January 2024

January 27, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Paul McCartney Style

I grabbed your attention with the title, didn’t I? Sorry to disappoint (both of us) but I’ve never met Sir Paul and yet…like zillions of other fans, it’s never diminished my adoration. My 12-year-old self knew an anthem when she heard one. The Paul McCartney and Wings Album, “Band on the Run” debuted in December Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, Family, friendship, grace, gratitude, love, memoir, memories, music, paul mccartney
January 26, 2024

It’s a Magical Podcast Friday!

Wynne and I had a delightful chat in our most recent podcast as we talked with writer Dave Williams about his family’s love of books and his sources of inspiration as he writes gorgeous, imaginative stories – often including his own artwork. I hope you’ll give the episode a listen because we’re gonna fill your Continue reading

podcast

author, creativity, Family, imagination, Jung, lifestyle, podcast, writer
January 20, 2024

In Plain Sight

It’s idiom time! Thank you, once again, Merriam Webster: I had an experience last week that reminded me of one of my favorite topics when I was in teacher mode, a unit about the limits of human perception…being unable to see what’s in front of us. I don’t know how much fun the lecture was, Continue reading

Wellness

gratitude, humor, lifestyle, mindfulness, perception, psychology
January 19, 2024

Podcast Friday: Pancake Edition

I’m not sure how it happened, but Wynne and I are celebrating our Golden Podcast Anniversary. No, silly people. Not 50 years of podcasting – 50 episodes – and we’re a little thunder-struck: We have a wonderful episode on deck next week. You will love it… a delightful conversation with one of our favorite creative friends, Continue reading

podcast

community, connection, courage, creativity, gratitude, lifestyle, podcast, writers
January 16, 2024

From the Inside-Out

So much can happen in a year’s time. When I think about my inspiration to write about Dr. James Pennebaker’s book, “Opening Up by Writing it Down” I’d swear I wrote this post just a couple of months ago. Turns out…it’s been a year. Almost exactly. Whoa. Where did that time go? Across the past Continue reading

Surviving Sue

authors, courage, creativity, free workshop, love, resilience, writers
January 14, 2024

Stevie the Wonder Cat

I am not a cat person…achooooo! But cats intrigue me – they always have. One of my all-time favorite Steinlen posters is “Clinique Cheron” because of the beautiful composition of cats (and yes, a few doggos, too) in the artwork. I love it and a version of has hung proudly in nearly every room of Continue reading

Family

Family, gratitude, kittens, love, pets, Stevie Wonder
January 12, 2024

Podcast Friday: Sharing a Secret

I’m going to share a secret. I get nervous…really nervous when I’m talking about my book, “Surviving Sue”. Even when I’m chatting with my dear friend Wynne Leon on our podcast. I’m continuing to learn how to talk about the motivation to write my mom’s story… about living with her and persevering. Yes, surviving. The Continue reading

Surviving Sue

authors, books, courage, gratitude, love, personal narrative, vulnerability, writers
January 11, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Writing for Resilience

I’m pretty excited. It’s only January 11 and the new year is full of surprises. Good ones! I wrote about Wynne and I being included in the CWA (Chicago Writers Association) Speakers Bureau last week and I’ve already had a nibble on one of the offerings – about navigating elder care. Woo-hoo! Yet another opportunity Continue reading

Surviving Sue

authors, gratitude, healing, learning, resilience, teaching, writers
January 9, 2024

A Greeting Times Three

Sun, moon and stars… A pink stripe in the eastern sky while Venus twinkled heavenward The half-moon said both good day and goodbye And descended into the western horizon…tucking itself in for the day A greeting times three… I like it. This was a fleeting experience this morning. January is making itself known with a forecast Continue reading

Wellness

gratitude, kindness, morning affirmation, nature, sun, sunrise, Wellness
January 7, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Speakers Bureau

Two years ago, I’d just finished my experiment. My writing experiment. My audacious and scary commitment to write 500 -1000 words a day as the story about my mom, Sue, poured out of me. What began on October 1, 2021 as a lark, a project about writing for resilience and healing, turned into a book. Continue reading

Surviving Sue

authors, books, lifestyle, love, mental health, public speaking, resilience, self-care, Wellness
January 4, 2024

When You Crack Yourself Up: Shake & Bake

Our kitchen remodel was close to a yearlong process, and I can’t believe – looking back to a year ago at this time – I was staring down the removal of our oven as we ‘roughed it’ with a makeshift kitchen (mostly in the basement and in our laundry room) for months and months. It’s Continue reading

Wellness

baking, dancing, Family, gratitude, humor, laughter, lifestyle, love, remodeling
January 1, 2024

Happy New Dear?

I know we’re only getting started…but are you still with me? This morning, while the house was uber-duper-super-duper quiet, I spied a friend. Just as the sun rose, our backyard, which has been a haven for dear deer for years and years picked up a New Year’s dear deer visitor. (I have now officially tested Continue reading

Family

good fortune, gratitude, happiness, humor, love, nature, new year

“Surviving Sue”, a special story about resiliency and love: Eckhartz Press (paperback) and eBook on Amazon.

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

Visit Resources on Atkinson Group Solutions for more.

Podcasts

Listen to the “Sharing the Heart of the Matter” podcast.

You can find our podcast on Apple, Amazon, Spotify and Pocket Casts. Please subscribe!

Workshops

Chicago Writers Association Speakers Bureau – Writing for Wellness; Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor; How to Create a Writing Platform; AI for Caregivers

About Me

Learn about five books that inspired and supported my writing journey by visiting my personalized book review page on Shepherd.

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Victoria Ponders

January 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Paul McCartney Style

It’s a Magical Podcast Friday!

In Plain Sight

Podcast Friday: Pancake Edition

From the Inside-Out

Stevie the Wonder Cat

Podcast Friday: Sharing a Secret

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Writing for Resilience

A Greeting Times Three

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Speakers Bureau

When You Crack Yourself Up: Shake & Bake

Happy New Dear?

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

Podcasts

Workshops

About Me

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