You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page. – Jodi Picoult
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Now, that September is behind us, I want to do something a little different with my Renew Inspiration blog during the month of October. I’ve decided to participate in the Blogtober Writing Challenge that begins today and goes through the 31st of October. I am excited to see how I will continue to inspire you by sharing content that will not only move your spirit, but also make you smile, make you think, and encourage you to celebrate and enjoy life.
AMAZON RESOURCE # 1
BLOGTOBER WRITING CHALLENGE
Serious writers write, inspired or not. Over time they discover that routine is a better friend than inspiration. – Ralph Keyes
Today, Blogtober starts in the writing and blogging community. If you’re like me and never heard of Blogtober before, no need to worry. Blogtober is a writing challenge where bloggers from all over the world publish new and exciting content every day during the month of October or as often as they want. From my knowledge, there are no official rules to follow, but some bloggers take this opportunity to:
• Be more creative with their writing style and content.
• Write and publish content outside of their niche.
• Write and publish Halloween type content.
• Write and publish seasonal type content.
• Mix Halloween, the fall season, and their niche.
• Share encouraging and helpful content more often.
As you can see, there is no right or wrong way to do this writing challenge.
AMAZON RESOURCE #2
I plan to use this opportunity to focus my writing on AUTUMN related topics.
Here’s a few AUTUMN related topics that will be coming your way very soon:
• Reflections of autumn
• Fall self-care routines
• Favorite autumn books
• Favorite autumn activities
The main objective is to challenge yourself doing what you love – encouraging, inspiring, teaching, helping, writing and blogging! Instead of focusing on writing and publishing blog posts daily, I prefer to set other goals for myself. I plan to write and publish 10 to 15 inspirational blog posts related to AUTUMN which would challenge me on so many levels, such as home/work balance, time management, and writing quality content at a faster pace than I am used to. I am up for the challenge and I hope you enjoy reading my future blog posts.
SELF-REFLECTION & JOURNAL PROMPTS
Be such a beautiful soul that people crave your vibes. – Unknown Author
Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track. Journaling also allows for past reflection, future insight, and present surrender. Upon entering the journaling process, you will find that you are able to reflect freely without judgement. Now, close your eyes and clear your mind. Grab your pen/pencil. Open your journal or notebook. Then, use these helpful journal prompts to help you cope with grief and pet loss:
• What is your favorite season and why?
• What are some of your thoughts when you think about autumn?
• What kind of activities do you enjoy during autumn?
• Do you look forward to changing the time during this time of the year? Why or why not?
• Do you like challenging yourself throughout life? If so, what kind of challenges have you done?
AMAZON RESOURCE #3
TIME TO SHARE & COMMENT
Let’s talk. Do you enjoy spending time inside or outside during autumn? How do you handle change from one season to another? Please share your thoughts in the comments section. I look forward to reading your feedback!
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Work hard so you can shop harder. – Unknown Author
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! If you love to order items via Amazon.com, then today is a special day just for you. Drum roll please — It’s Prime Day 2019! I am so excited that this year Amazon has extended Prime Day 2019 to 48 hours, surpassing last year’s 36-hour event. Yes, Prime Day 2019 will take place over two days! Prime Day 2019 officially begins on Monday, July 15 at 3 a.m. EST and ends on Tuesday, July 16.
Whether you have never ordered items or services online before, I have made this process super easy. I hope you have carved out some time to browse the Amazon site and written out your wish list. You’re not going to want to miss all of the awesome deals that will be available throughout the day. This blog post will help you have the best shopping experience ever and if you make any purchases using the links below, I will receive a small commission to help stay apart of this amazing Affiliate Program so it’s a win-win. Now, remember in order to participate in this special event or buy any of the Prime Day Deals advertised below, you must be a Prime Member.
PRIME MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
Amazon Prime is a paid subscription service offered by Amazon that gives users access to products and services that would otherwise be unavailable, or available at a higher cost, to the typical Amazon customer. The standard annual membership cost is $119/year for regular customers and the student annual membership cost is $59/year.
Here’s a list of some Prime Membership benefits that you should take advantage of:
• Free 30-day trial membership (you can cancel at any time)
• Exclusive deals and discounts
• Free two-day delivery for eligible items
• Scheduled delivery options
• Free delivery on restaurant orders
• Unlimited photo storage
• Streaming ad free music and video options
• Watching your favorite movies and TV shows
• Free release-date delivery on new video games, books, music, and movies
• Same-day shipping for orders over $35 of eligible items (items must be ordered before noon to receive it by 9 p.m.)
Select the link below to SIGN UP:
AMAZONFRESH
AmazonFresh is a grocery delivery and pickup service in select cities. Prime members can get the benefits of AmazonFresh for an additional monthly membership fee of $14.99/month.
Select the link below to SIGN UP:
PRIME DEALS
Here’s some great Prime Deals that you cannot pass up:
TECH SAVVY
Here’s some great gift ideas for anyone who is tech savvy:
KINDLE UNLIMITED
Kindle Unlimited is a standalone subscription service separate from Amazon Prime and can be purchased whether or not you are a Prime member. Kindle Unlimited is a monthly membership fee of $9.99/month.
Select the link below to SIGN UP:
PRIME BOOK BOX
Save up to 40% off List Price on children’s books with Prime Book Box. Discover new children’s books delivered every 1, 2, or 3 months, you decide. The cost is $13.99 for your first box and your membership renews at $19.99/box.
Here’s some of the Prime book box benefits:
• Each box contains 2 hardcover books or 4 board books.
• Pick your preferences and tell them about your reader.
• Preview and decide which books you want.
• Skip a box any time.
• Modify or cancel the subscription at any time.
Select the link below to SIGN UP:
GIFT CARDS
Amazon.com Gift Cards are the perfect way to give your special someone what they’re hoping for even if you don’t know what it is.
Here’s some of the gift card features:
• Never expire
• Carry no fees
• No returns and no refunds
• Ability to view gift card balance
• Redeemable towards millions of items store-wide at Amazon.com or certain affiliated websites
Select the link below to SIGN UP:
TIME TO SHARE & COMMENT
It’s an “add to cart” kinda day! – Unknown Author
Let’s talk. Do you shop via Amazon.com? If so, how often do you shop via Amazon.com? Were you an Amazon Prime Member before reading this blog post? If so, what benefits do you enjoy the most?
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
I didn’t come this far to only come this far. – Unknown Author
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Today’s blog post was written for fun in response to a nomination I received from both Sunny Larue and Catherine Mellen. I have to admit I hesitated for a couple of days before deciding to respond to all of these questions. Some questions were a lot easier than others. Nevertheless, I got it done.
INTRODUCTIONS – SUNNY LARUE & CATHERINE MELLEN
My first nomination came from a wonderful and friendly blogger, Sunny Larue. In case you are not aware, Sunny Larue is also known as The Professional Martini Drinking Blogger. I love that blog name and it makes me smile every time I visit her website. I proceeded to read Sunny’s responses and learned so much about her. She has a passion beyond this world for mental health issues. Sunny loves to blog about her struggles with mental illness and continues to spread awareness everywhere she goes.
My second nomination came from another creative blogger, Catherine Mellen. I just recently came across her blog while on Twitter. She writes from the soul about shattering the silence on family secrets and childhood trauma. Every word you read pulls you into her fascinating life experiences. It’s a passion and willingness to share stories with a twist of creativity.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The inspiration for the Vogue Magazine Series (VMS) is to get an intimate insight on some of your favorite celebrities, reality personalities, and political personalities. These series of fast-pace questions are designed to challenge the individual to be open, vulnerable in a way to connect to the readers. Now, you won’t find answers from celebrities or reality personalities here, but if you continue reading this blog post, I guarantee that you will get to know me better, smile from time to time, and may want to participate in this kind of blog post yourself.
Before I get started, I wanted to share my nominees along with their blog websites (if applicable) and their Twitter handles:
9. Favorite book? In the Meantime by Iyanla Vanant
10. Twitter or Instagram? Twitter
11. Desktop or Laptop? Laptop
12. Best advice you’ve ever received? To be honest and treat people with respect
13. What project are you working on right now? Writing awesome blog content to help increase my readership and subscribers
14. Favorite color? Black
15. Did you get good grades in school? Yes – A’s & B’s (a few C’s here or there)
16. Dream job? Professional Blogger, Freelance Writer & Author
17. Play any sports? Not on a team, but I enjoy volleyball, dodge ball & tennis
18. Do you have a degree? Yes – Bachelors & Masters
19. Nationality? Black American
20. What is your favorite kind of blog post? To encourage & How-To
21. What do you like to collect? Positive Quotes, Fridge Magnets & Shot Glasses
22. Describe yourself in three words? Caring, Friendly & Quiet
23. If you were a rapper what would your stage name be? Sweet T
24. Who was the last person you DMed? Sarah Barkley – MomWifeWine.com – She’s very supportive to other bloggers.
25. What’s on top of your wish list right now? To get 3 Amazon sales & to increase blog subscribers
26. Sorting house? I’m very organized & do household chores daily
27. How many tattoos do you have? No tattoos
28. What are you most grateful for this year? Being able to write freely
29. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you this month? Had week off of work to spend with my boys
30. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you today? Woke up in my right mind
31. What’s the best thing ever? Blogging about anything
32. Favorite season? Fall – Changing leaves
33. Favorite holiday? Thanksgiving Holiday
34. What fictional character do you relate to most? Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz
35. Do you like surprises? No
36. What’s the biggest surprise you’ve ever had? Husband taking me to the dealership to buy me a car that I had on my vision board
37. Which surprise made you cry? When my dad got re-married and he did not tell me
38. What’s the best surprise you’ve given somebody else? Took my boys on a shopping spree
39. Do you like muffins? Yes – I love banana nut & blueberry
40. Do you cook often? Yes – I have to cook for my family
41. What’s your favorite dessert? Banana Pudding
42. Is there a dessert you don’t like? Yes – Pecan Pie
43. Cake or pie? I prefer cake over pie
44. What’s your least favorite food? Baked fish / Asparagus
45. What’s your favorite condiment? Barbecue Sauce
46. It’s 4 am on a random Saturday. What are you eating? Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich with Milk
47. If you could teach a college class what would it be called? Be Kind to Yourself
48. Best animated film? The Incredibles
49. What has a guy done or said to impress you? Respect me and listens well
50. Best thing to do on a first date? Go for a walk by the water
51. Worst thing to do on a first date? Be late or rude
52. Best comic book character? Spider-Man
53. Name three things which can always be found in your purse. Wallet, Phone & Lotion
54. Favorite drink? Strawberry Daiquiri
55. If you could play a historical character in a movie who would it be? Oprah Winfrey
56. Kittens or puppies? I love kittens & puppies (animals in general)
57. Favorite sushi roll? Don’t eat sushi at all
58. What lipstick do you use? Don’t wear lipstick or any other make-up
59. What foundation do you use? Don’t wear foundation or any other make-up
60. Blow dry or air dry? Blow dry
61. Who is your fashion icon? I enjoy seeing blog posts from Dani Smith – She’s an enthusiast that loves fashion – iamdanismith.com
62. Favorite Disney Character? Minnie Mouse
63. What are you doing tomorrow? Resting & Writing
64. Movie you laughed the hardest through? Ghostbusters
65. Movie that made you cry? The Color Purple
66. If you could sing a duet with anybody, who would you choose? R. Kelly despite his legal issues, the man is talented and could sing his butt off
67. If your life was a song what would the title be? It’s Hard to Smile
68. What’s your favorite animal? A Zebra
69. Favorite illustrator? Sorry, I don’t have one
70. What country would you like to visit? Costa Rica
71. Best way to decompress? Hot Bubble Bath
72. Favorite exercise? Walk Workouts
73. Do you prefer writing in the morning or evening? Evening
Wow, this was a lot of fun! Some of these questions caught me off guard and it took me a few minutes before I could honestly answer them. I kept telling myself that it’s important not to overthink, just have fun with it! Again, I appreciate the nominations I received from Sunny and Catherine! Let’s continue to support one another’s blogging efforts. When you get a moment, go and support both of these talented bloggers:
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! This blog post is in response for being nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award. Following the same guidelines, I will answer questions in hopes to encourage other bloggers to do the same.
1. Thank the blogger(s) for nominating you and give the link to their blog!
I want to give a special THANK YOU to Jess at Just Call Me Jess for nominating me for the Blogger Recognition Award! I am humbled and honored that Jess included me in her list of outstanding bloggers. I truly understand that it really takes a kind hearted and caring person to not only support others, but encourage them to keep blogging.
2. Write a post on your site displaying the award that describes why you started your blog.
Renew Inspiration was created with you in mind. I wanted to create a safe place where people could come to renew their inspiration whole heartedly by reading encouraging blog posts, seeing positive quotes to uplift one’s mood, and to learn various ways to improve one’s health and well-being. Believe it or not, I have always enjoyed writing and journaling, but I really got serious when my mother passed away in December 2015. This was a dark time for me, but I found that writing and capturing my feelings on paper offered me a sense of comfort that even I could not explain.
3. Write 2 pieces of advice you have for new bloggers.
#1 – Be consistent and write from the heart. The easiest way to do this is to write about things you are passionate about.
#2 – Don’t get caught up in what other bloggers are doing. Your blogging experience should be personal and a journey to your well-being. Look to others for encouragement, but create your roadmap to success.
4. Nominate and notify 10 bloggers that they’re awesome.
• What’s your blogging goal(s) for the next month?
• What’s your vision for the next year as it pertains to your blog?
• What good habit do you want to develop on a personal level?
• What’s the hardest challenge you have overcome?
• What’s holding you back from achieving success with your blog?
TIME TO SHARE & COMMENT
Let’s talk. How do you plan to inspire and encourage others through your blogging experience? How do you plan to stay motivated when you experience writer’s block?
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon, Blue Host and WordPress Affiliate Programs which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Bluehost.com and WordPress.com
When you try something, you risk failure. But when you don’t, you ensure it.
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I am proud of where I am today, but I realize there is always something new to learn about the blogging industry. There is so much information swirling around on the web that it becomes overwhelming to the average person thinking about jumping into the blogging game. Blogging can be rewarding on so many levels. However, launching a new blog can be a scary experience so to succeed it’s important for new bloggers to keep learning, be flexible, ask for help, and be willing to adjust with the blogging industry.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE BLOG
Once you become fearless, life becomes limitless.
Let’s look at some reasons why people blog. Some people use blogging to:
• Inspire, encourage and motivate
• Teach and establish expertise
• Share ideas and their passion for writing
• Cope with life and its many challenges
• Expand networking opportunities
• Express yourself and share creative writing
• Maintain online journal
• Provide book reviews or product reviews
• Capture travel experiences and photos
• Make money by selling product or using affiliate programs
AFFILIATE PROGRAMS
As you can see, there are many reasons why people blog, but I want to discuss affiliate programs in more detail. Various affiliate programs are available online which means you have to take some time to research them to find the programs that are good for you and your blogging project. The idea behind affiliate programs is simple. After signing up to become an affiliate, you promote other people’s products through blog posts, Pinterest, and/or social media. When someone uses your link (given to you by the affiliate company of your choice) you make a commission. Commissions can range anywhere from a few cents to a few hundred dollars depending on the company. Please support my blogging efforts by clicking on any of the affiliate links above to make a purchase or sign up. Thanks in advance.
Well, here’s the affiliate programs that I am currently enrolled in:
Amazon Associates – Amazon.com is the world’s largest online retailer (Shopping) – Unfortunately, in order to stay in this affiliate program, you must receive at least 3 purchases within 180 days. Please consider clicking the links below and making a purchase:
Blue Host – Bluehost is one of the largest website hosting providers (Website Host) – If you are thinking about moving your blog website to a host provider, look no more. Click the link below to obtain special pricing:
WordPress – WordPress.com is the most popular website management system and is associated with blogging (Website Management System) – If you are looking to change to a better website management system, then click the links below for special pricing:
Target Corporation – Target Corporation is an upscale discount retailer that provides high-quality on trend merchandise (Shopping) – Get your Mother’s Day shopping done by clicking on the links below:
TIPS FOR NEW BLOGGERS
Great things never came from comfort zones.
Here’s some tips for new bloggers to think about before launching their new blog:
• Tip 1: Determine your niche – What is your passion? What do you want to share with the world? What is your specialty or your expertise?
• Tip 2: Identify your target audience – Who is your ideal reader? Write directly to them. Keep your readers wanting more from you with a strong headline and intro.
• Tip 3: Create clear and precise goals for your blog – Why are you blogging? For fun, a hobby, a business, to sell product or to monetize using affiliates? Write down your goals and make sure to reflect on them when preparing blog posts.
• Tip 4: Come up with a catchy blog title and tag line to get your readers attention. Then, create the perfect logo for your blog.
• Tip 5: Determine if you want to launch your blog using a free website or if you want to invest money in a company like WordPress, then a hosting company like Blue Host.
• Tip 6: Establish one or two social media platforms to focus on when you first launch your new blog. Remember, to share your new blog posts on all your social media platforms. Once you are comfortable, add more as you have the time.
• Tip 7: Have 2 or 3 really in-depth blog posts complete before you decide to launch your new blog. In addition, have more blog posts in various stages, such as drafts to be edited, outlines and topic ideas ready to write.
Once you have launched your blog, it is important for you to stay engaged with your readers. I am going to be honest, engaged will mean different things for different people. For example, if you are selling product or a service, you need to respond to your customers on a regularly basis. However, some people are blogging just as a hobby, so your engagement may be less involved and limited to writing blog comments or subscribing to other people’s blogs.
TIPS TO HELP LAUNCH YOUR BLOG
Organize your life around your dreams and watch them come true.
Here’s some tips to keep in mind once you have launched your blog:
• Tip 1: Post consistently – Plan to post 2 to 3 times per week to stay engaged with your readers.
• Tip 2: Use quality photos – Whether you take your own photos or pull photos from a free site, such as Pixabay or Pexels, make sure to use quality photos that are relevant to your blog post.
• Tip 3: Discover your writing style – Start with a catchy lead, have a conversational tone throughout your blog and ask questions at the end to get your readers engaged.
• Tip 4: Write down your thoughts – When inspiration swirls in your head, write it down so you can reflect on it later. It is important to keep all your thoughts and ideas in one place for easy access during the writing process.
• Tip 5: Social Media connections – Give your readers three or more ways to follow you. For example, Facebook, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
• Tip 6: Comment on other blogs – Don’t be shy and be sure to write encouraging comments on other blogs. In most cases, the other bloggers will show your blog some love too.
• Tip 7: Facebook Groups – Join some Facebook Groups to network, share your blog content, learn from other bloggers and to offer support to others who may just be starting out.
BLOG POST IDEAS
Writing a blog post may not come easy to you at first. For most bloggers, you have to get into a writing and blogging routine.
Here’s some blog post ideas to help you better connect with your followers:
• Tutorial or how-to blog post to help others learn something new
• Favorite quotes or poems
• Self-care tips
• Book or product review
• Favorite season or holiday
• Dream vacation destination
• Blogging or weight loss goals
• Heartfelt letter to your future self or a loved one
• Bucket list ideas and timeline
• Biggest challenges as a blogger and what you’re doing to overcome them
TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS
Life is joyfully simple. Let’s keep it that way. – Paul Jun
Journaling is a powerful way to process events in your life, build self-awareness, get more clarity, and keep yourself on track.
• What are your short-term and long-term blogging goals?
• How have you been getting in the way of achieving of your blogging goals?
• How you stay organized as a blogger?
• What are some of your blogging lessons and what you learned from them?
• What inspires you to write, blog, and be creative?
Ready, set, blog! It’s your time to shine with written word. Inspire others, be creative and always look for new ways to connect to your readers, but at the same time take it slow. Remember, you do not need to understand everything about the blogging process before you launch. I hope these suggestions and tips give you something to think about from one new blogger to another. Good luck and happy blogging!
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon, Target, Blue Host and WordPress Affiliate Programs which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Target.com, Bluehost.com and WordPress.com
She glows golden like a honeycomb, a ray of afternoon sunshine.
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! I am so honored for being nominated by an awesome and supportive blogger, Lucky 4 Writing, for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Please be so kind and show some love by visiting her website – https://lucky4writing.com/
Rules for the Sunshine Blogger Award
• Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to their blogging site.
• List the Sunshine Blogger Award rules and display the logo on your site.
• Answer the Sunshine Blogger Award questions.
• Nominate 11 other bloggers and ask them 11 new questions.
• Notify the nominees about their nominations by commenting on one of their blog posts.
Questions asked by Lucky 4 Writing
• If you could be any creature, real or mythical, what would you be? I would be a cat so I could sleep all day and night.
• What is your favorite genre of music and favorite song? My favorite genre of music is Gospel and my favorite song is called Change Me by Tamela Mann.
• What is your favorite animated movie? My favorite animated movie is Incredibles.
• Who is your favorite actor/actress? My favorite actor is Denzel Washington.
• If you could win an Olympic medal for any sport, real or fake, which sport would it be? I would win an Olympic medal for boxing.
• What is your favorite thing to do outside of work? My favorite thing to do outside of work is writing, journaling and blogging.
• As a kid, what was your dream job? My dream job was to be a teacher.
• If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Why? I would love to be invisible so I could listen in on conversations without anyone knowing.
• Where has your favorite vacation been? Why? My favorite vacation was going to Disney World because this was the first time our children traveled on an airplane.
• Do you prefer sweets or salty foods? I prefer sweets (cake, ice cream, cookies).
• Would you rather read one book for the rest of your life or watch one movie for the rest of your life? Which one? I would rather read one book for the rest of my life because I love reading. No matter how many times you read a book, you always learn something new each time you read it.
Questions for my Nominees
• What do you enjoy about writing and/or blogging?
• Do you enjoy journaling in your spare time? Why or why not?
• What’s your favorite book you’ve ever read?
• What’s your favorite inspirational quote?
• What’s your favorite social media platform?
• Have you ever written a book? If so, what is the title of it?
• Do you visit your local zoo? If so, what is your favorite animal?
• Where would you like to travel if money was not an issue?
• What’s your favorite sport to watch and/or play?
• Do you like volunteer at your local soup kitchen or donate money to local charities?
• Who supports your writing and/or blogging efforts?
Please take a moment to support these wonderful bloggers by visiting their websites and commenting on some of their blog posts. To me, this is what blogging is all about. Yes, it is important to showcase and promote your own blog, but it is our duty to help promote other bloggers as well. Thanks again to Lucky 4 Writing for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Remember, choose to shine and leave a little sparkle wherever you go!
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Blue Host and WordPress Affiliate Programs which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Bluehost.com and WordPress.com
You don’t have to have it all figured out to move forward…just take the next step.
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Thought for the week – Moving forward means it’s time to write a new story.
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! This week I have been in a very difficult place. It’s been hard to focus on writing so I had to step away to get my mind, body and spirit reconnected again. Have you ever been there or felt this way? Sometimes it helps to know that you’re not alone and you find comfort in knowing that others may be experiencing this same kind of feeling from time to time. Now, I realize it’s so important to be honest with yourself and with those closest to you so that’s where today’s topic originated from – Moving Forward.
WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD
The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.
Today, I wanted to write a few words about moving forward. Whether you’re stuck in a rut from a recent break up or going through the grieving process from the loss of a loved one, many people struggle with moving forward. Now, speaking from experience, I do realize that moving forward is not always easy. However, it’s important for people to be honest with themselves and with those around them when choosing to shake it off and take the first step to move forward.
Here’s some common ways to help you move forward in various life situations:
• Change your attitude. Believe it or not, to manifest is to create exactly what you want in your life by choosing to consciously vibrate in alignment with that feeling now. So, don’t put off changing your negative attitude. Choose to shine and a leave a little sparkle wherever you go.
• Block out negativity. Let’s face it, negative vibes bring about negative vibes. I AM – two of the most powerful words. For what you put after them shapes your reality. So, why not make it a positive life, right?
• Take ownership. Be the first to own up to what you didn’t do or to any mistake you may have made in life. That’s how you learn and earn respect.
• Let go of the past. It’s not healthy to relive your painful past. If you continue to look at today through the eyes of the past, you can never see what the present moment has to offer you in life. Remember, you can’t change what happened, but you can change your mindset and actions in the present.
• Start small. Set small goals for yourself and write them down. Each morning, look at your goals and make a plan to do something productive that will help you reach your goals.
• Stick to a schedule. Make a plan and stick to it. I know life happens from time to time, but also remember your success is found in your daily routine. Create a daily To-Do List with 3 to 5 items on it and check your tasks off throughout the day.
• Be willing to forgive. In order to be kind to yourself, it’s important to commit to talking with yourself in a way that’s helpful, rather than harmful. Speak life into your situation, not death and destruction.
• Live in a moment of gratitude. Start every day with an attitude of gratitude. Afterall, gratitude makes sweet miracles of small moments. Breathe in beauty, exhale gratitude.
Don’t be afraid to find your own happiness throughout this process as well. Remember, achieving success and personal growth is not going to happen overnight. To be able to move forward in life, you may have to let some people and thoughts go in order to live a more fulfilled life with purpose.
renewinspiration
TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS
Do not give your past the power to define your future.
As always, I want to give you some journal prompts that will help you throughout the moving forward process. Believe in yourself and choose to shine while journaling your way to happiness. If you’re honest with yourself, you will achieve what ever you set your heart and mind to.
• What would make you happy right now?
• What is standing in the way of that happiness?
• What is draining your energy from day to day?
• What do I need to give up, say no to or let go of?
• How can I re-prioritize my to-do list?
• What would I be doing if money or other people’s opinions didn’t hold you back?
• What are you afraid of?
• How can you confront those fears head on?
• What is a short-term goal that you’re confident you can achieve?
• What is an important lesson you’ve learned recently?
Thank you for reading my latest blog post. I really look forward to inspiring all of you with written word. When I write my Renew Inspiration blog posts, I strive to grow within myself with every word that I type. Believe it or not, my Renew Inspiration blog is the key to my very being. It gives me strength and power to reach so many people, both near and far. I would love to hear your thoughts about moving forward so please leave a comment. Peace and blessings!
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
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The less you reveal, the more people can wonder. – Unknown Author
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Mystery Blogger Award
Sunny Larue nominated me for the Mystery Blogger Award. You can check out her blog here. Sunny Larue is a blogger, writer, music, and martini admirer.
Sunny Larue, thank you for the nomination. I am honored to receive this nomination from a fellow blogger. I truly appreciate you for including me as one of your nominees.
What is Mystery Blogger Award?
Mystery Blogger Award is the brain child of Okoto Enigma. Created to help promote unknown bloggers to showcase their material that otherwise wouldn’t be seen. The award named after Okoto, is given to bloggers with ingenious post. For more information on the award and creator Okoto Enigma, please follow the link – https://www.okotoenigmasblog.com/my-greatest-creation-yet/
Award Rules:
• Put the award logo onto your blog.
• List the award rules.
• Thank the person who nominated you.
• Link to the blog of the person 10 who nominated you.
• Mention the creator of the award and link to the award post.
• State 3 random facts about yourself.
• Nominate 10 – 20 bloggers for the Mystery Blogger Award.
• Ask your nominees 5 questions of your choosing.
• Share a link to your best blog post.
Well, here’s my 3 random facts about myself:
1. My favorite color is black.
2. My birthday is 2 weeks before Christmas.
3. My favorite food is pizza.
Here’s my answers to Sunny Larue’s questions:
1. If you can eat one fruit for a year what is that fruit? Grapes
2. If you have a choice o see a deceased celebrity come back to life who would it be? Prince
3. If you have a talk show who would you ask to be your first guest? Iyanla Vanzant
4. What is your favorite cocktail? Don’t drink alcohol
5. What is your favorite time of the year? Spring
Here’s my 5 questions for you to answer:
1. What inspires you to write?
2. Who supports your writing endeavors?
3. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
4. What time of the day are you most productive?
5. What book are you reading right now?
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Face your rejections and use them as stepping stones for success. – Unknown Author
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
The Versatile Blogger Award
Melissa Snyder nominated me for the Versatile Blogger Award. You can read her blog post about her nomination here.
Melissa, thank you for the nomination. I am honored to receive this nomination from a fellow blogger. I truly appreciate you for including me in your selection. I started my Renew Inspiration blog to inspire and encourage others. After my mother passed away in December 2015, I began writing to comfort my soul. I started off writing letters to my mother, then journaling how I was feeling and what I was thinking, then in January 2018 I decided to start blogging. I have not turned back since. I love to have the ability to write positive and uplifting posts, then share them with all of you. Also, I love the blogging community as a whole. I’ve met so many encouraging bloggers and authors that inspire me to continue writing.
Water your roots, so your soul can blossom. – Unknown Author
Award Rules:
• Thank the person who nominated you.
• Link to the blog of the person who nominated you.
• Say 7 facts about yourself.
• Nominate 15 more bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
Well, here’s 7 facts about myself:
1. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 15 years. We met one another online, and it was love at first site. We dated for about 6 months and decided to get married. We did not want to have a traditional wedding (to save money), so we went to the courthouse to get married instead. We left the courthouse and drove to Niagara Falls for our honeymoon.
2. We have two adopted sons with hearing loss. I spend most of my time advocating for my boys so they can be successful in life.
3. I love animals. We have two dogs and one cat. My oldest dog is 16 years old. His name is Sampson and he is a Sharpei/Boxer mix. My other dog’s name is Max, he is a Pug, and is 15 years old. Our cat’s name is Morris and he is 17 years old. All of our pets are very spoiled and demand attention every day.
4. Currently, I work part-time as a sub secretary in an educational environment. I really enjoy this job and the flexibility it provides for me and my family. Education is very important to me and I’ve always loved administrative type work. For example, growing up I would volunteer as a secretary at church and at school.
5. I have a passion for writing, journaling, and blogging. I am working on my first inspirational book/journal as a way to follow my dreams and to inspire others to do the same.
6. I also enjoy reading, coloring, and doing Word Search puzzles in my spare time.
7. I love to do Leslie Sansone’s walk workouts. It’s a great way to get fit, increase your daily step count, and have fun all at the same time. You can check her out on YouTube or just purchase her walk workout DVDs from Amazon.com – Happy Walking!
Here’s my 15 Nominees for the Versatile Blogger Award:
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The past is your lesson. The present is your gift. The future is your motivation. – Unknown Author
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through any of the links (at no additional cost to you).
Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! Today, I want to discuss the process from journaling to blogging. As a start, it’s important to know that journaling is whatever you want it to be. You are in control and can define what journaling means to you. For example, I chose journaling to express myself while grieving the death of my mother. Simply put, journaling can be your creative way to record life in general and all its amazing experiences.
JOURNALING SNAPSHOT
Journaling can be done online or using a journal notebook. Journaling is a form of expression and is always a personal journey to help cleanse one’s soul. For example, when you choose to write in your journal, you can begin the healing process to release various emotions, such as pain, hurt, or guilt; feelings, such as sadness, happiness, or loneliness; practicing self-reflection by designing your journal pages using colorful markers, stickers to add a personal touch, or including pictures and quotes.
Remember, journaling holds all of your emotions, thoughts, and feelings in one sacred place. Journaling has a way to uncover parts of yourself you never thought existed. Journaling can be fun, but also can be a serious process to help you cope with many life’s challenges, such as depression, grief, or loneliness. The most important fact about journaling is you have total control throughout the experience. You can keep it secret or share it with others.
JOURNALING TO FIND YOURSELF
Your life only gets better when you do. Work on yourself and the rest will follow. – Unknown Author
Now, let’s take the journaling process to the next level. How about using the journaling process to find yourself? Journaling is a way to capture ideas and keep your dreams alive until you can put them in motion. We have to be ready and willing to do what’s necessary to grow, to learn, and most importantly, to find yourself.
1. To ponder and pen your big dreams – Your journal is an ideal place to write out all of your desires and dreams. If there were no limits, what would you want to become? Who would you want to meet? What would you have? Where would you go? Write it all down, describing in detail what your success would look like. By doing this, you can begin to put the laws of success attraction into motion.
2. To get clarity and solve problems faster – When you are unable to see a clear path in your life, it’s better to jot down all those thoughts swirling around in your head. Writing things out gives you the accurate perspective necessary to attract the right solutions. Take a moment to write down questions related to your problems. In fact, you should have an attitude of expectancy that you will find the right answers.
3. To chart what works – Journaling about your ideas, successes, and even failures empowers you to backtrack to see what’s working in your life and what’s not. It’s important to be honest with yourself and be willing to make the necessary adjustments where needed to live a rewarding life.
4. To track your past victories – Take a moment to celebrate your victories and write when and where you have excelled in life. It’s easy to remember your every mishap, but also make an effort to note what’s going right in your life as well.
5. To plan and strategize – Use your journal for both short-term and long-term planning. This process will allow you to work through specific strategies on how you will accomplish your goals. Plan everything from the week ahead to the entire year in your journal.
6. To create a success action routine – Your success action routine should consist of time for meditation and visualization, speaking positive affirmations and reviewing your goals. Visualize yourself completing your goals and feeling the benefits and rewards of doing so.
7. To take control over your future – Journaling about your ideal life and begin to act as if you have that life right now. Be descriptive and detailed in your writing. This will help you prepare for an opportunity that doesn’t exist yet, and ready yourself for the victory to come.
8. For self-improvement – Your journal is a safe place where you can truly be honest with yourself. This is your book, your story, your journey. You have no limitations or boundaries. Your journal is private so you can express yourself and get to know who you really are and what you truly desire.
9. To help you through the decision-making process – In your journal, you can list pros and cons when you are faced with having to make a difficult decision. Write out every possible outcome and use this to guide you through the decision-making process.
10. To keep you in a state of gratefulness – As you go through the process to find yourself, stay grateful throughout your journey. Express gratitude in your journal. Slowing down to make note of what you’re thankful for can relieve you of anxiety, stress, and help you to enjoy life to the fullest. In addition, the act of gratefulness also draws more positivity your way, helping you to create a cycle of success.
Then, after a few months, I decided to move from journaling to blogging. Remember, you may go through this same process, but for different reasons.
BLOGGING SNAPSHOT
There are many reasons why people start blogging. Some people start blogging as a hobby and for some people it’s a career. Blogging can be defined as a website containing a writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites, a single entry or post on such a website.
For example, setting up my Renew Inspiration blog was a challenging experience, but yet rewarding at the same time. Through this experience, I found my true passion, inspiring my supportive audience (that’s you) through writing in the form of blogging. So, thank you for believing in me and taking the time to visit my blog often. Remember, this experience is not complete without you.
The blogging experience improves your life in the following ways:
• Help you become a better writer and thinker
• Lead you to a healthier lifestyle and choices
• Inspire other people with encouraging words
• Allow you to network and meet new like-minded people
• Create awareness or getting your voice heard
• Satisfy your creative side and gaining knowledge through research
DOWNSIDE TO BLOGGING
Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience. – Unknown Author
Blogging is popular because it is a great marketing tool and helps you make money, but it also has a downside.
• Blogging requires a commitment and takes a great deal of time to manage. For blogs to be effective at SEO and engaging readers, it needs to be updated regularly.
• Blogging involves creativity and you having a passion to write about things you enjoy. To keep the content flowing, you have to keep the readers engaged with awesome ideas, tips or suggestions.
• Blogging can provide income for some people, but the payoff is not immediate. One of the biggest frustrations with blogging is that it is time-consuming with little payoff in the beginning. It takes time to build up a readership and momentum.
Whether you are journaling or blogging, it is important to remember, ideas to write about can be found all around you. Take a moment and look around you right where you are. Inspiration is not required to knock at your door twice so enjoy the process as you help find yourself through the experience and inspire others at the same time.
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TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS
I am blessed. I am beautiful. I am brave. I am bold. I am strong. I am enough. – Unknown Author
Journal Prompts are given to inspire you to write freely about your life and to help you find yourself.
• What does a successful life look like to you?
• What do I want to accomplish in my life today?
• How can I create more acceptance in my life?
• What feels like a struggle at the moment?
• What is your biggest regret?
• How have I been holding myself back?
• What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
• How can I take a step forward?
SHARE YOUR JOURNALING AND BLOGGING EXPERIENCES
I aspire to be a giver. A giver of love, a giver of good vibes and a giver of strength. – Unknown Author
Do you enjoy journaling and/or blogging? Please share your journaling and blogging experiences. We can learn from one another and grow through one another’s learning experiences.
Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!
Renew Inspiration is a participant in the Amazon, Target, Blue Host and WordPress Affiliate Programs which are advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Target.com, Bluehost.com and WordPress.com
