Ugly trees

11/4/2017

     My latest Christmas book, CHRISTMAS IN ICICLE FALLS, begins with Muriel Sterling seeing a lovely Christmas tree on line and buying it. But lo and behold, once it arrives she sees she's been had. The thing is downright mangy. What to do? Take it to the dump where it deserves to go or try to make it into something pretty? Muriel ops for turning the tree into a thing of beauty. Of course, if that was all there was to the story it would be half a page long. So Muriel and her friends decide to apply the ugly tree principle to the people in their lives, seeing the best in others. Isn't that sweet? Isn't that charming?
     Isn't that almost impossible sometimes?
     We all have "ugly trees" in our lives, people who irritate us, people we wish would leave, go live in the forest with the other ugly trees and leave us alone. Sometimes it can be hard to find the good in people.
     But for me, that's not always the biggest challenge. For me the challenge can be in not letting myself turn into an ugly tree. We all have those moments when we say and do things we regret. At least I do. And my big mouth is what gets me into trouble most of the time. Maybe that's why I like being a writer - my characters can say and do all kinds of crazy things and get away with it. Oh, to live in a book. Alas, I live in the real world, and I can only be thankful that so far, nobody's hauled me off to the dump.
     Maybe this Christmas though I can keep in mind the story of that ugly little tree that someone saw potential in. Maybe I can work on fixing myself up with a little more patience and a little more kindness. Maybe I can try and think before I speak. And if my brain switches off and I don't think before I speak, then I'm determined to speak right away and apologize. (I just practiced that this afternoon so I know it can be done.) Ugly trees are great in books. Not so much so in real life.

2 Comments

R.W.

11/6/2017 05:13:02 pm

Hi! I'm about halfway through "Christmas in Icicle Falls" and am loving it! this is the first of your books i've read, but i'll definitely be picking up more!

Anyway, I wanted to ask if Muriel's book, "A Guide to Happy Holidays", is a real book you've written, or if that's just mentioned as a creative part of the story line of the ladies in your books?

The reason i ask is that there has been having an exceptional amount of negativity in my town lately, and Muriel's "ugly tree" project really touched home with me relating what's going on. I've am in the early stages of trying to counter the negativity and mean-spiritedness with a "kindness movement", and many of the quotes from Muriel's book would be so perfect to hopefully encourage others! I'm going to do my own small part with the ugly trees in my personal life, but i hope to encourage many in my town to do the same and live a life of joy, encouragement, kindness, and happiness, in spite of the nastiness of some townspeople. A smile can be just as contagious as negativity, and so much better!

If there isn't a real book by "Muriel", is there anywhere that you have a collection of Muriel's quotes from that book that you've gathered altogether, maybe in a blog or newsletter? if not, would you consider giving me permission to use some quotes from this book i'm reading now to further my idea of the kindness movement?

I don't know if my comments here will be public on your website, but if you would email me privately I can give you more details and my ideas with my project.

Thank you for these wonderful, refreshing books of small town life at a very special time of year! God bless you with much continued success!

Sheila Roberts link

11/12/2017 08:39:10 pm

So glad you've been enjoying the book! And yes, ugly trees are everywhere. I've been a ugly tree a few times myself. :) Muriel Sterling's book is fictitious (although someday I may collect her writings and make them available). You may certainly quote them as long as you give little old me credit. :) And, of course, if you're not including any parts of the book or Muriel's sayings in something that you will be selling. That would get us both in trouble. :)

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Ugly trees

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