.........................simply stated......................

A whole week into the New Year and how are you feeling?  I find myself starting to worry about getting everything done, missing opportunities, and making it a great year. Then, what popped in my mind was the old adage: "Why Worry, Why Fret - Neither Got Me Anything Yet!"

Have you sat down to jot a few goals for the new year and felt overwhelmed? It's always interesting to see all the pundits online offering solutions to set goals and manifest them in minutes. Yet, the hardest thing to believe is...

Do you have a favorite story that you enjoy reading each year during the holidays? Whether religious or nostalgic, there is something magical about how a story can spark your imagination and help you suspend reality for a time...

When the holiday celebrations combine with work and other responsibilities, the craziness can add stress to your day. You may become overtired then irritable and lose your holiday cheer...

One of my favorite contemporary movies for holiday cheer is The Polar Express. I just love when the Conductor says, "Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."*

Have you already turned the car radio to the 24-hour Christmas music or the holiday playlist on your phone? I couldn’t wait for the music to be blasting everywhere and to watch my favorite hot chocolate scene in Polar Express!

With another Thanksgiving in our rear-view mirrors, it's fun to think back on the "thanks" that are often shared during the holiday. Yet sometimes it is hard to give "thanks" forward.

From author Holly Gerth in a recent blog post,* "Research shows our brains have a negativity bias...

The Thanksgiving holiday is here and according to Wikipedia, the event that Americans commonly call the "first Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest in the New World in November 1621...

After honoring Veteran's Day yesterday, the full focus moves to Thanksgiving and creating a wonderful big turkey dinner with family and friends. Yet, According to a 2022 American Psychiatric Association poll, nearly one in three...

It's easy to get caught up in all the holiday fun and want to do everything. My favorite is putting up the decorations while playing holiday music. The sparkling lights add so much to the house on the outside and on the tree inside...

It's almost Halloween and today I was thinking back on how fun trick-or-treating was when I was a kid.

Then, there were the many years of taking my daughter and her friends around the neighborhood...

With all the trouble brewing in the world, it's hard not to feel angst when hearing alarming news stories. Sometimes I feel almost guilty about living in a beautiful, safe place. Often, someone will say to just turn off news channels and not look at newsfeeds online...

Every year, I choose a word to guide my thoughts in a positive way. This year, my word was Temerity (boldness). It helped me to move forward in completing my marketing handbook for authors (see below for info) and other projects...

A couple of weeks ago, one of our grandpuppies had a blocked gland.  Although sad, and likely painful, it was amazing to watch the way a dog can still wag that tail! It got me thinking about how to be happy even when things aren't going well...

Last week, my daughter, Amanda, wanted to help me get the Halloween items out to decorate. The unboxing of decorations brings up memories across the years and sometimes those memories can be overwhelming...

The other day as I walked through the neighborhood, I was listening to a podcast with Dr. Joe Dispenza. He mentioned that your health is about your feelings.  And, in researching more of his insights...

Most often, city living does not offer an opportunity to see the stars due to all the bright lights. This summer, when I was up in the mountains, it was delightful to be able to see the stars and even the Milky Way at night...

With a lot of busy activities and travels recently, I was having trouble focusing and making headway on my projects. When feeling at risk, I often pray for God to send nudges and angel taps to help guide me through my "to do" list...

Welcome to September and the beginning of Fall! It's hard for us in Arizona to get too excited about Fall because we still have temperatures above 110 degrees...

With the Labor Day weekend on the horizon, we're in the last lazy days of summer. To make the most of the week, consider a few things you want to finish and for the last push to achieve your goals this year...

Is this month's theme about shifting your mindset when you are down or upset, helping you to get in a happiness habit? 

I saw this quote from Shawn Achor, psychologist and author, that got me thinking about the importance of being happy...

When an investment opportunity fell apart this week, it encouraged me to focus on how to reignite both my own and my hubby's happiness. When you get discouraged or thrown into the dumps, it is hard to just say, "I’m happy," and expect that to work...

Over half the year has come and gone.  So the key to making the most of the second half is to feel good, energized, and motivated. Yet, hot summer temps and breaks in routine with taking vacations, may contribute to low energy in tackling projects or taking baby steps on a dream path...

Recently, when trying to sell some land that my dad had purchased in the 1950s, we again had glitches appear. It was the third time the land had been under contract in the last decade. So, needless to say Denny's and my joy levels have dipped each time there has been another "issue."

Having spent a few days in the cool pines of northern Arizona, it is a bit intimidating to be to be back in the 115-degree heat. The short time away was refreshing because I saw a herd of elk, several deer, and other critters. Plus, the cooler weather revived me!"

Summer is a great time for vacations and getaways that give you a break from your normal routine. The idea is to have fun and here is a great quote from Richard Branson, British business magnate:

"Fun is one of the most important...

Ever hear an old song and it stirs a new idea? Recently I heard the Beach Boys song, "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and it gave me an idea. Hearing the words had me thinking of how fun it would be to have a surprise or shift. Had me smiling just by singing along...

During the summer, it's easy to get distracted from your projects with vacations and holidays like the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. It's more fun to take off on a fun vacay than to work on that project for that big goal or dream...

In today's fast-paced world, there are always things that happen to ruin plans or push us in a different direction. You end up upset and getting thrown off your day. According to Gloria Mark, author of Attention Span, after an interruption...

Every year, it's fun to celebrate special people and events like today as Father's Day. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to do to honor that special father, father figure or stepdad. A card and gift are good, yet I always want to find something to do...

Ever felt stuck and not able to move forward on a project or learning something new? Recently, one of my writing projects came to a screeching halt. Some helpful writer buddies gave me suggestions of things to add to the project.  While good ideas...

It's the beginning of summer with kids out of school and the warm weather beckoning us to find new adventures. Most people look forward to a family vacation or a trip to a favorite destination like the mountains or beach. My hubby, Denny, and I just traveled to Hershey, PA, to celebrate...

There are times when everything is going well and then something comes out of left field and BOOM - concerns, panic, and even anxiety can hit you. While we all have coping skills for problem-based issues that arise, often there are emotion-based ones that can really throw us...

During a trip last week to New Orleans to speak at a conference, it was surprising to get hit with anxiety. The week had been crazy with a family member hospitalized, requiring surgery, while also needing to pack and travel. So, it was incredible to have nerves throwing me off...

When you're having a tough time, feeling disappointed, disillusioned or maybe angry, and someone says, "just let it go," what does that really mean? Now, this might conjure up the song "Let it Go" from the movie, Frozen! Yet, the key is letting go of negativity that can put a dent in your day...

Did you come up with an April Fool's joke to play on a family member or friend? The annual custom on April 1st consisting of practical jokes and hoaxes has been around for centuries...

As Spring arrived this past week, there is a great opportunity to embrace the vibrant energy offered by blooming flowers, buzzing bees, and green trees...

Following up on choosing my thoughts wisely, I read that a study in 2020 by a New Zealand research group found the average person has more than 6,200 thoughts every day...

My good friend Darcy gave me a book for my birthday a couple of years ago, You are the Placebo by Dr. Joe Dispenza. It was eye opening in terms of his work in the mind-body connection...

When you were a young kid, did you think you'd have it all figured out when you got older? Then, as you got older, you realized it was still possible to make silly mistakes.  The truth is...

Have you been surprised by a negative reaction that popped out before you could stop it?  Maybe it was a mean tease, an angry reaction, or simply a snarky comment...

When walking in the morning with my friend, Pat, we always start and end with a hug. For a long time, I have thought that it's good to have at least five hugs a day for good mental health...

Valentine's Day is a time when hearts are displayed everywhere. The day is about showing how you love others and accepting theirs in return...

If you look back on last month, did you make strides toward your goals or favorite dream? If you are moving along great, applause to you! If you are frustrated or a bit disappointed at a lack of progress, I can relate...