I had a disappointment last week. It was one of those Cinderella moments where my coach turned into a pumpkin and not the other way around. Oddly, the hurt wasn’t one of those swift and immediate kind of things, but instead, a topsy-turvy ride that came (much later) in wave upon wave of nauseous discouragement. What? Yikes! Yes, it’s true. Even …
Don’t you just love those God-ordained feel-good moments? You know the ones. That pat on the back. That word of encouragement. The little gift that you’re not expecting. Those quiet pay-it-forward kinds of things that others demonstrate toward you that make you think You know, that just made me feel so good, I really ought to do this for someone else. …
A few years ago at a writing conference, a young woman introduced herself. “Hi. I’m ‘Sally’. A writer wanna-be.” (I’m substituting a fictitious name today, but this was her introduction then.) Sally was shy and lacked confidence. She even said the word “writer” with reluctance, as if uttering it in broad daylight was taboo. My heart immediately ached for her. I wanted to respond, “No, Sally. …
Lest you think I’m a perpetual Pollyanna–I’m not. Just ask my family. They’ll confirm that I do have my off-days or less than stellar moments. The roast will burn, an idea will fizzle, or temptation will seize me (usually in the form of chocolate). That being said, I do tend to be a motivated, upbeat kind of gal. Not because I …
In today’s world we’re very visually motivated. Because of savvy marketing gimmicks, we often make decisions based on eye appeal and not performance. Bells and whistles and cross-the-heart promises sell us everything from dressed-up paperweights to lighter-than-air feather dusters–and usually, all for a mere $19.95. From cleaning supplies, food, clothing, make-up, and countless everyday products to the more costly things such …
I try to do it all. Meaning: I’m a wife. I’m a mom. I’m a writer. I’m a blogger. I’m a million things rolled into one. Sometimes, all the hats I wear leave me breathless. I have a lot of thoughts and ideas that run through my mind, but occasionally, the creative well runs dry and I’m left scratching my head. Where do I go for …
As many of you know, I’m a “see-the-glass-as-half-full” kind of gal. Like you, I’ve been handed a lemon or two (or maybe a dozen) in life. Good thing I like them in my tea. Hard times? Well, like Scarlett once said, “Tomorrow IS another day.” Challenges, disappointment, rejection, or trials? Got it covered. My God is bigger than any of that junk. Whether …
We haven’t had much of a winter in my neck of the woods, other than a brief burst last week, so I’m not going to complain. That would go against my positive, upbeat nature. (Cue the rainbow music, please.) I think it would be fair to say, however, most of us are tired of the clouds, the cold, and Old Man Winter. …
I finished reading one of my favorite books of the year. At approximately 416 pages, Flight of the Earls, by Michael K. Reynolds, hooked me and held me fast from beginning to end. I knew I was in for a hang-on-to-my-seat ride as I read the opening sentence and initial paragraphs of book one in the Heirs of Ireland series. The picture this …
Secrets. Those shrouded fragments of fear that hold us hostage. Sometimes, we carry those wounds, regrets, and burdens for years. Sometimes, forever. We’re deceived by the myth of “perfection” and duped by the trap of discouragement. We’d rather risk our own prisons than our peers’ alienation. Either way, it’s a double-edged sword. I once knew a girl who had a secret …
