Today, friends, my blog post will be a bit different. It will be humorous yet somber at times but in the end my hope is that you’ll be smiling. Shall we?

10 things you may not know about me:

1. I finished college faster than high school.

2. I used to love dogs, but I’m actually a bit afraid of them now

3. Don’t give me anything containing shrimp-I’m allergic!

4. Purple should be a primary color

5. Orange skittles are yucky

6. I’ve beaten Zelda TWICE (1980’s version)

7. I want to cry happy tears every time I see, talk to, share a laugh with my father-a several time cancer survivor

8. I got kicked in the ear when I was swimming at the YMCA pool when I was younger. That’s probably why I’ve had problems with my right ear

9. I just got stung by a wasp for the first time at age 33

10. I stayed cavity free until age 28.

As always…until we meet again.

Many “moons” ago, I was taught accelerated Math by a very wise and very intelligent teacher. Along with our daily math lessons, she would incorporate life lessons as well.

As we wrapped up the day’s lesson, she relayed to us a story that some of us were half listening to because we were packing up our books. But, my ears perked up immediately when she said, “Folks, give a man a fish…he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.”

What a brilliant statement! I thought to myself. It only fully and literally resonated with me 20 years later on one humid May evening.

My family LOVES to fish. In late May, my father and I joined my two nephews at a private pond. The sun was shining and the weather was perfect. Little did I know what great joy I was about to experience.

Nephew No. 1 had a friend, “Paul”, who I quickly determined A. Was not having much fun because B. He had no idea how to fish! (I could almost hear my Math teacher, “Teach a man…)

Had I ever met this young man? Did I know his name? No to both. But, my heart was full of compassion as I watched him catch nothing and I knew I could DO something about it. So, I taught him how to bait a hook, cast, and finally set the hook. The rest was up to him. As I walked over to the other bank I heard, “I GOT ONE!”

Paul had successfully hooked and reeled in his very own fish. To say he was beaming, is an understatement.

Believe it or not, folks, Paul caught more fish than me that day. Why? “Give a man a fish…he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he will eat for a lifetime.”

Until we meet again.

Ready for a bombshell, folks? Strap on your seat belts. I believe happiness is a choice AND something you can experience each day of your life. Yes, you read that correctly. I do not believe you stumble upon happiness, it is a pure coincidence, and only for the lucky, chosen few. Let’s dive right in.

How do you find happiness exactly? Let me give you an example that can be applied almost immediately. Go outside. It’s that simple. Go outside and then take a long, deep breath. What do you notice? Use your senses. Is it eerily quiet because it is in the evening? Is it sunny and (if you live in the South) pretty humid at this time of year? What thoughts are going through your mind? Try to slow your thoughts down as you notice your surroundings. If you can, sit a spell and close your eyes. Imagine a pleasant place you wish you could go to that brings you a deep, abiding peace. Now comes the fun part.

We all talk to ourselves. If you have a mean inner critic, silence it. Talk to yourself about the upcoming days’ events and the positive aspects. Leave out the mounds of stress about work just for a moment. If you are going to spend time with loved ones, “pre-celebrate” the upcoming event mindfully and be grateful for the people with whom you will spend time. The more you positively talk to yourself, do you believe over time your outward voice will take on a more pleasant, happier tone? To your significant other/spouse? Perhaps your children? Other persons you love and care about?

If you do have children, reflect on the last few interactions you have had with them. Have they tested your patience? If you have put into practice the strategies mentioned above do you think you would have lost your patience so quickly with he or she? Being understanding, loving, extending forgiveness, practicing patience and kindness-are these not some of the pillars of not just good character but monumental to having a good family life?

So, dear reader, I leave you with this challenge. Speak to yourself first with kindness and understand that you will undergo successes and lessons. So, too, will your loved ones and friends. So, when you go outside tomorrow, may you be filled with a deep and abiding peace.

Until we meet again.

This post is for you, parents! Grandparents! Any one who cares for children honestly. Let’s talk about how to turn the perhaps daily whining festivals that take place within your home into winning situations that will make your home a bit happier with one short phrase. Shall we?

First, does whining about anything in any given situation accomplish anything? I hope you answered “no” or with a resounding “absolutely not.” It’s wasted energy, and a great way to teach children to stay away from this habit is the following phrase, “Use your words.” Sometimes I have to say it twice. When used in a calm but firm voice in my household, I allow my child to express their real concern.

They stop crying almost immediately. We then discuss the topic as a family, tears are wiped away and encouragement is given, and we develop a revised game plan. For example, “It’s great that you ate most of your chicken. I’m proud of you for eating your red peppers, too. But you may NOT have three Oreos. One is enough.” Whining no more. Winning.

So, dear reader, remember: we never thought we would grow older but eventually we did. So, too, will our children grow up right before our eyes. Love them through their whines because even to this day we all whine about something, too!

Raising kids, buying groceries, bills, anything on the planet (with some exceptions) requires funds! Sometimes lots of money. Careful planning and protecting your paycheck are so crucial. I learned this while working in the insurance industry that your ability to earn an income is your largest asset. This is NOT an article on financial planning, but keep reading because there may be a takeaway or two or three on how you might be able to curb your spending habits. As a wise high school economics teacher once told our class, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” Everyone but me understood what she meant. And, after belaboring the statement for five solid minutes, yours truly understood, too.

Let’s address the elephant in the room. First, I’m okay at times restraining myself while at Target but other times, I get clumsy with my money and buy a share-size bag of peanut M&M’s, a bathing suit, and a pack of coffee drinks. What was I supposed to get? Milk, bananas, and Cheerios. Right. If what you just read sounds anything like you, cheer up. There is no known cure that I have discovered on my own but what you can do is bring in a checklist with you. Want to know the secret sauce to better handling your money when shopping?

STTL! (Code for Stick to the List)

What if the above scenario doesn’t apply to you? Do you have a checking account? What if you linked it to a savings account that automatically drafted a predetermined amount and deposited it there each week/month? Then you have more control of whether you leave it there to accrue interest or take it out to treat yourself in some way.

Now, let’s talk about the some other battles or challenges you may face when spending your money. To you married folks: having open, honest communication about whether the cash flow river runs high, somewhere in the middle, or is bone dry is one of many steps to understanding spending habits. I encourage you as well as the single population to keep receipts, balance a checkbook (or learn how to do so), and come up with quarterly savings goals. Why quarterly, you ask?

To me, a year seems like an eternity but if Aaron and I talk about getting a new privacy fence in 3 months, we can then calculate how much we need to save, and we stop buying the smallest of things like a coffee drink or even fruit-flavored Tic-Tacs from the gas station. Hard to do, but very worth it.

So, dear reader, go forth and fight the good fight in the dual against spending. Implement some of these strategies and you shall be victorious. If nothing else, STTL and don’t walk out of the store with a new bathing suit when the original goal was to get Cheerios.

Until we meet again.

Very glad you could join me on my very first blog post. Tonight’s topic? Beginnings. All stories typically have a beginning, middle, and end. I’d like to share with you how my husband and I began our relationship, and how glad I am that I did not give up in my quest for a new potential mate and stepfather for my very young children.

So, almost all of you have heard of online dating sites, correct? I found Aaron through one of them and to say I was quite hesitant to join is an understatement. I thought to myself, “What if he’s mean? Creepy?” Then, my optimistic self beckoned courage to come on over. Give him a chance, I thought to myself. We met at a popular restaurant, and I knew it was him immediately. I am blessed with awkwardness peppered with anxiety but courage was on my side! I cleared my throat, “Are you Aaron?” (Surprisingly, with no timidity or anxiety. Somehow I was smiling!) Grinning ear-to-ear he said, “Why yes, are you Anne Marie?” (Yes, I am) Here comes the fun part:

TWELVE days later we were buying wedding bands. Truly, love at first question. By no means are we the perfect couple. We bicker, make up, forgive one another, but most importantly we love and support each other. So, my advice to you dear reader, self doubt is not your friend and neither is negative, self sabotaging criticism. Go on, take a healthy risk. He and I will celebrate two years of marriage in early December.

After my divorce in 2014, no one could convince me I was worthy of love. But once I developed a positive attitude coupled with courage and perseverance, I knew I would find him-perhaps a bit awkwardly at first, but I did. And man, do I love him so.

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton