Renew Yourself This Easter
Hey, you… Did this weekend sneak up on you? Have you been so busy that you feel like you’ve just been surviving until you reach this break? Only to realize, now that it’s here, you still have to buy and … Continued
Why You Should Start When You Think You’re Not Ready
There are some things you should definitely *not* do before you’ve really, really perfected the process. Skydiving. Surgery. Operating heavy equipment. Making meringue. But, for most things? Don’t wait. Start. (I know. Scary!) People might snicker. Or worse … Continued
3 Reasons to Keep a Penpal
Do you have a penpal? I do, and she’s incredible. At 92, she’s proud to maintain correspondence with 28 penpals! I met her nearly 20 years ago, while I was living on Chincoteague Island for the summer. We lost … Continued
3 Ways to Welcome Creativity Into March
It’s March!! Looking for a few quick, easy ways to shake up your routine in the new month? Are you feeling creative cabin fever after weeks of winter? Since I work in a school, my patterns are cyclical: summer is … Continued
It’s my Blogiversary!!
Happy Blogiversary! February 27th will mark a year since I launched Cole Smith Writes, can you believe it?! Looking back over the last trip around the sun, there are so many positive changes I’ve been able to experience! When I … Continued
A Room of Your Own: How to Find Space to Create
Do you have a room where you can create? Aside from becoming an early bird, finding the space to write was what made the most difference in my work. Before, I shared a small home office with Mr. Smith. (Do … Continued
3 Ways to Eliminate Loneliness
As Valentine’s Day approaches, the holiday can bring its fair share of disappointment. Grocery aisles of pink balloons, cards, chocolate boxes and roses can accentuate the loneliness we all feel at times. Chronic loneliness is a different beast. An article … Continued
Books for Personal Growth This Year
2018 is off to a great start! How can you keep January’s momentum going strong into spring? By taking time to invest in personal development! Harry S. Truman said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” If … Continued
New Year: Mindfulness and Creativity
One of 2017’s most-ubiquitous buzzwords, mindfulness, is worth a closer look in 2018 as we round out January’s New Year series. If you didn’t hear about mindfulness last year, you must have been on media sabbatical. (Or, maybe, you were … Continued
New Year: Simplify
It completes the triad of New Year’s resolutions: diet, exercise, and…simplify! At this time of year, there’s something so appealing about putting away the frills and excesses of the holidays and getting back to simplicity. (Or, in my case, *closer* … Continued