wisdom

January 5, 2025

Unexpected Encouraging Words: “You Might Fail”

My dad, Sonny, always had plenty of advice to offer but he wasn’t the type to pipe up with unsolicited input. If you wanted to know what he thought about something, you needed to ask. His face gave away little unless he wanted you to see what he was thinking. It was a vocational asset Continue reading

Family, Surviving Sue

advice, author, encouragement, fathers, goals, Inspiration, motivation, new year, Surviving Sue, wisdom, writer
July 7, 2024

When You Crack Yourself Up: Advice from H.G. Wells?

“If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn’t expecting it.” H.G. Wells Interesting quote, right? “Difficulties with a book”. Writing or reading, I wondered. Both? Considering how prolific Wells was as a writer, one assumes he meant writing, but for prolific readers…we Continue reading

writing

author, books, humor, Inspiration, productivity, wisdom, writing
June 17, 2024

Worthiness Reminders

I attended an author event this past weekend and it was fabulous. I love learning from accomplished writers – especially when they share their secrets for maintaining motivation. But while I was there, in a room full of fervent fans and aspirational writers, my intuitive, introverted self was overloaded from the jump. Choosing a seat Continue reading

writing

author, book signings, books, friendship, gratitude, motivation, wisdom
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
March 29, 2024

Podcast Friday! The Next Good Thing

Wynne and I love a thought-provoking chat with our friend, Dr. Gerald Stein. This – our 60th episode – marks the sixth time we’ve enjoyed learning from one of our favorite podcast guests. Maybe it’s the introspectiveness that arrives when Spring dances before us in the Northern Hemisphere. Opportunity and new life; longer days and Continue reading

podcast

friendship, gratitude, podcast, purpose, relationships, Wellness, wisdom, writers
February 5, 2024

Classic Rewind: Singing in the Lifeboats

Every now and then, a piece of writing, a post from the past still speaks to me. I smile when I think of these as my very own ‘classic rewinds’. Coming at you on this ICYMI-M (In Case You Missed It Monday). First published in February, 2023. Singing in the Lifeboats At first blush, this quote Continue reading

Wellness

lifestyle, mondaymotivation, quotes, stress reduction, Voltaire, Wellness, wisdom
December 22, 2023

Happy Birthday, Dad! ❤

Ho, Ho, Ho…and a heads-up! You may have read this post from a year ago…thinking about my beloved papa as his birthday rolled around. Today marks what would’ve been his 88th birthday and I’ll be celebrating him all day – in ways large and small – not least of which as I remember the gifts he Continue reading

Family

daughers, Family, fathers, gratitude, lessons, love, podcasts, wisdom
December 15, 2023

Podcast Friday! Holiday Wisdom 🌟

I have a love/hate relationship with the holidays. I love the revelry and festivities. I hate the anxiety and retread over painful bits of family history. Every family’s got their share and I’ve yet to find wisdom that’s better than the gift Wynne and I received from our friend and writer, Stuart Perkins. Across my Continue reading

Wellness

chosen family, friendship, gratitude, lifestyle, podcast, self-care, stress relief, Wellness, wisdom
December 1, 2023

Podcast Friday! Being Your Own Best Friend

It’s a delight when Wynne and I get to visit with our friend, Dr. Gerald Stein and this week’s podcast was sooooo good, it’s dropping in two parts. I find I’m especially ready to receive wisdom when the calendar turns to December. Something about the end of one year and the near dawn of the Continue reading

Wellness

mental health, podcast, self-care, Wellness, wisdom
November 24, 2023

Podcast Friday! Listen to the Children

I’m not sure it’s a good idea to play favorites…but this week’s podcast takes the cake…and that’s saying a lot around here, given that it’s the Friday after the feast-o-rama known as Thanksgiving. I’m so full of pie. I AM pie. But there’s a nice detour ahead. I can’t think of anything better that receiving Continue reading

writing

children know best, gratitude, love, parenting, podcast, relationships, wisdom, writing
October 23, 2023

Happy Birthday, Hubs!

Yep…it’s the hubster, Paul’s, birthday. And you might be wondering about the combo of photos represented here. A pic of a blueberry cake and a truly beaten up old deskplate/sign? What do these two things have to do with Paul’s birthday? I’m gonna tell you! 😉 You might’ve discerned that a cake…and his birthday might not Continue reading

Family

baking, birthday, engineering, lifestyle, love, mentors, relationships, wisdom
April 13, 2023

To Live Content…

William Ellery Channing’s beautiful wisdom in his poem “My Symphony” spoke to me this morning. Well, not literally. Poetry doesn’t speak…it was more of a resonating moment. 😊 At 4:30 am, with all the windows open, the earliest of early birds began their morning revelry. I’m terrible at identifying birdsongs but I suspect I heard wrens, Continue reading

Wellness

birdsongs, Inspiration, morning affirmation, nature, wisdom
December 21, 2022

Loving Lessons from My Papa

Silly and smart…he called me “Agnes Gooch”… Continue reading

Family

Agnes Gooch, baseball, dads and daughters, gratitude, happy birthday, love, wisdom
October 28, 2022

Aunt Bea’s Wit and Wisdom

Aunt Bea knew best…parenting IS hard… Continue reading

Family

Family, gratitude, memories, parenting, wisdom
September 15, 2022

Verbal Guard Rail: Thanks, Dad!

Wisdom in wee morsels from my papa… Continue reading

Family

dads and daughters, Family, memories, quotes, self-care, Wellness, wisdom

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

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

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Podcasts

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

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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

wisdom

Unexpected Encouraging Words: “You Might Fail”

When You Crack Yourself Up: Advice from H.G. Wells?

Worthiness Reminders

Podcast Friday! Remembering Matters

Podcast Friday! The Next Good Thing

Classic Rewind: Singing in the Lifeboats

Happy Birthday, Dad! ❤

Podcast Friday! Holiday Wisdom 🌟

Podcast Friday! Being Your Own Best Friend

Podcast Friday! Listen to the Children

Happy Birthday, Hubs!

To Live Content…

Loving Lessons from My Papa

Aunt Bea’s Wit and Wisdom

Verbal Guard Rail: Thanks, Dad!

Peek Inside “Surviving Sue“

Podcasts

Workshops

About Me

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