I recently placed a copy of If Roses Were Blue (my children’s adventure, gently based on the issue of child abuse) in Little Free Libraries. I started with the local neighborhood, then thought why not the whole county? I accessed their website for all locations in Santa Barbara County, printed the maps, wrote in the addresses, and loaded up my car. Road trip! In 7 days, I placed a copy at every site I could find from Carpinteria to Guadalupe. That’s 82 miles as the crow flie

You might agree that in this time of abuse allegations, human trafficking concerns, and general negativity, it’s refreshing to find such a positive outlook. It seems the team at the Eric Hoffer Awards appreciates it too. I am thrilled to announce that 101 Ways to Wow! Our World has received an honorable mention from the Eric Hoffer Book Awards, “honoring freethinking writers and independent books of exceptional merit.” Out of more than 2500 entries, that places 101 Ways in th

What if fairies exist but we just haven’t tuned into their frequency? Now I know what you’re thinking. Come on! Fairies? That’s crazy! Well, you know what else was crazy? Air travel Heart surgery Auras: light fields around people and things Spontaneous healing Mind-body connection Space flight Distance communications devices DNA Mind-blowing amount of information on a computer chip… Here’s the thing: the more we consider that the impossible may be possible, well, that’s when

You wake up and do not check your phone for messages. You do not turn on the TV or listen to a podcast or engage in social media—because THIS is YOUR day to reconnect with the wonder of your world. Imagine tomorrow you start with a positive statement, one that you created tonight for that purpose. And tomorrow, before you get out of bed, you write (with pen and paper) about the value you bring to the world—your art, your smile, your patience, your kindness… Imagine tomorrow

For participating in the March 28 No King’s day event. Thank you for marching, for waving signs and flags, for peaceful assembly, for showing up. Thanks for being part of the positive energy of gathering with like-hearted people and for magnifying that energy by your presence. While I’m at it, thanks for signing petitions and writing to your legislators. Thanks for raising your voice in peace, equality, and justice. Thanks for your kind words and example to others. Thanks for

Feeling a little saturated with negative news? Depending on how plugged in you are to world and national events and social media, you can probably use a reset . We all need these lately. A walk on the beach, relaxing under a tree at the park, chilllin’ in your backyard with a favorite beverage. It’s healthy to step back and regroup, recenter, realign. And here’s another reason… Tomorrow, March 20, is the International Day of Happiness . It’s a United Nations initiative that

it’s March. It’s Women’s History Month! There’s International Women’s Day. Let’s make history! Let’s march! The phrase “women’s rights ” is thrown around like confetti and starts to lose its complexity. It’s more than the right to vote and equal pay. Simply stated: Women must have the fully supported right to live freely; to make their own choices; to express themselves creatively; to be heard, consulted, and included in every life aspect; and to live free of oppression in a

101 Ways to Wow! Our World is a FINALIST in the 2025 Wishing Shelf Book Awards! This is the 2nd award for this book since its release in September 2025. 101 Ways to Wow! Our World is a heart-hugging wildly optimistic reminder of your magnificence, your power to affect change, and the value you bring to the planet. And here's the thing: The better we feel and the more positive we can be about our future, the more likely we are to manifest positive results. How? Our thoughts

"All you need is love..." Like the Beatles song , LOVE is all you need. But, if you're feeling a lack lately, I've got some ideas for you. Do more of what you Love. It’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of responding to every call for attention. Rather than appear inconsiderate, we set our needs and wishes aside. Too much and we minimize our needs entirely. Eventually, we may feel guilty taking personal time and, instead, fill any quiet (and potentially enlightening) momen

National Handwriting Day is January 23rd, reminding us of the power of the handwritten word. Studies show that people who write everything by hand tend to have more confidence and a strong memory; they learn more quickly and have improved cognitive skills.* In other words, writing by hand improves brain function. It’s a superpower ! So what if you hardly ever use a pen but want some of these benefits? Try writing more often. Here are a few ideas: Start a journal and write o

And here’s one more in my series of ways to add more light to the holidays. It's simple, easy, and kinda fun! It's all about moving that energy, releasing what no longer serves, and bringing in what's healthy, happy, and smile-worthy. Wishing you peace, love, and joy today and every day, Shake & Shine! Like a long-haired dog after a swim in the lake, shake your body and release all the negative thoughts, fears, and limiting beliefs that you don’t want anyway. Really get into

It’s one thing to stop the flow(s) of negative input, it’s another to allow that space to fill with joy, optimism, confidence, abundance, health… Whoo-hoo! You get the idea. On that note, try this short exercise. I forgot where I found it, so I can’t offer the source, but here’s my take on it in 4 easy steps. Inner Smiles Exercise Stop whatever you’re doing. Prepare the system : Take a deep breath, hold it for a few beats, and let it out slowly. Now the first one might not h

Another way to help you tune in to a brighter season any time of year! Remember those times driving your car. The radio is on. You haven’t really been paying attention. Suddenly a song comes on that you don’t like. What do you do? Turn down the volume or switch off the radio. Pop in a CD of your favorites, choose a different playlist, or change the channel. This is how you can switch out of negative, fearful thoughts and scenarios and into the joy you seek. Think about it:

Tis the season of joy, family, friends, good times, and special wishes. For some, and in some situations, this is not always easy. So I thought I’d share some tips that work for me (yes, they are all Debbie tested) and can be used any time of year. Here’s the first. 3 more coming soon! Simple Math Here is a mathematical fact about how your thoughts create your future: More = More Yep, that’s it! The more negative thoughts you entertain, the more negative thoughts you’ll have.

Image by sdmacdonaldmiller from Pixabay I’ve gotten into the habit of looking at challenges as gifts in disguise. Okay, maybe they don’t feel like gifts , per se, but if we take a moment and look for some aspect, some opportunity to be grateful for, we’re far more likely to find it. When we do, appreciation flows and the challenge becomes easier. Here’s a personal experience with the unexpected. For 24 years, I drove a 1998 Saturn. Bought it in Hawaii on April 1 (yes, no foo

What can you do to celebrate? Simple. Be kind. Be bold with your kindness. Say something, do something to express your caring nature to strangers, friends, neighbors, family, coworkers. Be compassionate, polite, complimentary, appreciative, understanding, supportive to everyone. If kindness were seeds, plant them everywhere. Kindness is energy that touches everyone—the recipient, the observer, the giver. Watch the Life Vest Inside YouTube video below to see how simple acts c

101 Ways to Wow! Our World is available everywhere! Whoo-hoo! See below for a partial list and links. Check your favorite bookseller...

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Some things just take time. You can’t rush it, you can’t take shortcuts. And that’s the time to settle in and enjoy the process of...

Reflection The first week of May we headed out to the Los Padres National Forest to drive the recently reopened Figueroa Mountain Loop,...