encouragement

Suicide Prevention Month: Our Story Continues

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, September 15, 2022 • Leave a Comment

Trigger Warning: Mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts can be difficult to process. If you might be triggered, please skip this post. When I talk about our mental health struggles with anybody, I get a number of questions and responses… Nope, not of that. Yes,...

Don’t Save The Candle

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, September 14, 2022 • Leave a Comment

Y’all know what I’m guilty of? Saving the candle. Don’t save the candle. I got this really pretty, super smelly candle for my birthday. It is sweet and fragrant. You almost want to eat it when you sniff it. Aaahhh! My dumb inclination is to...

Feeling Joy

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, September 13, 2022 • Leave a Comment

Feeling shiny this morning, and I hope you are, too! It’s a beautiful day here at the barn watching Brady ride. I’m enjoying loving on this little orange kitty, too. (His name is Chip. His buddy running around here, the white kitty, is Queso. So...

What does your anxiety look like?

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, September 10, 2022 • Leave a Comment

What does your anxiety look like? This morning, mine looks like a super muddled, very chaotic brain, the beginnings of a headache, and restlessness. So I got up, took some medicine, and made coffee. In an effort to try and settle my brain, I keep...

Identity Crisis?

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, September 8, 2022 • Leave a Comment

My hair is purple, right in the front. It’s been blonde, even red, but purple…it’s kind of my thing. It’s fun. I get compliments on it all the time. People ask me questions about it, too. Is it permanent? (Yes.) Do you do it yourself?...

Maine… and peace.

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, September 7, 2022 • Leave a Comment

A few things occurred to me this morning, one of which was that I needed to tell you that our trip to Maine was as wonderful as expected and a much-needed chance to breathe (especially for Keith). For the first time in a long time,...

The Spot

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, August 26, 2022 • Leave a Comment

It was July 22, 2015, when we found out Keith had colon cancer. The doctor called us on the phone after a routine colonoscopy. We were standing outside in the yard when I put the phone on speaker so we could both hear what he...

She’s 14. I’m 46. Both learning.

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, July 17, 2022 • Leave a Comment

She’s always nervous about walking into an event. I did the same thing when I was 14. When I watch her get out of the car, gather up her things, and nervously shut the door, I remember what it was like. As she crosses in...

Go. Live. Life. You only get one.

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, July 16, 2022 • Leave a Comment

Thought it was worth sharing that my quest to spend more time with my girl is going well! We had a great time together yesterday afternoon eating good food and exploring. The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum was a blast, and we ate all the...

5 Reasons You Need To Take Time For Yourself NOW

In Stories & Reflections • by Amanda Herring, Writer, July 7, 2022 • Leave a Comment

Soul searching has its benefits. If you slow down long enough to just be with yourself, sift through your thoughts, and get reacquainted with the real you, you’ll make some progress toward clarity. I’m not talking about “self care” either – bubble baths, getting your...