The Queen of New Beginnings

November 10, 2025 findthegoodinyourlifeLeave a comment

Hello Beautiful People! “Each new beginning asks the same question: who will you choose to become now?” — Maria Hagberg

As most of you know, I am an author. I write early reader chapter books for elementary students, I have written and am currently writing a novel, and I’m working on my first — and probably only — non-fiction book. I love writing my blog (non-fiction), so I guess technically I enjoy non-fiction the best… hmmm, food for thought for myself.

My actual point to this was to share the kinds of books I like, because as an author I actually spend a lot of time reading. I love books about second chances. I read a book a few weeks back called The Queen of New Beginnings. That sent me down a rabbit hole of second-chance books. I actually love when the second chances are about themselves — not about finding a new love or job, but when people find themselves.

One of my favorite “things” about people is when they know who they are. Like they went through something but came out not harder, but stronger. Most of the time not because they wanted to be, but because that’s what happened — they had no choice in the matter. I always love a new beginning, a new chapter in someone’s life. I like to think of life as chapters. I’m still working out if each year is a new chapter or if every day is. I just know that for me, I like to be the best version of me, and every day I try to be better than the day before.

I won’t say I related to the book The Queen of New Beginnings — some crazy things happened in that story — but I do relate to the title. I think that’s the beautiful part: we can always start over, as many times as we need to. Believe me, I am the Queen of new beginnings. Thankfully, I always find the good in my life, and I hope that no matter what chapter you are in, you too can Find The Good In Your Life.

family · Inspirational · Life · Overcoming · Uncategorized

UNICORN

September 20, 2025 findthegoodinyourlifeLeave a comment

Hello beautiful people! “Always be yourself, unless you can be a Unicorn. Then be a Unicorn.” ~Unknown

Have I ever told you I saw a real Unicorn once? I have loved Unicorns as long as I could remember. I remember reading about them and how magical they were. There was just something I found so fascinating about them, from their magic to being unique in their own way. For my granddaughters, their first favorite animals were also Unicorns… I had nothing to do with that. For my 50th birthday I had a Lisa Frank Unicorn birthday cake. Oh the choke hold she had on me, and still does.

It was the 80’s so don’t come for me, but The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was coming to town with a “REAL” Unicorn. I had to go! I remember every fiber in my body believed this was real. When I got there and saw what everyone else said was just a goat with a horn growing out of it’s head, it crushed me because I wanted to believe it was real. I choose to believe it was. (As an adult who has lost some of her whimsy I may have to concede to it being a goat.) My best friend had a Unicorn ring that she would let me wear whenever I went to her house and it made me feel so special. When I told her I was moving she gave me the ring so I could remember her. I have worn that ring for almost 40 years now. It is one of my favorite things. She remains my best friend to this day, and that ring remains magical.

So why do you think so many of us love Unicorns? Do you think it’s the fact that they represent all that’s good? Unicorns, rainbows and sparkle? Do they give us an out when others seem to be all alike but we feel like an outsider so we become an individual, a Unicorn? Playing make believe and knowing our Unicorn could save us because they were also strong. They could take on the biggest of giants with their horns. For me, I like to think of myself as a Unicorn. I still carry the magic/imagination, the strength, the individuality, and the joy that comes from believing. I hope you can find your inner Unicorn and everything that comes when you Find The Good In Your Life.

family · gratitude · Inspirational · Life

Sunshiney People

January 10, 2024 findthegoodinyourlifeLeave a comment

Hello Beautiful People! “Stay close to people who feel like sunshine.” Unknown

I have been very blessed to have amazing friends in my life. People who feel like sunshine; people who have loved me through some hard moments and celebrated my accomplishments. People who have only been there for a season and people who have stayed a lifetime. I take none of them for granted and I appreciate them all for who they are in my life. I even appreciate the “friendlies” as I like to call them. We aren’t really friends but we are more than acquaintances… we are friendly towards one another. We “run” in the same circle, we speak to one another when see each other, might even have a few things in common, but they aren’t the person you’re calling to go get a cup of coffee.

But let me tell you about my sunshine people. They are the people who will speak your name in rooms to build you up and will not allow slander to ever be spoken about you. They are the people that at the first mention of something you might be good at says, “Let me tell you about my friend. She is amazing and would be perfect for that.” One of my best friends got a call when I was going through a divorce, and the things that were being said to her she could not handle anymore. She stopped them and said, “I do not care if she is a crack whore on a corner, she’s my best friend and nothing else you say matters,” and then she hung up. She has had my back since we were 12 years old, so I expect nothing less.

I have another sunshine person who was sitting with me when I got a call that there was something wrong with my mammogram and I would need to come back in. Being a breast cancer survivor, I got scared. I found out later she was scared for me too, but in that moment that friend reached over, grabbed my hand and prayed with me. She never said any doubt out loud to me. Every day until I found out that it was just scarring, she prayed and lifted me up in prayer. I love her so much for that.

Then there are the sunshine people who you just sit and talk for hours with no agenda. You make time for one another whether it’s monthly or weekly, and sometimes yearly. You tell each other your hopes and dreams for the future and you are excited for one another. They are the low maintenance friends who you can’t wait to just laugh or cry with. They are the people who respond to your text a week later and you never get upset because you both know if it was important you would call, because getting a call from them makes you smile and you never send them to voicemail. They are that friend that you meet up for coffee early because you know you’ll be there all day, even though you just spoke a few days before.

I have heard you are who your friends are. I hope it’s true. I hope I am sunshine to others; the friend you call when you need prayer, the friend you feel safe with, the friend you can’t wait to have coffee with, the friend who you know will always have your back, who uplifts you when you are having a bad moment; the friend who will always help you Find The Good In Your Life.