resilience

January 4, 2026

Inner Steadiness

My dear friend Linda Kolbusz sent me a message the other day – a LinkedIn post written by one of her former colleagues, Jodie Charlop. You can click here to read the whole essay if you like…Jodie’s thoughts about the new year. I know there are plenty of pundits and writers espousing thoughtfulness when January Continue reading

Wellness

2026, attitude, balance, expectations, hopefulness, nature, new year, resilience, Wellness
October 5, 2025

“Surviving Sue” – At Harper College!

If you’re in the Chicago area…I’d love to see you at Harper College, courtesy of The Cultural Arts Committee, when I read from “Surviving Sue” on Thursday, November 6 from 11am – 12:15 pm. I’m a member of the wonderful Barrington Writers Workshop and wrote a short post on their site – about returning to Continue reading

Surviving Sue, writing

Barrington Writers Workshop, Eckhartz Press, event, Harper College, intergenerational healing, resilience, Surviving Sue, writing for wellness
September 28, 2025

“Pieces of Me”

My dear friend, poet Maggie Watson is a treasure. One of the most unexpected joys in blogging comes from meeting dear ones all around the world. Talented Maggie delights me with good wishes and waves “across the pond” from Scotland and taught me about a treat I’d never heard of – jelly tots. But the Continue reading

Wellness, writing

book review, Inspiration, Maggie Watson, Pieces of Me, poetry, resilience, Wellness
July 20, 2025

A “Surviving Sue” Birthday Gift!

“Surviving Sue” is celebrating a birthday – she’s officially two years old! Last week in a reflective moment I thought about the past two years and the enormous gratitude I feel for readers and their kind words, lovely reviews and comments. Whether it’s a call or an email outreach, my heart swells when readers connect. Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book reviews, intergenerational healing, memoir, mental health, resilience, Surviving Sue, Wellness
June 5, 2025

“Surviving Sue” – Women Power – New Review!

I love a fresh review of “Surviving Sue”. A reader sent me a note last week and I’m still thinking about her thoughtful feedback. I think that’s what I love most about writing – learning what stands out to readers. Such a gift! Here’s the observation from Kaley: “Even though there were women who disappointed Continue reading

Surviving Sue, writing

author, compassion, Family, mental health, resilience, strength, Surviving Sue, women power
May 29, 2025

“Meadowlark Songs” by Joy Neal Kidney

I can’t think of a more heartwarming book to recommend than Joy Neal Kidney’s latest masterpiece, “Meadowlark Songs” (Available from Amazon.com in paperback, hardback, and ebook.) If you’re like me – grateful to find books that instill and bolster your faith – “Meadowlark Songs” is for you. I promise. Reading about Joy’s family and their roots in Continue reading

Family

book review, Family, history, Joy Neal Kidney, love, Meadowlark Songs, resilience, women
March 5, 2025

The Most Beautiful People

The talented Rose Vettleson – the blogger behind the beautiful site, “Of All The Things I’ve Ever Dreamed” honored me with a review of “Surviving Sue” this week: The most significant takeaway from this book is – Inspiration! Inspiration is in the title. I found this book inspirational for many reasons, one in particular was Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book review, resilience, storytelling, Surviving Sue, Wellness
February 16, 2025

A Story Told in Four Vignettes

Life with my mom, Sue, was complicated from the get-go. Especially when I began to ask questions as a toddler about my disabled sister, Lisa and her differences. I was a child trying to understand but I was shut down, left and right. I wrote about the first altercation with Sue, related to Lisa in Continue reading

Family, Surviving Sue

Family, love, memories, photos, relationships, resilience, sisters, Wellness
February 13, 2025

Sharing Our Stories – “Surviving Sue” – New Review

I’ve yet to meet a memoirist who didn’t have a moment or two of panic about exposure. Baring ourselves, our stories and hoping for understanding. Hoping that the notes of resilience and empowerment shine through. I had those anxieties when I wrote “Surviving Sue“. They’d come in waves and torrents, but I carried on…ever hopeful Continue reading

Surviving Sue

book review, Edward Ortiz, empowerment, gratitude, memoir, mental health, resilience, Surviving Sue, Wellness
January 26, 2025

“Staying Strong in Turbulent Times”

I’m honored and humbled by author Lauren Scott and her recent review of “Surviving Sue“, on Amazon and Goodreads…especially these words about my book: Heartwarming and inspirational… Insight for others… What it means to love and forgive… Staying strong in turbulent times… It was as if Lauren encapsulated the essence of my writing intentions with Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book review, gratitude, Lauren Scott, resilience, Surviving Sue, Wellness, writers
November 10, 2024

Love, Most of All…

“The sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it’s here is up to us. Journey wisely.” — Alexandra Elle Journey wisely. I like that advice. Perhaps it’s the byproduct of the past week and the culminating factors of the time change, resulting in less light – literally Continue reading

kindness

author, girlpower, Inspiration, kindness, love, resilience, self-care, womens rights
June 12, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – She’s One!

My book about my mom’s complicated life, “Surviving Sue” is turning one! Wowza. Just wowza. The past year has been full of ‘firsts’ – things I never imagined doing and I’m grateful, grateful. One of those little gems arrived this morning when I noticed the Kindle version of “Surviving Sue” popped back up in the Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, gratitude, resilience, writer's journey
May 20, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – News!

Thanks so much for the continuing interest in my book, “Surviving Sue”. I’m grateful to the Palos Heights Public Library for hosting me on May 9. What a beautiful library and lovely people! Coming up next? Registration is still open for the course I’ll be teaching at Harper College, starting June 18. It’s an in-person Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, books, courses, events, gratitude, healing, resilience
May 3, 2024

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes…

Changes. Being the new guy…I think it’s a tough role and it’s one I played over and over again as a child – moving a lot because of my dad’s job. When Wynne and I chatted with the wonderful Mark Petruska in this week’s podcast, I remembered there’s joy to be found when we step Continue reading

podcast

careers, change, humor, lifestyle, resilience, vulnerability, writers
February 9, 2024

Podcast Friday: Practicing Creativity

Aren’t we all hard on ourselves? It’s a matter of degrees for most, I suspect, but living a life of intention and seeking opportunities for improvement typically means I’m incessantly measuring my progress. Am I there yet? Am I there yet? Therein lies the problem. Actually, two problem-O-s: Problem-O #1: Was I clear about my Continue reading

podcast

author, compassion, podcast, practice, resilience, trying, writer
February 7, 2024

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Healing

My mom, Sue, had a very challenging childhood. Her father died when she was young, and she carried just two memories of him with her. I suspect her favorite involved fishing adventures and her first ‘big catch’. The photo my grandfather snapped of his girl, Suzie, became the cover art for “Surviving Sue” – the Continue reading

Surviving Sue

ACEs, author, book, grief, intergenerational healing, loss, love, mental health, resilience, Wellness
February 2, 2024

Podcast Friday – Plus!

Being vulnerable is a tough thing. Having a buddy to travel with as you peel back the layers and engage in self-disclosure is a joy and a blessing and those two words describe my friend, Wynne Leon perfectly. She’s a joy and a blessing, for sure! This week, not only did we have a thoughtful Continue reading

podcast

courage, creativity, Family, podcast, relationships, resilience, vulnerability, writing
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 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 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
December 12, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Sue Had Rizz

Have you heard? The youthful Gen Z term,“rizz”, was crowned 2023’s word of the year by the publishers of the Oxford English Dictionary: What it means: For those of us who haven’t heard the term before, “rizz” is slang for “style, charm, or attractiveness” or “the ability to attract a romantic or sexual partner,” according to Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, humor, lifestyle, love, mental health, resilience, rizz, Surviving Sue, Wellness, writing
November 3, 2023

Podcast Friday!

TGIF times a zillion. It’s been a week around here. How ‘bout you? If you have a few minutes, I think you’ll enjoy my latest chat with Wynne…about how to recognize looming disappointment and batten down our hatches. Speaking for myself, my hatches need battening. 😉 Wynne and I love to laugh – as much Continue reading

Wellness

friendship, humor, love, podcast, resilience, tips and tricks, Wellness
September 25, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Hide & Seek

My mom, Sue, was a tortured artist. Throughout her life she tried to soothe herself and fill the empty spaces within by leaning into her creative side, especially painting. I included a few references to her artwork in “Surviving Sue” and wrote about her apology art a few months ago. Exploring her feelings with paint Continue reading

Surviving Sue

artists, author, love, mental health, pain, resilience, Wellness, writer
September 19, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Six-Word Style

I’ve continued to compile a list of FAQs from readers of “Surviving Sue”, my memoir about my mom’s complicated life and one of the recurring queries is about building resilience. Despite my background as a counselor/therapist, I’m cautious about highlighting any one specific technique or habit that helped guide my healing journey because the process Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, Family, love, memoir, new book, resilience, Wellness, writer
August 1, 2023

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – Weight of Lies

Never did I imagine writing a post that would link my mom, Sue, with Dostoevsky, yet here I am. Doing just that. Let me explain, by starting with a quote from “The Brothers Karamazov”: “A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in Continue reading

Surviving Sue

author, book, love, memoir, mental health, recovery, resilience, Wellness
July 7, 2023

Publishing = Panic at the Disco?

No, no. Not the band of the same name, “Panic at the Disco”. I’m referring to a silly moment in my latest podcast with Wynne. What a treat it is – every time I visit with her. Even when the topic’s fairly serious, we find ways to have fun. 😎 In this week’s Heart of Continue reading

Surviving Sue

authors, friendship, humor, podcasts, publishing, resilience, writing
April 20, 2023

It Was Always You

I was a lucky girl…working in higher education for many years as a faculty member, counselor and as an administrator. No matter which role I was in, providing support gave me purpose. Gave me joy. Teaching is difficult, not just in the moment, but because it’s impossible to know how each student’s life story unfolds. Continue reading

Wellness

Glenda the Good Witch, gratitude, love, resilience
February 5, 2023

Pieces of Me

Self-understanding…one piece at a time… Continue reading

Wellness

love, memories, resilience, self-care
November 7, 2022

Good Morning, World!

Greeting the day, my papa’s way – with a reminder: Stay close to the people who feel like sunshine! Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, good morning, gratitude, love, Mondays, resilience
October 20, 2022

Darkness & Light

No superhero cape required…you’ve got this… Continue reading

Wellness

Jung, love, Nietzsche, philosophy, psychology, resilience, survivors
September 30, 2022

The Yodas Don’t Lie

My Yodas have spoken: Do it Anyway. Encouragement when I needed it the most. Continue reading

Wellness

blogging, confidence, encouragement, gratitude, humor, motivation, resilience, self-care, writing, Yoda
September 29, 2022

Better Ideas

Friendship with a side order of honesty…always the best. Continue reading

Family

creativity, friendship, gratitude, honesty, Inspiration, resilience
September 21, 2022

Hollyhocks and Resilience

It was never the hollyhock’s fault… Continue reading

Wellness

family history, humor, moms and daughters, resilience, survivor, Wellness
September 2, 2022

Bumps & Blessings in Parenting

For the parents – encouragement and love from me to you! Continue reading

Family

blessings, Family, happiness, joy, love, parenting, resilience, stress

“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