In Pursuit of Tenacity

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I was introduced to tenacity in middle school. We had a week of learning about tenacious people and how they were more than determined or stubborn, but persistent in their goals. The teacher designed the lessons to show the value of staying on task and shaking off negativity. Now, I look around me at the number …

Are You Denying Your Emotions?

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Each one of us responds to life and its peculiarities with emotion. We are all wired differently, and that makes us all unique. How we mentally, physically, and spiritually interpret happenings is based on inherited traits, our role models from birth, and life experiences. It’s no surprise that many of us deny what we feel. Tonya …

10 Ways for Writers to Toss Out Perfectionism

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Do you know writers who are miserable because they equate success with perfectionism? They seldom find satisfaction with their creativity and are rarely pleased with others’ accomplishments. Some say the perfectionism trait is determined by the writer’s personality, childhood, education, life experiences, and a host of other variables. Really? None of us are perfect writers, so …

Managing Life with Motivational Quotes

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Quotes that inspire, encourage, make us laugh, and motivate us into action are those words of wisdom that we return to time and time again. The following quotes are some of my favorites, and they may be special to you too. There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The …

April 19 – National Stress Awareness Day

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills It’s no coincidence that National Stress Awareness Day falls the day after tax day. I’ve also seen that April 19th is National Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day, and that’s just another way to relieve the stress. Stress is the body’s way of protecting itself from potential harm or a threat. So our bodies kick into high …

Are You an Introvert or an Extrovert?

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Most of us know if we’re introverts or extroverts, but do we know to what extreme? Are we a little introverted or a lot? Are we a friendly extrovert or an over-the-top people person? Rarely is a person 100 percent one way or the other. We are individuals and our preferences and life experiences determine our …

John Wooden’s Socks

DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Today’s Guest Blog Written by Curt Iles @CurtIles “It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.” – John Wooden I was a college senior the year I met John Wooden in 1979. I was preparing to embark on my journey as a high school basketball coach. I traveled to Monroe, Louisiana to hear John Wooden …

The Challenges and Opportunities of a Writer’s Life

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills A writer’s life doesn’t fit the 9-5 mold of most of the working world. Challenges smack us in the face, and we must be ready to evaluate what we are doing right and what we are doing less-than-best. An attitude of looking at life’s hiccups as an opportunity puts an optimistic spin on our mental and …

20 Reasons to Read Fiction

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Has anyone ever said to you that reading fiction is a waste of time, money, and brain matter? That’s hogwash! Yes, I’m passionate about fiction, and here’s why! To enjoy an entertaining adventure for readers. To learn about the world and people in an unthreatening environment. To be encouraged in our own lives by characters overcoming …

2022 The Year of Optimism

By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills I’m ready for this 2022 New Year to be wrapped in optimism. For that to happen, I must make a conscious decision (sometimes moment by moment) to declare joy in all things: ups, downs, and in-between times. It’s easy to write out that declaration, but to enlist optimism and joy, I need help—supernatural help and a …