Encouragement, Health, Life Is Beautiful

Single and Smart: Rules While Waiting

It’s February, the month of love. For some people it’s just another month and for others, they dread it altogether. Valentine’s Day is only days away and it comes with a lot of baggage for some. Being single isn’t easy.  It can be lonely, right? Days like Valentine’s Day seem to rub it in your face mercilessly. When I was suddenly single after being widowed, I had some things to learn before I could ever move on and entertain dating. I had a lot to learn about myself and it was necessary to set some firm boundaries with myself and for myself.

Single might not seem so appealing especially if you’ve been that way for awhile. But finding a mate out of loneliness or desperation will never end well, but it likely will indeed end.

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 I wanted to share some valuable lessons I learned and dish up some food for thought. Continue Reading

February 2, 2015
fearless faith
Encouragement, Life Is Beautiful

Fearless Faith

What are you afraid of? A few things probably immediately spring to mind.  Spiders. Heights. Small spaces. Commitment. Public speaking. We all have a fear of something. But are there some intimidating, frightening fears that are holding you back from doing things you’d really like to do?

I have more fears than the average bear. Some of them I came by naturally, some I “learned” and are a residual symptom from experiencing certain situations in life. There is a point sometimes that I allow those fears to have too much weight in my life.  They could even be paralyzing at times. Continue Reading

January 30, 2015
Encouragement, Life Is Beautiful

Dream Fearlessly

I have three writing submission deadlines for three different places due in the next two weeks.

I love that sentence and I want it to stand alone so I can delight in it a moment. A year ago, having a writing deadline was but a dream for me. I wasn’t even sure exactly what that looked like. Maybe the pieces I’m submitting won’t result in superstardom, but maybe they will turn into something terrific and be published somewhere. The fact that I’m writing with purpose and putting down meaningful words onto paper that I feel good about, is satisfying. Whether anyone else takes particular notice is delicious icing on a rather sweet cake. Continue Reading

January 27, 2015
Encouragement, Life Is Beautiful

The Soundtrack of My Soul

Remember your first love? The summer after graduation? A special college get-together? Your wedding? An epic road trip? I’d bet that for every one of these occasions and dozens more, you have a song that, when you hear it, takes you right back to that moment in your history. It evokes a memory and a feeling and maybe a person. Sometimes it’s a welcome memory, sometimes something you’d rather forget, and sometimes it provokes a good cry. Every time Rick Springfield comes on the radio or TV or pops up in social media, I immediately think of Jen, my best friend, and comrade in all things Rick. We’ve been “Rick’s biggest fans” since sixth grade. His music is good and he’s played in the background of our lives for the past thirty years. Continue Reading

January 25, 2015