It’s All Mickey Mouse (Mostly)

How to stop turning small problems into big ones

Today I’m taking my Mickey Mouse watch in for a new battery.
Which feels a little ridiculous…because I usually check my phone for the time anyway. But there’s a reason for my madness. See, most problems in life are Mickey Mouse.

Not big deals. Not life-changing. Not irreversible. Just annoying.

A friend of mine used to say, “As long as you have the money to fix a problem, it isn’t a problem. It’s just an annoyance.”

And a therapist once told me, “You have only so many coins of energy in your ‘jar.’ Before you waste one, ask yourself, ‘Did anybody die?’” If the answer is, “No,” then carry on.

Counting my blessings

Wearing Mickey on my wrist is a way to remind myself to count my blessings. I have food in my tummy, a roof over my head, a little money in the bank, and everyone in my family is healthy. Honestly, what else do I need? Not much.

If you think I’m writing this for you…I’m not. I’m writing this for me, because I tend to “awfulize,” making small problems into big deals. Maybe you do, too? If so, just remember: It’s all (or mostly all) Mickey Mouse.

Speaking of things that aren’t Mickey Mouse problems—here’s something genuinely exciting…

Cover reveal--

Do you like dogs in mysteries? Canine sleuthing companions? So do I! My pal Neil Plakcy and I have been working hard on our newest collaboration: Death Under the Dogwoods, featuring Rochester, the golden retriever, and Gracie, the Great Dane. The release date is April 23, which is just in time for Malice Domestic. Isn’t the cover grand? We’ve ordered bookmarks that match.

I hate Facebook

I hate Facebook. Truly.
But since it’s still where many of you connect with me, I’m trying to make it work better…

Lately, Facebook has been monkeying around with me, and I don’t like it. Originally, I started Joanna’s Readers as a group page to keep control so no trolls could get in. A troll is a person who’s trying to cause trouble or bad feelings. But…if I post something on a group page (such as Joanna’s Readers), y’all can’t share it. So I’m going to dedicate more time and effort to another of my pages, https://www.facebook.com/JoannaCampbellSlan. I hope you’ll stick with me as I try to make the transition.

Mystery Mondays

Tonight at 7 p.m. ET at Joanna’s Readers (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1602372550058785), my guest will be Cindy Kirk, and she’ll share about her new book—Dead at First Bark.

She’s written more books than I have! We spoke on the phone, and she’s delightful. See, I have this preference. I don’t work with people I don’t like. (This is “behind the scenes” nonsense, but yes, once in a while, I meet a stinker. When I do…it’s the end of the road.) Cindy is lovely and a real professional.

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And if anything goes sideways this week…
I’ll try to remember—it’s probably just Mickey Mouse.

Lots of love,

Joanna