Part Five in the New Beginnings Series Crisis hits! Just when you’re making progress on your dream project, the one you’ve secretly carried in your heart for years, something nasty happens. Maybe it’s a car crash, a great loss, illness, or an accident. Or it’s just an overwhelming amount of good things all calling out as a higher priority like sports and family commitments. Phew! It’s almost enough to make you quit all together. I’m afraid it’s also a sign you’re doing something great and need to consider putting your plans on temporary hold for a while if necessary. This…
Find Your Updraft
Part four of the New Beginnings Series. And How I Became A Gemologist! So you’ve been working diligently to understand your deepest desire, gotten infrastructure in place to support a move, and watched for open doors. Perhaps you’ve just stepped through one and aren’t sure what to do next. That’s the key moment to look for an updraft, a shift coming your way to accelerate your change in direction. What is an updraft? Have you every watched a hot air balloon suddenly go very high in the air, as an invisible current of air brought it to new heights? That’s…
Coming Attractions!
It’s going to be a few more weeks before the launch date is announced, but this week I’m taking a brief break for a video blog with hints about what you can expect. And if you subscribe now to my website, BEFORE the launch, there will be additional benefits with the upcoming giveaways. Oops, well, one hint already! Next week we’ll continue the New Beginnings Series, focusing on waiting for your updraft. For the original series blog, check Five Tips for a Resilient Fall HERE. So what part of the series have you been working on so far? Outlining your…
Understand Your Dreams
Part One of the New Beginnings Series My son told me first thing he’d had a wonderful dream where his favorite story came alive, and he was able to fly and get special powers. You should have seen his ear-to-ear smile. I love watching a dream come true. And really, I’m so grateful for your support here too. For you’ve been watching my dream come true. There’s a popular song about turning ashes to beauty. I’ve been having memories of a photo I wish I’d taken, of helpers after the fires that found my manuscript with crispy, burnt edges and…
The Treasure Box
When you have to pack and run for it, you find out what is your true treasure. This week we’ve been in Dallas before some media work and it’s given me a renewed appreciation for generous hearts once more. People who accept you after many years, places bringing old smiles back to the surface, silly comments by our kids as they experience a new part of the world. Dallas has been kind to us once more, but mainly for the people and shared experiences that can bridge the distance and miles and years apart. As we head into uncharted territory,…
The Walk of Gratitude
After finishing my manuscript for my fantasy where the main character is a wildfire survivor, I was talking with a friend about those first weeks, months, and years—what it was like. And the words spilled out about all who helped us. Suddenly I knew what we could do with long hours on hot days this summer. We could each use our gifts to not focus on ourselves but on others’ goodness in a new way. Jonathan with his engineering side, Chief Tech and Director. Joey as Chief of Fun with dances and camera angle insights. Mom writing some of it…
Eyes Wide Open
Crash goes my arm, yet again. I’m swimming backstroke and have forgotten to keep my eyes open. I love the feel of the water stirring and renewed energy, but only seem to swim straight with my eyes open, not closed. I do some of my best thinking swimming backwards. Not sure why. Except the quiet surrounds me and somewhere in the rhythm I find room to let go. Troubles stirring? Let them sink with the leaves. Aches and pains? Soothe them away with every kick. Decisions lingering? Let them slide aside. Just don’t crash into the divider again. It’s annoying….
A Very Long Iced Tea
Do you ever feel like someone’s watching out for you? Recently I was running errands in hot weather, and I suddenly felt so tired. My eyelids were very heavy. I’d gotten up early to write. And I kept feeling nudged to get an iced tea. I got in the car and I could almost visualize a huge, floating glass of iced tea. I knew better than to ignore those prompts. It’s helped me before. I’ve never even tried iced tea at Starbucks but it was close by, so I stopped and went in. I was greeted with wide smiles by…
The Legacy Gift
My son shook the yellow envelop, trying to guess what was inside. “It’s definitely not a book!” He smiled, putting it on the kitchen table. We all drew close together. My husband John opened it, and out slid the most wonderful gift from my in-laws, all of John’s Boy Scout parent pins. It’s a meaningful tradition from the Boy Scouts, they give the mother a small pin representing each level as they achieve different ranks, including Eagle Scout like my husband. I saw my son, newly inducted into scouts, beaming and asking Dad lots of questions. Memories of my brother…
That Secret Corner
Do you have a special place where the best of today’s life intersects with new possibilities? I drafted this after visiting my parents recently at the home where I grew up. They have a wonderful, huge picture window that looks out over a waterway. As a child I used to press my cheek against the cool glass so I could peer high up to bright stars or see a full moon shining on the waves outside. I felt like I could practically walk out on the water and reach up to the moon itself, while being nestled comfortably inside near…
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