The Hard Way

By Jackie Taylor

Jackie Taylor’s love for writing is something she has enjoyed most of her life and is a shared family passion for the matriarchs in her family. Jackie Taylor has been published in the Long Island Entertainment Magazine (Interview Michael Feinstein, Staller Center) also The Long Island Sounds Anthology 2007/2015 and various articles for local Magazines. “I don’t let a day go by without writing, it is another part of my artwork in linear form and always available to me,” says Jackie.

Jackie Taylor has currently compiled a poetry anthology that was reviewed by acclaimed poets Cornelius Eady, Jericho Brown and Kimiko Hahn and has written several children’s books that will be published this fall.

Jackie is an artist at the Eastern end of Long Island during which time she has furthered her artistic education by obtaining a BA in Art. Jackie Taylors artistic approach is the foundation for her career and believes in continual education Jackie strives to stay at the forefront of her field by doing so, creating beautiful hairstyles for photo shoots, theater, commercials, weddings, premiers, key events.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664131378

Jackie Taylor

Jackie Taylor’s love for writing is something she has enjoyed most of her life and is a shared family passion for the matriarchs in her family. Jackie Taylor has been published in the Long Island Entertainment Magazine (Interview Michael Feinstein, Staller Center) also The Long Island Sounds Anthology 2007/2015 and various articles for local Magazines. “I don’t let a day go by without writing, it is another part of my artwork in linear form and always available to me,” says Jackie. Jackie Taylor has currently compiled a poetry anthology that was reviewed by acclaimed poets Cornelius Eady, Jericho Brown and Kimiko Hahn and has written several children’s books that will be published this fall. Jackie is an artist at the Eastern end of Long Island during which time she has furthered her artistic education by obtaining a BA in Art. Jackie Taylors artistic approach is the foundation for her career and believes in continual education Jackie strives to stay at the forefront of her field by doing so, creating beautiful hairstyles for photo shoots, theater, commercials, weddings, premiers, key events.

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Copyright © 2020 by Jackie Taylor.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 03/24/2021

Xlibris

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Contents

Chapter 1   The Beginning

Chapter 2   The Middle Way

Chapter 3   Artful living

Chapter 4   Gaining perspective

Chapter 5   Gain a new perspective

Chapter 6   Creating momentum

Chapter 7   Think Your thoughts

Chapter 8   Abound in gratitude. Give, Receive, Share!

Chapter 9   Do not be embarrassed to be different

Chapter 10   Learn to forgive yourself

Chapter 1

The Beginning

I t was the beginning of a new life and I smiled to myself as I thought about how far I’ve come since the divorce. I could feel my smile flatten a little as I thought of those days and the fleeting angry jagged memories that I tried to press out of my mind while I sat staring onto the wharf in Sag Harbor at not much of anything.

It was off season and very few people or sailboats were in town. My hands had stopped shaking as I took in a long breath and lost myself to what I have now deemed as prayerful meditation.

A sobering resignation had turned finally into an epiphany. Yes, I realized, I had made mistakes which rightfully I regretted. However, it was time to move forward and not linger on the past. I had beaten myself up long enough. I had come to the sudden realization that there is no final summary of a human being.

A person is not merely a collection of actions and decisions to be agonized over before a God caste down his judgment and sentence. Our judgement of others and ourselves is inherently flawed because true perspective is impossible. Every person is born into a different multiverse.

No person can truly diagnose the good or bad in any of us. Each person exists within a world created by one’s own mind and in that mind the only God you will ever answer to is yourself.

Having said that I’ll continue with my journey and the lessons that I have learned, The Hard way. Don’t waste your pain, as the good Pastor Josh Bonventre said. So, I’ll give the example of mine freely away to those who need it and can use it. I love my life, the relationship I have with myself, my children and with someone who means the world to me. It’s been said, God will give you beauty for your ashes. I am beginning to trust in God and his wisdom.

I have had the best results from being a good person and doing the right thing. It’s easy when you have the perfect set of the circumstances, for you to be angry and vengeful to those that have treated you unfairly.

I am telling you firsthand, that the scripture Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if you do not give up.-New International version Biblehub.com

I can’t believe I fainted not. As I edit this manuscript that I have penned 4 years ago November 2016, I have been putting this idea to that very test. This was written during a time when motivation as well optimism was at a new high, having lived some life, gaining little successes and passing on some pearls of wisdom is seemingly a gratifyingly good deed.

At present having the benefit of a four year perspective the wanting to finish this book, may prove to be the necessary ingredient for its completion. So, it is a lot easier to start out on a journey all filled to the brim with hope and faith. It’s quite another thing entirely to keep believing you’ll see all that you envision come to fruition when battle fatigue settles in. Battle fatigue at some point will set in, it must that is the nature of life and its ups and downs.

However, before you think that this another trifling amphigory or religious rant, here me out. While I do think that being a good person and doing the right thing is indeed its own reward. I do also think there are people who will latch on to you out of their own needy misguided misery and will take advantage of your virtue. That in exchange for the kindness and fairness you show them, they will be difficult, uncompromising, treat you brutally, almost seeming to try their very hardest to take everything that you have worked hard to build, leaving you to wonder why you every bothered with them in the first place.

That selfish, unkind, devouring nature in my opinion is at its core, evil and being that kind of person is one’s own punishment. I do believe that good and evil exist in us and the universe knows the difference. I do now also believe in the power of prayer driven miracles.

God is in us working all things for good for those who love, and the plan ultimately is to do good. I am a living testimony that everything happening, the good, bad and the ugly is preparation for the ultimate prize, which is love.

Love for those of us who are operating on that faith, channel, frequency or mindset depending on your prospective. Although some might argue that it is easy to be a retrospective cohort post hoc, I don’t doubt destiny. We are creating it every day and what we sew, we will reap.

The course of divorce was a painful learning process, that had I not experienced it, I would not have launched a new life and a path that led to spiritual Journey, which is now reflected in my continued parenting to my four amazing children, as well as an artistic career and the joy I share with others.

There were many ups, downs, fits and slow starts during the search for a new life path. I also have decided somewhat later in my life, to follow the unintended but copious advice that my mother gave me long ago. I would often try prying the painful details of ancient history out of her. She would ask if I were writing a book and if so, please leave her chapter out. It would make her laugh to know that I created this chapter just