Image by melinda257 from Pixabay

It’s that time of year again when people make New Year’s Resolutions…blah blah. I Don’t. Instead, I begin planning my year with my Bloom Planner. You can find them at www.bloomplanners.com. They are a small female owned business and I love supporting their vision.  What is unique about their planners is it has pages that inspire you. The first page asks you what your Word for the Year is and I love that so much! The next few pages focus on your personal goals, habit tracking and how you did the previous year. The best pages are of Things Not to Do and your Joy list. I really love how this planner gives me Vision and hope to achieve my goals.

The really fun part is they have a wide selection of fun stickers you can use for all kinds of activities and events. I turn into a 3^rd grader putting all my stickers in place for the year. Even chore stickers are fun like cleaning and appointments.  How do you approach the New Year? Leave me a comment.

Image by Silvia from Pixabay

You know the drill, shopping, decorating and lots of eating. All of that sounds exciting and fun, and it is, especially eating all those yummy Christmas cookies. My favorite part of the holidays.  Personally, I struggle with the holidays. I know I am not the only one and its so easy to stay in that holiday funk. Instead, I’m choosing to look at the season as an opportunity to experience joy.  I find that if I serve others in some way, it brings a unique joy. Listening to someone, being present for them in their struggles is one of the most rewarding things I can do. Giving those little gifts to people who will never know who you are is one of my greatest joys. I get to be Santa!

If you are struggling to feel the holiday buzz. Do something for yourself and for someone else. Spend time seeing the joy in those Christmas lights, get out and be present, maybe make some cookies for a neighbor. I’m making cookies and trying my hand at fudge this year for my neighbors. I would love to hear how you’re making your season bright and merry and if want to share a cookie recipe I would love it! Leave me a comment.

Image by Marta Kulesza from Pixabay

I am not talking about the ones we have when we are asleep, but the ones we have in those quiet alone times. People ask me if I always wanted to be a writer. Honestly, no I never saw myself becoming a published author. Growing up I never dreamed of any kind of future for myself, sad I know. It’s a story for another time.  Dreams are not just for little kids wondering what they will be when they grow up. They are for all of us at any age and they change continually.

I think people assume dreams are the goals we hope to achieve in our lives.  My spin doesn’t involve the mundane. Dreams are magic! It’s visualizing the potential for anything you want. Having hope and faith that you will create a new world for yourself.  Guess what? You can. I have big dreams now and I know I will have to work hard for them, but I am not giving up. Are you with me? I would love to hear about your big dreams. Leave me a comment.

I love Fairies! Yes, they are real. I had an opportunity this summer to do a Writer Retreat in Ireland. It was a dream come true.  One of our excursions was to a Fairy Forest where we walked in silence for about a mile. This gave us an opportunity to experience the forest in all its beauty. It’s called a forest bath.  Our guide told us if we look closely, we can see a fairy sometimes sitting in a tree or under a plant. It would be a brief glimpse if you can catch one. I believe I saw one or two.

Magic is everywhere if you choose to see it. Fairies help me to believe in the magic of this world and helps to spur my imagination. I love them so much I collect them and have them all over my office. I am trying to turn my office into a magical forest.  I’ve been gifted a few that are either reading a book or sitting on some books.  Do you have magic in your world? Leave me a comment. I would love to hear about it.

Have you ever heard of The Stanley Hotel? It’s located in Colorado in the mountain town of Estes Park. It’s also the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel, The Shining. My daughter went to Colorado State University and on one of my visits to see her we decided to drive up to see the famous hotel. I am a huge Stephen King fan, so I was not going to miss this opportunity.

The hotel is over 100 years old and the rumors of it being are haunted are legendary. We took the day tour of the hotel and its grounds. It’s beautiful to say the least and a must see if you are a King fan. We made our way to the 4^th floor stopping next to Room 401. We were waiting for the rest of the group to assemble before the tour guide could continue the tour.  My daughter was standing right next to the door and no one was next to her. I was standing a little across from her so we were facing each other.  She darted her eyes to her left a few times then leans over and proceeds to tell me that she felt someone touching her arm. She said it was like they were running a hand up and down her arm. The tour guide told us that Room 401 has a very lecherous ghost who likes to touch young ladies. Apparently, that room was used as a break room of sorts for the nannies that came with families in the early 1900’s. They had complained of being touched inappropriately.  My daughter didn’t know any of the history of the hotel, so for her to experience something gave me goosebumps. Have you ever had a spooky experience. I would love to hear about it. Leave me a comment!

Happy Halloween!