Table of Contents
Introduction 1
I Am Who I Choose to Become 5
Seeing the Jewel Inside 8
Working on "Intestinal Fortitude" 11
Life Is Yours to Create … and to Re-create 14
What I Learned About Power from a Community of Nuns 17
The Power of Peace Starts from Within 21
The Power of Gratitude 24
The Power of Positive Thinking 26
The Power of the Mind 31
The Power of Women 33
The Power of Presence 36
The Power of the Pause 39
The Power of Listening 44
The Power of Empathy 49
The Power of Letting Go 53
The Power of Thank You 56
The Power of Motherhood 59
The Power of Laughter 62
The Power of Faith 64
The Power of Prayer and Meditation 66
The Power of Forgiveness 69
The Power of Your Story 72
Chasing the Illusion of Perfection 75
Why Acceptance Is the Path to Finding Peace 79
Why It Takes Courage to Care 81
An Omen from God 84
I've Learned to Deserve 89
Bring Joy into Your Home 94
When Life Throws You a Curveball, Do This 97
It's Okay-in Fact, It's Crucial-to Grieve 100
When Is It Time to Move On? 104
Faith Keepers 107
What Is Love? 109
Loving Motherhood 112
Talk of Love, Not Hate 115
We're in Need of a Social Kindness Movement 118
Go Back to Move Forward 121
I'm Giving Up on Complaining 123
Six Family Truths I've Learned Along the Way 127
We All Have Mental Health Issues. Here's Why It's Okay. 131
Why We Should Stop Trying to "Go It Alone" 135
Looking for the Light in the Cracks 140
One Person Can Make a Huge Impact on You 144
Men and Kindness 149
A Message from My Mother I Will Cherish Forever 152
Finding Peace in Your Decisions 155
Why We Need Time to Think and Reflect 158
Mother's Day Every Day 161
We're All in This Together 164
"We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For" 167
Something to Focus on Other Than Your Lips, Thighs, and Eyes 171
Reflections on a Whirlwind Week 174
My Easter Reflections 177
A Time to Rest 181
What I'm Grateful for This Thanksgiving 186
What I'm Carrying with Me into Each New Year 189
Don't Call Me an Empty Nester 193
Sixty Life Lessons for My Birthday 198
Hope 205
Epilogue 207
Oh! And One More Thing: The Power of Reevaluating 211
Acknowledgments 225