advocacy

November 30, 2025

Everyone Has Something to Give ❤️

Time, energy, money, positivity… I believe everyone has the capacity to make a difference and the originators of “Giving Tuesday“, a tradition started in 2012, say it best: “Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we Continue reading

Family, kindness

advocacy, charitable donations, disability, giving, Giving Tuesday, gratitude, kindness, love, vulnerability
July 6, 2025

Peace, Love & Bunnies

Last August I shared a post, “Books, Bunnies and Forgiveness” and included a few snaps of a baby bun-bun. A welcome visitor on our deck. I can’t say for sure, but I think the little dude (or dudette) is now a teenager and decided to visit again. Same spot. Same ambition. Figuring out where the Continue reading

kindness

advocacy, books, kindness, love, peace, self-care, writer
June 29, 2025

Celebrating Lisa

I’m proud of my sister, Lisa. She lives every day to help others, despite her own challenges. Life with our mom, Sue, was often difficult but remembering her legacy of service matters and I can see Sue’s positive traits in Lisa. A lovely example? Lisa was recognized this week at an event celebrating the volunteers Continue reading

Family, Surviving Sue

advocacy, Clearbrook, disabilities, gratitude, kindness, love, service, Surviving Sue, volunteerism
October 28, 2024

Smiling – “Real Big”

I’m not sure I’ll find the right words to share what’s in my heart today, but I’ve put my fingers on the keyboard, so let’s find out. I found myself crying in the car the other day. Not from grief or sadness but the overwhelm that comes when joy invades. Straight to the heart. Reminding Continue reading

Family, Surviving Sue

advocacy, author, disability, diversity, gratitude, inclusion, love, respect, writing
August 19, 2024

Lisa’s Got Game!

A reader of “Surviving Sue” asked recently about my sister Lisa’s awareness of the book, my blogging about her and our life with Sue. Such a good question… Given Lisa’s intellectual and developmental disabilities, I’ve never said, “I wrote a book about mom” because I knew it would stir residual emotional trauma for her. But Continue reading

Family, Surviving Sue

advocacy, author, disabilities, diversity, gratitude, love, mental health, pizza, Surviving Sue
May 17, 2024

Podcast Friday! Remembering Matters

“The world is shaped by two things – stories told and the memories they leave behind.” -Vera Nazarian My dad, Sonny, was a joyful man. At times. When I rewind and attempt to find photos where he’s smiling, though, I’m at a loss. When life was good, he was typically behind the camera capturing the Continue reading

podcast

advocacy, disabilities, empathy, Family, fathers, love, podcast, storytelling, wisdom
October 10, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Sue’s Big Heart

I adore the anonymous quote I snipped in (above). When readers have asked about my capacity for forgiveness, the secret sauce that helped me survive Sue, I often think of this wisdom. It was my task to heal so I could better understand the mix of madness and love that bubbled within my mom. One Continue reading

Surviving Sue

advocacy, author, disabilities, Family, gratitude, healing, lifestyle, memoir, Wellness

“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.

BLOG ARCHIVES

Victoria Ponders

advocacy

Everyone Has Something to Give ❤️

Peace, Love & Bunnies

Celebrating Lisa

Smiling – “Real Big”

Lisa’s Got Game!

Podcast Friday! Remembering Matters

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Sue’s Big Heart

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

Podcasts

Workshops

About Me

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