Singing Through the “Off” Days (and a free book!)

I’m so happy to welcome Jill Lynn back to the blog today! I love how authentic she is in this post about something we all deal with — those “off” days that can get us down. Jill will be giving a copy of her brand new book to one of you who comments, so be sure to scroll down and check out the details!-Becky

I have always been one of those people with all the feels. If you’re experiencing something and you’re near me, I’m probably feeling it with you. It can be overwhelming sometimes! But most days I’m thankful God made me this way. I love being able to empathize with a friend and hopefully love them well when they’re going through something.

On the flip side of having all the feels is that I also have down or off days. For me it usually happens like clockwork…I’m not saying it’s hormonal but it’s totally hormonal. LOL This peri-menopausal stuff is for the birds!

When my off days hit, I try not to get too upset at the disruption. I try to give myself grace. (Try being the operative word.) If I don’t get my errands done or my writing is atrocious that day, I reach for grace. But at the same time, I try to keep moving and doing what I can. Because otherwise I’d never get anything done!

I am one of the (few?) writers who does not listen to music while I write. I actually like silence or white noise. But when I’m cooking or cleaning or driving then I’m definitely all about the music.

When my kids were young we had just started a business, so my husband’s days were long. It was usually around 5:00 that I was exhausted from being a stay-at-home mom and ready for reinforcements. But sometimes he wouldn’t get home until 6:00 or 7:00. That’s a long day as a stay-at-home mom!

Jill’s kids, back in the day

When I hit my breaking point, I would turn on the music and the kids and I would dance around the living room. We would blast the volume, dance terribly, and it didn’t matter what anyone thought. It was a great outlet. I have such fond memories of those moments now even though at the time, I was just trying to survive.

Lest you think I was a wonderfully perfect parent, I definitely was not. I lost my temper and had to fight impatience. There were days I hid in the garage for 10 minutes just for a moment alone. But, music and dancing were definitely a saving grace for us.

I recently started a playlist on Spotify…10 songs to brighten your mood. I thought it would be fun to have something I could click on when I’m having a weird day and I need to sing or maybe even dance to get myself out of a funk. My kids are far past the point of dancing in the living room these days, so I have to jam by myself. If you have Spotify, you can find the playlist here. (It’s an eclectic mix heavy on the 80s.)

Jill’s kids now

I’d love to hear what you do when you’re having an off day….

How do you get yourself out of a funk?

This month I’m celebrating my 10th Love Inspired book—The Veteran’s Vow—being in stores. For those who grab a copy online or while grocery shopping, I hope you enjoy. Be sure to check out my current giveaway.

I’m also going to give a copy of The Veteran’s Vow away to one of the readers of this blog. (Paperback for US shipping/Digital for international.) Enter by sharing this post online and then drop a comment below to let us know where you’ve shared. We’ll randomly draw a winner on Wednesday, March 2nd.

The Veteran’s Vow: When service dog charity head Ellery Watson learns that Behr Delgado suffers from war-induced trauma regarding dogs, she determines to heal that trauma with the one dog who can change his world and assist with his physical disabilities. But she never expects that Behr’s assistance with her nephew and impact on her life will heal her in return.

Jill pens stories filled with humor, faith and happily-ever-afters. She’s an ACFW Carol Award-winning author and has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bethel University. An avid fan of thrift stores, summer and coffee, she lives in Colorado with her husband and two children, who make her laugh on a daily basis.

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