Start with the simple things—that bulging bookshelf or overstuffed closet. When my husband went through his clothes, he discarded at least a dozen T-shirts, and probably still has twice that many! (Don’t ask me why!) Besides, it’s always possible that something you no longer use could fill a need for someone else.


~~~~~~~

Myra Johnson writes emotionally gripping stories about love, life, and faith. She’s currently at work on a new Love Inspired mini-series, Hill Country Haven, with returning characters from Her Hill Country Cowboy and Hill Country Reunion. The first book in the series, The Rancher’s Redemption, is slated for a May 2019 release.


Also look for the updated editions of Myra’s earlier romances:

Myra is a three-time Maggie Awards finalist, two-time finalist for the prestigious ACFW Carol Awards, winner of Christian Retailing’s Best for historical fiction, and winner in the Inspirational category of the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards. Originally from Texas but currently residing in the beautiful Carolinas, Myra and her husband love the climate and scenery, but they sorely miss bluebonnets and real Texas barbecue! The Johnsons share their home with two very pampered rescue dogs who don’t always understand the meaning of “Mom’s trying to write.” They’ve also inherited the cute little cat (complete with attitude) their daughter and family had to leave behind when they moved overseas.

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12 comments:

  1. Lovely post, Myra! I need to toss out lots of stuff...clutter that piles up and expands as if it has some type of reproductive capability! :) I'm impressed by what you and Project Guy have accomplished! I need to follow your example.

    Congrats on your upcoming release. The story looks wonderful! Love that cover!

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    1. Thanks, Debby! This is probably my favorite of all my Love Inspired covers!

      And we're STILL working on getting rid of STUFF! Where did it all come from???

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  2. What a wonderful post, Myra. I feel very connected to it since I have a habit of holding on to things too tightly. I have kept every single card my husband ever gave me and we met in college some 30 years ago. My daughter keeps telling us we need to declutter which means getting rid of jewelry and clothes and purses. I know I should do it but it's hard. The new year brings so much promise. Anything is possible, right? Blessings!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, Belle, I hear you! I've saved all those cards, too--46 years of them! Plus every card our daughters ever gave us. Getting rid of the excess does bring an amazing sense of freedom, though. Too bad we still have such a long, long way to do!!!

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  3. Great post, Myra. Its amazing the stuff you find when you decide to declutter. Not too long ago I finally cleaned out an old drawer in the kitchen and found old packets of cheese from who knows how long ago. Once it was finished and looked so much better, it made me wonder why it took me so long.

    I love the cover of your May release. Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mary!

      And old cheese??? You get the award for that one--LOL!!! The thing about getting started on one drawer or closet and seeing the results is definitely motivation to go on to the next one, if only I can carve out the time and energy!

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  4. Oh, the clutter I'm getting rid of. It's hard, and I know the minute I toss it, I'll need NEED it. LOL

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    Replies
    1. Exactly!!! Especially those little thingamabobs that you KNOW go to something important but you have no idea what, but if you toss them, you'll discover later that it was something you really, really, REALLY needed!

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  5. Great post, Myra! I'm decluttering here as well! It's a slow process--but I'm making progress! My big issue is finding the time--lately I've been setting a timer for fifteen or thirty minutes, doing a quick clean out of a drawer or shelf and then moving on to other things. At least it's getting done, step by step!

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    Replies
    1. Great idea, Laurel! I’ve been trying to do a few minutes every day but have fallen down on the job lately. Must try again!

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  6. I've been decluttering too, Myra. Starting is the hardest part, but once you start to see progress, it's inspiring!

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