I spent some time this week remembering painful times in my past.

I’m not a glutton for punishment,

the intent was to remember, forgive, and move on.

In reality, I found myself descending into a spiral of

“it’s not fair that this happened…why me…I shouldn’t have to deal with this….”

Not productive.

And definitely not helpful.

In the middle of arguing with myself about how best to handle this

I started singing…

not on purpose, the song just came back to me in the moment

when I needed it most.

It is Well with My Soul

Events that stop us in our tracks force us to reevaluate everything.

Send us spinning out of our normal orbit and into an unknown world of emotions.

It can be painful, but it can also be an opportunity for change.

A complete reset of how things will be in the future.

As we pick up the pieces and begin to put ourselves back together,

we have a choice.

We can put everything back exactly where it came from,

try and make it exactly like it was before,

or we can choose to change. 

Incorporate a new habit, change up a routine, or cut out things we don’t need anymore.

My new habit (at least for this month) is to meditate every morning.

So far so good…although I’m only a few days in!

When sorrows like sea billows roll, I’ll be singing…

I was on my way to an appointment this morning and got stuck in traffic.

Immediately I started wondering…

“How long is this gonna last?” 

It got me thinking about the times in life that feel stuck and we wonder the same thing…

Sometimes it’s a short period of time and then you’re off on your merry way again.

Sometimes it feels like forever and your still in the same spot.

And then there are the absolute worst situations…when the lane you’re in is stationary but the people next to you are sailing by without a care in the world.

Ugh…I get mad just thinking about it! 

And so it is with life, right?

Sometimes you hit a snag, sometimes an all out stop,

and sometimes you’re in limbo while the rest of the world keeps going.

It can be so frustrating.

When I feel stuck and all alone this song helps me.

It’s one that I’ve even sung to myself at night as a prayer.

I hope it brings peace to you today as well.

“Hope Arrived in the Mail” is inspired by an experience that happened in 2003 when I was about to graduate from college. I felt disconnected from everything and everyone. I sent out no graduation announcements and expected no gifts.

So imagine my surprise when I received a card in the mail. It was a simple card but it made a huge impact on me. Because it showed me that I mattered at a time when I felt very lost and confused.

Many of you know that I still love cards to this day (I’m looking at four of them posted over my desk right now!) but this one will always have a special place in my heart…because it symbolized hope in the midst of a desperate time.

I hope this song brings inspiration and encouragement to you today.

“Hope Arrived in the Mail”

When I graduated college

I felt lonely and afraid

So imagine my surprise

When a card arrived in May

Hope arrived in the mail

Gave me courage to press on

Kindness in an envelope

Stamped and sent from home

Graduation and Good Luck

Were printed on the page

But more than the simple gesture

It meant that I would be ok

The card said that I mattered

There was an impact I had made

And that simple piece of paper

Is why I’m here today

Well that was many years ago

yet still when the hard times come

encouragement arrives

in a card sent to my home

Hope arrives in the mail

Gives me courage to press on

Kindness in an envelope

Sent from your friends at home

“We set out to find happy, and realize happy is right here.”

I was selected to read an advance version of a book recently.

Feeling fancy and important I blocked out an afternoon to read and comment on the material.

And then this quote from Seth Hanes hit me square between the eyes:

The consequences in your head are always worse than the reality.  

So true, isn’t it? 

Starting this weekly email is a prime example.

I was super scared of numerous things before I started and guess what?

Absolutely none of them have happened.

In fact, this has turned out to be one of my favorite parts of the week and sparked so many interesting conversations I never would have had otherwise.

Please allow this email to be your permission to face the fear in your mind and push through to the other side. I promise it’s brighter and better than you ever imagined!

?Finding Happy?

We live in fear and trembling 

About mysterious scary things

Then push through them to realize

They are as flimsy as dreams

We set out to find happy

And realize happy is right here

Would you like your own copy of this song? For the first time ever it is available for digital download as a part of the album “Custom Collection.” Check it out here!