S.T.I.T.C.H.E.S

BOOK INFORMATION

TITLE – Stitches- Because Some Wounds Need More Than a Band-Aid Cure

AUTHOR – Jeremy L Blunt

PUBLICATION DATE – February 10, 2015

LENGTH (Pages/# Words) - 184

PUBLISHER – Upland Avenue Publishing Group

COVER ARTIST – Daniela Frongia

BOOK SYNOPSIS

Have you ever found yourself at a loss when trying to figure out why relating to the very people you feel you have to or should be able to communicate well with just doesn’t work? Have you ever had that feeling after you come out of something which gave you the blues while in it, was actually not as bad as you made it if only you had paid attention to the signs and lessons from previous events? If either of these things sound like you then “STITCHES” are what you need. We look for answers from everywhere in the world, our friends, church members, parents, celebrities and sometimes even our enemies but never inside ourselves.

STITCHES are the tools we need to address the issues we have. If you’re tired of putting a Band-Aid on wounds that seem to just keep resurfacing and don’t seem to go away, then I encourage you to start using stitches instead. AS you read “STITCHES”, allow it to broaden your perspective and increase your confidence that you are not as lost as you may have believed.

BUY & TBR LINKS

AMAZON KINDLE US – AMAZON PAPERBACK

EXCERPT

The problem with most relationships is not the baggage that people knowingly bring into them, it is with the baggage that they have, know they have but act like it is not there. Now let's be honest. We all have baggage. Baggage is what we pick up from life's experiences that affect how we react to things, how we deal with people, and how we carry ourselves. All baggage is not bad baggage. For instance, it is only after you deal with someone who is independent that you determine if moving forward, you want someone else who is also independent or if you would rather have someone who just has independency. Either way, the baggage we carry from situation to situation affects us differently.

Ideally when we met someone we would like for their baggage to be displayed and scanned as it would be going through check in at an airport. First giving them an opportunity to dispose of anything that would be hazardous to anyone else around and then going through a thermo scan. The problem with baggage does not come when we are dealing with someone who is upfront with baggage that is not necessarily healthy but rather when things pop up that they claim to know nothing about. On my last trip to the airport, I remember hearing several announcements about baggage not being left unattended or taking packages from people that you do not know. We should treat the people we deal with every day with the same level of security and caution. Until we know what at least pops up during their initial scan, we should not pursue them past the outer lobby of our life. In other words, they should remain associates. They should not get VIP treatment or otherwise they may feel and act like they are entitled to more than they are. Then you will feel guilty and try and fast track them to the exclusive area prematurely. To catch a plane now, they tell you to be at the airport at least two hours before your flight so you can go through all of the proper checks and still make your flight on time. We should treat everyone we meet with the same expectation. If they are not willing to show up early, stand in a line or two for a few minutes, and undergo pre checks, then they may as well be labeled as a terrorist and should be treated hostile. I mean let's face it, what is the point of blood, sweat, and tears if you are not going to use the lessons it has taught you to better yourself. Would you knowingly let a terrorist come on a plane that you are boarding? Of course not! Then why do we let people in our lives without proper clearance. You need to know something about the people you deal with. Where they are from? Who have they been with? Who they people are? Have they picked up any habits, I mean packages, from strangers along the way?

Even after going through baggage check, people still can have extra stuff that can threaten your life. An example of this is insecurities. Let us say you have met this guy and he seems to have it pretty much together. He is a dream come true. You open up and allow him to board your life. Once in the air you realize he has tendencies. He always wants to know about the names of people from a previous manifest. He also asked repeatedly about current passengers who are just temporary passengers until the next stop or two. You understand his concerns but point out that none of these issues surfaced or questions were asked during initial boarding. You pacify him by giving him everything it seems that he would need but nothing is helping. He wants to dig deeper and ask more questions. This is a classic example of what I call “unauthorized baggage”. Unauthorized baggage can have you off balance with very little to no clue as to why. When a partner is overly aggressive or possessive, it can weigh you down to the point where you are ready to start throwing things off. When nothing you do seems to be working, you will start eliminating things that are actually in your life to

help you; like fuel, food or even extra oxygen (friends who give you life). Again, those closest to you will give you warning signs when this happens. Your body will also be a good sign of indicators. Do not ignore the signs. Pay attention, life has a way of getting your attention. If you are not careful you will find yourself starting to become distant with friends and even point the figure at others as the reason to why things are the way they are.

BOOK SOUNDTRACK

Life and Favor – John P. Kee and New Life feat. James Fortune

Her Heart – Anthony Hamilton

My Favorite Thing – Ronald Isley featuring Kem

Rise and Fall – Craig David feat Sting

All of Me – John Legend

Sweat – Toni Braxton & Babyface

AUTHORS PLAYLIST

Medelssohn: Octet in E flat, Op. 20-1

Van Cliburn Tchaikovsky: Concerto No. 1 & Rachmaninoff: Concerto No. 2

Michael Meets Mozart

More Than Anything – Lamar Campbell & Spirit of Praise

Grateful – Hezekiah Walker, Love Fellowship Choir

AUTHOR BIO

Jeremy L. Blunt is a capitol city native of Louisiana and a graduate of the East Baton Rouge Public School System. He is a proud Husband, Father, and Mentor. He is married to the former LaTrisha Earline Milton, also of Baton Rouge. He has two daughters, Kaylie and Amerie Blunt. His hobbies include traveling, reading, exercising, and interacting with people. He is honorably retired from the Louisiana National Guard. While also defending his country, Jeremy has and continues to be very active in his community. He serves as a Minister to young people and serves and advises several boards in his community. Jeremy attended Louisiana State University and attends HOPE Bible Institute for Theology and Religious Studies.

Jeremy is a motivated speaker and teacher who delivers a message of self empowerment and change to audiences of all demographics. He continues to work with “at-risk” youth and considers it as one of the most rewarding experiences of his life. He is an advocate for service and continued education.

Jeremy lives by the motto: “Change comes from those willing to do things differently”.

AUTHOR FOLLOW LINKS

WEBSITE / BLOG – FACEBOOK – TWITTER – PINTEREST –

LINKEDIN

INSTAGRAM – stitches4life

Tour Organized & Hosted by

March Blog Challenge Day 13

March Blog Challenge

Day 13: do you have any regret?

March 13, 2013

What a great question. I think as human beings we naturally have regret. As I’ve matured and learned that it is through our experiences, or failures, that we learn. So, should we regret? Our life paths have led us to where we are today, who we are, and will lead us to whom we will become. Even through everything I have been through, the pain and sacrifice, it is a part of me. Should I regret that? Let me put it to you another way; if we have regret, then we regret what God is blessing us with. We might not see it as a blessing, but we don’t know what the regret may teach us for later. At least, that’s my opinion.

That being said, it is only natural to experience the emotions of regret. It is learning to acknowledge those feelings, how to work through them, and dealing with them, that can keep a person mentally healthy.  And believe me when I say, it may seem easy for some people, but everyone is different. If someone tells you to “just get over it”, they have not walked in your shoes, they do not know what you have endured or sacrificed; simply, they don’t know. If you are regretting something that is affecting your quality of life (leading you to negative thoughts or wanting to hurt yourself) please see a professional right away.

Top 5 What I Have Learned From My Regrets

5.) Love – don’t be afraid to love. Guard your heart; just don’t guard it so tight and so closed off that the wall you build becomes permanent. Learn from your past relationships, but don’t project them onto anyone else. God did say that the greatest is love. It is true too, when you put love out there, you’ll receive love back.

4.) Fear – growing up, I had this horrible distortion of myself that crippled my ability to enjoy years of my life. Social pressures and expectations were like a ball and chain clamped around my ankle – and it was all within my own psyche. If you look through magazines and feel upset that you don’t look like the people in them, then stop looking at that magazine. Don’t let people who call you negative names affect you – they have issues of their own. Have pity on them, how sad that they feel the need to hurt someone else, and pray for them.

3.) Medical – never hesitate to get a second opinion, ask questions, or say “no.” Remember, that there is a reason that it is called practicing medicine. If a medical professional is around you and they seem to exhibit signs of being sick themselves (sneezing or coughing) ask them for someone else to assist you (especially if you have any skin openings or wounds of any kind).  They may suggest that they could put a mask on, a medical gown, and sterile gloves. While this could prevent a possible infection, you have to decide your comfort level and possible risks. Don’t let them bully you, you’re their boss (don’t bully them either.)

2.) Beliefs – hold strong and stand firm. I’m not suggesting being closed-minded, at all. I think that it is more knowledgeable to listen to other opinions, research them, and then learn from it (maturing along the way.)  I think morals are coordinated with beliefs, so if you have a strong conviction make sure you have the follow-through. If you are against cheating, don’t cheat, and don’t tolerate cheaters.  Something that disgusts me (in my state) is that adultery is against the law, but not a punishable offense. So, basically the law is saying that the vow we make, and the covenant we enter with God, doesn't mean anything. Why get married then? I have heard some people get married for the monetary benefits and discounts. But, consider this: at minimum a divorce will cost approximately $10 grand! That’s more than some people even spend on their wedding. It shouldn't be about the money, it should be about eternal love.

1.) Parenting – love your children. When I was younger, I had made this joke that people needed to get a licenses for various things, so why not to be a parent. There is so much knowledge and truth to the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. But, you are the parent, act like it. It is important that the parent/child relationships are set. Everyone has their own way of doing things and everyone is unique (especially children). What may work for one child isn’t going to work for all children necessarily. So, just remember that there is NO perfect parent. No one is perfect, do what you can do and if you feel overwhelmed, seek help. It is o.k. to admit that you can’t do it all yourself. Even these “super mom’s” have their boiling points, bad days, and need time for themselves too.

There have been plenty of times in my life that I have looked back and wished that I would have done something differently. I am only human. Maybe this has some precedence over the concept of the time machine – because, I’m sure each of us would take a turn. But, like SciFi warns – if we alter our past, it will alter our present, and our future (and maybe not for the best).

Until next time or the next… dream

K.E.Nowinsky

Goingoffdreams.com