“Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships” featuring Miriam Hurdle!

On By Baydreamer - Lauren ScottIn Anthologies, Book Promotions, Poetry

Dear Friends,

This is day 4 of the blog tour for Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships, a beautiful anthology compiled by Kaye Lynne Booth and Robbie Cheadle. The tour schedule is below…

Day 1: Kaye Lynne Booth at Writing to be Read started the tour with a guest post from contributing author Lauren Scott.

Day 2: D. Slayton Avery at ShiftnShake shared a guest post from blog series host, contributing author, and editor Robbie Cheadle.

Day 3: Miriam Hurdle at The Showers of Blessings hosted contributing author Lynda McKinney Lambert.

Day 4: Lauren Scott at Bay Dreamer Writes is hosting contributing author Miriam Hurdle.

Day 5: Victoria Zigler at Zigler’s News will host contributing author M.J. Mallon and share a review by Victoria Zigler.

Day 6: The publisher, Kaye Lynne Booth, will be in the interview spotlight with James J. Cudney over at This Is My Truth Now.

Day 7: Robbie Cheadle at Robbie’s Inspiration will share a guest post from contributing author Colleen M. Chesebro.

Day 8: Kaye Lynne Booth at Writing to be Read will wrap things up with a guest post from contributing author Leon Stevens.

If you follow the tour and leave a comment at each stop, you will be entered in a random drawing for a chance to win a free digital copy of
**Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships**

Today I am thrilled to feature my guest, Miriam Hurdle, a lovely poet and blogger and a contributor in this anthology. And now, I invite Miriam to talk about her poetry…

Hi Lauren, thank you for hosting me today. I’m excited about the new release of Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships. It’s my privilege to be a contributing author.

There are six of my poems in this anthology collection:

Autumn Leaves

Baby’s First Steps

I Walked Barefoot

Kindness Repeats

Rainclouds

Snow Joy

April 28 is Pay It Forward Day. I want to discuss the poem related to doing a simple act of kindness to pay it forward.

Kindness Repeats

Life has ups and downs
Friends will stay around
While outlook bright on good days
Who knows what’s ahead? 
When you’re half dead
Promising scenes fade away

The kindness of heart
Brought you a fresh start
Real friends hard to be found
Only wisdom knows
What tomorrow holds
What goes around comes around

One’s fate made a turn
Stumbled, fell, and churned
Drowning into ocean’s deep
You’re right around
Sensed cries without sounds
Graciously kindness repeats

I wrote this poem with two incidents in mind.

During the recession in 2008, a friend and his subordinates lost their jobs because of the company’s downsizing. Ted was a kind person who was friendly and gentle with the guys he supervised. He kept in touch with those guys during this hard time. It was difficult to find a job during the recession. When one job was open, there would be hundreds of applicants. Ted was unemployed for many months. One day, he received a call from his former subordinate about a job opening and asked him to apply. He did and got the job. His subordinate became his boss.

Ted and I were in the same choir. He was excited to share the news with the choir members. I couldn’t help but think that Ted’s kindness toward the people working under him paid off. He received kindness in return.

We don’t always return the favor to the same person who was kind to us. But we can Pay It Forward.

On April 28, 2007, Blake Beattie started Pay It Forward Day. After beginning in Australia, the holiday now spreads love and kindness in over 85 countries. It’s a celebration of a small act of kindness that makes a big impact on the world.

In 2008, I was diagnosed with stage II melanoma cancer that progressed to stage IV. I was a recipient of ongoing love and kindness from people near and far during the entire year of treatment. I can’t return kindness to all these people. What I can do is continuously Pay It Forward to show kindness to myself and the surrounding people, no matter how small the kind act is.

Why is kindness important?

Most research on the science behind kindness has centered on oxytocin. Dr. Waguih William IsHak, a professor of psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai, said that a simple act of kindness can reward our bodies and minds with feel-good chemical substances. Sometimes called “the love hormone,” oxytocin plays a role in forming social bonds and trusting other people. It’s the hormone mothers produce when they breastfeed, cementing their bond with their babies. Acts of kindness can release hormones that contribute to your mood and overall wellbeing. However, the effect isn’t lasting. Therefore, acts of kindness have to be repeated.

I’m grateful for the kindness I received, and I want to keep my overall wellbeing. With these in mind, I practice Pay It Forward and repeat kindness.

About Miriam

Miriam Hurdle is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She published four children’s books at twenty-six years old. Her poetry collection received the Solo “Medalist Winner” for the New Apple Summer eBook Award and achieved bestseller status on Amazon.

Miriam writes poetry, short stories, memoir, and children’s books. She earned a Doctor of Education from the University of La Verne in California. After two years of rehabilitation counseling, fifteen years of public-school teaching and ten years in school district administration, she retired and enjoys life with her husband in southern California, and the visits to her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters in Oregon. When not writing, she engages in blogging, gardening, photography, and traveling.

Contact Miriam at –

Website/Blog: https://theshowersofblessings.com

Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/Miriam-Hurdle/e/B07K2MCSVW

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17252131.Miriam_Hurdle

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhurdle112

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Miriam-Hurdle-Author-100123351515424

To purchase your copy of Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships,

simply click on the link: https://books2read.com/u/3kP8aK

75 thoughts on ““Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships” featuring Miriam Hurdle!”

  2. I’m thrilled to be featured on your blog, Lauren. It’s a great idea to have Pay It Forward Day to remind us to show a small kindness. I look forward to meeting your readers. ❤ 🙂

    1. It’s my pleasure, Miriam, and I’ve always loved and lived by the mantra of paying it forward. As you said before, it’s great to be on this adventure with you. 💞

    2. Hi Miriam,
      I want to mention that I was sorry to read about your cancer scare but grateful you conquered it. My husband had melanoma years ago, but thankfully, it hadn’t spread. Since then though, he has to stay covered in the sun. Go figure, he’s a hiker and backpacker. Anyway, take good care and have a great weekend. ❤️

      1. Sorry to hear your husband had melanoma. I hope he is all clear! My melanoma is in the internal organ. 12 years ago, there weren’t many treatments available.
        I’m grateful to be around still.
        Have a wonderful weekend. 💖

    1. Thank you so much for stopping by, Darlene! I’m a receiver of many acts of kindness. I can never pay it back enough, but keeping the thought of giving in mind helps me.

  6. That is a lovely poem Miriam. Kindness sustains relationships and it comes back in various forms. Thank you Lauren for highlighting such a beautiful poem.

    2. You’re welcome, Balroop. It’s been wonderful to be in this anthology with Miriam and the other talented poets, and I’m so glad you enjoyed her poem about kindness. Thanks for stopping by. 💕

  7. Reblogged this on Writing to be Read and commented:
    Hello Everyone! Today we are over at Bay Dreamer Writes, where Lauren Scott hosts Day 4 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships Book Blog Tour, with a delightful guest post by Miriam Hurdle in celebration of Pay It Forward Day. Please join us in sending this amazing poetry anthology off and don’t miss this very special post.

  8. Lauren thank you for hosting and you did a lovely job on this post. It looks wonderful. (Sorry to be jumping in late today. It’s been a topsy-turvey day.)
    Miriam, this is a lovely post, and I love the idea of Pay it Forward Day. It really does make you feel good to do kind things for others, doesn’t it. And your poetry is lovely. We are blessed to have you as a contributor to the anthology. 🙂

  9. Pingback: Welcome to the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships” Book Blog Tour! | Writing to be Read

    1. I know people are cautious about being kind in recent days, especially to strangers, Teri! I saw examples of being kind to the homeless and ended up bringing trouble home. I think we need a little wisdom while doing good.

  14. Paying it forward is like standing in a river facing downstream. Our kindness moves away, onto it’s next reiteration. The selfish person faces upstream to get the kindness back.

    1. That is a perfect metaphor for Paying it Forward, Leon. We continue to receive while we give. We’ll never run out. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment!

    1. I appreciate very much your kind comment, Annette. I always consider what I have as a second life. I’ve had twelve extra years so far. I can never give enough but keep trying.

  17. Miriam, I never realized you went through a bad cancer scare. So glad you managed to overcome the illness to spend many more years with your loved ones ❤
    Your kindness radiates from your beautiful smile, to the interactions you have with fellow bloggers and friends.
    Thanks for reminding us through your poetry how important it is to share
    The kindness of heart
    Brought you a fresh start
    Real friends hard to be found
    Only wisdom knows
    What tomorrow holds
    What goes around comes around

    1. It was twelve years ago, Jacquie! I don’t talk about it too much in my recent blogging. It was a dramatic journey that made me think about mortality, value, and family. I’ve never kept up with the Jones, but my journey further helps me ask a question when I buy things, “Do I need it?”
      I understood very well your decision to purchase your mobile home. 🙂

  19. Also – I knew about your cancer scare but did not realize it had progressed to stage 4 and that really does suggest you are special to still be here!
    Still bringing your shower of blessings to so many
    —

    1. Yes, Yvette, it progressed from stage 2 to stage 4 in 5 months. I went through a harsh treatment that could have killed me. I was down to skin and bones with no energy, but I was still breathing. That really made me think what life means.

      1. Wow! Quite a powerful part of our story indeed – and the poetry treasures book seem like a great read! Congrats to all the featured poets

      2. I can’t even imagine what you experienced, Miriam, very powerful, and thanks so much, Yvette, for your wishes. I hope you enjoy the book if you get the chance to read it. 💕

  20. You are such a special person Miriam. And I agree kindness is something we should all embrace. The world would be a better place for it. Lovely to have you as a fellow contributor, we are blessed. And great poetry, my friend. x

    1. Thank you very much for your lovely comment, Marje! As people said, we came with nothing and we can’t take anything with us when leaving the world. Giving makes us happier while we’re here. I’m so grateful to be in this anthology with you, Marje! 😍

  22. Miriam you sure a brave woman. Congratulations and you are surely a fighter. We have not come with anything and we are going also without anything so why not enjoy our lives. Take care and stay safe.

    1. Thank you for stopping by, Kamal! I appreciate your reading and kind comment. I tried my best to fight but it was the mercy of greater power to keep me alive. I’m grateful!

  24. What a beautiful post from Miriam, Lauren. I love her whole share about kindness and paying it forward, and how kindness comes with benefits for the giver and receiver. A lovely poem too. You are both extraordinarily kind, practicing what you preach. Hugs. ❤

    2. It’s lovely to be in this community of kindness, Diana! No other kindness is better than supporting each other! I appreciate your kind comment about my post and my poem. Have a wonderful weekend! I saw your post at SE, will read it tomorrow! ❤

  25. Pingback: Day 7 of the WordCrafter Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships blog tour – Introducing poet, Colleen Chesebro – Robbie's inspiration

  26. Pingback: Wrapping Up the WordCrafter “Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships” Book Blog Tour | Writing to be Read

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