What do Pinterest and charcuterie boards have in common? An end vision. You’ve seen them: the memes that parody Pinterest boards by displaying each perfect [fill-in-the-blank], followed by another person’s hilarious attempt to…[read more]
Pinterest and charcuterie boards: finding humor in the messy middle
January 18, 2022
Everything is permissible but not beneficial: the 100% rule
January 11, 2022
It’s easier to hold your principles 100% of the time than it is to hold them 98% of the time.
~ Clayton Christensen
If you could apply one tip to your life to make it easier in 2022, would you? Motivational speaker and author Benjamin Hardy calls this tip the “100% rule”—making a decision with no other outcome than 100%. For example,…[read more]
One thing at a time: turning resolve into results
January 4, 2022
Resolutions: the infamous “R” word. Some years I pile on all the ways I resolve to improve myself. Other years I know that to set the bar too high will result in an #epicfail. Why do we oftentimes gravitate toward an overly optimistic view…[read more]
New year, new word: a recipe for success
December 28, 2021
I talk a lot about setting ourselves up for success. About our one magical life. And I write about hope for new beginnings, humor in the messy middle and heart for happy endings. But what happens when new beginnings take a detour?…[read more]
Looking back: recounting the past to inform the future
December 21, 2021
As we approach the final days of 2021 and look toward the new year, it’s the perfect time to recount the milestone moments that paved our way to present, so that we can better inform our future. Looking back on my own journey, I celebrated the publication of…[read more]
Happy birthday to me: one magical life to live
December 14, 2021
Today marks another trip around the sun—more than halfway into my Club 50 membership. As I reflect on the past half-dozen years, with all honesty I can say: What a ride! Cue in this past summer’s getaway of a lifetime. While it resulted in an inner prompting to create movement, it also reignited my struggle with limiting beliefs—especially when presented a chance to take a leap of faith. What if I screw up? What if I do it wrong?…[read more]
A new home: Always the write time for hope, humor & heart
June 15, 2021
Uncategorized blogs, chrismadayschmidt, email, enewsletter, fairytales, giveaways, previews Leave a comment
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A big or little thing called perspective: it’s all in how you look at it
June 2, 2021
always the write time always the write time, hike, new home, perspective Leave a comment
Welcome to my inaugural blog post! Although it actually marks my 959th entry (you can access previous posts at Always The Write Time Blog), I’m excited to hang out with you at my new home—where today’s topic focuses on perspective, brought to you by a recent hike in the mountains. While my surroundings changed from [click here to continue reading]…
Reap a harvest: making ‘fallow seasons’ work for you
May 25, 2021
Random Thoughts fallow, frustrated, harvest, idle, outcome, podcast, process, reap, results, uncreative, unproductive 1 Comment
On a recent podcast, the guest talked about working through a “fallow” writing season. Fallow—meaning idle, unproductive or uncreative—describes the past five months of my life. In the article Why We Need to Be ‘OK’ in the Fallow Season, Ryan Fahey asks the question, “Are you in a season that doesn’t seem to be producing any results?” followed by, “Are you spinning your wheels…frustrated at not seeing the results you want?” Yet, the fallow season is actually the most important season of growth. In fact, it’s essential for producing something wonderful. Unfortunately, some of these seasons take longer than others to deliver the outcome we desire; i.e., not all fallow seasons are the same. But the good news: fallow does not equal failure. And if we focus on the process, rather than the outcome, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Are you in a fallow season? Let me know at chrismadayschmidt.com, and remember to sign up for my free monthly emails.
Morning rituals: finding a sustainable practice that sustains you
May 18, 2021
Random Thoughts Bible, eating the frog, hiking, journaling, meditation, performance, prayer, purpose, ritual, social media, sustaining, Yoga Leave a comment
Let’s talk morning rituals. Over the past year, I’ve read tips on making the most of the initial hours in a day—from “eating the frog” to exercising to avoiding social media to praying or fasting. Although I’ve tried all of the above and more, my focus over the past year and a half has included three top priorities: prayer, purpose and performance. During the first hour of my day, I reconnect to my “source” through devotions and Bible readings. Then, I journal for 15-20 minutes before jumping into that day’s creative pursuits. Finally, I hop on my exercise bike, hit the yoga mat and power walk through my neighborhood or head for the mountain trails. And not only has this morning ritual sustained me during an unsettled 2020 and into the new year, but it also proves to be a sustainable practice that I can adjust as needed.
Visit my new home at chrismadayschmidt.com and let me know what type of practice, morning or otherwise, sustains you?
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