Vitality Stories
What Makes You Laugh During the Holidays?
Happy Holidays
To wrap up our year together, I’d like to leave you with a few holiday giggles. Continue reading
Floating on the Rhine
Vitality Stories
Floating on the Rhine
Cologne, Germany
I am so grateful for your enthusiasm and support of my travels and I feel I should explain what kind of traveller I am before I continue.
I love to travel and to see new places. My favorite part of any trip is clipping on my pedometer and walking for hours with my partner. I like to explore each new place by foot. I am invigorated by being in cities and amongst people–but only as long as I have flexibility. On vacation, I won’t commit to anything that has a time or a line (I’ve been to Paris, France, twice but I’ve yet to get in line at the Louvre and see the Mona Lisa).
On the river cruise, if I wanted to do a guided, walking tour of Cologne’s historic downtown and the Gothic Cathedral that somehow survived the bombings in WW2, I was going to need to get off the river cruise two hours before Cologne, walk with my river companions to a tour bus, ride on the bus for an hour, and then walk slowly around the city with earphones to listen to my guide and then meet up with the boat as it docked in Cologne a few hours later. Continue reading
My New Children’s Picture Book – It’s Here!
Vitality Stories
My New Children’s Picture Book – It’s Here
Introducing my co-author
Last year, Cole Okraski read my first children’s picture book, I’m Going to the Doctor?!, with his dad, and when they finished, Cole asked, “Where’s the X-ray Tech?” His father passed along his excellent question. Continue reading
Happy Trails & Adoptions
Vitality Stories
Happy Trails & Adoptions
First, happy trails
In October, Ted and I boarded a river cruise to explore the Rhine River between Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Basel, Switzerland.
We began our trip in Amsterdam and spent three full days walking and exploring the city, all the while appreciating it’s Go Green Agenda, the number of bicyclists (an average of 800,000 people–63% of the population–use bicycles daily in Amsterdam–you should see the bike racks!), and the friendly environment. In every restaurant, we heard waiters easily switching between Dutch, German, English, French, and more as they moved from table to table to take orders. The energy was respectful, open, welcoming, and refreshing. I was never made to feel silly or stupid for not being able to speak anything but English. Continue reading
Happy Thanksgiving
Vitality Stories
Happy Thanksgiving
Feeling grateful for you
It’s Thursday and time for this weekly newsletter. First off, if you don’t see this newsletter because you’ve decided to take a day off from social media and the internet — GOOD FOR YOU! And if you do happen to see this email then HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I hope you each have a day full of love, support, and appreciation. As I go into the day (and later roll around, too full to move), I am grateful for your support and the time you spend with me each week. I am learning so much from so many of you. Your weekly responses expand my heart and world.
Thank you for being you.
Teri
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My 215-Week Action Plan
Vitality Stories
I need your help
I’m excited to share that I have an action plan to become a better American and human being. Yes, this is a direct result of the recent election. I want to look in the mirror and like who I see, and I want to see someone who is informed, fair, and compassionate. Someone who listens and walks her talk. Someone who is less judgmental. Someone who doesn’t marginalize anyone, someone who doesn’t hush anyone else’s beliefs or fears. I want to build bridges. Continue reading
My Point of View
Vitality Stories
My Point of View
Like an old pair of shoes
I recently asked author, Brian Peyton Joyner, to read the drafts of three of my projects: Tiger Drive, In the Doghouse, and All About Me (my first play). As expected, he provided incredibly helpful feedback that I can use to improve all three, and he challenged me to reconsider using so many points of view. The point of view is the angle from which the author will tell the story. The point of view is critical for the success of a story and using the voice and perspective of too many characters can be confusing. Done poorly, the author can lose the reader. And yet, all three of my projects have multiple points of view.
Tiger Drive is written from the view points of four members of the Sloan family.
In the Doghouse is written from two points of view.
All About Me has seven characters. Seven points of view!
What was–am–I thinking?! Continue reading
Are you listening to me?
Vitality Stories
Are You Listening To Me?
Are you a Knower or a Listener?
Several years ago I was having a water cooler discussion with a man at work. He said, “I’m trying to become a listener.”
I asked, “You mean a better listener?”
“No, a Listener,” he said.
He then explained Continue reading
I’m thinking about breakups
Vitality Stories
I’m Thinking About Breakups
In the Doghouse
I’m writing my latest novel, In the Doghouse, and the story involves a couple who is questioning their relationship and individual happiness. There’s actually a much better angle to this story, but as a new writer, I feel a bit fragile discussing an idea during the first draft so as soon as I’m done with this round, I’ll tell you all about In the Doghouse.
I find myself gravitating towards the honest struggle people face when their long-term relationship is ending, such as a loss of identity, or the unraveling of their dreams or expectations for their future. Right now, if someone is going through a breakup, they have my full attention. So when I went to get a smog check, I was easily pulled into a discussion with three men at the mechanic shop about their divorces. Continue reading
Something Amazing Is Happening
Vitality Stories
Something Amazing is Happening
An amazing start to the day
A friend recently shared that she started a personal thirty-day challenge* to improve her gratitude by waking up each morning and saying aloud, “Something amazing is going to happen today.” Before she even finishes the sentence, she has a smile on her face. Continue reading