Author Speaks: Deep and Wild on Mountains
Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. – Margaret Fuller Succeed and Soar’s “Authors Speak” series invites writers to answer questions about their artforms and special inspirations. This post welcomes Laura Jackson Laura, what phrase inspires your writing and life? Somewhere someone’s listening to trees talk in a language like song, a song that’s been going on longer than time. —March Harshman, WV Poet Laureate, “Dispatch from the Mountain State” Laura, how do these words help your writing, your life? My writing about West Virginia always comes back to nature. The mountains, the rivers, the trees. They all have a language, and it’s easy to miss the words when we’re disconnected from nature. When my own words fail to come and my life takes a dark turn, I return to wild places to find myself, and once I’ve done that, my writing sharpens and I can push through the noise of everyday life to reach what I want and need to say. I hope I can do a good job of lending nature the human voice it so needs. Sample Text The irony of meeting a familiar face far from home is that, while we’re so excited to be out of state and seeing something new, the sight of another West Virginian strikes the sweetest note. We’ve found someone in this wide world who understands what we’re so unable to convey to the other forty-nine states. Review Winner of the 2023 Nonfiction Prize from Autumn House press About Laura Jackson Laura Jackson is an environmental writer, humorist, and native West Virginian. The author of Deep & Wild: On Mountains, Opossums, & Finding Your Way in West Virginia, she’s been called “one of the true voices of West Virginia.” She writes for Wonderful West Virginia and West Virginia Living Magazines and lives in Wheeling. Web Site: www.Laura-Jackson.com Photo Credit: Heather Kalb Keep in mind, Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. – Jim Rohn Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Beautiful and inspiring Succeed & Soar art can be purchased as posters, framed, metal and canvas. Art also available as puzzles, totes, blankets, mugs, greeting cards, notebooks, phone cases, pillows, towels, clothing and more. Shop All Art HERE. Collections change. Visit often. Thanks for your support!
Meditations on Grudges
Grudges are a waste of perfect happiness. Laugh. Apologize. Let go of what you can’t change. – George Carlin Around the world, cultures observe the passage from October to November as Halloween, Samhain, the Day of the Dead, All Saints Day and other celebrations of unseen energies. These days also prepare for the holiday season and all that can be left behind in the new year. Grudge comes from the now dead Middle English word “grutch,” which meant “to complain or grumble.” Vocabulary adds this bit of humor, “You know Grandpa’s been holding a grudge against the neighbors for years, but you have to wonder: How long can he hold that shotgun?” In “Why We Hold Grudges, and How to Let Them Go,” Psychology Today, reminds, “It’s not about the person who wronged you. It’s about who you want to be.” In “The Mental Health Effects of Holding a Grudge,” Very Well Mind reported, “Holding a grudge is when you harbor anger, bitterness, resentment, or other negative feelings long after someone has done something to hurt you.” The article mentions how the social life can suffer and lists grudge-holding physical problems, like, Cardiovascular Digestion Reproduction Sleep The immune system To release grudges, Recognize resentments Understand why they’re being held See the situation from the other person’s point of view Insist on becoming bigger and better than the situation Stop judging, especially yourself Read More In the meantime, take the Grudges That Became Great Feuds quiz below. And Succeed and Soar! Why hold a grudge? Click here to view. [5 minutes] Grudges That Became Great Feuds Match families to their issues. Answers below. Brooks-McFarland From 1865 to 1869 in Bell County, Texas, caused by lingering, Civil War resentments. Early-Hasley A West Virginia flare-up that lasted 30 years. Began because families chose different sides in the Civil War and/or the belief that a hog had been stolen. Earp-Clanton Four Corners, Texas from 1867 to 1871, provoked when a Confederate soldier came home and found it occupied by the “Union League,” which was protecting blacks and Union sympathizers. Hatfield-McCoy This feud eventually involved the Texas Rangers, Texas State Police. It killing began March 25, 1868 during an arrest for horse theft and ended by January, 1877. Horrell-Higgins In northwest Louisiana’s Claiborne Parish in the early 1890s, at least a dozen dead by gunfire. Most from ambush. Lee-Peacock Lampasas County, Texas, 1873. Began during attempted arrest of men carrying firearms [recently outlawed by state governor]. Lincoln County Feud From 1878 to 1890. Began as a vendetta between two, prominent West Virginia families that became a bitter war between local timber barons and businessmen Ramsey-Tuggle Began with the historic Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, October 26, 1881. At that time, Arizona was a U.S. Territory and folks had to check their guns upon entering town. Reese-Townsend Between 1896 and 1902, in the Creek Nation of the old Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). It began with a botched holdup which was to originally include members of the other family. Sutton-Taylor Also called the Colorado County Feud, it ran from 1898 to 1907 and was caused by dissatisfaction with results from a local political race SkyScapes Journals Record your dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock. Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping! Quiz Answers Early-Hasley From 1865 to 1869 in Bell County, Texas, caused by lingering, Civil War resentments. Hatfield-McCoy A West Virginia flare-up that lasted 30 years. Began because families chose different sides in the Civil War and/or the belief that a hog had been stolen. Lee-Peacock Four Corners, Texas from 1867 to 1871, provoked when a Confederate soldier came home and found it occupied by the “Union League,” which was protecting blacks and Union sympathizers. Sutton-Taylor This feud eventually involved the Texas Rangers, Texas State Police. It killing began March 25, 1868 during an arrest for horse theft and ended by January, 1877. Ramsey-Tuggle In northwest Louisiana’s Claiborne Parish in the early 1890s, at least a dozen dead by gunfire. Most from ambush. Horrell-Higgins Lampasas County, Texas, 1873. Began during attempted arrest of men carrying firearms [recently outlawed by state governor]. Lincoln County Feud From 1878 to 1890. Began as a vendetta between two, prominent West Virginia families that became a bitter war between local timber barons and businessmen Earp-Clanton Began with the historic Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, October 26, 1881. At that time, Arizona was a U.S. Territory and folks had to check their guns upon entering town. Brooks-McFarland Between 1896 and 1902, in the Creek Nation of the old Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). It began with a botched holdup which was to originally include members of the other family. Reese-Townsend Also called the Colorado County Feud, it ran from 1898 to 1907 and was caused by dissatisfaction with results from a local political race Read More.