For decades, thousands of visitors have made the pilgrimage to the Kindred Spirit mailbox on uninhabited Bird Island. All kinds of people, young and old, joyous and in pain have written down their innermost thoughts and feelings in the mailbox’s journals. It is estimated that over 100,000 people ... Read More about Island Life NC: The Kindred Spirit Mailbox
Inspiration Station: Meet Georgia Walker
Every month on Truly Madly Sassy, I like to feature someone who has been an inspiration to me and today, I want to introduce you to a woman who is near and dear to my heart. In 2012, after struggling to get healthy, I hired her to be my personal trainer. It was the first time I'd ever done anything ... Read More about Inspiration Station: Meet Georgia Walker
What’s On Your Bucket List?
A bucket list is a list of things that you want to see or do before you die. And if you haven't seen the movie with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson in it, you should totally watch it! It's about two men who meet in a hospital after both of them have been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. ... Read More about What’s On Your Bucket List?
Childhood Trauma: The Shame Associated With Speaking Your Truth
Everybody has a story. Some of those stories might even be referred to as skeletons in the closet. But just because you have a story doesn’t mean you have something to hide. Granted, there are those who do have things to hide—like really bad things—and they hide them for a reason. But that’s not ... Read More about Childhood Trauma: The Shame Associated With Speaking Your Truth
Life Lessons: When The Struggle Gets Real
May 30, 2017. It’s significant (and it isn’t), because on that day, one year ago, I arrived at St. James Plantation after being on the road for two days with my best friend, a mutual friend, and my dog. It was the beginning of learning some of life's lessons. Like really big ones. Most of you who ... Read More about Life Lessons: When The Struggle Gets Real
Sacred Tears: The Sign Of A Life Well-Lived
“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition, and of unspeakable love.” --Washington Irving It seems like the older I get, the more ... Read More about Sacred Tears: The Sign Of A Life Well-Lived
Finding The Positive In Grief
When grieving it's hard to look past the pain and try to understand why it happened. Some people may never find the peace that they seek or the answers they are looking for. But in truth finding hope or some sort of reasoning is what helped pull me through. A Brief Back Story To help shed some ... Read More about Finding The Positive In Grief
Relationships & Singledom: Can You Really Have It All With One Person?
Relationships are hard and dating is even harder when you're in your 40's. When my husband and I separated in 2012, we knew we were headed for divorce. And by the time my divorce was final in 2015, I was already in love with the man who had my heart; however, imagining myself in a fully committed ... Read More about Relationships & Singledom: Can You Really Have It All With One Person?
Inspirational Woman: From Tragedy To Triumph Jennifer Rader On Tough Times, Digging Deep, & Leukemia
What defines us? Is it our past, future fate that is swirling around over us, our family? Some venture out and go with that fortune from the cookie at that all you can eat buffet. I choose to believe that experiences define our character and our character takes the reigns of the future. My past is ... Read More about Inspirational Woman: From Tragedy To Triumph Jennifer Rader On Tough Times, Digging Deep, & Leukemia
The Village We Lost
Six years ago, virtually everything that signified home to me ceased to be. In the span of a few months I was no longer anyone’s wife, no longer anyone’s daughter, and my active phase of mothering had come to an end as my eldest married and my youngest left home. To say my world seemed to stop ... Read More about The Village We Lost
Caitlyn Siehl: Do Not Fall In Love With People Like Me
Do not fall in love with people like me. people like me will love you so hard that you turn into stone into a statue where people come to marvel at how long it must have taken to carve that faraway look into your eyes. Do not fall in love with people like me we will take you to museums ... Read More about Caitlyn Siehl: Do Not Fall In Love With People Like Me
Finding Joy When There Isn’t Enough To Go Around
On March 6, 2015, Miriam's life began again. Due to end-stage lung disease, she had waited over six months on the transplant list. And for someone like her, that felt like forever. She had come precariously close to the unimaginable; but, on that remarkable day, because of an anonymous organ donor, ... Read More about Finding Joy When There Isn’t Enough To Go Around