A spark is born. You get inspired by a great idea or purpose and want to move full steam ahead. You’re excited, energized, and pumped. You want to share the idea with anyone who will listen, so you run to the first person you can think of and share your brilliant game-changing idea. You pause waiting for them to compliment your brilliance, clap their hands and break into a happy dance with you. Continue reading “Don’t Let Perfectionism Get in the Way of Accomplishing Your Goals”
“Okay, what’s the damage?” I asked with trepidation to the mechanic working on my car.
“Well, it’s not good. You need a new head gasket. I’m afraid the cost to replace it with labor will be more than your car’s worth,” he replied.
I paused as this news sunk in. Thoughts of the implications began to hit me. Continue reading “When a Crumbled American Dream Became a Treasured Blessing”
Life can feel like a roller coaster at times. Some days are all sunshine and rainbows, and other days tornados and flash floods. It can feel difficult to get a grip when we’re riding the roller coaster, holding on for dear life, hoping our seat belt will hold out. Often times we let our happiness get caught up in the roller coaster. We place it in that little mesh pocket with our belongings hoping it will remain secure while we ride the hills and loops. And when the coaster takes a really crazy turn, we feel like we’re going to lose it. Continue reading “Unexpected Detours and Rainbows”
I’ve been thinking all week what to write for Mother’s Day. Nothing felt right. Too many overused cliches and sentiments. Then this. I decided to share the story of what set me on the path to becoming a mother. I didn’t used to want to be a mother – to have children of my own. For many years when people would ask when I was going to have kids, did I want kids, I answered with a confident, “No thank you. Not me. I’ll pass.” Continue reading “The Broken Road That Made a Mother”
I’ve been doing some unexpected self-discovery this week. Or, you could say re-discovery. All because of a kid’s movie. That’s right. A kid’s movie. Some of the best lessons in life can be found in these little gems. Our family watched the Trolls movie last weekend. It’s a delightful show about a troll named Poppy who is an undeniable optimist at heart. She, like most of the trolls, loves to sing and dance and hug, and she has an uncanny ability to look on the bright side of everything and believe things will always work out for the best. Continue reading “The Truth About Being Authentic”
The Dead Sea is an interesting phenomenon. It’s the only place on earth of its kind. It has the lowest elevation of any body of water, and it’s named the “Dead Sea” because nothing can survive in its salty waters aside from some bacteria. It’s known for its dense mineral deposits, mainly salt, but otherwise, it’s a body of water where everything dies. Continue reading “What Killed the Dead Sea and What We Can Do Differently”
I think we can all quote it, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Seriously, who came up with that? Sure, it sounds great in theory, as a comeback on the playground, but when you go home, when you leave the playground, the words linger. The words sting. Words have a way of doing that. This saying is so odd because it’s way too easy to break a heart with someone’s words. All it takes is one little phrase. Continue reading “Sticks and Stones – When Words Hurt”
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our world was full of shiny happy people who loved their jobs? Imagine a place where everyone goes to work smiling every day, briefcase in one hand, Starbucks in the other. Friendly elevator banter is shared between Billy and Sally during the morning walk to the office and they laugh and high-five over their latest project completion.
I’m sure somewhere this takes place. And perhaps this is you, or was you at one point. You used to enjoy getting up and going to work every day. It excited you. The challenge inspired you. You were surrounded by like-minded individuals who helped motivate you and bounced ideas off you. Together you got stuff done. You left each day with a feeling of making a difference, of feeling accomplished. Continue reading “Preserve Your Happiness in a Toxic Environment”
I apologize it’s been a couple of weeks since my last post. Life got to me. Kids got to me. Health got to me. I could bore you with excuses, but heck, I’d say you know what’s going on because you’re dealing with it too. The thing is we all are. We like to think sometimes, the enemy likes us to think, we’re alone in our suffering. That whatever we’re dealing with is all ours, all on our own. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. No matter what is going on in your life right now, you are not alone, because we’re all in this together. Continue reading “Your Struggle is Real, But You Are Never Alone”
While driving across town earlier, there was a recurring theme on the radio. The D.J.’s kept talking about sleep problems and various techniques callers used to help with sleep issues. I began to think about how prevalent sleep issues really are in our society.
How often do people have trouble sleeping? All the time. I know I struggle with it. Then again I have young children, one of whom still doesn’t consistently sleep through the night. A full night’s sleep is a rare treasure. Continue reading “Sleep Better With This One Simple Trick”
Pixie Dust and Whiskey 