A friend of mine is entering a transition period in her life, and she asked me for suggestions of books for motivation and dealing with change.
I didn’t answer right away, because I wanted to sit with it and revisit my favorites.
By the time I’d created my list, I realized that other people might want these book suggestions too!
Here are six books you might enjoy. Have you read any of them, and if not, which are you inspired to tackle first?
Untamed by Glennon Doyle – Glennon’s book motivated me to get more deliberate about diversifying my social media feeds, a small move that’s led to me learning so much! Her stories share her own journey. Expect lots of self-revelation, humor, with a healthy dose of intersectional feminism and inspiration in the mix. I loved it, and it really resonated with me. She’s been through a lot of change under challenging circumstances, and she gets very real and raw.
The One Thing by Gary W. Keller and Jay Papasan – I’ve read a lot of great self-help books and advice for business, but The One Thing has had more of a lasting impact on my daily and weekly work than most others. The authors will motivate you to get clear about what matters and take deliberate steps with that in mind. Your giant to-do list is SO much less important than knowing the most important item (or perhaps two or three max) on your list for today, and for this week, and for this year. It’s very relevant for entrepreneurs and employees alike, but I’d argue it’s even more important in your personal life!
Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist – In all honesty, my advice to my friend was to read this “or anything by Shauna Niequist”. This was the first book I ever read that I felt I could have written myself. I’ve read it three times, and I will keep returning to it, over and over again, because it helps me to reflect, consider what’s most important, and remember my values and current vision for my life. I found it therapeutic and challenging. She navigates changes and surprises as she transitions into a new phase of her life. Her older books are great too, though for where I am now, Present Over Perfect is key. I’ve got her next book pre-ordered and I can’t wait.
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron – You know, when you were that little kid who’d happily color and explore with other little kids at preschool? If you go back far enough, almost all of us had a time where we created without judgment or expectation. If you take nothing else from this incredible three month journey into getting to know yourself better and rediscovering your inner creative, you should consider “morning pages” and “artist dates”. I continue my morning pages practice daily and love weekly artist dates whenever possible too. Trust me, if you haven’t done this yet, this is a brilliant introduction to self-help or return to creativity (or both).
The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin – This is a newer book for me – I discovered it several months ago and was so impressed with it that I’m incorporating it into my coaching. There are lots of personality tests out there, but this one is both easy to comprehend quickly and also extremely actionable. And if you find it useful, she’s got lots of additional resources (and an app that lets you connect with others about it).
The Road Back To You and The Path Between Us by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile (the latter by just Suzanne) – I’ve been geeking out on Enneagram podcasts lately. If you’re not familiar with the Enneagram, it’s an ancient road map for living, basically. Think personality test, but one where you identify yourself (mainly based on what motivates you) and then can use that knowledge to help you navigate the world and become a healthier, happier version of yourself. I’m learning so much about myself through these books and podcasts that I’m actually recruiting a group of folks to do an Enneagram group program with me – basically, a book club where we’re all doing some self-reflection as we learn about the Enneagram. (I’m actively looking for volunteers, and cost is super low for the materials!)
What are you reading right now? Have you read any of these? Do you want to join my Enneagram cohort, where we watch videos and learn about the Enneagram and discuss it with other people?
I’d love to hear from you – and thanks so much for reading!
Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.
I write this in mid-March. I’m looking out my window at a clear blue sky, trees with leaves bare, birds flying from branch to branch. I’m thinking about the fact that while my walk to the farmer’s market was really cold today, I stayed warm enough. That sun really helped. And though it’s only March, and it’s still winter as I’m writing this, I’m starting to see and feel signs of spring around me.
Of course, intellectually, I know spring isn’t here yet. But listening to the birds as they call to each other outside, I’m focusing instead on that sun, picturing the beach days to come, the sunsets on the ocean, the flowers, the berries…
I love spring. It’s my favorite season, always has been. The promise of what is to come, the new life, the eternal optimism of spring – I don’t think we can beat it. Sure, I love the summer days too, and fall leaves changing is so special…but when spring is in the air, it makes my heart happy.
As I navigate stress and a variety of challenges in many areas, I keep coming back to this hope, this promise. I sing about it. I dance it. I breathe it in.
Nothing is promised, but we’re still here. I’m still here. You’re still here. And whatever we’re facing right now, spring is still coming.
And that, I think, is something to celebrate today.
Here’s to spring, to new beginnings, and to tomorrow.
Take care, friend, and if you’ve had some good news you’d like me to celebrate with you, please leave a comment and share it with me!
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Supporting Our Blog
We are so thankful for your support of our blog and our careers! You can help further by doing any or all of the following:
Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.
Three weeks back, I did something I’d been wanting to do for many months – I started seeing a therapist.
If I had my way, we’d all have affordable (for us) access to a therapist. A good one, who listens and knows the types of therapy that would be most helpful for us. Someone who gives us a safe space to work through the crap in our minds and helps us sort out our stuff.
If you’re reading this and you’re feeling like you’re in a great place right now, I am thrilled for you! I can tell you that from what I’m seeing on my social media feeds and hearing about through news outlets, it sure seems like most of the world has moved on from COVID-19 and is getting back to “normal”, or close to it. And it that’s you, I’m thrilled for you, and I truly hope you’re enjoying every minute of freedom and “normalcy”.
But honestly, even though I am sick of wearing masks, and miss seeing people’s faces, and I miss eating out at a restaurant in the winter, I’m just not there yet. It feels too soon, to me, to return to normal.
Lifting a mask mandate is all well and good (for most) when there’s a mild variant on the loose. But what if a new, more dangerous variant catches us off guard? One contagious enough to spread under the radar, when we’re least expecting it?
I’d love to say I’m embracing the now and taking it day by day and not worrying about what might come next. But that wouldn’t be accurate.
So these are the kinds of thoughts that are on my mind. I’m carrying a lot of stress and anxiety around COVID. Like a lot of us are.
Add to that the stressors of getting settled in a new country and the pressures and fears of a world at war, not to mention the anger and frustration at seeing so many people’s rights being taken away in the US (including New Hampshire, where I grew up, and Florida, our adopted home state), and I’m even more thankful to have a therapist.
I’m not sharing this for praise, or for pity.
I want you to know you aren’t alone. I want you to know that whether you wear a mask or not, and whether you’re “moving on” or not, it’s okay to experience anxiety.
And I want you to know that it’s okay to have some days, some weeks, even some months or years, where you’re not okay. Where you’re going through the motions, or phoning it in. Maybe you’ve had to take some time off, or add a nap into your routine. Maybe you’re tired of saying no to social plans out of fear.
Wherever you are, I want to encourage you.
Reach out to loved ones. They’ll probably relate, maybe even more than you realize.
Get a therapist if you can, and if not, seek out a trusted mentor or spiritual leader, or find an online support group aligned with where you are. Look for sliding scale therapy or call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline, or many of the other free resouces that may exist in your country, state, or city.
I’ve been digging deeper into the Enneagram for the past several months, and that means I’m doing a lot of work on getting to myself – who I am, how I became that person, and how I can become an even healthier, better version of me.
I also rely on journaling, exercising, getting outside, and all of my other existing coping mechanisms for when things get tough or feel overwhelming.
Whatever method(s) you use, and wherever you’re at, I’m wishing you all the best. You’re not alone.
And if you’re reading this, you’re here now, and I’m so glad.
Thanks for reading, and take care.
P.S. I’d like to get a group together to read The Road Back To You and do some Enneagram explorations. No previous experience required, just a copy of the book. If this journey of self-reflection (in a group setting) appeals to you, please leave a comment and let me know!
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Supporting This Blog
Thank you for your support of this blog and our work! You can help further by doing any or all of the following:
Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.
I’ve been intrigued by the idea of writing a book about our travels across the US for a while now. For more years than I can remember, I’ve periodically had friends or family members or strangers ask if we were going to write a book about our adventures, or strongly suggest that we do so. In addition, I’ve long recognized that keeping this blog means that when I was ready to write that book, I’d have an assortment of stories to draw from.
Meanwhile, after putting my focus elsewhere (hello, operation: get to Canada!), for many months, in January I shifted my focus back to building my coaching business and other creative freelance work, both online and here in Canada.
I’ve got a giant to-do list, but I wasn’t feeling a lot of certainty about where my priorities should be as I relaunch things. Should I get more active on social media? Hop back into podcasting? Launch a course?
The universe, apparently, had other plans.
That Wednesday, I took Squeak, our cat, to the vet. Over the phone due to COVID, the veterinarian I had never met told me she’d “read the book about us traveling the US with a cat and having kittens”. I told her I’d probably have it written in 2-3 years – she seemed a little surprised. 🙂
Saturday, during a local (Zoom) book club meeting, after I’d introduced myself, a new friend said she’d “read the book of me traveling the US, coaching”.
Sunday, during a different Zoom book club, an acquaintance commented it looked like I was writing a novel – I was taking notes as we chatted. At the end of the session, she called out something like “Jamie, I want to read your book when it’s done!”.
So, yeah. Message heard loud and clear, universe!
The next day, I began writing my book.
Has the universe ever spoken to you? Or yelled at you?
Comment and let me know if I’m alone in this, please!
P.S. If you haven’t subscribed to this blog yet, that’s a great way to make sure you hear about my book when it’s available for pre-order! There’s a subscribe button – on your mobile, it should be the bottom right and say Follow, or look for a box on the right hand side if you’re on a computer etc. Thanks for your interest!
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Supporting Our Blog
We are so thankful for your support of our blog and our careers! You can help further by doing any or all of the following:
Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.
Hello, friend! How are you? How is life in your neck of the woods? Are you safe, and healthy, and happy most of the time? We sure hope so.
Since our last update, so much has happened. Read on for updates on where we are, what we’ve been up to, and what’s next in the life of Ross and Jamie.
We moved to Canada! To be honest, it happened six or so days later than planned, because in our rush to get everything complete, we managed to initially take the wrong COVID test! It then took multiple tries taking the PCR test in northern Maine to get our results back in enough time (within 72 hours) to cross over the border, but the pluses were that we got to enjoy some vacation time in Bangor (a much more fun, progressive, and affordable city than we’d realized) and got a tiny taste of Moncton, NB too, where we spent our first successful night in Canada. Once (hopefully) COVID is behind us, Moncton will be close enough to us for a day trip or easy overnight stay, so we were excited to get a little preview of it.
Though we’ve had a ton to do since we arrived, from coordinating the sale of our RV (thank you to everyone who assisted with that!) to purchasing some furniture, from learning where to buy groceries to setting up a bank account (still working on that one this week), to learning how to see doctors and mental health professionals here (there’s a big wait list for primary care physicians here, but having access to free mental health clinics a truly beautiful thing).
At the same time, Ross has gotten started at the university and has already played a few concerts on acoustic guitar (while simultaneously continuing his ukulele teaching and podcast editing), and I’ve started singing again (apparently I’m a soprano 1?) and will be the director of Island A Cappella, a barbershop singing group affiliated with Harmony, Inc., beginning in January of 2022. I also sang at a church this summer, so it’s been fun to get back into the arts, and the extra income doesn’t hurt either.
Thanks to school and the music ensembles respectively, we are each making friends and dipping our toes into having a social life and community here on the island. After five years of travel, it’s exciting to set down roots and really invest our time, energy, and money in a community.
Of course we both have supportive friends and family back in the US, and we’re thankful for Zoom and cell phones to keep us connected with them. Social media helps too, and we’ve been scheduling time to connect virtually with loved ones.
We’ve both had our struggles in adjusting to things, but we still wake up every day thankful to be here and eager to keep doing the work to grow and thrive here. We know how privileged we are, and we don’t take it for granted.
After a much-needed social media and blog pause, I’m looking forward to growing my coaching business and our music business in 2022. If you’d like support in creating the life of your dreams too, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to offer you a free session to help you get clarity on your priorities and find your path forward.
Thanks for reading, and have a beautiful day!
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Supporting Our Blog
We are so thankful for your support of our blog and our careers! You can help by doing any or all of the following:
Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.
If you found us by RV Trader, hello, and thank you so much for your interest in our RV! And to my regular readers, thanks for your patience as we focus our time and energy on moving to Canada and selling our RV.
Looking for your own rig, at an affordable price? Read on! We’re currently parked in Londonderry, NH.
UPDATE: Since we first listed this RV, a former mechanic inspected it and we found out two things: 1 – the RV isn’t starting without a jump. We anticipate it needs a new battery and 2 – the propane tank is getting rusty, so it should get replaced soon. If you’re still interested, read on.
Settled in for the summer!
Our RV Trader Listing (priced at $18,000 or best offer)
Ready for adventure at an affordable price? This class C has all the essentials with newer tires, under 70,000 miles, and a great layout in a convenient vehicle at that “just right” size.
Highlights
With an a/c and fans, inverter, propane generator, water filtration and batteries new in 2018, you’re equipped for all kinds of weather and adventuring. Entertainment center with a flatscreen TV, storage for game systems or bluray players, and speakers for playing music throughout the rig. All back tires were replaced new in 2020. (Front look good, but will likely need to be replaced in a year or two.) Fantastic storage, and a double sink in the kitchen make for a very livable layout. Drives very well Exterior wash station Big enough for full-time living, but with no slides and less than 25’, easy to park in parking lots and campground spaces
Fuel: 55 gallons Holding Tank – Black: 39 gallons Holding Tank – Gray: 29 gallons 18 gallon propane tank (fillable to 80% per manufacturer)
The scoop: We are the second owners. We bought in 2016 and lived in for 5 years traveling. We are selling only because we are moving to Canada and into an apartment for our next adventure.
Two flexible seating/dining areas that convert for sleeping and have room for storage underneath, and the TV/entertainment center is awesome, with excellent storage for books, games, and all of your extra linens too. The kitchen is easy to use and clean, with a VERY spacious RV refrigerator. A privacy curtain divides the back bedroom from the rest of the RV, leaving the space open by day and secluded at night.
Find us on Instagram: @rossandjamieadventure Find our website (with more photos of the rig): RossAndJamieAdventure.com
Other Notes:
There are a few kitten scratches on the couches, and well-used blinds. We replaced the ones over the couch (with delightful light pink insulating curtains). The water heater hasn’t worked since we bought it (2nd owners) and we never replaced it since we shower at campgrounds when it’s cold. We removed the old awning, but kept the metal structure to support a new one. Our electric step stopped working and we didn’t fix – we use a stool. A couple of the electrical outlets no longer work. We are pricing this to move quickly so we can pay off our loan and focus on our new apartment. We’ll throw in our RV surge protector and other accessories so you can hit the ground running. We’d love to make a new person, couple, or larger family’s dream come true!
Additional new note: the RV is no longer starting without a jump. Interested buyers should be prepared to jump it when they visit it to tour or purchase. And the propane tank, while it works, is getting very rusty and should be replaced soon.
Also, in better news, we have videos that we recorded when we bought the RV, with the dealer walking us through how each system works. We’ll share those with you upon purchase if you’re the buyer. 🙂
Love what you see? Email rossandjamieadventure@gmail.com ASAP – this will sell quickly!
Additional Info for our “as is” rig that didn’t fit in our listing:
Make: Winnebago Minnie Model: WF324V (24V) Current Mileage: 69,667.50 Serial Number: 10344F291845 Chassis VIN: 1FDXE45S75HB23672
Manufacturer’s original suggested retail price: $61,596 plus $8,237 in extra features. With $625 delivery and handling, originally priced at $70,458. We paid about $25,000 for it in 2016 at 33,000 miles.
Fuel: 55 GAL Freshwater: 44 GAL Holding Tank – Black: 39 GAL Holding Tank – Gray: 29 GAL LPG (Fillable to 80%): 18 GAL
GVWR: 14,050 GAWR (weight that can be carried by an axle): Front – 4,600 Rear 9,450 Total weight: 14,050 Weight at the factory originally w/ full fuel, oil and coolants: 10,315 SCWR: 462 CCC: 2,846 GCWR: 20,000 (max allowable loaded weight of motorhome and any towed trailer or towed vehicle)
2005 Winnebago Minnie 24V Class C RV
Standard Equipment (Manufacturer Listing w/ notes): Ford Chassis
Interior Bed – Queen Ceiling material – textured fabric Dinette w/ storage below Lounge chair Extra storage w/ outlet (designed for microwave oven) Range – 3 burner w/ oven Range hood w/ light & fan Refrigerator/freezer double door Sink – galley, double molded recessed Shower w/ ABS surround & skylight Toilet w/ foot pedal & sprayer Vinyl floor in galley, bath & entry Wallpaper border-decorative Wardrobe cabinet w/ mirrored door
Systems Battery – deep cycle, marine/RV (replaced in 2018) Battery disconnect system, coach City water hookup w/ gravity fill Electrical system – 30 amp – power cord Converter/charger – 45 AMP Furnace – 25K BTU ducted, low profile Generator prep w/ gas line & 12 volt LP tank – permanent mount w/ gauge Sewer hose stored in service comp TV antenna w/ cable input TV satellite system prep in roof Water heater – 6 gal. elec. Ignition (not currently working, needs to be replaced) Water pump – demand
Safety Appliance tie downs Carbon monoxide/LPG detector/alarm – recently checked and updated Fire extinguisher – 10 BC GFI Smoke detector/alarm
Airbags, driver & passenger Power windows & power door locks RV radio – AM/FM stereo/cassette/CD (w/ added, upgraded sound in the “house” part of the RV) Seats – adjustable slide/ recline Roof – curved w/ fiberglass skin A/C roof – mount, 13,500 BTU ducted Roof vent – front & power in bath Water system winterization package
Added features by manufacturer Entrance step – electric (needs repair, currently we use a stool) Couch Ford Chassis 14,050 LB.GVWR Battery-second Drainage system – heated Inverter-DC/AC, 300 WATT Gen-4.0KW-Onan gas-microquiet Vent-power ventilator TV-Flat screen w/ remote (think this is either the 27” or 32” upgrade – it’s nice!) Dinette – L-shaped Floor covering – vinyl – thru out Awning- patio (removed, frame remains) Wheel liners – stainless steel Exterior wash station Material surcharge Owner added – Water purifier for system
Ready for adventure at an affordable price? This class C has all the essentials with year-old tires, under 70,000 miles, and a great layout in a convenient vehicle at that “just right” size.
Highlights: With an air conditioner and fans, inverter, propane generator, water filtration and batteries new in 2018, you’re equipped for all kinds of weather and adventuring. Entertainment center with a flatscreen TV, storage for game systems or bluray players, and speakers for playing music throughout the rig. All back tires were replaced new in 2020. (Front look good, but will likely need to be replaced in a year or two.) Fantastic storage inside and a double sink in the kitchen make for a very livable layout. Drives well, with comfortable seats Exterior wash station is really convenient Big enough for full-time living, but with no slides and less than 25’, easy to park in parking lots and campground spaces 44 gallon fresh water tank Fuel: 55 gallons Holding Tank – Black: 39 gallons Holding Tank – Gray: 29 gallons 18 gallon propane tank (fillable to 80% per manufacturer) Removable tables for dining and flexible seating Sleeps 4
The scoop: We are the second owners of this awesome rig, which we bought in 2016 and lived in for 5 years. We’ve driven from NH to AZ and NM, FL to NM, and around the Pacific Northwest briefly too. We’ve put about 43,000 miles on it, and we have absolutely loved our home. (We highly recommend spending time in New Mexico, our favorite so far!) The only reason we are selling is that we are moving to Canada for a while – my husband is going back to school, so we are returning to apartment life. (I will get my travel fix in part by coaching aspiring adventurers as we move forward!) We are ready to sell quickly.
This unit is super flexible, with two seating/dining areas that convert for sleeping and have room for storage underneath, and the TV/entertainment center is awesome, with excellent storage for books, games, and all of your extra linens too.
The kitchen is easy to use and clean, and there’s a very spacious refrigerator that easily holds a week or more of groceries for two people.
There’s a privacy curtain to divide the back bedroom from the rest of the RV when you go to sleep at night, leaving the space open by day and secluded at night.
Find us on Instagram: @rossandjamieadventure Find our website (with more photos of the rig): RossAndJamieAdventure.com
Other Things We’ve Upgraded/Changed: -We once raised kittens in this RV! So there are a few scratches on the couches, and they beat up our blinds a bit. We outright had to replace the ones over the couch (with delightful light pink insulating curtains) -We’ve made regular repairs occasionally on the chassis and house. Our rig is due for an oil change. Pre-pandemic, we visited our RV mechanic yearly for an inspection in addition to any repairs we needed to make. -We hit hail in Colorado in June and it broke our fan covers. We replaced them. -We had some rust underneath and our first battery compartment rusted out. We had a welder rebuild it and the batteries replaced in the fall of 2018. -We added a water filter, easy to source cartridges at RV stores or Walmart every 3-6 months. It helps! -Our generator isn’t used much, but we run it periodically and it works well. -The oven, stove, water, sewer etc. work great, and you’ve got lots of storage behind the TV (perfect for linens, sleeping bags, other light stuff) in addition to your closet, shelving, and storage compartments.
Other Things To Know: -Our water heater didn’t work when we bought it. We mainly shower at campgrounds, so we didn’t attempt a fix. We were quoted $500 for a new water heater. The shower is perfect when we use it in warmer temperatures. -We removed the old, tattered awning, but we left the structure so it can be replaced. -Our Ford chassis is a workhorse, but to avoid draining the battery, we disconnect it when we will be sitting for more than a few days. It’s made our batteries last much longer. You’ll get the ratchet set we use with the RV and we can demonstrate exactly what we do, if you’d like to do the same. -Our electric step got stuck “out” in 2018, and after having our mechanic get it in place, we bought a stepstool to use instead. -A few of the electrical outlets no longer work. We had an incident with an electric heater early this year. We use extension cords and can show you how we make it work, but if you’ve got the time to get that fixed, even better. 🙂 (All the essential outlets for us – entertainment center, kitchen area where you could have a microwave or other appliances, plus one over the TV) are still intact.) -we will throw in levelers, hoses, amp converters etc. with the sale, as well as an always pricey RV surge protector. Less for you to buy! -Though we never tried towing, the rig can handle towing up to 5,000 pounds.
We are pricing this to move very quickly so we can pay off our loan and focus on our new apartment. We’d love to make a new person, couple, or larger family’s dream come true!
Do you ever look at super-successful people and wonder how they manage to do it all? You know, they’ve got kids, successful businesses, hobbies, social lives, travel a lot, maybe they’re caring for a parent or helping a friend too.
Okay, so yes, reality check, if they’re super-rich they might have a nanny and a chef and a chauffeur and a housecleaner. But before they got there, and even with all that help, you know what is likely at the root of all of their success?
Habits.
Good habits do SO MUCH For us. They help us set boundaries. They make tasks easy and without any extra cognition or willpower. They give us the freedom to focus on other things, which means HUGE savings in time and the opportunity to make more money or spend time on what we value most.
This week in my Facebook group, we’ve been talking a lot about habits. Our focus this month has been on walking more throughout the week, but habits are at the backbone of making any healthy change, whether it’s walking, or healthy eating, or adding in meditation or limiting social media use.
What’s your relationship with habits? Do you make them work for you, or do you have bad habits that slow you down? I’d love to hear what this brings up for you in your life. Please comment below and let me know!
P.S. If you’d like support in creating better habits, please join us on Facebook in our free group. And thanks for reading!
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Supporting Our Blog
We are so thankful for your support of our blog and our careers! You can help by doing any or all of the following:
Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.
“We never wanted to take on something that we knew we wouldn’t be able to do, that was just a complete pipe dream, but we always wanted to challenge ourselves as well.” – Ross & Jamie on NH Unscripted
Last week Ross and I got to meet Ray Dudley, host of podcast NH Unscripted, over Zoom. We shared so many fun stories with him, including the origin story, about Not Your Mom’s Musical Theater, the company we founded in 2010 in New Hampshire.
If you enjoy theater and musical theater, it’s a must-listen, but if you’re not, it’s also got lots of inspiration and takeaways for people who are motivated to do their thing and craft the life of their dreams.
Give it a listen where podcasts are found, including here, or give it a watch below.
And if you do, please let us know what you think! Lots of humor, lessons, and inspiration.
“So we just found a piano and just went for it. And there was a restaurant across the street – they were our captive audience…..we’d finish a song, and they’d start cheering!” – Ross and Jamie on NH Unscripted
Have a wonderful week, and take care of yourselves and those around you – if you’re an American especially, they probably need it this week.
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Supporting Our Blog
We are so thankful for your support of our blog and our careers! You can help by doing any or all of the following:
Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Capital One 360 is one everyone can take advantage of to save money! Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
Listen to, subscribe and review our theater comedy podcast, Finishing The Season!
Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.
Self-doubt is so, so common, and when you’re a business owner and/or a creator (or aspiring to be either), it’s common to find yourself plagued with doubts. What if this investment doesn’t pay off? What if I lose my clients? What if the economy goes south? What if I’m not as good at doing __ as I think I am?
It’s so easy to get on the doubt train, and when you get started, it can be so, so challenging to get off. And yet we know that those negative thoughts feed on themselves and sabotage our progress. What we focus on tends to be what we bring forth, or manifest.
So what if, instead, we make a conscious effort to change the conversation. When those worries and fears creep in, can we give ourselves a reset? Let’s try a mantra, or an affirmation – a phrase that you will repeat over and over again, in your mind and, if you dare and ideally, outlead.
Your success is inevitable.
Try it again.
Your success is inevitable.
So the big question: what would you do differently (in your business, in any area of your life) if your success were inevitable?
Ex. If you struggle with relationships, and you’ve been holding out on getting back in the dating game out of fear. What would you do if your success were inevitable? You’d keep trying, right? And maybe you wouldn’t put so much weight on a given date or interaction, laughing off the awkward coffee conversations knowing that sooner or later, you’d find the person of your dreams, and it would all work out.
Ex. If you knew investing $2,000 in your business now would translate to making $100,000 in your business next year, would you do it? I certainly hope you would! The cost/benefit analysis is clear.
So much of our success or failure, ultimately, stems from our confidence. If we believe with 100% confidence that we will be successful, that confidence is contagious. Our clients and potential clients see the way we ooze confidence and go yes, I want some of what she’s having! The people we date sense our charisma and our detachment from the outcome of a given moment and want to spend time with us. And while failure is really common, the sooner we show up and give it all, the sooner we take the next steps in our business and our life’s growth, the sooner we will get there. Instead of this do I or don’t I, will it work or will it not, we move on to the next step in our journey. If this particular venture is going to fail, wouldn’t you rather know now? I would!
I recently invested about $2,000 in a coaching mentorship. I’ve been loving coaching, feeling an incredible passion for helping people to achieve the life of their dreams, and I wanted some extra confidence to help me in building my business. I could have kept going it solo, but I knew that this calculated investment felt truly aligned for me – I was a little fearful, of course, as we often are before we commit to something or purchase something. But it was all I could think about, and I was super excited about it.
So I went for it. And I was so passionate about it, showing up with enthusiasm each week for my studying, my business and my clients. I know that investment will pay off in dividends as I’m now a more confident and skilled coach ready to work with more clients, create new offers and help people achieve their goals.
So I challenge you today: what would you do if your success were inevitable?
Leave me a comment, write about it in your journal or send me a message and share. Don’t let fear hold you back- there is so much you’re capable of. The world needs you.
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Supporting Our Blog
We are so thankful for your support of our blog and our careers! You can help by doing any or all of the following:
Make purchases via our Amazon website links. There is no additional cost to you, and a portion of the proceeds can support our travels. Begin your Amazon search here.
Make other purchases using our affiliate links. Capital One 360 is one everyone can take advantage of to save money! Signing up with Dosh is a great way for everyone with a smartphone to support us, and we also have options for aspiring virtual assistants as well as occasional and full-time RVers to save money.
Listen to, subscribe and review our theater comedy podcast, Finishing The Season!
Subscribe to our blog, as well as perhaps InSearchOfAScoop.com, and recommend our work to your friends and family.
Take music or theater lessons (group or private) from us, either in person or via Skype at TinyVillageMusic.com.
Crafting The Life You Want: A Practice in Living 