The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

Guest Post: Welcome Jan Coates!

Today I have the special delight of introducing you to my friend Jan. She’s an author/illustrator and all-around creative whiz with boundless enthusiasm for life. Oh, and she also has a blog and happens…

Happy Things Friday: 5 January

I know I kept up with my Happy Things Friday posts during the Christmas break, but it feels like this is the first “real” Happy Things Friday in a while. Christmas just skews everything…

Following Up, 2023 Blog Top Fives, and More Randomness

I finally feel like Christmas break is over. There are so many layers involved in preparing for the holiday, and just as many layers involved with dismantling things. I was behind on laundry and…

On Stickers, Workouts, and Gold Stars: Rewarding My Inner Toddler

Sometimes I am convinced I am a fully-grown toddler (for many reasons, but today we’ll only discuss one) – I love stickers.

There is something so fun about stickers. A few years ago -…

Creativity, Gold Stars, Organization, Personality Insights, Planning
Jan, 03, 2024
38 Comments

Random Things: Good Books, Recipe Recommendations, and A Digital Sabbath

This is one of those smorgasbord posts that is a jumbled heap of ideas, questions, and reflections. There is no neat and tidy way to move between items (I do love a good segue),…

Food, Life, Random, Reading, Year of Shmita
Jan, 02, 2024
45 Comments

Thirty Reflective Questions As I Leave 2023 (Thank Goodness) and Enter 2024 (Bring It On?)

I’m a bit behind on pulling together a reflective 2023 post; I don’t think I did anything like this in 2022, but it feels like a helpful exercise. To sit and ponder; to reflect…

Life, Mental Health, Personality Insights, Planning, Random
Jan, 01, 2024
21 Comments

My 2023 Ta-Da List (Or, It’s Okay to Pat Yourself on the Back)

It’s December 31st. I’m stoked; tomorrow I get to turn the page on my calendar, crack open a new planner, and start fresh. For the briefest of moments I’ll be able to channel my…