Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day
I found this quote on the lovely La Page @Mélie blog (stop by and give it a like). I couldn’t find a graphic for the translated quote, so I made my own (let me know in the comments how you like it!) Here’s the quote in the original French:
Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
Thought of the Day
I found this on Facebook and can relate. Anger isn’t inherently bad– it’s energy, and it can be focused and channelled into something good. Maybe we should stop wasting time feeling guilty about our anger or trying to suppress it, and work instead on turning that anger into something that makes the world better. What do you think? Share in the comments…
Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
Flowers for Isolation
The week started out so well.
Or maybe I should say last week ended well. This week was a nightmare.
Last Saturday my SO and I got the first of our AstraZeneca COVID vaccines! What a relief that was– the first bit of light at the end of a long, long tunnel. I had very mild side effects that didn’t last long. He didn’t have any side effects. We’re looking forward to our second doses.
I think it was Monday that I found out my entire family had either tested positive for COVID, or was exposed to it. Let me tell you, it’s a special kind of feeling of isolation to hear that nearly all the people you care about in the world have contracted or might contract a deadly and debilitating illness. I don’t recommend it. And my family aren’t covidiots, by any means; it was a real shock to hear the news.
But speaking of the people you care about in the world, on Wednesday my SO was hit with a non-COVID health issue. Because those haven’t taken a pause during the pandemic. And we then discovered the fun of trying to get medical care during a lockdown (he managed to connect with a doctor and avoid a trip to the ER, thankfully).
So, things have been stressful lately. In light of that I decided to share some pictures I’ve taken of spring flowers, because flowers make me feel better. If you’ve also had a rough week, maybe they’ll make you feel better too…
Cherry Blossoms
Magnolia
Daffodils
What makes you feel better when things haven’t been going your way? Share in the comments.
Studies have shown that books fight stress. Download some stress relief today:
Love Lies Bleeding: Smashwords (all formats), Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Blood Magic: Smashwords (all formats), Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Tooth & Claw: Smashwords (all formats), Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Stay safe and happy May 1st,
Aspasía S. Bissas
3 Good Reasons to Read Fiction, According to Science
There’s something magical about reading fiction. A story is basically just a series of symbols arranged in a particular order on a page (or screen). And yet, your mind translates those symbols into images, events, and people that feel real. It puts you into the minds of characters and lets you see through their eyes. You hold your breath when they’re in danger, you cringe sympathetically when they’ve done something awkward. Reading fiction puts you in another world and brings that world to life. I can’t think of anything more truly magical than that.
But it isn’t only magic. Science is finding all kinds of ways that reading fiction in particular can benefit you. Here are three:
Reading fiction relieves stress: Reading is enjoyable– it makes you feel good and forces you to take a break from regular life. While reading helps you forget your problems, it can also help you understand them and cope with them better. And reading fiction has been found to relieve stress more than other relaxing forms of media, like music or TV.
Reading fiction helps with cognitive and social skills: Reading challenges your brain. Among other things, it teaches new perspectives and viewpoints. As you read about other people and places, you learn to empathize, to understand different points of view, and to get along in diverse situations. In essence, reading fiction trains you for the real world.
Reading fiction can help you live longer: Studies have shown that reading helps prevent cognitive decline, which is associated with decreased life expectancy. Aside from that, according to at least one study (see “Further Reading”), people who read more fiction live longer, on average.
Bonus: Because reading fiction can mimic what we feel during real-life interactions with other people, it’s been found to satisfy the need for human connection. If lockdowns and distancing have been getting to you, reading a good book can help you through it.
Reading fiction makes you happier and less stressed, teaches you about the world and other people, helps you feel more connected, improves your mind, and can even help you live longer. What more could you ask?
Want to get all those benefits of reading fiction right now? Download my books….
Love Lies Bleeding: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Blood Magic: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
FREE Tooth & Claw: Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books
If you prefer paperback, use this link to order Love Lies Bleeding from Bookshop – a portion of each sale goes directly to independent bookstores, as well as to myself. Thank you for supporting indie! ♥
Further Reading:
Why Getting Lost in a Book Is so Good for You
Even mild cognitive impairment appears to substantially increase risk for death
9 Ways Reading Makes Us Happier and More Creative
Does Reading Fiction Make Us Better People?
The Real World Benefits of Reading Fiction
7 Benefits of Reading Literary Fiction You May Not Know
Cheers,
Aspasía S. Bissas
