 There are moments in life where the days are long and filled with unavoidable setbacks one after another. Not long ago, I had a string of weeks that was filled with them. When the beginning of a new week came around, I entered it hesitantly. Flashes of the bleak filled my head. “What would be waiting around the corner for me this week?” I asked myself while driving. Then in an instant that all changed. I received the answer to my question then and there. “This is waiting Jackie.” A brilliant sky was delivered. It immediately lifted my spirits. I paused and reflected on how grateful I was for the sunset that evening across the Midwestern sky. It’s all I needed to reset. As I continued down the road, the lightness in my spirit continued. I added another little boost to my newfound mood by turning up my music and putting on a concert performance to the passing cars and countryside. I WAS BACK! And just as the sky began to darken, I glanced at the horizon, took a deep breath and exhaled into the start of an exceptional week. "Paint me an evening sky full of flames. One that smolders my heart And sets my soul ablaze." ~Jacqueline Cooper~  As you go through your week, and the storms hit with full force, think of the ways you can reset. Hoist your sails and meet the howling winds. Your resets are bound to calm the seas!
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Don't you just love those unexpected moments that catch you by surprise and touch your spirit? I had one such as this that started as a sunrise photo shoot but turned into so much more...  Image is available for purchase. Just click on the image for more info! While visiting my Dad and his wife at the beach, I set out one morning to put my new photography skills to the test with catching the sunrise. This has become a ritual for me when I visit, as I am "a toes in the sand sunrise" girl. As I began to set up my camera, I received a surprise visitor. I could not believe it! My Dad was making his way down to the water's edge. For those that do not know him, although he lives a block from the beach, he rarely steps foot in the sand. So the visit was special indeed. As the sun came peeking over the horizon, I stood in amazement at the beauty of the moment as the sky's color show enfolded. Mother Nature was throwing out all the stops for all of us early risers. I took many shots with my camera, BUT my favorite moment was when I stepped away from the lens. I paused. Nature's light show with my Dad by my side was far better than any photo I could take. These unexpected moments await us everyday. Each of us are magicians, creating the magic in our world. We just have to PAUSE and be open to receive the beautiful gifts that are bestowed upon us. May life's magic fill your heart with love and take your soul's breath away. P.S. Thank you Dad for joining me and being a part of my morning. The colors were much richer with you there in the sand beside me.  Image is available for purchase. Just click on the image for more info! You can find my stock image portfolios at: Shutterstock Dreamstime iStock by Getty Images Adobe Stock Fotolia by Adobe: us.fotolia.com/p/206433466 My soulfully inspired images and quotes are available for purchase at REDBUBBLE as prints and on many great products. They make great gifts!
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The statistics are mind blowing! Want to help save our environment, while reducing household costs? Below are a few simple ways, we can help save our planet. It takes a conscious mind shift, but with a little practice it will become second nature to all of us.  It's been about a year since I've celebrated holidays in the traditional way. I smile when I think back to all the amazing moments I've experienced. However, I've learned throughout the course of the year, that I can't be stuck in old thought patterns with the way things "used to be." It's a new life and a new world for me. Time to embark on new journeys.
 On a recent run just about halfway through, I was guided by a gentle nudge and a voice asking me to slow my pace down to a walk. "Just relax Jackie and take it all in." "Do what???" I thought.
 Fall. Time to pull out that flannel and stoke the fire. In the heart of the South, it is celebrated with an abundance of activities. It is the season where colors are vibrant and temps put a bounce in everyone's step! As the first leaf falls and the crisp cool air hits, I can't help but think about special Autumn days gone by.
 Article is written by Lauren Mullis, LCSW
An excerpt from Brene Brown’s book, ‘Daring Greatly’ “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  There was a very special boy in Charlotte that has touched the hearts of many. Although his life ended very early to a battle with cancer, Grier Christenbury's playful spirit is alive and well. He is working through others throughout the city to help win the battle and raise money for the fight against cancer in children, which is the number one disease killer in children in the US.
 Do we give for the right reasons? Is it to touch a life without any expectation of anything in return? Selfless giving is the purest form of love there is and is understood by every human being on the planet. It only takes a small selfless act of kindness or compassion to touch someone.
 Summertime takes me back to my fond childhood memories of our annual family beach trips. Every day brought on a new set of adventures to be enjoyed and remembered...
 My world was lit up by a young girl I met as she was skipping down the hall. As she passed me she turned her head to look at me and I gave her a quick wave and a smile. When our eyes met, that was all it took for me to see she was a special young lady.
 As I drove down through the countryside, during one of my "ever so often" daydreaming moments, I realized that I was off course and began to panic as nothing looked familiar. I must have made a wrong turn or two. Lost, I looked for anyone that might steer me in the right direction.
 I loved the Summer in the South as a child. As the last school bell rang for the year, we always made a beeline for the door, ready to tackle all the excitement that awaited! It was the time of year where our imaginations were set free and every day was action packed.
 "It might be a little dark and spooky up there
but it beats what's waiting for you out there."  Over the past year I've have developed a new admiration for children's innocence and their perception of the world.
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July 2019
You can find my images from some of my travels available for purchase at:Shutterstock
Dreamstime iStock by Getty Images Adobe Stock Fotolia by Adobe: us.fotolia.com/p/206433466 They are also available for purchase as prints and on many great products at:
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