Category: Note to Self

on This New Year’s Day 2021

Posted by Debra | Jan 1, 2021 | Coronavirus Diaries, Life Lessons, Loving My Life, Note to Self, on Writing

“We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be...

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Note to Self: on Thanksgiving 2020

Posted by Debra | Nov 29, 2020 | From the Kitchen, Loving My Life, Note to Self

As I was going to put the turkey breast in the oven this past Thursday, I turned to John and said...

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These yellow daffodils are a symbol of faith, hope

These yellow daffodils are a symbol of faith, hope, and love.

Our first fall in this house, I gifted John a dozen of these King Alfred Daffodils. I say “gifted” because at the time I planted them, I didn’t know when – or even if – I would live here. So, as an act of love, I wanted his first spring to have something beautiful blooming in his yard. Because beautiful blooms – especially in the grey, colder days of spring – bring a sense of hope.

Now, in order to have these cheery yellow spring blooms, you have to plant them in October. You take a bulb that looks a lot like garlic or a shallot, you dig a hole, and just trust nature to do the work. Most of the time, Mother Nature cooperates, but there is always the chance that the bulb is a bit of a dud. Or that a greedy little squirrel or chipmunk will come along and dig up the tasty bulb for a snack. You plant with zero guarantee and just have faith.

Love requires faith. And, let me tell you, it was a huge leap of faith to so drastically change my life. To sell my house and move away from Texas after living within the same county for more than forty years. To trust in love despite being (more than a bit) afraid of commitment and heartbreak.

So, every time I see these happy yellow blooms, the current me is so grateful for the 2010 ME for acting out of love, taking a leap of faith, and planting a ray of hope.

The day 1 prompt of #AprilLove2021 with @susannahconway is #yellow

#love #soultending #faith #signsofspring #daffodils #springflowers

“When we approach our life - especially our perc

“When we approach our life - especially our perceived failures - with an attitude of curiosity rather than self-flagellation - it opens the path to compassion and grace.” ( A quote from my January Newsletter.)

Yesterday marked a big change in my work life: I sent out my first MONTHLY newsletter. This is the 11th year I’ve tended subscribers from “Debra Smouse, Life Coach”. I wrote weekly newsletters for the first five years and then a bi-weekly one up until last year. To be honest, every marketing guru I know would tell me that I need to email my list MORE often than less often. Especially with everyone’s “reach” on social media becoming less and less each day due to algorithms. But filling people’s inbox just because I should doesn’t feel integrous.

I’d rather send one longer, juicy email filled with lots of goodies rather than bombard people’s in-boxes more often with less. I want to connect more deeply than just on the surface. So, the newsletter was twice as long. But hopefully twice as helpful. To make it more cohesive, I decided to go with a THEME for each month. And the theme I chose for January is Curiosity. Which helps you be open to a Sense of Wonder.

I shared a story about following a thread of curiosity and counting squirrels during one of my walks in the park. When I told this guy how cute he was, he posed for me. Clearly squirrels understand English 😉

As part of the theme of curiosity, I gathered some favorite quotes on the subject. And wanted to share them with you here.

What about you? What can you choose to be curious about in this month? And when do you follow your gut rather than listen to the “experts”?

#love #soultending #lifecoach #curiosity #quotes #RealTalk

Though I hold to my conviction that as a life coac

Though I hold to my conviction that as a life coach, I should remain neutral publicly about politics, what happened yesterday at the Capitol must be spoken about. Because no matter what your political beliefs, it was not okay in any way, shape, or form. I love this country and I know that we are better than this.

Maybe I am wrong, but I hold a deep faith in America. That democracy and freedom matter. And one thing that has always made this Country great is the Peaceful Transfer of Power.

Every time we visit Philadelphia, John and I go into Congress Hall where, after the first two-party election held in 1796, John Adams took his place as President. It is significant and holy ground because on March 4, 1797, as John Adams took the oath of office in the House Chamber therefore making George Washington a private citizen. This first peaceful transfer of power demonstrated the potential of the American experiment in democratic government.

This is such a critical part of the United States of America in the past, in the present, and in the future. And call me optimistic, but I am holding to belief in this country. And no demonstration can sway me from my hope.

As we go forward into this day, many of the people you come in contact with are going to be feeling stressed and anxious. Adding, of course, to the ways they are already feeling worried and uncertain. No matter what side of the aisle you are on, please be kind and compassionate. Even – and maybe especially to – people who have different political beliefs from you. We need hope and kindness more than ever.

And never forget when it comes to applying kindness and compassion to people it includes applying these principals to yourself.

(This photo of the US Capitol was taken by me in the Spring of 2010.)

#love #lifecoach #WashingtonDC #hope

“There’s something very enticing about an empt

“There’s something very enticing about an empty bench under a tree.” ― Joyce Rachelle

For the first time in more months than I care to confess, I returned to the park. It was a saving grace during the earliest days of lockdown. And soon became a place of solace, of renewal, and of inspiration. Yet, like many things, I simply fell out of the habit. And then used the excuse of cold or wet days to keep me for starting back.

To be honest, I am a fair-weather taker of walks. A beautiful day entices me to be one with nature just as much as a dreary day whispers I need nothing but a book and a cup of coffee. But the thing is, my body mightily disagrees with that notion. As I began pondering what I wanted to carry over from 2020 into this new year, My Walks in the Park were at the top of the list. So, I ordered some new warm gloves, dug out a cozy knit hat, and made the commitment to myself to go at least twice a week. No matter what the weather may be.

Yesterday was a typical Midwest Winter day: grey, cold, and the air felt just a little damp with the promise of snow not too far away. And though it was a bit chilly at moments, soon I found my rhythm. You’d think that with Mother Nature blanketing the earth with the invitation to rest – to hibernate – there would be little inspiration to be found. And once again, I was surprised at how the barren trees against the grey sky stirred my soul. And brought me new waves of hope for the year ahead.

Pausing to sit a moment here, on this bench that is placed high upon a hill overlooking the Amphitheatre, I knew that this was indeed a good thing to bring from last year into this one.

What about you? Are you able to get out in nature? What inspires and surprises you in these grey, winter days?

#love #soultending #nature #NatureWalk #2021Goals #quotes

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