When Health is not Optimal

 I have been experiencing GI issues since March and it all began with a change in nutrition. Since that time I have tried several different methods to improve these issues, but it has been difficult with the transitions of moving to a new house in a new neighborhood. This move felt like a "death by paper-cuts" due to all the tedious tasks that needed one, differing expectations of how the move was going to go by my husband and I and overall, being at the mercy of things not in my control.

Navigating the usually daily tasks began to feel overwhelming and also trying to help our kids and especially our dogs to be set up for success in our new environment was challenging.

There is always grief in a move even for really good reasons and this time has been no different. Memories pop up and reflections about simpler times or how we got through trying times as a family in our old house. Even the dreaming phase in the new house takes mental energy. It is exhausting, exhilarating and excruciating for what seems like simultaneously. 

I'm Anxious About...

BRAIN DUMP! 

I'm anxious about:

* buying or finding a new to us dining room table and chairs (I know what I want) but it either takes 4-6 weeks to be delivered to us or I have to coordinate a trip to go pick up said table and upholstered chairs

* my body (she isn't how she used to be and I don't have the motivation to even take one extra step than my normal right now) -- more importantly my pelvic structure has changed and shifted so my digestive system is working different --> need to go to the doctor's

* my job (I'm tired of pursuing and creatively outreaching my clients...I care, I do, but the effort that I feel like I'm putting in has surpassed the effort I feel like they have - they often don't have the capacity to maintain our scheduled appointments and I'm worn with rescheduling and having to change my own schedule to accommodate)

* my house (all the little things out of place or undone) - we moved in early April, I know it will be a "work in progress" but can it be done, or at least one entire room be done?!

* how much caffeine I want to consume (I just want liquid energy these days)

* my skin (from blemishes to scars to imperfections and dark spots but primarily scabs-it doesn't bounce back, it indents and although it protects my organs and veins, it just looks and feels rough and spotty)

* my soul (it feels worn and flimsy - like the spiritual muscles are not firing with faith and intention like they used to do so)

* our dogs (Katie is 8 and getting older and she is our loyal, territorial, sweet, cuddly, wise and most human dog), (Ivy is a follow the leader, lacks marbles in the brain and is the most loving and curious pup that loves zoomies), (Max...so cute, cuddly, yearning for love, escape artist who may end up killing another dog if he is triggered)

* our dogs barking...at anything (it's loud and mostly unexpected)

* lack of a morning routine (it's hard to get out of bed these days...I remember days in my 30's when although I didn't want to get up-I had such determination and intention that it was 3-2-1 and out of bed with no thinking and immediately getting into the routine of movement and caring for myself)

* my own excuses and complaining

* feeling paranoid about my surroundings at home and in the city with working (being a white, middle-aged, average to short height female)

* living on a corner - cars going by

* having to go to the bathroom for what seems like all the time

* becoming dehydrated (past experiences fuel this one)

* not using my gifts or experiences that God has given to me; however, shutting down is also not a good alternative

Welcome to 2025 :: Traveling Light

 2024 was this past year which was “chasing excess” — it was suppose to be “come alive” or I don’t want to live an unlived life….so living and instead it was chasing excess.

So Right Now: I’m sitting on our couch, tree is down, ornaments piled on the dog crate, fake tree laying on the ottoman with Xmas nik-naks, candles lit on the mantle, Max is scratching his butt against the couch, Ivy is sleeping down at my feet, my laptop is on my lap and your voice is coming out of the speakers, brown noise is on the Alexa in our connecting kitchen, and the living room floor is fairly clear since I swept it after taking the tree down.

Raining heavily outside and gloomy looking.

—————————

Tilling the soil: preparing my mind, heart and body for letting go of “stuff”, items of value that I have not used and will not use, items and things I thought I wanted or my family would use…knowing that I do not know HAVE to know where things go. I DON’T HAVE TO KNOW!!! 

The hard part is the actual movement of these items OUT of the house. 

——————————

Drumroll….2025……..
The book is “The Year of Less” by Cait Flanders, a Canadian, who is now a freehance writer and was 29 at the time of writing when she blogged about her journey of choosing recovery, decluttering and rules of her shopping ban in pursuit of less. Excellent book.

2025 :: Traveling Light 

In fact I think that I have done it in the past but it’s different for me now and feels more pressing and needed than ever before.

In "The Year of Less," Cait Flanders chronicles her transformative journey of living with intention and reducing consumerism in her life. By committing to a year of minimalism, Cait discovers the profound impact of decluttering both her physical space and mental landscape. Here are ten key lessons and insights from the book:

1. The Power of Intentionality: Cait emphasizes the importance of being intentional about one’s choices. By identifying her values and priorities, she learns to make more conscious decisions that align with her goals, rather than succumbing to societal pressures or impulsive desires.

2. Consumerism and Its Effects: The book explores the negative impact of consumer culture on mental health and well-being. Cait reflects on how excessive shopping and materialism contributed to her feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction, prompting her to seek a more meaningful life.

3. The Joy of Decluttering: One of the key components of Cait's journey is the process of decluttering her possessions. She discovers that letting go of physical items creates space for emotional clarity and a sense of freedom, allowing her to focus on what truly matters.

4. Creating a Shopping Ban: Cait implements a shopping ban for a year, committing to only purchasing essentials. This challenge forces her to reassess her relationship with money and consumption, highlighting the difference between needs and wants.

5. The Value of Experiences Over Things: Throughout her year of less, Cait learns to prioritize experiences over material possessions. She finds that meaningful relationships, travel, and personal growth bring greater joy than any item she could buy.

6. Mindfulness and Self-Reflection: The journey prompts Cait to engage in mindfulness practices and self-reflection. By slowing down and examining her thoughts and feelings, she gains insights into her motivations and desires, leading to greater self-awareness.

7. Building Community and Connections: Cait emphasizes the importance of community and relationships in her journey. By connecting with others who share similar values, she finds support and encouragement, reinforcing the idea that personal growth often thrives in collaborative environments.

8. Understanding Emotional Triggers: The author explores the emotional triggers that lead to shopping and consumer behavior. By identifying these triggers, Cait learns to address the underlying feelings, such as boredom or insecurity, rather than using shopping as a coping mechanism.

9. Learning to Say No: Cait learns the importance of setting boundaries and saying no to things that do not align with her values. This skill empowers her to protect her time, energy, and resources, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life.

10. Embracing Imperfection and Growth: Throughout her journey, Cait acknowledges that the process of simplifying her life is not linear and that setbacks are part of growth. She embraces imperfection and understands that the journey toward minimalism and intentional living is ongoing.

In "The Year of Less," Cait Flanders provides a candid and inspiring account of her quest to live a more intentional and fulfilling life by reducing consumerism. By applying these ten key lessons, readers can reflect on their own relationships with material possessions and consider the benefits of embracing minimalism and mindfulness in their lives. The book serves as a powerful reminder that true happiness and fulfillment often come from within, rather than from external possessions.

Right Now :: Clifty Falls Inn State Park

Spring Break 2024 - Enjoying the trails, indoors swimming pools and access to watching ESPN.

The dogs are also enjoying the time with napping and walking and so many smells.

Beginning Again

Wow, 2022 into 2023 was a ride like nothing I anticipated!

I was working at writing in 2022 and came across an email in my inbox from a recruiter at Cincinnati Children's. I was curious, but not overly interested as I had not been working outside the home (as I was doing my own thing with coaching and art and whatnot). 

But this email and this job description peaked my interest because of working with women with depression; specifically postpartum moms. What? There's a job for this!!?? Cool! So I let it sit with me for a couple of days and then discussed with my husband that I just wondered about doing an interview. Well, one thing led to another and to another and the ball began rolling. We set a start date in June 2022 while credentialling for being medical staff was approved and they would prepare to bring me on.

Whew, what I did not anticipate was how working from home with my boys over the summer was HARD and I began to see some of my healthy habits shifting. I became more focused on working, striving and pouring top energy into doing therapy for these women, connecting with the pediatric clinics and cultivating new systems in my life. 

And as winter months came, I ate and ate and ate, and I stopped working out like I had been because "I'd rather focus on the next session." Gradually I watched the scale go up and my clothes become tighter. Every week, I could see what direction I was going and quarterly I would re-evaluate, but not fully commit.

Fastforward to today and I'm more than 15-17 pounds heavier, have less muscle, have much less energy and sit most of my work days (whether driving to home therapy sessions to sit or sitting in front of a screen for telehealth sessions). I'm lucky if I get 5,000 steps!

I have LOVED BODI (beachbody on demand), but the choice fatigue continued to hit me, and I just didn't feel like moving like I used to-especially if it was 30 minutes or more. Forget about 45 minutes! What full-time working mom has 45 minutes to sweat and then clean up! And I was not about to sacrifice my sleep (that was Kara in her 30's, she is now in her 40's).

So this is Day ONE of using a different Lifestyle and Nutrition Company's resources and custom meal plan. This time I paid for a customized meal plan because although I KNOW how to develop a meal plan and do ALL the steps. I DO NOT WANT TO DO IT. I want someone else to do it for me and sure enough, it is working. She (the coach) calculated out my appropriate macros and caloric intake and now I simply have to follow it "mostly". I do substitutes for proteins, carbs, veggies or fruits if I need to.

I JUST NEED A MINDSET SHIFT. I still love BODI, but sometimes it just becomes repetitive. So cheers to day one!!

Welcome to 2024 :: Cultivating Aliveness

 Welcome to 2024 ::  Cultivating Aliveness

2023 brought A LOT of growth for our family and various challenges (again a normal year for us): 

• Mark began his podcast "Mental Health and Ministry" and has interviewed several people. It has been life-giving for him and frankly he's really, really good at it. He discusses depression in ministry and how to support someone who is struggling. 

• Kara completed one year with Cincinnati Children's in June with pioneering the Moving Beyond Depression program working with postpartum mothers and mothers of 0-3 year olds with maternal depression. It has been exciting and exhausting and she did put herself to the side along the way. Her self-care has had good rhythms and not so good rhythms. In the end, she is ready for a recalibration of serious magnitude and to pursue vitality.

• Ian began 9th grade and began playing soccer last spring FOR THE FIRST TIME, ran Cross Country again and in his free time enjoys playing computer games, at one point playing chess, rapping songs and working out. He did start a McDonald's job in the summer and did really well, but he learned that working in fast-food is not where he wants to be, but it really helped him grow as a person. "People are mean mom!" "Yes, yes they can be," I agreed.

• Elijah began 5th grade, remains fascinated by dinosaurs, played soccer again and specifically Goalie position this past Fall, and enjoys playing Roblox, Fortnite and Nitro Typing in his free time.

• Katie is 8 years old now, still loves to cuddle in your face, bait Ivy into take her raw-hides so she can grab them back and continues to love car rides.

• Ivy is 3 and a half years old and plays like a puppy with zoomy fits and then long naps. She still sits like a princess and growls like a bear. She is remains submissive but her growl scares things away.

• We are very grateful for God’s continued faithfulness, peace and His humor. We have seen so much growth in both of our boys and in ourselves. We look forward to see how His hand works this year. Much Love to you! 

• The Messmores

Creating A Guiding Writing Statement

The entire process of creating a statement that summarizes why I write and who I write for has been a challenge. I have had to dig deep into my own experiences, gifts and potential contributions to this world to really create this statement. There are several different formats I have utilized in preparing this statement and each have put a different spin on the issues I choose to focus on. Nonetheless, three years later I feel like I have narrowed down this statement to be something clear and mostly concise.

Hope*Writers (Guided Hope Circle) Format:
Problem: Women are stuck, living in pain, disengaged, in survival mode

Cause: Pain, Disappointed by life circumstances and relationships, Seeing through a lens of pain 

Solution: I provide four practical principles to move them towards a lens of HOPE, which reignites a passion for life. 

I help __________ (describe your reader)

• To _____________(what you help them with) 

• Through ___________(how you help them) 

I help women stuck in survival mode, disengaged and disappointed to move from experiencing life through a lens of pain to a lens of hope by practicing four principles that reignites their passion for life. 

Donald Miller (Story Brand's) Format: 

Problem: Women are stuck, living in pain, disengaged, in survival mode

Today many women (experience life or see) through a lens of pain and are stuck living in survival mode, disengaged and struggling to work through life’s disappointments.

Explain your plan/product to help them: Book

I provide practical/experiential steps for women to move from experiencing life through this lens of pain into a lens of hope 

Describe a successful ending to their story: reigniting a passion for life

to reignite a passion for life, so they can gain energy and build courage to thrive.

Today many women are living in survival mode, disengaged and struggling to work through life’s disappointments. I write about four practical principles that move women from survival mode to thrive mode in shifting from a lens of pain to a lens of hope reigniting their passion for life.

Monday Musings :: Enough

Our minds are dull and sometimes we don't fully understand the entire spectrum of a word.

"Enough" used to summon a lacking feeling in me when I heard it or read it and I directly connected it with "not having enough" or "not being enough".

However, as I have aged, I know see it in a different light.
I have "enough" has become a freeing term for me.
It now summons images of contentment and presence.
It's no longer about a "lack" of anything and more about the fullness.

Quality over quantity.
Are you searching for "enough"?
Might you already have it and simply not know it?

Notes :: TrusT Him completely.

TrusT Him completely.
Pursue everything patiently.

His way - uses delay to develop faith in us...

walk alongside Him

What has God promised you? : not sure :      (RUNWAY LIGHTS)
Practical circumstances
A Council of godly people
inner conviction
confirmation of God's WORD

release from the burden or open the door

Believers in Exile
genuine God-filled life --> talk with Him about where you are & where you want to be (in community - disciplining - practicing humble hospitality) --> feeling love & belonging

God's blessing to fall on our family

(times of refreshing) & restoration & a new hope --> a living hope 

Questions :: Book Writing

What is the WHY for your Book?

Why is it needed right now?

Why are you motivated to write this book?

What next steps do you need to take with your book? --> Proposal or draft

"This is a [What-Genre] that does [What-Transformation] for [Who-Reader] because [Why-Rationale]."
-Ryan Holiday, Perenniel Seller

The Cafe at the Edge of the World by John Strelecky
When Caregiving Calls by Aaron Blight

- Arti's email: bespokewritingfirm@gmail.com

Proposal Template: https://arielcurry.com/category/publishing-2/book-proposals
https://forms.gle/o7tgbD8oDL2qkd2A9

What do you want to contribute to the world?

Write the book that you need to write.

It's ridiculous to think that your art will make 

What transformational journey do you want to go on?

What brings you to life everyday?

What stirs the pot of life in you?

Color

What is the transformation I am inviting the reader/writer into?

Here's what I want to do, here's what I want to make...I don't even know if it will work or if I will receive back what I put it into you.

Valuable Advice

Would you rather be a writer, a therapist or an artist? or a declutter whiz (organizer)? What would you like to contribute to the world?

Do the continual revisions of the paintings that I have done in the past, just copy and then improvise. Take them and transform them.

No one can heal by yourself and no one can create by yourself.

Beta development Tiers (search for more)

Get our of your head and into your body (post publishing)

Take dictation from the silence.

Learnings from Retreat

I am continually amazed by what happens when we leave our environments and our daily rhythms and we GO AWAY. So WORTH IT.

This past weekend I felt seen, knew I was heard and cared for. I didn't have to force any conversations and simply remained curious about the stories of others.

I learned about where I am, who I am and most importantly WHO GOD IS.

Remembering who God is totally puts life into a lens that helps me see...where I fit in this world and in God's story.

We shared and read through scripture and focused on the bigger picture. The PERSPECTIVE that we all need in order to continue in vocational ministry and really in our walk with Jesus Christ regardless of what is happening in our world, in our churches and even in our immediate families.

I am reminded that I am very, VERY hard on myself and expect a lot of myself to the point that I will shut myself down because I have spinning my wheels so-to-speak. If I can't meet my own expectations or intentions then I think in an all-or-nothing mentality that steals my joy and distorts my heart.

I AM NOT ALONE.

I do have other women I can speak with who can relate to my family's experiences as well as my own experience in my marriage. Some of them work outside the home and the church, some are right alongside their husbands or strictly in their homes. 

Some are fully enmeshed in our ministries and some of us are detached living our own lives and walking a parallel path to those in the church. We are real, authentic and completely unique. We all pursue Christ AND it looks different.

In looking at the three most needed and utilized prayers: 

HELP. THANKS. WOW.

I can see that I have been in different seasons where THANKS and WOW were at the center of my prayers. But in this season I feel like HELP sums it up. HELP Lord for us to grow in our marriage, HELP Lord for me to surrender control in my child's life, HELP Lord me to trust you in the direction you desire for me professionally, HELP me see what you want me to see Lord and not be distracted by worry, the shiny things of this life or what could happen.

REST IN GOD

Who is my God? according to this passage?

Joy is "A pervasive and constant sense of well-being that is infused with hope because of the goodness of God." --Dallas Willard.

As I was walking with two women around the frozen lake in the cold wind sharing our stories, one said a phrase that will remain in my heart. It was a phrase that meant so much to me because in my previous work I experienced secondary trauma and remained bewildered as to how to best handle the dynamic of family life, life in general and intense professional work with others.

She said, "Hold their story while you are present, be present, but do not Carry it with you, release it."

YES! YES! Hold in presence but do not carry. We all are accountable to carry our own "stuff". I am prone to carry another woman's heartache or suffering but I cannot do that and also live my own life and walk my own path with God. She has to walk her own path and choose which way she goes. I can't stand there with her and try to help dig her a new path while I try to also go on my own with God.

"Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is,

and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls." ~Jeremiah 

Have HOPE IN THE LORD --> New Beginnings -- New Stories ==> New Adventures

6 D's that Derail Us from our Walks with God
- Doubt -> Disillusioned -> Distorted -> Discouraged -> Depression -> Despair

What is it that Keeps Us going? 

REMEMBER...
His faithfulness...
His promises...
His provision...
His comfort

Survival Strategies for the Long Haul - How Do We Finish Well?
These were so good and so helpful.

 

What's In a Title?

TITLE

• Say/imply who the book is for
• Tell the reader what they will get out of the book
• Catch the reader’s attention
• Avoid being cute or gimmicky

From Hurt to Hope: Learning How to Heal Through, Not Out of Your Pain

From Hurt to Hope: Learning to Heal THROUGH Your Pain, Not OUT

HEAL THROUGH IT: A PROCESS FOR GETTING UNSTUCK FROM YOUR PAIN

Heal Through It: How to Move Forward When You Are Stuck

Healing the Hurt: 4 Practices that Will Move You Forward

Stop the Stuck: 4 Steps to Move Forward in Healing Through Pain

Release the Pain: Stories of Surrender

Receive the Insight: Stories of Support

Resolve to Heal: Stories of Determination

Reach Out to Help: Stories of Resilience/Risk

Hello 2022 :: 2021 Reflection

Welcome to 2022 :: Short story, I was attacked by a dog 1/3/22 while running so cards went out late and this reflection is just now being done. 

2021 brought inspiration and various challenges (so a normal year for us): 

• Mark wrote a book “Simple Preaching Prep”, is due to release March 1st, 2022 on Amazon.

• Kara continues to write her non-fiction book “Hurt to Hope: The Way is Through, Not Out” (working title) and ran more in the Fall to build a base back.

• Ian began 7th grade and in his free time enjoys watching WWE, playing computer games and wrestling with his stuffed wrestling dummy so he doesn’t hurt his brother.

• Elijah began 3rd grade, remains fascinated by dinosaurs, digging for gem stones and fossils, and playing Roblox in his free time.

• Katie is 6 years old now, loves to cuddle in your face, bait Ivy into take her raw-hides so she can grab them back and continues to love car rides.

• Ivy is a year and half and has been with us for a year. She is still all puppy, sits like a princess and growls like bear. She is very submissive and pees upon meeting strangers.

• We are very grateful for God’s peace and His humor in these times. We look forward to see how His hand works this year. Much Love to you! 

• The Messmores

Sorting Through a Position Statement for My Book

"This is a [WHAT] that does [WHAT] for [WHO] because [WHY]." -Ryan Holiday, Perennial Seller

This is a personal development book that shows how to move from a hurtful and stuck place to hopeful and hope-filled perspective for people who have been through great disappointment because so many become stuck and jaded and stop truly living.

This is a practical guide for people stuck in survival-mode, even wanting "out" of life to move from deep hurt to a hope-filled life that can help others, even save a life and make the world a kinder place. 

What is the WHY for your book? Why is it needed right now? Why are you motivated to write this book?What next steps do you want to take with your book - proposal 

This guide is needed right now because more people are experiencing depression and anxiety at higher rates and living in survival-mode. Many are even choosing suicide to escape their pain. 

I am motivated through my own story of great disappointment and hurt by those closest to me whom I thought were my friends. I went through my own process of feeling very stuck and ready to give up to ultimately resolving to heal and reaching out to help others to hold on despite their pain.

The next step I would like to take with this book is to create a book proposal including the outline which I have begun working on.

We will work through a process of releasing pain, receiving help, resolving to heal and reaching out to help others. Our universal point of connection is that we all have experienced pain in one or more seasons of our life. We all can become stuck and be susceptible to giving up and wanting out. It is important for us to persevere and keep going.

2022 Word of the Year

I would like to welcome 2022 with cordial high five. 

Thank you for showing up and being present in humanity.

The Word to embody 2022 is...

I chose this word for 2022 because it kept popping up in my head and I feel a need to simply sit with it and figure out what that actually means. It's not just nutritionally (which has often been a focus for many years for me) but internally in my brain space...in my heart and moreso in my soul. Nourishing our soul while not going too deep into ourselves and helping to nourish the souls of others. 

2021 proved to be a challenging year as many of my friends went through various hardships and transitions. Walking with others in pain and in transition is no easy task. It is a day by day surrender of my will and my ambition. I will not say that I did it seamlessly nor unselfishly, because I am human. I feel that God chose to use this time, to show me various areas of my life that needed to be worked on and discussed. Boundaries has been one of the biggest conversations I have had with God. 

The question of, where do I begin and where do I end? What is doable for me at this time to give? How might I navigate deep friendship while remaining myself. There is no easy answer and many times I felt that I had fallen short. But there is grace.

So yes, this is a stART.

Christmas Season Reflections :: Life Giving & Life-Draining List

Life-Giving

--> planning ahead what is most important to do during the Christmas season in October 

--> making moments to reflect upon Jesus' birth and what all was happening in history at the time

--> praying and allowing God's peace to simmer in my heart and soul

--> using Honey app on my desktop for comparison price shopping

--> having a list of gifts needed when Black Friday comes around

--> wrapping gifts as we receive them in the mail

--> Advent Tree preparation in November

--> placing Pop-Its and Fidget Toys for the boys & chocolates in the Advent Calendar Tree pockets

--> putting up lights in the living room and on the Christmas Tree (soft white is my favorite)

--> buying ready-made food for celebrations (Zoup, Panera Soup)

--> wearing Ugly Christmas sweaters and Christmas pajamas

--> having white elephant gifts on-hand in the house

--> CREATING

Life-Draining

--> overwhelmed buying for everyone even with relatives' money for the boys and keeping it all equal

--> commercialism and seeing Toy Ads everywhere

--> cooking food and making menus

--> preparing church ministry events in addition to Ian's Birthday party and other family planning events

--> clutter

--> having anxiety about Covid and flu in gatherings

--> trying to travel a lot to see family

--> feeling Christmas card pressure when no decent family photos are present

--> paying postage for stamps 

Ian turns 13

Your favorite movie lately: Any videos about WWE

Your favorite food: Ice Cream Cake

Your favorite song: WWE entrance theme songs

Your favorite phrase or exaggerated word: "Beans"

You enjoy: 

• playing outside with a neighborhood friend 
• wrestling with your wrestling dummy on the trampoline
• watching WWE shoes and playing WWE video game
• watching Mr. Beast videos
• dog parks, Festivals (where dogs are or goats)
• vacation and time off with family
• cuddling with your puppies
• reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate

Thursday Therapy :: You are Exactly Where You Need to Be

This is a phrase that I repeat to myself when questioning how far I have come in the struggles, careers or life ambitions I have had. It is a reminder that my pace may be different from another person's pace and that although I may not be where I want to be, I am further now than where I used to be.

There are times where I am literally desperate to hear encouragement with my inner voice. This phrase reminds me of who I am and why I am here. It takes me back to life's timing and pacing and God's divine interventions in my life. 

The bigger picture and taking the long-view of faith is what grounds me in this phrase. I wouldn't be where I am unless I learned through the hardships that I've endured. I have not taken the linear road in my profession nor will I receive any accolades from colleagues or prestigious journals because I have not walked that path in academia as I thought I might.

So it is ok, I am exactly where I need to be.

Monday Musings :: Resolve to Heal

Choice is a powerful tool. It creates opportunity and space for an altered outcome to a situation. It is what kept Corrie Ten Boom alive in order for her to survive the Holocaust. She could have chosen to give up or to be swallowed up by the suffering she witnessed and endured. However, she chose to focus on what she could do and who her God, the God of the universe, was and is. She determined to move forward and endure the hardship in order to be more fully connected with God.

This is the same resolve that we need to have, dear Reader, if we are intending to move through our hurt and pain. We must resolve to heal and take the steps needed in order to shift the outcome of our hardship. It simply begins with a choice. As Jesus also stated to the paralytic man in the Gospel of John, "Do you want to be made well?" We also have to ask this very question to ourselves. In our pain and our hurt, "do I want to be made well?" And if so, then our actions need to agree with our answer.

The Hunt for a Book Title :: Brainstorming

The Hunt for Wonder: Reclaiming your Life through Exploration and Compassion

This came to my mind as a book title or article title or SOMETHING!

The original title I've pondered is From Hurt to Hope: The Way is Through, Not Out or : Practicing How to Release, Receive, Resolve and Reach Out.

Reorienting our lives into fresh perspectives when our lens has been tainted by the world's disappointments, traumas, mental health and our own fallenness is a likened to a spiritual discipline in my life.

It is a constant, daily practice of recognizing that all I see is not ONLY what is present. I find myself wishfully dreaming of being rescued from my own demons and strongholds, but then acknowledging that I must do the deep soul work needed. Only I can make such a decision for my life.

I can read a thousand books and go through a million more "guided" journals on those books but in the end if I don't actually take action outwardly then I will remain stuck in paralysis.

This has been the last five years of my life as I have taken various risks professionally and personally and courses and signed up for email lists and listened to advice and a constant digestion of information...but now I need to act.

Trauma and little "t" trauma adds up and in my case, it was vicarious/secondary trauma with helping others (social work/marriage & family therapy) along with coping with our family's mental health struggles, stresses in ministry, then raising two boys. Accumulation is a dangerous tool for burn out.

It is only in the last two years that I have started to unpack slowly, very slowly...the impact of ministry, boundaries, secondary trauma, my role, my mind, my heart and God's continual companionship.