Highlighting the wins: an exercise in celebrating our achievements
On the last day of 2024, I received an email from another author who suggested beginning the year by filling a page with my accomplishments—big and small—from the previous year. A few that ended up on the list included walking 10,000+ steps for 249 consecutive days (and still going strong); the release of my debut…
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Happy, healthy + whole: regaining control in 4 simple steps
Research states that by now, 43% of New Year’s resolutions have been broken. Though I haven’t made resolutions for years, I’ve already run into setbacks with my health and wellness goals two weeks into the month. Most change is hard, but my daughter reminded me recently that we choose our hard—meaning we get to decide…
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Day in the life: when the unexpected happens, yell ‘plot twist’ and move on
On Sunday evening, my real-life prince entered our bedroom with his palm extended. “This isn’t good,” he said. My eyes shifted to what looked like a tooth in the center of his hand. After a reduced holiday workload, visions of my Monday morning plans at my desk dissolved and I mentally yelled “plot twist!” The…
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Reflections on the new year: tools to navigate a long-term vision
Welcome to my final post of 2024! Over the past few weeks, I’ve been goal planning for the coming year by spending time in prayer, and reflecting on what kinds of improvements I can focus on to help me grow as an individual. Unfortunately, early on in the process I became overwhelmed with everything I’d…
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Unwrapping the blessings of the season: a celebration to remember
This week, Christmas will be celebrated in some capacity by almost every country in the world, plus billions of people across the globe. At the same time, many of us may be struggling with the loss of loved ones, or feeling the distance from family and friends. In fact, due to household moves and travel…
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Power, love + self-discipline: a winning combination
For God has not given us the spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 While journaling during a recent quiet time, I was reflecting on a Bible verse when something clicked—an answer to a decades-long petition related to a mental struggle of mine. I’d even considered it…
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Another year, another birthday: what it means to me
This is my birthday week, and a friend recently messaged me an article published in our high school paper featuring yours truly. The headline read: Typing Touch Earns Chris Maday Dollars. As I read the piece, I tried to recall life as a 17-year-old junior with my shiny future spread out before me. At the…
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The universal law of attraction: becoming who we’re meant to be
Not long ago, I awoke in a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad mood. I debated returning to bed and crawling out the other side with the hopes it would help. Instead, I warned my husband, Bob that I was crabby. Thanks to wisdom gleaned over 36 years of marriage, he opted to maintain a…
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Grateful, thankful, blessed: finding joy in the midst of pain
You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. ~ Psalm 16:11 This week, many of us are preparing for celebrations with family and friends, while others are feeling less than festive. Perhaps you fall into the latter category and…
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I’m listening: upping the communications ante
My husband and I recently opened up to each other about a couple of our frustrations. One of Bob’s is our combined loft workspace in our two-bedroom cabin. Because the area opens to the first level, he’s concerned about disturbing me when I’m writing. I’ve tried sound-canceling headphones and white noise, but I’m not a…
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