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Mother's Day, Horses, and Positive Vibes
Plus, May birthdays, reader stories, and more good news
Yasmine S. Ali, MD
May 09, 2024
“Find the good and praise it.”
Hello again!
I hope you’re staying safe and well, and have not been badly affected by the storms that have swept across much of the country this week.
And if you are celebrating a graduation and/or Mother’s Day this weekend, I wish you all the best and every happiness!
Finally, thank you to all those who wrote in response to last week’s newsletter—I have loved hearing from you! You will see some of the reader responses below.
Cheers,
Yasmine
For New Subscribers
Here are some links to prior issues you may have missed—some of the best ones 😉 :
Why Positive Vibes? (How this newsletter got its start)
A Very Good Year (Contains many of the highlights of the journey for Walk through Fire: The Train Disaster that Changed America in the year of its release, 2023)
May the Road Rise Up to Meet You (St. Patrick’s Day 2024, with an excerpt from my upcoming novel, The View from the Cliffs)
You can find all the archived issues of Positive Vibes here. (Scroll down on that page after clicking on the link.)
What I’m Feeling Good About
I’ve completed the editing of my novel, The View from the Cliffs, have registered the copyright, and will be sending the manuscript to one more beta reader in the coming days. While she’s reading it, my next step will be to format the manuscript using book publishing software (the program I use is called Atticus). That means taking the manuscript from a Word document and formatting it into a version that actually looks like a book—one that can be printed as a hardcover or paperback, and which will also look good on an e-reader display.
Although I’ve played around with the Atticus software before, this is the first time I’ll be using it seriously, for an entire book, so I anticipate a steep learning curve! The first time is always most difficult, but it will be worth it, so I can get better at publishing more books in the future!
I’m also planning on doing a Kickstarter campaign for this novel, where I can offer signed copies and many different levels of rewards for all—so stay tuned for more information on that, coming later this month!
 | Three physicians. Three continents. Two decades. One love story. (For a more detailed description, see my “Leap-Day Cover Reveal” newsletter. And for a brief excerpt, see “May the Road Rise Up to Meet You.”) |
What You’re Feeling Good About
Following up from last week’s newsletter, Trish (who is Crosby’s mom) wrote:
I like to listen to baseball games on the radio. You have to really listen, but then you can just let your imagination run wild. See it in your mind. So awesome.
I loved the horse and the movie Secretariat. Such a personality.
I’ll have to show Crosby her pictures and let her know she is on her way to stardom!
Also, my irises opened on Easter Sunday this year. Purple for healing.
Another Positive Vibes member, Cat, who is a novelist herself, shared the following:
I have watched the Kentucky Derby just about every year since I was 10 years old. I loved watching all 3 Triple Crown races every year, growing up, but especially the Derby. Like you, I read every Black Stallion book in the series by Walter Farley. And every horse book in my school library. I was the most horse-crazy middle schooler imaginable.
I’ve seen all the Triple Crown winners win the big prize live—Secretariat, Affirmed, Seattle Slew, American Pharaoh, and Justify … Secretariat’s impact on horse racing continues today, as you know. His under-two-minute KY Derby record still stands. This year’s trio with Mystik Dan winning the prize came down to the wire together at 2:03. They would have come in a full 3+ seconds behind Big Red—about 12 lengths back, I estimate.
[Secretariat] was truly amazing and what a thrill to see him racing in his blue-and-white checkered blinkers, running away with his last 3 races. He was also a HUGE horse, over 17 hands high, which means his back was about 5 and a half feet tall—taller than the height of most women. You’d need a ladder to climb on his back.
I could talk all day about horse racing, which I continue to enjoy as an adult. I’ve watched races live at tracks from coast to coast. My favorite tracks are Del Mar, CA and Keeneland, KY.
I have copies of all 3 of Secretariat’s Triple Crown winning photos on my wall (courtesy of one of my sisters, who gave them to me as a birthday gift a couple of years ago). So, Cat, this one’s for you—pardon the glare; it’s a picture of a picture:
Changing pace now, another Positive Vibes member shared this picture of a 13-year, Brood XIX cicada that had just emerged this past week in TN. You can tell from its red eyes that it is a periodical cicada rather than a yearly one:
Have you seen any periodical cicadas where you live?
(This section is where I’ll be featuring good news, tips, and bits of wisdom from readers—so please reply to this email and share some with me! It can be anything, big or small. Whatever you’re feeling good about.)
Birthday Vibes
Happy birthday to all who are celebrating this month! Apparently, May babies “have a general sense of optimism about them,” making them Positive Vibes naturals! ;)
Here are some more fun facts for you:
More Good News
Following up from last week’s newsletter … What an exciting Kentucky Derby last Saturday!! A three-horse photo finish!
For fans of e-books, the Kobo Libra e-reader is now in color! (I have no affiliation with Kobo, but my novel and future books will be available on Kobo Plus after they’re published.)
On the origins of Mother’s Day …
And 101 Happy Mother’s Day messages:
Pawsitive Vibes
Positive Vibes member Sandra sent in this pic of her lovely Goldendoodle, Potsy, who is quite a character and keeps Sandra on her toes!
Got a pet pic you’d like to share? Please feel free to reply to this email!
Riddle Me This
Jimmy’s mother had 4 children. She named the first Monday. She named the second Tuesday, and she named the third Wednesday. What is the name of the 4th child?
Answer at the bottom of this newsletter.
For Your Playlist
Here’s the link if you’re on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6QGL2yWEAh2H7cuWd55wZV?si=92f584b9c7544223
Last Word
‘You must never forget this,’ said my grandmother. ‘Your mother is your first friend.’
Tell a Friend!
Know anyone who could use more positivity in their lives and would enjoy this newsletter? Send them the link to subscribe for free: https://yasmine-ali-author.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Fan Mail Address
How to get a signed bookplate sticker: see the intro to this post.
Answer to the riddle: Jimmy, because Jimmy’s mother had 4 children!