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The Commencement Speech I Wasn’t Invited To Give
I’ve never been invited to give a commencement speech. Not like I have any tremendous life accomplishment to warrant such a grandiose invite. But that doesn’t stop me from feeling like I’d have a kick-ass speech. I mean, I’d give it in my usual awkward style, probably make some joke at my expense in the…
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Why All The Meanness On Social Media?
I’m not in a great place right now. I’m not in a bad place, but I’m still kind of sad about my dog and perhaps a little sensitive. My drum of creative writing nectar is empty and there’s just a little pebble of sadness rattling around in there. So it’s from this emotional place, this…
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It All Started With A Beer
There is a new song out by Frankie Ballard called It All Started With A Beer. It’s weird when a song tells you a story that you already know, essentially recounts your own story to you. My husband and I have a couple songs that we consider “our” song. There’s Zac Brown Band’s Free, which…
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Meet Me At The Rodeo: How Rodeo Defined The Stages of My Life
I tried and tried to pull a post onto the page that was horse-oriented and funny and informative. And while I did get some words down, it was missing heart. So instead, I felt compelled to share with you a little event that is very dear to my heart: my town’s pro rodeo. I have…
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A Big Life: Why I Promised To Worry Less
I am a worrier. I worry about everything, silly things to serious things to things I cannot control. I came by it honestly; my mom is a worrier as well. But worrying gets in the way of living. Worrying makes my stomach hurt, makes me lose confidence in what I’m doing, or a decision I’ve…
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Deck The Halls, Not Your Relatives: The 5 Annoying Personality Types Home for the Holidays
The holidays are coming. When you read that in your head, do you read it in an echo-y ominous voice? The holidays are coming. Or perhaps you read that sentence in a normal tone because you have the most perfect family there ever was, everyone gets along and no one fights or complains. No one…
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When To Ignore Logic & Follow Your Desire
In the spring of 2012, right before my husband and I got married, we started hanging out with a friend and her sister at the sister’s training facility. We rode their horses, shared laughs and relished being back in the saddle, however infrequent. After our May wedding in the Midwest, my husband and I stopped…
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A Lesson In Humility: When You’re “Tucked In Back There”
Remember how I told you I find that life is more than willing to offer lessons in humility from time to time? What follows, is a perfect and humorous example of that lesson. At a feed store a few years ago, I was looking for a gift for a friend. I noticed an attractive, tall,…
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When Bambi Winds Up In Your Trunk
It’s my birthday today. Last night we had a gathering of friends, old and new. Those old friends are great for reminding you of the stupid things you used to do. And to reminisce on some of the really stupid things that have happened to you over the years. Like the time my car was…
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Why You Should Always Try
If you follow me on Facebook, you may know that I have spent the weekend in central Oregon for a writing conference for Women Writing the West. Last night, as I laid in bed trying to unwind, I watched Soul Surfer. The movie is based on real life Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in…