Life on the Rocks with a Twist of Gratitude

I cannot bake. I consider myself a good cook. Baking, though, is not my strength. My mother had a gift for it that I did not get. I dream of making poppyseed bread like she did every Easter. The concern now is I have under two months to learn.  My daughter gifted me a bread machine last Christmas. This bread machine should have made it possible. Instead, it started a journey. I've been trying recipe after recipe. The results? They are far from perfect. I've tried the recipes that came with the machine. I've searched for bread recipes online. I even experimented with AI-generated recipes. I've even tried to invent my own. The bread always has a problem. It is too chewy, too dry, or flavorless. Sometimes it's burnt or undercooked. I could write a book about bread baking failures. I could call it, "10,001 Ways Not to Bake Bread." I will keep trying. I hope I can figure it out eventually. It's like life. We keep trying despite setbacks.  Just a sunny Monda...

I have been busy lately, and I realize that ignoring the blog isn’t the best way to grow it. I am working on improving that. This season of my life, I want to spend more time writing and possibly even earn some money from it. However, I am unsure if my busy schedule after retirement is due to my commitments or if it relates to having ADHD. In 2024, I did complete a book titled "From Grief to Grace: A Therapist's Personal Journey of Healing After Loss."  As I scroll through my Instagram feed, I am still  hesitate to put myself out there. Still, I feel grateful. I am thankful that my book is published and that it will serve its purpose.  Lately, I have noticed a lot of stress in the world. I am sure EVERYONE notices it,  I receive calls from people feeling overwhelmed by what is happening globally. Their stress often leads them to seek therapy. I'm not sure there is a simple solution to this problem. I believe there is not just one answer. However, I do think part of t...