I created a blog about survival with a mission to help people. Because I survived all the top five most stressful and life-changing events, I earned the nickname Tough Cookie. Also, my life includes a diagnosis of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Since I was eight, I learned how writing could heal the hurt and disappointment on the way to Find Your Giants and Claim Your Walls!
These memories I share today are deeply personal and not meant to dishonor my mother and father. I write about them with the hope of helping anyone who is being abused or someone who is the abuser. This story is about generational trauma and being… Read More »Generational Trauma Entrepreneur
As a mother of a child with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and an advocate for human beings, with a specialty in physical disability and incurable disease, I quickly saw the wisdom in Label Jars, Not People. We should celebrate diversity and equality. Please let me continue… Read More »Label Jars, Not People
I would not be the strong woman survivor I am today without my belief that our spirits have purpose and live beyond this earthly life. My faith in a God without boundaries keeps hope alive for me. Christian Upbringing I am thankful for my Christian… Read More »God Without Boundaries
Tom Bird of Sedona, Arizona, taught the best writing class I ever experienced about chained elephants and limiting beliefs. I’ve had the good fortune of spending time in Sedona on three occasions. It is a unique red rock country known for strong energy vortexes, healing,… Read More »Chained Elephants
Self-Protection Self-protection and emotional neglect are hard to understand when you are a kid. Deb and I were on our own when it came to doing homework. Sometimes Dad took us to the Bellwood Public Library when we had to do written reports and needed… Read More »Supper To Self-Protection
Writers are observers. Is this just a coincidence? My observations support the following: all the divorced women I know pursued a pet instead of another husband. I was no exception. I adopted Mickie the Mini-Pin during one of the saddest times of my life. The… Read More »Mini-Pin Rescue
I remember writing my first rescue story when I was eight. The title was Mr. Skunk Receives a Christmas. It was a tale of hope for those feeling less than and left out. “No one wanted to spend time and have fun with Mr. Skunk.… Read More »Rescue From Less Than
From the womb, until it is time to launch into the great beyond, we all need safe places to escape being emotionally hurt, physically frightened, feeling alone, and endlessly grieving loved ones. Those safety places can be a favorite spot outdoors, a peaceful memory that… Read More »Safe Places
I’m not sure who had more rules-my mom or the Baptists. She had an identical twin sister. My mom was Paulene; her sis was Darlene. Deb and I often called her “Paul.” This was Life According to Paul’s Rules: Remember, we were still kids, not… Read More »Paul’s Rules
My son lived with a physical disability and an incurable disease. He taught me how to celebrate life with a tear and a smile on our journey. In my teens, I dreamed about making a living as a poet. During a visit to the library,… Read More »A Tear And A Smile