Vicki Atkinson's Blog, page 13

What an Honor!

A new article about “Surviving Sue” and Writing for Wellness is out – featured in Happiness Between Tails by da-AL – Writing/Tales + Tails + Culture + Compassion.

That’s the talented da-AL pictured above. If you’re not following her to absorb all the inspiration in her blog, what are you waiting for?

When an Emmy award-winner asks if you’d like to write an article (see link below) for her site, the answer can only be yes! Especially when the topic is healing, building resilience and ...

Worthiness Reminders

I attended an author event this past weekend and it was fabulous.

I love learning from accomplished writers – especially when they share their secrets for maintaining motivation. But while I was there, in a room full of fervent fans and aspirational writers, my intuitive, introverted self was overloaded from the jump.

Choosing a seat in the back – but with a good view of the speaker, I could detach myself a smidge from the energy of the audience and take it all in.

The rush in the ...

Smiley Face Mystery – Rewind!

It’s been a week of wacky wonderment with the crazy shenanigans on the anniversary of my dad’s passing (which I wrote about here).

A sweet reader friend reminded me of a post from last year – nearly to the day, June 16, 2023 – when I wrote about a suspicious smiley face. I figured her memory made this post rewind-worthy. Here it comes. (And in case you’re wondering, keeping up with the dust around the house – given how much we love having the windows open? My nemesis. Daily.)

A Sm...

Peek Inside: “Surviving Sue” – She’s One!

My book about my mom’s complicated life, “Surviving Sue” is turning one!

Wowza. Just wowza. The past year has been full of ‘firsts’ – things I never imagined doing and I’m grateful, grateful.

One of those little gems arrived this morning when I noticed the Kindle version of “Surviving Sue” popped back up in the Amazon rankings to #25 in my category.  I don’t check every day, but it’s a fabulous bright spot when I know readers are reading thanks to the nearly real-time stats. I checked ...

Surround Me Now

Today marks the 27th anniversary of my dad, Sonny’s passing. Living with loss is one of the life’s greatest achievements, I think. Not a day goes by without thinking about my dad – for one reason or another.

Every year he consumes my thoughts when June 10 rolls around. Sometimes fleeting glimpses of silly moments or heavier instances of sharing our lives with Sue…my mom, his wife…the one who stirred life up, over and over again. 

After my dad passed away Sue descended more than he wou...

What Do You See?

Well-chosen words add richness to my life… when I slow down and let them in.

I have a daily quote book that I love, but I’ll confess I’ve been remiss. Too busy to slow down and take a peek. I have favorites throughout – obvious when I see how the book is beginning to age with its faded cover and dog-eared pages. A gift from a dear one years ago.

Isn’t it remarkable how a well-timed dose of insight can feel sparkling and new? Even when you’ve read it a zillion times before.

Relevan...

Dream a Little Dream…

I forget how useful it can be to surrender my troubles to my dream state.

It’s not a fail-safe method, but letting my subconscious go forth and fetch a solution or two is like magic.

No, it’s not like ordering a pizza. Delivery isn’t assured and the toppings are unpredictable, but it’s worth a whirl.  Turning my pensive evening thoughts into questions, wondering WWDD (What Would Dad Do) has its payoffs.

In this week’s podcast, Wynne and I talk about a recent epiphany…obscure at fir...

Fresh Feedback & Coming Soon!

I’ve got some fresh feedback – two lovely reviews to share – and a reminder about an upcoming event!

The friendly folks at the Woodstock Public Library have invited me to present on Tuesday, July 30 and I can’t wait:

Navigating Elder Care with Humor and Grace | Woodstock Public Library (librarycalendar.com)

Caregiving is a topic that connects us, whether we’re providing or receiving. It continues to be one of the most unexpected glimmers of goodness, resulting from writing “Survivi...

The Unfolding

In 2006, just six months before he passed away, author Kurt Vonnegut responded to a letter from a group of Xavier High School students in New York City.  I’m sure you’ve read about this – the goodness of the message has gone viral more than once in the intervening years, most recently thanks to actor, Sir Ian McKellen who read the letter at a “Letters Live” event in London. The video is short and worth a watch. I promise.

Here’s the Vonnegut quote from that letter. Inspirational and shive...

Just Ask

I know for certain that we never lose the people we love, even to death. They continue to participate in every act, thought and decision we make. Their love leaves an indelible imprint in our memories. We find comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared their love.

-Leo Buscaglia

I shared the Leo Buscaglia quote this week, one of my all-time favorites, with our friend Dr. Stein when he offered an old European adage I’d never heard before: “To live in the...