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Browsing Category

The Journey

General The Journey

How will you choose to weather the storm?

Do you ever have those days when you are fed up with life’s frustrations…

Lia August 15, 2016
The Journey Writing Craft

Shifting Into Unfamiliar Skin

I recently flew to San Diego to attend a writing conference. The night before…

Lia August 1, 2016
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Recent Posts

  • The Pursuit of Happiness: You Have a Choice

    • September 26, 2024

  • 80% of Women Will Develop a Uterine Fibroid(s) by Age 50

    • July 22, 2024

  • Living on Purpose with the Help of Audacious Intentions

    • April 18, 2024

  • The Gifts In Letting Go

    • February 20, 2024

  • Intention Setting and the Self-Work Required for Real Change

    • December 31, 2023
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A deeply layered whodunnit that kept me up to the A deeply layered whodunnit that kept me up to the early morning hours. From teenage Olivia’s first paragraph detailing the punch out of nowhere that sent her over a bridge and into the water below, to Olivia’s mom Abi’s point of view and her getting that feared call in the middle of the night from the hospital, I could not put this book down. Who hit Olivia? Whose baby was she carrying? How did Abi’s past play into it all? And the one part that grabbed me and glued me to the page was the state law that kept Olivia alive while her unborn baby grew inside her. I ached with Abi and wondered how in the world will she ever let Olivia go? #amazingbook #whodunnit #uglycry #iamreading #ilovebooks📚 #christinamcdonald #thenightoliviafell
Happy Father’s Day! Today is bittersweet becaus Happy Father’s Day! Today is bittersweet because it reminds me how much I miss my Dad and his big laugh and smile and the way he called me darling and schwa’ed the a, but also how grateful I am to have Dwayne and his unconditional love and grounding wisdom and passion for our family to celebrate. I don’t take for granted the fact that I was blessed with the most amazing Dad anyone could ask for, and with an incredible husband who is a wonderful father to our kids. Happy Father’s Day to two of the absolute best! #happyfathersday #mydad #missmydad #theabsolutebest #myhusband #mybabydaddy #memories #lifeisshort
Happy Birthday to the first one to call me mom. I Happy Birthday to the first one to call me mom. I can’t believe he’s turning 34 today. He came into the world on the Saturday before Father’s Day with a head full of thick hair that the nurse parted to the side. He has always been easygoing and bighearted. He’s super smart and our very own tech support when technology does what it does. I’m so proud of the man he’s become and I can’t wait to see what the next year will bring now that he’s unlocked level 34!! #thefirsttocallmemom #myson #mysonshine #oneofmyheartbeats #happybirthday #34th
We packed the weekend with birthday celebrations. We packed the weekend with birthday celebrations. Andrew’s birthday is next Saturday (June 17th), and my brother’s was last month (May 22nd). It’s always a good weekend when I get to see all my kiddos and the grandpuppy. #notimelikefamilytime #celebrate #grateful #myheartbeats #grandpuppy
A story to illustrate the power you hold within yo A story to illustrate the power you hold within yourself... Imagine with me for a moment that you’re standing beside a cool mountain stream. The sun filters through the trees and glistens off of something in the water. It’s a small glass bottle lying on top of some rocks at the bottom of the stream. It looks old, like the antique medicine bottles you’ve seen at estate sales. But it couldn’t be. Not here. In the middle of nowhere. You trace a path from the bottle, over large rocks sticking out of the water, and back to the shore. The water looks deep in the middle of the stream, and you know it’s cold, but you decide it’s worth taking a chance and step from rock to rock, careful not to fall in, then slowly crouch down on the pointed rock jutting out of the water beside the bottle. You can see now that it’s definitely a vintage bottle. You plunge your hand in the icy water, wrapping your fingers around the smooth glass. The bottle has a light green tint and is sealed with a cork. No label. No markings. It’s a pretty little bottle. You dip the bottle back in the water and use your fingers to rub dirt and grime from the glass, and a genie appears granting you unlimited wishes. What do you wish for? Money? Fame? A house, car, and/or companion? This is your story, and, again, you are granted unlimited requests. DREAM BIG! We can all have so much more than we—our minds, our genies— currently allow. Your mind is your own personal genie and your thoughts, your beliefs, and the stories you tell yourself all greatly impact what you allow yourself to want, how big you are willing to dream, and the actions (and reactions) you take. There’s magic — power – in our thoughts. They affect our mental health and well-being by either allowing limitless possibilities to be explored or by rejecting opportunities because we don’t believe they are possible. #dreambig #mindset #graceandgritblog #limitingbeliefs #selfawareness
Happy Mother’s Day! I cherish my kids and this Happy Mother’s Day! I cherish my kids and this gift of being their Mom. They are scattered across the state and we couldn’t all be together today, so I’ve celebrated for the last several days with each of them. We managed to surprise Dwayne’s Mom for her 70th birthday today. If you know Becky, you know she has a heart of gold and deserves to be honored. And of course I couldn’t let this day pass without seeing my Mom. She didn’t want to take a picture but we convinced her to take one anyway. It was a good day! I hope that you were able to celebrate, honor, or even just get through this day in a way that nurtured you and your needs. #happymothersday #momma #makingmemories #itwasagooddayforagoodday
I’m leaving this retreat full. This amazing expe I’m leaving this retreat full. This amazing experience blessed me with all the things I came here for: time to write, time to focus on my physical and mental health, time to build writer relationships, and time to travel. Of course, it’s our personal responsibility to make the time for the desires of our hearts. So get to it! Make the plans, squeeze in the time to do the things that set your soul on fire. 🔥 In the end I think you’ll find there’s always time. ❤️ #writersinthewild #writing #hiking #mytribe #writersinthewild #writinglife #noregrets #dothrdamnthing #chaseyourdreams #pursuejoy #makethetime
Writing. Hiking. Finding my tribe. Writing. Medi Writing. Hiking. Finding my tribe. Writing. Meditation. Amazing accommodations and views. More writing. Great food—S’mores!! I’m ready to see what Day 2 brings. #writersinthewild #mytribe #writer #hiking #writethatbook
I took a personal inventory of my life at the end I took a personal inventory of my life at the end of last year. I was turning 50 and I wanted to set intentions based on where I’d been and where I desired to go. In Alex Banayan’s The Third Door he discusses making a list of 25 things you want to ace in the next twelve months. Then he challenges you with picking only five of those things to focus on because, “You can be good at 25 things or world class at five.” My writing was in my top five, along with my physical and mental health, relationships, and travel. This retreat is sure to hit all of my top five. #writersinthewild #goals #writer #hiking #iamwriting #chasingmydreams #lifeaintnodressrehearsal #whatchawaitingfor
Dwayne and I are getting the hang of this Empty Ne Dwayne and I are getting the hang of this Empty Nest Life, but we will always cherish time with our kids. We were able to get them all together for a few hours to celebrate Easter. We enjoyed good food, an adult egg hunt with money-filled eggs, the Grand puppy, and hearing about their lives. We are proud of our kiddos and their desire for independence, we are always praying for their happiness & health, AND we are committed to nurturing a relationship with them—no matter how “old” they are, where they may wander, or the choices they may make. It seems fitting that Easter is also all about a relationship with grace & unconditional love in mind. Happy Easter to you!! May all of your relationships bring you love, happiness, Grace, and peace. #relationship #emptynestlife #easter #graceandgritblog #thegreatestoftheseislove
Spring is proof that we can consciously go looking Spring is proof that we can consciously go looking for an emotion as grand as awe – and find it.   I’ve lived in my 1901 farmhouse for twenty-four years now, and the yearly return of the flowers and budding trees have all helped me believe that every spring I will be greeted with new life all around me. By very definition this is what awe does. Awe is an emotion that can have profoundly positive effects on us, and happens when we encounter a vast and unexpected stimulus, something that makes us feel small and forces us to revise our mental models of what’s possible in the world.     Did you catch that last part about revising mental models of what’s possible in the world?   Our mental models are our beliefs, perceptions, experiences, and understandings of the world.   I know we all go through difficult stuff – dark seasons, and even crappy years. These experiences can lead us to form limiting and/or negative beliefs that, if left unchecked, can shade our view of the world in an awe-less light. Which is why I think it’s important to become aware that we have the power to modify our beliefs and actually improve our quality of life with the help of awe.   Now, I’m not suggesting we should live in some unrealistic state where we expect sunshine and daffodils every day. But I am suggesting awe is a tool at our disposal to help us through the difficult stuff, the dark seasons, and even those long, crappy years.   A fascinating study published by the National Institute on Health, suggests that the state of awe has the exciting potential for positive health effects. It states that awe “is a complex and transformative emotion that can restructure individuals’ mental frames so deeply that it could be considered a therapeutic asset for major mental health issues, including depression.”   We can teach ourselves to not only look for awe, but expect to find it, and thereby enhance our day-to-day lives. Let’s make awe-seeking a daily practice.   #graceandgritblog #awe #awepractice #mindset #mindsetmatters
Happy, Happiest of birthdays to this fierce, soulf Happy, Happiest of birthdays to this fierce, soulful, and beautiful young lady. She turns nineteen today. We still see her as our baby who entered this world with jet black hair, but she reminds us, and especially her Dad, that she is growing up. 😁 #mygirl #birthdaygirl #dontblink
23 trips around the sun for this hard working, det 23 trips around the sun for this hard working, determined, resilient, and loving young man. 💫 I still remember the day he entered this world and our lives at 1 AM. He was wide-eyed and alert, taking everything in. 👶 He’s still doesn’t miss a thing! Happy, Happiest of birthdays! We love you and wish you your happiest year yet! #myheart #myboy #birthdayboy #anothertriparoundthesun
This weekend was a writer’s dream. I attended Th This weekend was a writer’s dream. I attended The Savannah Book Festival and listened to authors speak about their books and author journeys. It was inspiring to hear that some of these authors spent a number of years on their first book (like I currently am), their characters live in their minds and they think about their stories constantly (me too), and they also struggle(d) with imposter complex (me every single day). Then I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days with @sheilaathensauthor (a fellow writer, and a book coach turned friend) in Florida. We spent time writing and hiking, and discussing books, writing, marketing, and more books. Thank you for having me, Sheila, and introducing me to your writing friends. I had a wonderful time. You made me feel special! #savannahbookfestival #savannahgeorgia #writersofinstagram #writerhikers #stillwriting
I chose my word for 2023 in early fall last year, I chose my word for 2023 in early fall last year, or should I say my word chose me during a trip to South Dakota. That trip was an encounter with the divine that left me speechless, in awe, and full of wonder at what existed around me. I live in an old farmhouse surrounded by one-hundred acres of farm land that also leaves me in awe on many occasions – but what I experienced in South Dakota was profound in some otherworldly way that I wanted to hold onto, while stretching my edges into the mystical and spiritual. So I made awe my word for 2023, confident that whatever it was that I was after would make itself known.   Then, in early November, before the New Year even arrived, awe made its first impactful appearance. It was a rainy Tuesday that started with a deer landing on my husband’s windshield, and turned into Gunner, my work buddy, my writing buddy, my walking buddy—my shadow, and my best friend laying spread-eagle on the floor whimpering and unable to move. We would learn that he had a luxated (dislocated) hip and would need surgery, then miraculously a few days later (before surgery) we would watch him walk out the back door, lift his luxated hip and pee on my plants. Talk about awe! Gunner dodged surgery and is still peeing on my plants, and I am still in awe. Which is how my yearly word always works. Do you choose a yearly word or phrase, or set goals or intentions? #graceandgritblog #awe #wonder #wordoftheyear #mybuddy #miraculous
Dear 2022, Thanks for the memories! Dear 2022, Thanks for the memories!
Christmas 2022! I’m grateful for time with all o Christmas 2022! I’m grateful for time with all of these smiling faces! We had to celebrate Mom from a distance, but we couldn’t let Christmas Day pass without seeing her too. #merrychristmas #christmas2022 #celebrate #makingmemories
Help me wish my husband a Happy 50th Birthday! I w Help me wish my husband a Happy 50th Birthday! I won the jackpot when I married this man. He give’s everything 125%. His business. His passions. Our family. Our marriage. I’m grateful for this man! Happy, happy, happiest of birthdays to my EVERY thing. #birthdayboy #fifty #myeverything #lovehim #happybirthday
My Mom & Dad made birthday dinner a special tradit My Mom & Dad made birthday dinner a special tradition in our family. We always got to pick what we wanted to eat on our special day. This year my sister-in-law had a special place in mind, since it was mine & Dwayne’s 50th, and since Samantha now joins us in our December birthday celebration. I’m grateful for good food, my brother’s entertainment that kept us all laughing, and time together. #birthdaycelebration #timeisshort #dontblink #traditions #memories #grateful
Today marks fifty trips around the sun, and I’m Today marks fifty trips around the sun, and I’m feeling grateful for my loved ones, my health, the many places I’ve been able to visit, and all the experiences I’ve had. There was a time that I thought I’d dread this milestone, but instead I’m making big plans for my next fifty years. I want to soak up all the moments, especially those with my people. I want to meet new people, see new sights, experience new things, read a ton of great books—and publish at least a few or even a couple dozen. Mostly, I want to relish this gift of life that I’ve been given. I’ve created a list of fifty nuggets of wisdom I’ve gained over the years to remind me of this desire to soak up the moments, to not take time for granted, and just in case you need an invitation to live I’m sharing my list here with you. (See comments for rest of list.) 1. You are allowed to have needs. 2. Take action around your desires, hopes, and dreams. Without action they will only remain desires, hopes, and dreams. 3. Stop waiting for Saturdays, holidays, somedays. Life doesn’t begin when this or that happens. The time is now. The day is today. 4. Flawed doesn’t mean imperfect. Flawed means human, and that very thing you consider a flaw is the very thing the world needs more of. 5. Grace and Grit are the how of everything. 6. Grace is medicine for healing. Grace brings you out of hiding (shame) and allows you to be your fullest self. Grant yourself grace. Grant others grace. 7. Grace (love) is the answer to every single thing. Shame? Throw some grace on it. Pain? Throw some grace on it. Anger? Smother it with grace. Joy? Expand it even further with grace. 8. Boundaries are for you not them. 9. People are messy. Allow them to be who they are. 10. Sometimes the goal is to just keep going. #overthehill #graceandgrit #grateful #lifeisshort #lifeisshort #soakitup
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