As a Patron, get quotes, first draft chapters, ebooks, printbooks, even signed copies

If you'd like to help me cover the costs of editing, cover design and all other costs a self-published author has to pay from her own pocket, you can do so by clicking the Paypal Donate button below.

Find books by Leena Maria
at your favorite digital store!

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Nephilim Quest 4 / The Book of the Dead / 180.000 words (now at 114.000 words)

Creature Wars 2 / now planning the plot

Space Witches 3 / 75.000 words FIRST DRAFT DONE, NOW EDITING

7 Shabtis 2 / Pillar of Death 60.000 words (now at 1000 words)

Bastet Mysteries 50.000 words (now at 26.000 words)

Daily Happiness Journal #47

may 30th 2020

when you need to criticise
/ancient Egyptian pectoral

In this email:

Food for thought: When you need to criticise
Picture of the day: Ancient Egyptian Pectoral
Daily Funny: Cleaning a car
Daily Happiness: Sunshine
Daily Quote by Walt Whitman

I hope this little email will uplift and encourage you to see the good things all around you.

thought for the day

When you need to criticise

Good rules to follow when you need to give critique to someone:

1. Always talk with the person alone. They will feel humiliated if others hear.

2. Talk of the thing, not of the person. This way they are not so likely to react negatively.
3. Don't generalize, talk only of the particular mistake that was made. This will keep the focus tight and your "meeting" won't go all over the place. Also it will be over sooner, which is probably a relief to you both.
4. Explain the consequences caused by the behaviour / mistake the other person has done. Don't blame, just state the consequences.
5. Do not remind them of old mistakes. The situation is probably already unpleasant for them, and they often think you don't approve of them as a person.
6. Only use first hand knowledge. No hearsay. Just facts.
7. Discuss how to avoid repeating the mistake. "Do you think we might try this the next time...?" Get them involved in the idea, if you get them to say "yes", all the better.
8. Done. Do not return to the issue again. And encourage the person that you know they can do well next time.

We all make mistakes. And it is ok. After all - we are "only" human.

picture of the day

I made this illustration for the first Mr. Mummific book ("How I became a mummy"). The level of skills of the ancient Egyptian artists never ceases to amaze me. When drawing this particular pectoral, having to concentrate on the details I felt deep respect for the creators of this piece.

Here the cobra goddess Wadjet and vulture goddess Nekhbet stand on both sides of the Eye of Horus.

Happiness Journal / Ancient Egyptian Pectoral -products

daily funny

Cleaning a car

Last week I was cleaning my car with my friend.

When I asked him to come clean my car this week, he asked if I could use a sponge.

Do you have a funny story you would like to see published in this letter? An event, what someone said? If so, send me your funny story in an email

(I especially love the funny things children say!).

My email for the Daily Happiness Journal is

happinessjournal@yahoo.com

today's happiness

Sunshine

Gosh how great it feels to see the sunshine. The winter is many months long here in Finland, and here in the SW corner where I live, the sea warms the coastline and so we often get snow only in January. This winter, however, there was no snow. It was so dark! So now I enjoy sunshine to the fullest.

The picture is of the weather stickers I use on my calendar. Cute, aren't they? I buy them from Etsy, from Andrea at StickersSwissMade. And no, I do not get any commission for mentioning the stickers - they simply are just perfect for calendars. All sorts of activity stickers - walking, gym, cleaning, frisbee... If you are a calendar freak like me, check her store out.

What made you happy today? Send a note and tell, if you wish to share your little happy moment with others.

The email address for this daily post is happinessjournal@yahoo.com