Authentic Living
What To Do When You Feel Lost As An Adult
When I was little, my parents and I went to Sesame Place, the Sesame Street theme park. My parents sat on a bench and watched as I played on one of the splash pad play grounds. Every few minutes, I would glance over to make sure they were still there. And they were. Until they…
Living a Year With Intention: Just Do It | Alana Dawson
#MyBrave2017 is a series of guest posts from women who are determined to live bravely in the little things and the big things. Join my email list so you can read them all. I grew up in the Just Do It, Nike slogan era. The No-Fear T-shirt craze. Do you remember it? Whether it pertained…
My Brave 2017 | Becky L McCoy
I have no expectations for 2017. I’m working on several projects and I’ve got a few dreams, but I’m not expecting any specific outcomes because, honestly, I have no control over the end results. I did pick one word for the year, but it’s more of a mindset shift than a tangible goal. Even as…
2017: The Year of No Expectations
My new year doesn’t start on January 1st, but several days later on January 5th. On January 5th, my life changed forever and it seems easier to mark the passing years and measure the change that has happened based on the day my husband died, rather than when the calendar flips. I find myself stuck…
My Hope For You This Christmas
In the famous Christmas hymn, Oh Holy Night, people around the world sing, “the weary world rejoices.” And, even though we talk about Christmas in terms of “merry” and “joy”, Christmas is weary and heavy and hard for many people. I hope your Christmas is lovely and wonderful and – even if it’s a Christmas you’d…
What If You Could Be More Brave?
Several weeks ago I asked you, my friends and readers, what you’re struggling with most. Overwhelmingly, you told me that you’re carrying the weight of the heavy seasons of life and you’re not quite sure how to handle your specific challenges. You feel a bit lost and confused and helpless to improve your situation, but you’re…
31 Days of Real Life [10/26/16]
Caleb loves the fact that my lovey from childhood is a bear. He’s always wanting to snuggle on the couch with our bears and one night he insisted I take mine to bed with me. I did it begrudgingly and was pleasantly surprised at how comforting it was to sleep with my first friend. I often…
31 Days of Real Life [10/29/16]
We celebrated Caleb’s birthday with a small group of friends and family. Usually, we make a big deal about birthdays, but I was overwhelmed by grief and never got around to doing any kind of decorating. Even though Caleb usually badgers me until we decorate, he graciously forgot and had a wonderful evening. I was…
31 Days of Real Life [10/28/16]
It was a terrible day. The kind of day that wants to make you avoid days and people and responsibilities for a month or forever. I didn’t feel well. The grief was overwhelming. The kids were not compliant and whining is my nemesis. I let a few friends know that I was struggling and one…
31 Days of Real Life [10/24/16]
I’ve been thinking about seasons a lot lately. Just like the seasons visibly change the landscape, they change me, too. The leave change colors, fall, and the natural world rests for winter, only to wake up and start over in spring. In my hardest seasons, I’ve felt dormant: my own personal, emotional hibernation. I’ve been…