Once upon a time, in a small town called Willowbrook, there lived a young boy named Harry Parrern. Harry was an ordinary boy with an extraordinary imagination. He loved to read books about magical adventures and dreamt of having his own magical powers. One day, while exploring his grandma's attic, Harry stumbled upon an old wooden box. Inside the box, he found a mysterious pen with intricate engravings. Curiosity got the better of Harry, and he couldn't resist trying out the pen.
Curiosity got the better of Harry, and he couldn't resist trying out the pen. As soon as Harry held the pen in his hand, he felt a surge of energy flow through him. Little did he know, the pen was no ordinary pen, but a magical one.
Muffins, Magic Words, and Maneuvering through Monday Maelstroms
My daughter: [sitting up instantly with a grin on her face] Muffins! Yay!
Me: “Who knew I only had to say the magic word of ‘Muffin’ in order to get you to wake up”
My daughter: “Daddy, saying magic words always help me get up better!”
This exchange took place at 6:32am today as I was getting my family ready to begin the week. Normally, Monday mornings, any day really, waking up my children is akin to prodding a hibernating bear—prodder beware! Happier and calmer children provided good momentum for me to start the week. According to C.S. Lewis, “I’m not sure God wants us to be happy. I think he wants us to love and be loved. But we are like children, thinking our toys will make us happy and the whole is our nursery. Something must drive us out of that nursery and into the lives of others, and that something is suffering.”
While I may disagree with the first half of his statement, the latter part—of desiring us to love and be loved is spot on. Now, love involves sacrifice. Both my wife and I love to be prepared and organized. However, organization, especially with three young children, requires we sacrifice certain things in the short-term for the longer-term goal of having an even-keeled and lower stressed week. On Sunday, we sacrificed watching football and instead prepped our food for the week. The fruit of our labor paid off with that sweet exchange between my daughter and I had about the magic of muffins!
This got me thinking about other possible “magic” words to help stymie your work week stress that Monday’s inevitably throw at us.
1. Pause: Working in a fast-paced job environment and the incredible hectic daily routine of getting three children ages 7 and under for school/daycare makes stopping to take a legitimate break next to impossible. Some weeks it feels like I underwent the stress equivalent of running a half-marathon when my kids are cranky—and it normally is not even 6:50am! As a result of the daily bustle, I learned of the importance to pause. Short and frequent breaks after a stressful situation comes in handy when trying to disarm Monday’s momentum from developing into a morning maelstrom that drowns the rest of your day’s hopes away. Pause, pause, pause. Keep that magic word in mind.
2. Thank you: Together with breaks, nothing else takes the wind out of a chaotic stress-storm as much as gratitude. Your mindset in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day [in some cases even the remainder of the week]. Genuine thankfulness stops negativity in its tracks. But it has to be genuine. Expected ‘thank yous’ in return is not the approach when demonstrating gratitude towards others or for the blessings in your life. G.K. Chesterton said it best, ““When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”
3. Help: Closely tied to stopping to clear your mind and developing a thankful mentality is asking for help in times of stress. Sometimes out of pride I fail to ask for assistance from those in a position to help me in time of need. In the midst of a stressful situation, I lose sight that I am not alone in this world. Along with my family, friends, and co-workers, I have a God always willing and able to hear my plea for aid. According to St. Francis de Sales, “We shall steer safely through every storm so long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God.”
Whether your week began with a flurry of frenzied customers, unexpected projects, screaming kids, or vehicle troubles please do not throw in the towel. Remember the magic words of: pause, thank you, and help! If you are a good baker, or know someone who is, be sure to make yourself pumpkin muffins for breakfast. I am sure they will be a hit if you have young children or simply a child at heart–unless you are allergic to pumpkin than bake banana-nut muffins!
“Yet what I discovered is that when you put love first, not only does your life improve, but your work improves.” –Jennifer Fulwiler
Whatever Harry drew with the pen came to life! Excitement filled his heart as he realized the endless possibilities this pen held. Harry began to experiment with the pen, drawing all sorts of things. He created a majestic flying dragon that soared across the sky, a beautiful unicorn that pranced in his backyard, and a chocolate cake that magically appeared on his kitchen table. Word quickly spread throughout the town about Harry's magical pen, and soon everyone wanted a turn to use it. Harry was hesitant at first, worried about the pen falling into the wrong hands. But he soon realized that sharing his magical gift could bring joy and wonder to others. Together with his new friends, Harry embarked on incredible adventures. They explored enchanted forests, escaped from scary monsters, and even visited far-off galaxies. The magical pen became a symbol of their friendship and a way for them to create their own magical world. However, not everyone in Willowbrook appreciated the magic pen's existence. The town's mayor, Mr. Grimsby, became jealous of Harry and his friends' magical escapades. He saw the pen as a threat to his authority and decided to take matters into his own hands. One night, when Harry was fast asleep, Mr. Grimsby snuck into his room and stole the magic pen. He believed that with the pen's power, he could become the most powerful person in Willowbrook and control everyone's lives. But little did Mr. Grimsby know that the magic pen had a mind of its own. It recognized his evil intentions and refused to work for him. Frustrated, Mr. Grimsby tried everything he could think of to make the pen obey, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Harry and his friends woke up to find the magic pen missing. They immediately knew something was wrong and set out to find Mr. Grimsby. With the help of their quick thinking and teamwork, they managed to reclaim the magic pen and restore peace to Willowbrook. From that day forward, Harry and his friends promised to use the magic pen responsibly and only for the greater good. They continued to have incredible adventures, using the pen's power to spread joy and happiness wherever they went. And so, Harry Parrern and the magic pen became legends in Willowbrook, inspiring future generations to embrace their imagination and create their own magical worlds..
Reviews for "Journey to a World Beyond Imagination with Harry Parrern and the Magic Pen"
1. John - 1 star - I found "Harry Parrern and the Magic Pen" to be extremely disappointing. The story was predictable and lacked any real depth or originality. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting, making it difficult to care about their journey. The magic pen concept had potential, but it was poorly executed and felt like a cheap gimmick. Overall, I regret spending my time reading this book and would not recommend it.
2. Mary - 2 stars - "Harry Parrern and the Magic Pen" fell short of my expectations. While the premise seemed promising, the execution was lackluster. The plot felt disjointed and rushed, with little explanation or development. The characters were forgettable, and their actions often felt forced or unconvincing. Additionally, the writing style was uninspiring and failed to immerse me in the story. Overall, this book did not hold my interest, and I would not consider reading any sequels.
3. David - 2 stars - I was not impressed with "Harry Parrern and the Magic Pen". The storyline felt overly simplistic and lacked the depth and complexity I typically look for in fantasy novels. The magic pen itself was an interesting concept, but it was never fully explored or utilized in a satisfying way. The characters were forgettable, and their motivations and actions often felt contrived. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and would not recommend it to lovers of the genre.
4. Sarah - 3 stars - "Harry Parrern and the Magic Pen" had its moments, but it ultimately fell short for me. The writing style was engaging enough to keep me reading, but the plot felt predictable and lacked any real surprises. The characters were somewhat likable, but they lacked depth and development. Additionally, the magic pen concept, while initially enticing, quickly became repetitive and lost its charm. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed by this book and would not consider it a standout in the genre.
5. Michael - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Harry Parrern and the Magic Pen", but it did not live up to my expectations. The story felt rushed and lacked any real substance. The world-building was minimal, leaving many unanswered questions. The characters, while somewhat interesting, were not fully developed, and their actions often contradicted their established traits. Additionally, the dialogue was stilted and lacked natural flow. Overall, this book left me wanting more and feeling disappointed in the missed potential.