15 National Parks, 14 Days, 4 Snowstorms, and 5 Life Lessons

My sister and I just completed an epic two week plus adventure as part of return to the East coast after a year in Bend, OR (preceded by living our whole lives in Georgia). We packed everything we own in our Wonder Woman-named Blue Kia Forte, Diana, and headed out of Oregon. There is soContinue reading “15 National Parks, 14 Days, 4 Snowstorms, and 5 Life Lessons”

The Five Most Surprising Things About My First Year of Extreme Minimalizing

Almost exactly a year ago, my sister Sarah and I piled everything we owned into a royal blue Kia Forte (named Diana, after Wonder Woman) and drove west, all the way from the east coast to Bend, Oregon. We’d left our home in Georgia and everything we knew far behind. We rented the ‘temporary’ lodgingContinue reading “The Five Most Surprising Things About My First Year of Extreme Minimalizing”

The Three Keys to Turn Your Life From ‘Fine’ to Great

It’s very easy to just let life slide by, if it’s not quite what you want, you just hang in there and hope the next year will be better. Or the one after that. But I’ve seen some of the people I love, friends and family, sort of slip — especially during their 30s andContinue reading “The Three Keys to Turn Your Life From ‘Fine’ to Great”

The Difference Between ‘Just Right’ and Almost Right

A lot about these recent days have been perfect. The late spring weather in Bend, Oregon. Spending more time with my sister. Getting to focus on writing and exercising, eating good food and learning the banjo. On paper it sounds ideal, maybe even — if I could have told my 2019 self about this timeContinue reading “The Difference Between ‘Just Right’ and Almost Right”

Touchstones of Good

I have been trying, like most of us during this time, to do something. Make some progress. Accomplish stuff. I have written things, even written good things. I have gone on walks and cycle rides. I have sometimes been caught eating well — Hey! A Brussel Sprout! And I have struggled. And I struggle still.Continue reading “Touchstones of Good”

Why it’s okay to feel how you feel — and why you should move past it

It’s okay to feel tired. Sad. Scared. Tired again. It’s alright to read too much news, talk about things you can’t change, and eat junk food. It’s fine to play too many games and watch all the TV. It’s okay not to be okay. But what comes next? After. Above and beyond this moment? WhatContinue reading “Why it’s okay to feel how you feel — and why you should move past it”

I Sleep 30 FT From Where I was Born. Now I’m Moving Across the Country.

It’s happening. After years (YEARS) of planning, my sister and I are about to hit the road –on December 31st — and start the exciting next phase of our lives. We leave behind the retail store (Best Buy #511, Athens, GA) we’ve both worked at for over 15 years, a half house/half trailer down aContinue reading “I Sleep 30 FT From Where I was Born. Now I’m Moving Across the Country.”

The Great Things About Turning Forty

Forty is awesome. I know you hear a lot of talk about it as a big scary number and I admit I’ve thought so too. Which is why I’ve been working hard for a couple of years to get my life to an exciting place for the big 4-0, just so I wouldn’t feel disappointed.Continue reading “The Great Things About Turning Forty”

‘Here Be Dragons’ — How to Try New Things w/o Losing Your Nerve

I’ve been trying a lot of new things lately, from entering screenwriting contests to getting my first ‘real’ cell phone (I had a phone for three months for a trip once, but it was always to be temporary). I’ve used Fiverr for the first time, uploaded video to Youtube, and am working on getting connectionsContinue reading “‘Here Be Dragons’ — How to Try New Things w/o Losing Your Nerve”

Harder: The Thing That Stands Between You and Your Dreams

Coworker: I just graduated. Me: Congratulations! That was a lot of hard work. Coworker: Not really. But thanks. Later my friend also reiterated that, while it was nice of me to encourage him, graduating wasn’t really that hard of work. WHAT? I felt like he would have had lots of times, lots of choices, whereContinue reading “Harder: The Thing That Stands Between You and Your Dreams”