Nearly five years ago, I found myself quietly watching my friend, Megan.

She had started a direct sales skincare business, and I happily ordered products from her. It was time to upgrade from the “bar-soap-when-I-shower” routine and really take care of my skin.

The science nerd in me loved that they were dermatologist-developed, and clinically proven safe and effective in independent trials.

The skeptic in me delighted in that there was (is) a 60-day empty bottle satisfaction guarantee, meaning if my eczema-prone skin was having none of my well-intended skincare upgrades, I could send everything back.

I turned up my nose at the business.

“I already have a business,” is what I said.

I did not believe in direct sales. “Good for her, not for me,” I said.

Then my mom succumbed to cancer, and Megan came to help me pack and clean her apartment. She drove two hours in her new minivan that her business helped her pay for, and suddenly what she was doing seemed smart. It was giving her, and her family, options.

She was sharing that she could help others love their skin and improve their confidence.

I sorted through bills and bank statements, stepped through the painful days of managing an estate that was deeply in the red. Another stream of income began to seem not only smart, it seemed important.

Five months later I finally asked some questions. I thought some more. Then I decided “what the hell?! If I hate it, I can send the consultant stuff back and go back to being a customer.”

Turns out that another stream of income is smart. It is important. It does make a difference.

Turns out that helping others feel confident in skin they love is important. It makes a difference.

Turns out that sometimes the paths we never thought we would walk wind up right in front of us anyway.

Turns out that the most unlikely path can lead to some pretty amazing places and people.

Thanks for taking the time to walk a part of that path with me.

We live in a small town. It ranks as one of the “safest” in Virginia, year after year.

Despite that, the truth about humanity struck here on Tuesday. A former college student shot and killed two Bridgewater College campus officers before taking off and leading officers from Bridgewater, VSP and surrounding localities on a man hunt.

A college and town on lockdown.
A community in chaos.
Families in panic.
And for what?

We are a violent species.

I met Officer Painter years ago in Grottoes, VA when he was Officer Painter of Grottoes PD and I was Firefighter/Shock Trauma Tech 922 of Rockingham County Fire & Rescue. It was a long time ago, and I did not know him well. I knew him enough to recognize his name and face, and feel the shock and sadness at his sudden death.

I did not have the fortune to meet or know Officer Jefferson.

I have seen the words of many neighbors and friends who knew both men well. They are already deeply missed, and my heart goes out to all those who are grieving. They were good men. Our world has two fewer good ones now.

May their memories be a blessing.

The impact of their deaths will ripple through their families, our town and our community for years to come.

The responsibility to improve humanity is on each of us. In our actions. In our words. In our choices.

We all have choices to make, every day.
Choose wisely

I have had this cool writing game box sitting on my bookshelf for ages. It was a brilliant gift from my thoughtful husband, and I have stalled breaking it out for too long.

No longer.

Tomorrow, I bring you the first in a series of Micro-Flash Fiction prompts. I’ll start with an item from my writing game box, use it with some parameters for anyone who wants to end the week with some flash fiction fun: genre, an item and a situation.

Where did this come from?

In part from my most recent NYC Midnight micro-flash fiction challenge. Fun (often challenging) prompts, a true sprint (24 hours), and a little spark for the creative outlet part of my brain.

In part from the writing game that’s been catching my eye a lot the last few weeks.

In part because I miss the flash fiction writing prompts a friend used to post ages ago when I first started blogging.

Rules!

1.I’ll have a scheduled post at 0530 US eastern

2. I will turn off comments midday on Saturday, giving 24 hours + to share your story, here, or leave a title, synopsis, and link to your site.

3. Links with no title and 1-2 sentence synopsis will be deleted

4. Word count: writer’s choice, 100 or 250 word cap

5. For the sake of being thorough: inflammatory, offensive or stories I perceive as inappropriate will be deleted here. It’s my blog. Post those things somewhere else.

And so it begins!

A fun challenge for myself. A push to practice creativity. A little something to look forward to at the end of the week.

Week 1:

First mine: Mad Mama (248 words)

Synopsis: Mad Mama will have her way with the microwave. The real question: which Mad Mama wins in the end?

“Tru?” 

The soft voice carries across the kitchen and instantly I turn.

It’s the way Kate sounds when she’s “on-duty” when the day, or patients, have been challenging.

“Kitchen!” My grubby hands show little change despite several aggressive swipes on my jeans.

Kate enters, taking careful, dainty steps across a debris field. “You okay?”

“Yeah! Great! New house clean up and nesting and all.”

She hesitates. “Tru, the microwave is in the front yard.”

“Oh, that! Well. Let’s not tell your sister, but that Mad Mama thing is a piece of shit. I must have followed those directions five times! There was still stuff stuck all over, and THEN it reeked of vinegar. Still smell it, actually. Damn pregnancy super-olfactory-sense.”

“And it’s in the yard because…?”

I huffed. “I figured if Mad Mama couldn’t clean it, nothing would. So I ripped it out. That’s as far as I could throw it.”

Kate smothered a laugh. “Trudy, love, five times?”

Another huff.  “Yes! Damned microwave was still dirty!”

“Walk me through using Mad Mama?”

This gets a glare. “Fill it as directed with water and vinegar. Put it in the microwave and set it for 2 minutes.”

“And after that?“

“What do you mean, after that? I opened the microwave and it was still dirty! So I repeated it.”

Katy steps around cans of paint and boxes. “Did you wipe it down after you used the Mad Mama?”

“Wipe it down? What? The directions don’t say…” I pause. “Noooooo.”

********

Reminder of the rules: https://themomwhoruns.com/2022/06/16/thursday-thoughts-some-flash-fiction-fun

Have fun, and happy trails!

Today was a tough one.

The combination or post-vacation clean up and the mental weight of the recent events, keeping my mind and thoughts in check.

The wise words “control your controllables” helps me manage all of this. Reign in and focus on what I can and cannot control.

It’s certainly not easy, letting go of things that I cannot control.

I also am embracing the reminder that the storms you weather will pass. I have to believe we will land in a better place at the end of all of this

What do you do on tough days to manage your thoughts and mood?

I read a lot of chatter about women not celebrating Independence Day this year.

I am not surprised. Most of the women I know have felt that our gender has suffered a tremendous setback, has been relegated to second-class status, and are feeling marginalized.

We don’t matter, but for what we might produce.

Sadly, this is a rinse-and-repeat of human behavior for millennia. There is always a group getting the short end of the stick. Struggling to have a voice, be seen and treated as equals.

In this age where so many have an avenue to have their own platform, and as such, a louder voice, may we remember to use it also for those who are different from us. May we use our voices and energy to help others, even those who we may not fully understand yet. It’s essential to remember they are also humans with hopes and dreams, the same as you and me.

Helping someone else will likely result in helping ourselves. A rising tide lifts all boats. Let’s go rise up

Happy trails

There’s an old saying about kids learning to walk, and “what if” they gave up the first time they fell (or any time before they became confident walkers, really).

What if we adults assumed that each stumble, each change in life direction, or each “failure” was in fact simply one of those moments before we are off and going, capable of new and ever more amazing feats.

Like going from walking to running.

Success IS inevitable for those who keep going.

Happy trails

On our evening walk I saw this lovely sunflower growing in a field of grasses and what might otherwise be called weed.

The bold yellow stood out from the rest of the greenery, it’s stalk reaching above everything around it to stand tall in that field where it clearly did not fit in.

I saw it and it spoke to me.

Some days you just have to be the one who stands out in a field where everyone else blends in.

There’s beauty there

Happy trails

It’s a season of making changes. Making moves

Most everyone I know has change all around

New week
New school year
New schooling level
New – change – new – change – new – change

It’s hard to ALSO make changes that serve yourself when there is so much new and change everywhere else in your world

So start small.

The tides do not roll in or out in one swoop.

They move inches, maybe a foot, then move again.

Start making moves. You’ll be amazed where you end up

Cheers to you, Mama, who feels has her shit together

Cheers to you, Mama, who feels disorganized

Cheers to you, Mama, who drinks her coffee hot

Cheers to you, Mama, who has to rewarm her coffee, or tolerate lukewarm at best

Cheers to you, Mama, who always looks put together

Cheers to you, Mama, who always feels she looks a little frazzled

Cheers to you, Mama, who knows you can look like you have your shit together and be a mess inside. Who knows you can look a mess and have a full heart and fulfilling life.

Cheers to you, Mama, who knows there is room for all of us at the table

Happy trails

*inspired by Allie I Reeves*

This is something I have picked up by being in direct sales and getting a good bit of business coaching…and I have to say, I always enjoy finding a word with multiple meanings to be a focal point for a new season

I don’t do resolutions. I do business and personal goal setting

Having a word to create a focal point for both of these aspects of my life, as they are as connected as right and left hands, helps me find and maintain that intention

This year my word is PRESENT

To be present in the moment, and better manage distractions. To appreciate the present. To value the gift that it is.

If you have a word for 2023, I’d love to know and hear about it!

Happy trails!

There will come a day when you need the steadfast love of one whose been your rock

A shoulder to lean on

A listening ear

When you turn to a hand to guide you

Except to find … it isn’t there

And you’re alone

“People will judge you, no matter what”

This quote popped up in a friend’s stories today, and it got me thinking

I may get judged for getting back on skis

I’d be judged also for not

I may get judged for sending my kids off with my husband to ski on blacks and double blacks out here

I’d be judged for telling them to stay low, or to stick to blues

I may get judged for being in direct sales

I’d be judged for not bringing any income to the household either

I may get judged for a lot of things

I’d get judged anyways for something else

I cannot control the opinions and energy of others, good or bad

I can only control my choices, my actions, my opinions and energy

So judge away, and scroll on

Or drop a kind word (I’ll return one), and thanks for hanging out