LEMONS OR LEMONADE? by Michelle Somers

Which would you choose?

Let’s travel back in time for a moment. Way back to the 80s, Kenny Rogers and that catchy country-sounding song titled The Gambler.

Remember these lyrics? 

These words rushed back to me today as I sat down to write. Representative of so much more than gambling, they gave me a moments' pause. I’ve been reflecting on life quite a bit lately. My own, my family’s, that of my characters. Not a ‘what if?’ type of reflection, but more a ‘where to next?’

As I mentioned in August, life has a tendency to throw us curveballs. That old 'doling out lemons' scenario where if we’re tossed one or more we’re told to stick around and make lemonade.

Yes, sometimes we’re thrown those good curveballs. Moments that leave your mind racing, your heart smiling and your imagination so full it’s fit to burst. Moments that make you believe dreams really can come true. Moments like one I shared with hubby just recently, when we sat down with an architect and created the home we’d been talking about for the past twenty years. Those are the cards you hold close to your chest and never let go. They’re the times you don’t just make lemonade, but you make lemon tart, lemon pie and an entire assortment of lemon-based goodies.

But what if making lemonade leaves us vulnerable or unhappy or exposed to dangers that are best avoided?

Let’s quit with the metaphors. What if we refuse to stick around and make the best of things? What if our living situation becomes untenable? Or in our neighbor’s case, what happens when her landlord sells the property and she’s informed only when the new owner knocks on her door to introduce himself and give her notice to vacate? 

We have that same landlord. As a result, what should we do if when looking online for a house to buy we come across our rental, on the market, 100% ready to sell? No lemonade here. We fold. Take action, and move on our terms, not his. Something we did, just last week.

Even though we know we’ll need to move again in a year, we weren’t willing to wait and take the chance we’d be able to stay on as tenants for the new owner. We wanted to take control of our own destiny, not hand it to a man who has very little regard for others. 

And so, finally settled into our new ‘temporary’ home, I can relax knowing our family has a roof over our heads for the foreseeable future. 

Now, back to our metaphors . . .

What happens when our lemons hit in the form of a friend? Or should I say ‘anti-friend’? Ever thought you knew someone as well as you knew yourself? Always watched their back as you’d assumed they watched yours? You know those people – the ones who smile at you and say wonderful things to your face. 

What if one day you find that all those fancy compliments were a cover for something more sinister?

That they were talking behind the back they should have been watching, spreading rumors that when scrutinized would fall, but that didn’t matter, because the people they told hadn’t met you and had no way of discovering the truth.

No lemonade here.

Time to walk away.

I’ve never been a believer in keeping your enemies close. Better to keep them as far away as possible.

And then there’s Jasmine, the character in my new in-the-process-of-being-created series. Jasmine’s best friend from her teens, Drew, the boy who arrived one day, stole her heart, then left without a trace, has returned, only to be kidnapped before her eyes. 

What should she do?

Run? 

And if so, in which direction? Toward danger or away?

Jasmine wants answers. Much as she thrives on order and predictability, she needs to find Drew and find closure over his desertion all those years ago. So yes, at first she acts tentatively, seeking clues on his captors, but when the going gets tougher, and the danger more imminent, she runs. Runs to save him.

And in running, not only does she discover some – not all – of the answers she seeks, but she also discovers an inner strength and courage she never knew she had. 

It’s these times we discover our true worth. It’s all about choices. 

When fate deals those cards, it's important to pick them up and assess your options. All four of these moments take a particular type of strength – whether we hold those cards, fold them, walk away or run – we learn so much about ourselves, and discover hidden power and abilities deep within ourselves.

We do whatever must be done that is true and right and safe for us and the ones we love.

So, when life next hands you lemons, remember you always have choices. You don’t always have to make lemonade. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

What are your experiences where you’ve had to decide whether to hold, fold, walk or run? Or when life handed you lemons. What did you decide? And how did it all turn out? 

I’d love to hear your stories or your ‘take’ on this topic.

As always, have a fabulous month, and I look forward to seeing you all again in November. Wow, where has the year gone!

Michelle Somers is a bookworm from way back. An ex-Kiwi who now calls Australia home, she's a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she'll put them through one hell of a journey to get there. 

Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making. And Emmie, a furry black feline who thinks she’s a dog. Her debut novel, Lethal in Love won the Romance Writers of Australia's 2016 Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY) and the 2013 Valerie Parv Award. 

You can find out all about Michelle, her adventures and her books at www.michelle-somers.com 

Please pop by and say 'hi' 😊

And in case you have a hankering to hear that song, here it is: