Thursday, April 27, 2017

Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a Few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year


Available on Amazon.com

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When it comes to fighting for your dreams,
be a dragon. Breathe fire.
-Richelle E. Goodrich





Click below to sample monthly quotes from the book.

MARCH




Copyright 2017 Richelle E. Goodrich

JANUARY

—Bakunawa —
The dragon that swallows the moon whole.



January 1st 

There are trials in life that feel as tremendous as a quest to slay dragons.  These trials are daunting.  They require hard work, determination, and courage.  But when the dragon is finally slain, the relief is immense. 


January 2nd  

It is tempting to quit striving toward a goal when you have neither the time, the resources, the support, the means, nor perhaps the confidence in talent to reach the level of standing you wish to reach.  But these are not reasons to quit.  Move forward anyway.  Try your best.  Put what little you do have into accomplishing what you can, because along the way you may attain a portion of what you feel is lacking.  And owning a portion of a dream is better than owning no dream at all.  Never give up.


January 3rd  

Bad habits are demons that often push us into isolation because they know that in our loneliness they stand little chance of being overcome.


January 4th  

Habits grow like dragons if you feed them.


January 5th  

Bad habits are spiraling slides that drag you round and round down the narrowing end of a cone that eventually ends up in a dark, tight, confining spot. 

Good habits are hooked wings that steadily grow in girth and strength.  At first, they grasp and climb until those beautiful wings can lift the bearer out of the darkness and above the clouds to heights few ever experience.


January 6th  

I saw a man climb a mountain with no feet or hands and barely a stump for each arm and leg.  At once I realized there was no excuse at all for me not to scale my own mountains.


January 7th  

To reach a goal:
Give it your best.
Own your choices.
Ask for help.
Learn as you go.


January 8th  

Chew off a little every day, because it’s hard to swallow a whole pie at once.


January 9th  

Nothing remains idle and thrives.  Life needs a moving force to prevent the devastating effects of stagnancy.  That is why life employs change.


January 10th

Weakness drives us to set goals, to try harder, to put forth more effort, to dream and wish and hope, to reach out further and down deeper, to pray earnestly, to cry mightily, to understand and empathize with valid sincerity.  In truth, weakness is a catalyst for greater strength.


January 11th   

When you understand that faith is God’s muscle at your disposal, moving mountains doesn’t seem so extraordinary.


January 12th

There are tomorrows on their way worth the struggles of today.  Never give up.


January 13th

Never be intimidated by what seems ominous, for BiG is only an accumulation of many smalls. 


January 14th 

I know you would like to blame the world, but the fact is that life is an “up to you” thing.


January 15th  

Most are unaware of their tremendous worth and boundless potential, despite possessing both.



 Copyright 2017 Richelle E. Goodrich





FEBRUARY

— Herensuge
The dragon with sweet, tempting breath.



February 1st 

I slay dragons at night while you sleep.
I see by the way your face contorts how they exist in your dreams. 
Willing a magic sword, I plunge into your deepest nightmares and swing at the beasts with all my might, dodging flames exhaled by monsters that would eat me alive to go on torturing the fair one I love.  I see your face relax, eyes still drowsily closed, when the mighty dragon is slain. 
It may be that my fingers rub soft circles on your forehead as I imagine my brave fight as a knight reclaiming your dreams.  You smile under the spell of my touch, and I am rewarded.  And so, my love, as I await the dawn, I stand ready to slay dragons while you sleep.


February 2nd  

It seems my heart is made of tissue paper; I wish the world would handle it more delicately.


February 3rd  

I love you for a great many reasons and despite a great many others.


February 4th  

People search the world over looking for someone to love them, when they should be searching for someone to love.


February 5th  

“If you were to sacrifice even a portion of yourself for the relationship, you would naturally fall in love with him.  I guarantee it.”



February 6th  

Love is donating a chunk of your life to patch up holes in the life of another.


February 7th  

The rarest, truest beauty is visible only to the heart.


February 8th  

The real beauty of a woman is most clearly seen in the smiles of those who interact with her.


February 9th  

If God were to make a million lovely flowers in your image and plant them in a garden with you among them, I would still know you by your scent and by the feel of your petals and by the crazy way you lean towards my light whenever I draw near.


February 10th

“My knight may not wear a coat of shining armor, but his code of glowing honor will never fail to protect us both from evils far worse than any fire-breathing dragon.”



February 11th   

“I love you” sounds best spoken in quiet acts of kindness.


February 12th

Love in its essence is unconditional. When conditions, exceptions, and ultimatums are cast into the mix, its purity changes. It is no longer love and should be referred to by a less-desirable name.


February 13th  

Amore is love
confessed to you in haiku.
Do you love me too?


February 14th 

When I ask you to be my valentine, I’m not asking you to love me.  I’m simply asking you to accept tokens of my love for you.


February 15th  

When you love someone, you don’t care that she ate your sandwich.  You only hope she found it delicious.



Copyright 2017 Richelle E. Goodrich






MARCH

— Guivre —
The aggressive dragon that prowls the countryside.



March 1st 

I wear my wrinkles like battle scars, having earned every last one slaying life’s dragons.  They boast of my victories and some defeats while their beauty is a wealth of wisdom gained.


March 2nd  

If you suffer lingering doubts; if the consolation you cling to is ‘it will probably be okay,’ then run the other way because what you’re contemplating is not a good choice.


March 3rd  

I sat in a box
With walls on each side.
Not too tall.
Not too wide.
To think.
To ponder.
To pray.
To hide.
I sat in a box and cried.


March 4th  

Sadness is the heart withdrawing to seek shelter from the pain.


March 5th  

Young Raccoon, for reasons real and personal, had sunk into a sorrowful mood.  It wasn’t just a sullen slump or a sighing sort of sadness.  No.  Poor Raccoon had endured one of life’s harder trials and was consequently overcome with a wretched, grim, tearful type of sorrow.  It wasn’t long before a close friend wandered by and noticed Raccoon’s dark, quiet burrow echoing a sound of sobbing.  Curious and concerned, Brown Beaver invited himself in.
“Oh my, such weeping!  All is not well to be sure!”  Beaver hurried over and placed a hand on the shoulder of his troubled friend.  “Tell me please, whatever is the matter?” 
But Racoon said nothing, unless the whimpers that accompany tears can be considered a response.
“Oh dear, something must be done,” determined Beaver.  So he arranged a stack of wood in the hearth and lit a cozy fire.  
“There now, here is a little light and comfort.  Surely this will make you feel better.” 
But Raccoon continued to cry, rubbing at black, swollen eyes as if the light were a harsh contributor to misery. 
“Oh no,” sighed Beaver.  “This is not good, not at all.  I must go find help.”  With a promise to quickly return, he left Raccoon beside the fire. 
Only minutes passed before Beaver stuck his head inside the warm burrow.  Below him poked in a tinier head belonging to Squirrel.
“Oh dear, oh dear, you're right!  This is a miserable sight!”
Squirrel hurried into the room and proceeded to remove a handful of nuts stored in his cheeks.  He then tossed them into a pan over the smoldering fire built by Beaver.  Soon, the room was saturated with the rich, buttery smell of roasted nuts. 
“Here you are, Raccoon,” said Squirrel, shaking the nuts onto a plate.  “Some comfort food will certainly make you feel better.  Try one.” 
Raccoon didn't even glance at the offered plate but continued to cry and sniffle as if the fragrant smell were an enhancer of sadness.  Squirrel looked at Beaver.  Both were clueless as to what to do. 
“We must go find someone who can help,” they decided.
As quick as a wink the pair left and returned with Black Cat who took a minute to size up the situation.  She then confidently declared, “We must dry up these tears, for no one can eat and be happy when soaked in tears!”
With that thought, the three friends wiped at Raccoon’s wet fur, sopping handkerchiefs in the process.  Black Cat even went so far as to purr a quiet, relaxing chord while licking at the glistening fur around Raccoon’s eyes, and yet the tears continued to spill, replacing those washed away. 
“Well, this most certainly is not working,” Cat finally admitted, lamentably swooshing her tail.  Beaver and Squirrel readily agreed.  “We must go find someone who can help!” 
They hardly stepped outside when the slender form of Corn Snake appeared in the road and slithered over to them.  Snake was informed as to Raccoon's sorry state and came up with a fine idea.
“The poor dear simply needs some hugs and kisses.  A bit of affection will dry up those unhappy tears.”
Agreeing it was worth a try, the four turned right around to enter the burrow and encircle Raccoon, administering snug hugs and tender kisses.  Snake gave an especially tight hug, but it had no effect at all on Raccoon’s woeful weeping.  Even a ticklish kiss from a forked tongue received no favorable response.  The four friends were beginning to feel a bit glum themselves when Calandra Lark came flittering into the burrow.
“Tweet, tweet, tweet!  Whatever is the matter?”
“Oh dear, Calandra, just look!  Raccoon is extremely sad.  Yet as hard as we have tried, our efforts have failed to stop the tears.” 
“Is that all?” Calandra Lark chirped, perching on the fireplace mantle.  “’Tis nothing a happy song can’t remedy.”
Puffing out her feathery chest to convey a mountain of confidence, the little bird began to chirp a bright and lively tune.  Calandra twittered and tweeted and even trilled many a string of notes, but the cheerier the tune, the more Raccoon appeared to cry.  At long last, Miss Lark ceased singing.
“Oh what is to be done?” she sighed.  “There must be someone who can help!”  No sooner had she said the words then a high-pitched squeal of laughter carried from outside.  Swinging down from a tree into the warm, crowded burrow, Monkey addressed a group of surprised onlookers.
“Did I hear that someone is in need of my help?”
“Oh yes, indeed!” the five agreed simultaneously.  “Look here!  Raccoon is so sad, and yet nothing we have done has relieved the weeping!”
Monkey laughed aloud again, not meaning to be insensitive.  “Eee, eee, eee!  Do not worry, for I will cheer up our good friend in an instant!”
Monkey crossed the room on feet and hands to stand directly before the saddest of souls.  He then delved into chipper chatter, telling jokes, answering his own riddles, and laughing at his own humorous stories.  At last, he attempted only calm words of comfort because Raccoon continued to cry, making pitiable noises as if the jollity was anguish to bear.  Needless to say, nothing worked to halt the tears.
“Oh me, oh my!  Poor, poor, poor Raccoon!” the company cried, succumbing to a measure of grief and sorrow themselves.  “Please, tell us—whatever is the matter with you?”  But Raccoon shrank into a tighter ball, withdrawing while giving them no answer.
Overwhelmed with concern, the six good friends stepped outside Raccoon’s burrow to discuss the problem, hoping to hit upon a solution.  They were running short of ideas.  Debating whether or not to render the weeper unconscious, a strong voice of objection cut them off.  Every head turned to see Red Fox step out of the underbrush. 
“Oh, Fox, if not this, then what should we do?  For Raccoon has been crying inconsolably for hours!  We have tried light and warmth, tempting food, wiping away tears, hugs and affection, cheerful songs, and kind words of comfort.  None of it has had any effect on Raccoon’s dreadful sadness!”
Red Fox walked up to the burrow entrance on quiet paws, but before ducking inside he turned and voiced an idea no one else had possessed the sense to think up.  For it seemed to them rather senseless. 
“Sadness is like a cloud in the sky; it exists out of grasp.  Therefore, the only option is to let sadness be sad until it is not.”  
Curious as to what Red Fox intended to do, the others followed him inside.  There, he took a seat beside Raccoon and waited.  He did nothing but sit.  Nothing at all.
Confused—yet lacking a better idea—Beaver, Squirrel, Black Cat, Corn Snake, Calandra Lark, and Monkey all settled inside Raccoon’s burrow and likewise did nothing.  The house remained quiet for hours upon hours as weeping, sniveling, and the occasional sigh carried over the sound of a crackling fire kept alive by Beaver. 
Time passed. 
Some nodded off for a brief spell, but no one left the room or made any attempt to keep sadness from being sad—as Fox had wisely declared. 
Eventually and at long last, the gloomy cloud dissipated.  All eyes turned to Raccoon, realizing that what had seemed like inconsolable grief had somehow transformed.  Raccoon sat up and looked around, exchanging a small smile with each and every sympathetic face. 
“Thank you, my friends.”
“Thank you for what?” someone asked, though others certainly wondered.  For while Raccoon had wept a river of tears, they had done nothing but sit as still and noiseless as tree stumps.
Squeezing paws with Red Fox, Raccoon softly said, “Thank you for giving me time.” 
That’s when they understood.  More often than not, the only thing that can lift the heavy fog of sorrow is time.


March 6th  

Sadness is like sandpaper; it rubs at our sharper edges, softening and humbling us, making us ready for a coat of compassion.


March 7th  

To be a rainbow in someone’s cloud is commendable, but I prefer to be the rain because it dampens cheeks and washes away tears.


March 8th  

I think in the heart of every human being there burns an ember of hope that warmly entices us to believe everything will eventually come together into one perfect day, and that potentially the hours in this day will stretch on indefinitely.  And so we live our lives in hopeful anticipation, dreaming and praying to reach this wondrous day, while in the process we miss out on the anxious affair that life truly is.  Life is not perfection; it is everything else.  We must taste and experience heartaches and trials in order to feel the genuine joy that comes from enduring them well.  We then move on, wiser and more capable of charity—this being pure love and the reason for life’s trials altogether.


March 9th  

God cries for us in the same way we cry for others.  His tears most often spill over for the pain and suffering caused from the mortal misuse of a gift called agency.  He will not revoke the gift.  It was promised to us for the duration of our time on Earth.  But He will hold each one of us accountable in the end for how we applied this power of agency.


March 10th

Every heart has a layer of sadness, whether deeply buried or covering the surface for all to see.


March 11th   

How frustrating to think you can be lost to yourself.  And yet how often it is that a stranger stares back at you from the mirror.  Maybe in truth we never see ourselves as clearly as the thousands of eyes that daily take us in.



Copyright 2017 Richelle E. Goodrich