Sunday Inspiration: Success and Happiness

Thankful Thursday: June 4, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

A day pursuing and planning for a new opportunity

Family

Celebrating my son's birthday

Ice cream cake

Prepping for our next trip

The blue moon

Feeling pretty

Waking up just before the alarm

Rainy mornings

A step closer

When one of the dogs does something unexpected and adorable

Little lavender moths fluttering around my front door

Watching the hummingbirds at the feeder

Simple summer dinners

Living June Out Loud

June is that magical feeling month that swings between the breezy days of Spring and the full heat of summer. The days stretch to their fullest length, the sun seems to shine a little brighter, and there's an unmistakable energy in the air. 

Whether you’re looking for ways to get outdoors, bring the outdoors inside, or recapture some of the childhood magic of summers gone by, there's no shortage of ideas to fill your days with fun.  If you’re ready to make the most of it, here are some activities to inspire a June you won’t forget. 

Pick up a beach read.  Even if you're not heading to the beach, enjoy a fun summer page-turner.  Think of it as a pool read, a park read, a patio read, or a hide-inside-with-the-AC-running read.

And while looking for that summer read - Visit your local library! Remember the fun of the summer reading program when you were a kid?  Lots of libraries also have summer reading programs available for adults. 

Whether it’s glazed, frosted, jelly, or cream-filled, enjoy your favorite doughnut on National Doughnut Day, June 5th.

Create a wildflower bouquet. See what's growing in your own backyard or that empty lot down the street and bring the beauty of the outdoors into your indoors.

Celebrate National Best Friends Day on June 8th. Get together for coffee, a meal, or drinks. Send your long-distance friend a lovely card or handwritten note letting them know you love and appreciate them.

Make some cold brew tea. Or sun tea. Incredibly easy and so refreshing on a hot afternoon. And a fun way to observe Iced Tea Day on June 10th

Cook outside. Everything tastes better when prepared on the grill. And there's the added bonus of not having to heat up the house by turning on the stove or oven

Juneteenth observes the day when enslaved persons in Galveston, Texas, finally learned of their freedom... almost 3 years after the Emancipation Proclamation! Attend a Juneteenth event in your community, familiarize yourself with the 13th Amendment of the US Constitution, or take some time to learn more about the history of slavery throughout the world and the struggle to end it. 

Attend a fair or festival. Summer is the prime season for everything from craft fairs to music festivals. Check your local community calendars for events near you. 

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21st. Celebrate the dads or father-figures in your life! 

June 21st is also the Summer Solstice for those in the northern hemisphere.  Enjoy the longest day of the year! Wake up and greet the sunrise or spend some time outside enjoying the extra-long evening.

Usually, the phrase is "On Wednesdays we wear pink". But we'll make an exception when National Pink Day falls on Tuesday, June 23!  Wear your favorite pink outfit, some pink nail polish, or lipstick. Buy yourself some pink flowers. Enjoy your favorite pink food or drink.

Create some Chalk Art on your driveway or the sidewalk outside your home!

Do some stargazing.  See how many constellations you can find. Watch for falling stars. Just ponder the beauty and mystery of the night sky. 

Take a road trip.  It doesn't have to be far, or even days away.  Pick a location within an hour or two of where you live that you've always wanted to visit. Or spend a day cruising the backroads, stopping to check out any sites that catch your eye.

Let June be a reminder to lean into joy, try something different, and savor the longer days while they last. Here's to making the most of the season one sunny, carefree moment at a time. 

Sunday Inspiration:

 

Thankful Thursday: May 28, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

A text from a friend checking in on me

Moving on to the next phase of the hiring process

The first iris bloom

Some much-needed rain

A slight break in the heat

Overnight thunderstorms

Hard work

Neapolitan ice cream

When my hair behaves itself

Rainy days at the library

A cold drink of water

An afternoon nap

When the internet comes back on

Some good news

A change of plans

Aging Isn't One-Size-Fits-All

Aging is a deeply personal experience. We each journey through life with our own experiences, values, and beliefs. These shape how we think and feel about the aging process.  Instead of critiquing how others navigate it, what if we chose respect, support, and allowing every woman the freedom to age on her own terms?

Recently, I saw SO many social media posts criticizing Madonna for dressing and behaving in what some people feel is inappropriate for her age while appearing onstage at Glastonbury. Within days of that wave of criticism, there was an article that came out ridiculing Cameron Diaz because she has apparently forgone cosmetic procedures and is choosing to age "naturally".  

Aging for women seems to be a no‑win situation. We’re expected to look youthful but ridiculed if we try too hard. If we choose to age "naturally" with no cosmetic procedures or dying our hair to hide the grays, then we're letting ourselves go. We're made to feel invisible yet still judged for everything from our appearance to how we act. All this keeps us constantly second‑guessing ourselves and feeling as though we're never getting it right.

The worst part is how, all too often, the harshest critics of how older women act, look, or dress are OTHER women. Ladies, we have to do and be better! 

If someone else is choosing to age in a way you wouldn't consider for yourself, that's her prerogative. We should each be allowed to age in whatever way is comfortable for us. Whether that's dying our hair or letting our silvers shine. Having a few procedures or deciding to age naturally. Staying active and taking risks or choosing to settle into a quieter lifestyle. Wearing fun, colorful, or  offbeat outfits or dressing in a more modest and subdued way.  

How another woman chooses to live her own midlife and beyond has no bearing or effect on your own. And if it does, maybe we need to examine that on a personal level instead of being so openly judgemental about it.

Rather than criticizing, let's support and lift each other up for expressing our individuaity and being our authentic selves. Or at the very least, remember the old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say; don't say anything."

Sunday Inspiration: Dreams

 

Thankful Thursday: May 21, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

Road trips

An evening by the campfire

Smores

Time with my oldest grandson

Good news

Seeing something new 

The sounds of nature

Slow mornings

A safe trip home

Fresh cherries

Learning something new

A productive day

My own cheering squad

Summery pasta dishes

Interview done

Sunday Inspiration: Wishes

 

Thankful Thursday: May 14, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

Blueberries

I got the interview!

A decent night's sleep

Wildflower seed

A heating pad for my aching back

French toast

Coffee and a bookstore with my daughter

A new book

My husband

Cheesecake

A mistake that makes me laugh at myself

Feeling positive

Blue skies

Sunshine

A delicious coffee drink made at home 

Sunday Inspiration: Yesterday and Today

 

Thankful Thursday: May 7, 2026

 

I Am Thankful For:

A crowd of birds at the feeder

The first strawberry of the season from my plants

The full moon

Blackberry brambles in bloom

Clean puppy dogs

Planning for a new endeavor

Seeing progress

Waking up to a new day

The peonies are blooming

Banana pudding

Taking a chance

The smell of peonies

A rainy afternoon

The sound of thunder in the distance

Sunday Inspiration: Unseen Beauty

 

Beauty exists all around us. Slow down and soak in the small, quiet moments that often go unnoticed. When you pay attention, even ordinary days reveal something extraordinary.