Ani’s Advent Invitation: Christmas Reflections with D. G. Kaye

Posted on December 12, 2017 by Sue Vincent

Well, so far, for my campaign to not be dressed in something silly this year..after the antler debacle… I’ve had letters from cats, dogs, and various other creatures, including two-legses. What is really heartwarming is that, seeing a small dog in need of some serious help here, everyone has pulled together, old friends and new, for a fellow creature in (potential) trouble.

And it isn’t serious trouble, not this time anyway. Just a small attack on my dignity….and I don’t have all that much of it that I can afford to lose any more!

Now, lots of two-legses around the blogosphere seem to be ready to help when folks of various species need a hand or a paw… and ‘specially at Christmas. Wouldn’ it be nice if everybody  did the same, all year round? Debby seems to think so too…

 

Reflections
D. G. Kaye

‘Tis the season of Christmas filling the air,
When all we’ve observed throughout the year, a gentle reminder, a time to care.

We hear about people dying, starving, homeless or sick,
The tug at our hearts reminds us of the world’s woes and the clock’s tick.

Reflections flood in as sentiment ignites our hearts,
Taking stock of our thoughts before the old year departs.

As we celebrate the season, resides that old pang of melancholy reverberation,
At family gatherings when thoughts divert to loved ones no longer part of our celebration.

Some of us place at the table, an extra chair,
Or a place card in remembrance of one who is no longer there.

The joy at Christmas gatherings, still affords me a tear,
With memories of loved ones lost through the years.

I don’t pull up an extra chair to bridge the sense of feeling apart,
My feelings of loss are kept on those place cards, buried deep in my heart.

The only gifts I wish to receive,
Is for the world to find peace and compassion and give hatred a reprieve.

Return to us the brotherhood of mankind,
Let unity bind us, forsaking evil and all ill will behind.

©DGKaye

About the author

Debby Gies is a Canadian nonfiction/memoir author who writes under the pen name of D.G. Kaye. She was born, raised, and resides in Toronto, Canada. Kaye writes about her life experiences, matters of the heart and women’s issues.

D.G. writes to inspire others. Her writing encompasses stories taken from events she encountered in her own life, and she shares the lessons taken from them. Her sunny outlook on life developed from learning to overcome challenges in her life, and finding the upside from those situations, while practicing gratitude for all the positives.

When Kaye isn’t writing intimate memoirs, she brings her natural sense of humor into her other works. She loves to laugh and self- medicate with a daily dose of humor. She says…

Why I Write

I love to tell stories that have lessons in them, and hope to empower others by sharing my own experiences. I write raw and honest about my own experiences, hoping through my writing, that others can relate and find that there is always a choice to move from a negative space, and look for the positive.

Quotes:
“Live Laugh Love . . . And Don’t Forget to Breathe!”

“For every kindness, there should be kindness in return.
Wouldn’t that just make the world right?”

When I’m not writing, I’m reading or quite possibly looking after some mundane thing in life. It’s also possible I may be on a secret getaway trip, as that is my passion—traveling.

Find and follow D. G. Kaye

Blog/website     Goodreads     Amazon author page     Facebook     Wiseintro

Google+     Instagram     Stumbleupon    Pinterest     LinkedIn.com

www.twitter.com/@pokercubster

Books by D. G. Kaye

Click the images or titles to find these books on Amazon

Twenty Years After “I Do”Twenty Years: After "I Do": Reflections on Love and Changes Through Aging by [Kaye, D.G.]

A NEW book by D. G. Kaye

In this personal accounting, D.G. Kaye shares the insights and wisdom she has accrued through twenty years of keeping her marriage strong and thriving despite the everyday changes and challenges of aging. Kaye reveals how a little creative planning, acceptance, and unconditional love can create a bond no obstacle will break. Kaye’s stories are informative, inspiring, and a testament to love eclipsing all when two people understand, respect, and honor their vows. She adds that a daily sprinkling of laughter is a staple in nourishing a healthy marriage.

Twenty years began with a promise. As Kaye recounts what transpired within that time, she shows that true love has no limits, even when one spouse ages ahead of the other.

Read Carol Balawyder’s review of Twenty Years After here.

Conflicted HeartsConflicted Hearts: A Daughter's Quest for Solace from Emotional Guilt by [Kaye, D.G.]

A Lifetime of guilt — What does it take to finally break free?

“Somehow I believed it was my obligation to try to do the right thing by her because she had given birth to me.”

Burdened with constant worry for her father and the guilt caused by her mother’s narcissism, D.G. Kaye had a short childhood. When she moved away from home at age eighteen, she began to grow into herself, overcoming her lack of guidance and her insecurities. Her life experiences became her teachers, and she learned from the mistakes and choices she made along the way, plagued by the guilt she carried for her mother.

Conflicted Hearts is a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and acceptance, an exploration of the quest for solace from emotional guilt.

Read Stevie Turner’s review of Conflicted Hearts here.

MenoWhat? A MemoirMeno-What? A Memoir: Memorable Moments Of Menopause by [Kaye, D.G.]

“I often found myself drifting from a state of normal in a sudden twist of bitchiness.”

From PMS to menopause to what the hell?

D.G. adds a touch of humor to a tale about a not-so-humorous time. While bidding farewell to her dearly departing estrogen, D.G. struggles to tame her raging hormones of fire, relentless dryness, flooding and droughts and other unflattering symptoms.

Join D.G. on her meno-journey to slay the dragons of menopause as she tries to hold on to her sanity, memory, hair, and so much more!

Read Tina Frisco’s review of Meno-What? here.

Words We CarryWords We Carry: Essays of Obsession and Self-Esteem by [Kaye, D.G.]

“I have been a great critic of myself for most of my life, and I was darned good at it, deflating my own ego without the help of anyone else.”

What do our shopping habits, high-heeled shoes, and big hair have to do with how we perceive ourselves? Do the slights we endured when we were young affect how we choose our relationships now?
D.G. takes us on a journey, unlocking the hurts of the past by identifying situations that hindered her own self-esteem. Her anecdotes and confessions demonstrate how the hurtful events in our lives linger and set the tone for how we value our own self-worth.
Words We Carry is a raw, personal accounting of how the author overcame the demons of low self-esteem with the determination to learn to love herself.

Read Judith Barrow’s review of Words We Carry here.

Have Bags, Will TravelHave Bags, Will Travel: Trips and Tales — Memoirs of an Over-Packer by [Kaye, D.G.]

D.G. Kaye is back, and as she reflects on some of her more memorable vacations and travel snags, she finds herself constantly struggling to keep one step ahead of the ever-changing guidelines of the airlines–with her overweight luggage in tow. Her stories alert us to some of the pitfalls of being an obsessive shopper, especially when it comes time for D.G. to bring her treasures home, and remind us of the simpler days when traveling was a breeze.
In her quest to keep from tipping the scales, D.G. strives to devise new tricks to fit everything in her suitcases on each trip. Why is she consistently a target for Canada customs on her return journeys?
D.G.’s witty tales take us from airports, to travel escapades with best friends, to reflections on how time can change the places we hold dear in our hearts. Her memories will entertain and have you reminiscing about some of your own most treasured journeys–and perhaps make you contemplate revamping your packing strategies.

Read Christoph Fischer’s review of Have Bags Will Travel here.

P.S. I Forgive YouP.S. I Forgive You: A Broken Legacy by [Kaye,D.G.]

“I hurt for her. She wasn’t much of a mother, but she was still my mother.”

Confronted with resurfacing feelings of guilt, D.G. Kaye is tormented by her decision to remain estranged from her dying emotionally abusive mother after resolving to banish her years ago, an event she has shared in her book Conflicted Hearts. In P.S. I Forgive You, Kaye takes us on a compelling heartfelt journey as she seeks to understand the roots of her mother’s narcissism, let go of past hurts, and find forgiveness for both her mother and herself.

After struggling for decades to break free, Kaye has severed the unhealthy ties that bound her to her dominating mother—but now Kaye battles new confliction, as the guilt she harbors over her decision only increases as the end of her mother’s life draws near. Kaye once again struggles with her conscience and her feelings of being obligated to return to a painful past she thought she left behind.

Read Deborah Jay’s review of P.S. I Forgive You here.

Antlers are for Reindeer!

If you would like to help save Ani from a fate (she says) worse than death, send your Letters to Santa, festive memories, short stories, flash fiction or poems to the Small Dog. She will post them every day through December until Christmas.

She would especially like to hear from her four-legged or feathered friends (she has a special place very close to her heart for turkeys)… but she says that two-legs are better than none, so she will accept submissions from humans too.

To get in touch, please use the form on the contact page or you can email Ani at findme@scvincent.com

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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78 Responses to Ani’s Advent Invitation: Christmas Reflections with D. G. Kaye

  1. Jacquie Biggar says:
    December 12, 2017 at 17:16

    That’s beautiful, Debbie!
    Happy holidays to both of you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Jacquie Biggar says:
    December 12, 2017 at 17:19

    Reblogged this on Jacquie Biggar- USA Today Best-selling author and commented:
    A beautiful #Holiday #poem by D.G. Kaye as first shown on Sue Vincent’s blog.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. dgkaye says:
    December 12, 2017 at 17:44

    Thanks so much Sue for featuring my entry into Ani’s Advent series. And thank you Ani for your lovely introduction! Hugs to both xoxo ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Darlene says:
    December 12, 2017 at 17:57

    A wonderful poem, Debby. Enjoy your Christmas. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Judy E Martin says:
    December 12, 2017 at 18:34

    Such a lovely poem Debby, with a powerful message. 💖

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  7. olganm says:
    December 12, 2017 at 19:41

    Lovely Christmas post, Debby. Thanks, Ani and Sue!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. D. Wallace Peach says:
    December 12, 2017 at 20:03

    Lovely poem and Christmas wishes, Debby. Thanks for sharing, Ani and Sue. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  10. Carol Balawyder says:
    December 12, 2017 at 20:28

    Your post, Sue, is an example of the true spirit of Christmas and Debby’s poem is a reminder of what really matters. Debby, your poetic talent is shining through.
    “The only gifts I wish to receive,
    Is for the world to find peace and compassion and give hatred a reprieve.”
    Oh, wouldn’t that be nice!
    Thank you for linking to my post. ❤

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. shehannemoore says:
    December 12, 2017 at 22:58

    It’s like this….. how ain’t you wearing a green a hat and a pair of antlers like us dudes.
    Love
    The hamstah dudes x

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  12. Tina Frisco says:
    December 13, 2017 at 00:17

    Such a lovely poem, Deb. A sweet mixture of hope and nostalgia from your beautiful heart ❤ Thank you for sharing, Ani. You’re doing a great job! And I just can’t see you EVER getting into really serious trouble 🙂 ❤

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  14. Jennie says:
    December 13, 2017 at 13:32

    Beautiful, Debby!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  15. paulandruss says:
    December 13, 2017 at 18:05

    Lovely Sentiments Debby and Beautifully put. Pxxx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  16. robbiesinspiration says:
    December 14, 2017 at 18:32

    This is a wonderful poem, Debby. I don’ think I have read a poem of yours before.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  17. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    December 14, 2017 at 23:08

    Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    I am going to call it a night.. but will leave you with a poem by Debby Gies.. D.G. Kaye on Sue Vincent’s blog as part of Ani’s Advent Calender. Sentiments I am sure we all share…

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  18. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    December 14, 2017 at 23:09

    Terrific Debby and sentiments I am sure we all share.. beautifully put… hugs ♥

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  19. Pingback: Christmas Poetry by D.G. Kaye

  20. Vashti Q says:
    December 21, 2017 at 19:22

    Hello Sue! Wonderful guest post! Debby’s poem is lovely. Wishing you both a happy and peaceful holiday season! ❤

    Like

    Reply
  21. Sarah Brentyn says:
    December 22, 2017 at 19:27

    Really, this is what we all need for the holidays. I think of this each holiday season…why can’t we do nice things throughout the year? Thanks Debby (and Ani) for sharing. Happy Holidays! 🎄❤️

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. macjam47 says:
    December 28, 2017 at 13:55

    A lovely Christmas post that resonates with so many of us.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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