Blogs

“Find a tiny stream in which your strengths can flow, and carve it into the Mississippi.”

~ Marcus Buckingham

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/your-strengths.jpg?w=150&h=113 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/your-strengths.jpg?w=300&h=225 300w" alt="" width="640" height="480" data-attachment-id="22769" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/20/your-strengths/your-strengths/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/your-strengths.jpg" data-orig-size="640,480" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Your Strengths" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/your-strengths.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/your-strengths.jpg?w=640" />

“Yet I am not writing with ordinary ink, but with red blood that drips from my heart. All its wounds long scarred over have opened and it throbs and hurts, and now and then a tear falls on the paper.”

~ Leopold von Sacher-Masoch

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/writing-from-the-heart.png?w=150&h=123 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/writing-from-the-heart.png?w=300&h=246 300w" alt="" width="640" height="524" data-attachment-id="22764" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/19/writing-from-the-heart/writing-from-the-heart/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/writing-from-the-heart.png" data-orig-size="640,524" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Writing From The Heart" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/writing-from-the-heart.png?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/writing-from-the-heart.png?w=640" />

“You may be sad, disappointed, heartbroken or even scarred. But wake each day with a new sense of hope, a will to fight on and not give up.”

~ Unknown

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/never-give-up.jpg?w=150&h=84 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/never-give-up.jpg?w=300&h=169 300w" alt="" width="640" height="360" data-attachment-id="22759" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/18/never-give-up-2/never-give-up-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/never-give-up.jpg" data-orig-size="640,360" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Never Give Up" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/never-give-up.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/never-give-up.jpg?w=640" />

“If you’re alive, there’s a purpose for your life.”

~ Rick Warren

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/life-purpose.jpg?w=150&h=82 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/life-purpose.jpg?w=300&h=164 300w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/life-purpose.jpg 644w" alt="" width="640" height="350" data-attachment-id="22754" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/17/lifes-purpose-2/life-purpose/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/life-purpose.jpg" data-orig-size="644,352" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="life-purpose" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/life-purpose.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/life-purpose.jpg?w=640" />

“Your friends have secret wounds. They often look fabulous and a little more organized than you. But, that’s because you’re seeing them through your wounds. We are all scarred.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/scarred.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/scarred.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="22743" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/16/we-are-all-scarred/scarred/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/scarred.jpg" data-orig-size="500,376" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Scarred" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/scarred.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/scarred.jpg?w=500" />

“The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake.”

~ Nelson Boswell

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/mediocrity-1.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/mediocrity-1.jpeg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="22738" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/15/mediocrity/mediocrity-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/mediocrity-1.jpeg" data-orig-size="500,376" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Mediocrity" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/mediocrity-1.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/mediocrity-1.jpeg?w=500" />

“If we’re ever in a situation where I am the “voice of reason”, then we are in a very, very bad situation.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/voice-of-reason.jpg?w=150&h=75 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/voice-of-reason.jpg?w=300&h=150 300w" alt="" width="640" height="320" data-attachment-id="22692" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/14/voice-of-reason/voice-of-reason/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/voice-of-reason.jpg" data-orig-size="640,320" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Voice of Reason" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/voice-of-reason.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/voice-of-reason.jpg?w=640" />

“Can you help me remember how to smile?

Make it somehow all seem worthwhile

How on earth did I get so jaded

Life’s mystery seems so faded”

~ Soul Asylum

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/runaway-train.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/runaway-train.jpeg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="22671" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/13/runaway-train/runaway-train/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/runaway-train.jpeg" data-orig-size="639,354" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Runaway Train" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/runaway-train.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/runaway-train.jpeg?w=639" />

“A blossom can’t be forced open. Be gentle with yourself … You’ll bloom when you’re bloomin’ ready!”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/blossom.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/blossom.jpg?w=300&h=200 300w" alt="" width="640" height="427" data-attachment-id="22665" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/12/bloom/blossom/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/blossom.jpg" data-orig-size="640,427" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"7.1","credit":"","camera":"ILCE-7","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"70","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Blossom" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/blossom.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/blossom.jpg?w=640" />

“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg?w=150&h=75 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg?w=300&h=150 300w" alt="" width="640" height="320" data-attachment-id="22660" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/11/pain-12/pain-13/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg" data-orig-size="640,320" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Pain" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg?w=640" />

“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg?w=150&h=75 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg?w=300&h=150 300w" alt="" width="640" height="320" data-attachment-id="22660" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/11/pain-12/pain-13/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg" data-orig-size="640,320" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Pain" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/pain.jpeg?w=640" />

“Be patient with yourself. Self-growth is tender; it’s holy ground. There’s no greater investment.”

~ Stephen Covey

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/self-growth.jpg?w=150&h=113 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/self-growth.jpg?w=300&h=225 300w" alt="" width="640" height="480" data-attachment-id="22656" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/10/self-growth/plant-in-hands/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/self-growth.jpg" data-orig-size="640,480" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"8","credit":"","camera":"DSC-H5","caption":"Hands holding sapling in soil on white","created_timestamp":"1194117108","copyright":"","focal_length":"21.8","iso":"80","shutter_speed":"0.5","title":"plant in hands","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Self-growth" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/self-growth.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/self-growth.jpg?w=640" />

“Don’t confuse people who are always around you, with people who are always there for you.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/there-for-you.jpg?w=150&h=84 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/there-for-you.jpg?w=300&h=169 300w" alt="" width="640" height="360" data-attachment-id="22651" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/09/there-for-you/there-for-you/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/there-for-you.jpg" data-orig-size="640,360" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="There For You" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/there-for-you.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/there-for-you.jpg?w=640" />

“No matter how much snow may fall it will be gone by summertime.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/snow.jpg?w=150&h=108 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/snow.jpg?w=300&h=217 300w" alt="" width="640" height="462" data-attachment-id="22347" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/snow/snow/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/snow.jpg" data-orig-size="640,462" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Snow" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/snow.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/snow.jpg?w=640" />

“Nothing hurts more, than being told you’re useless by the person you wanted to help the most.”

~ Unknown

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/hurt.jpg?w=150&h=75 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/hurt.jpg?w=300&h=150 300w" alt="" width="640" height="320" data-attachment-id="22641" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/hurt/hurt/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/hurt.jpg" data-orig-size="640,320" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Getty Images\/Flickr RM","camera":"","caption":"Guilty","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"104626093","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Hurt" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/hurt.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/hurt.jpg?w=640" />

“Good friends help you find important things when you have lost them – your smile, your hope and your courage.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/good-friends.jpg?w=150&h=84 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/good-friends.jpg?w=300&h=169 300w" alt="" width="640" height="360" data-attachment-id="22633" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/06/good-friends-2/good-friends-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/good-friends.jpg" data-orig-size="640,360" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Good Friends" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/good-friends.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/good-friends.jpg?w=640" />

“You cannot flinch. Because if you show a single crack, we’ll see it isn’t a crack, but a chasm. And we’ll all fall in. So you must hold it all together.”

~ The Crown; Season 3

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/you-cannot-flinch.jpg?w=150&h=84 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/you-cannot-flinch.jpg?w=300&h=169 300w" alt="" width="640" height="360" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-22627" data-attachment-id="22627" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/05/you-cannot-flinch/you-cannot-flinch/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/you-cannot-flinch.jpg" data-orig-size="640,360" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"Courtesy of Sophie Mutevelian \/ Netflix","camera":"Canon EOS 5DS R","caption":"The Crown","created_timestamp":"1534093613","copyright":"","focal_length":"70","iso":"1250","shutter_speed":"0.002","title":"3","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="You Cannot Flinch" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/you-cannot-flinch.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/you-cannot-flinch.jpg?w=640" />

“Don’t borrow trouble on a debt you may not owe.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/borrow-trouble.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/borrow-trouble.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="22601" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/04/borrow-trouble/borrow-trouble/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/borrow-trouble.jpg" data-orig-size="470,315" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Borrow-Trouble" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/borrow-trouble.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/borrow-trouble.jpg?w=470" />

“Sometimes I’m confused by what I think is really obvious. But what I think is really obvious, obviously isn’t obvious.”

~ Michael Stipe

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/obvious.jpg?w=100 100w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/obvious.jpg?w=200 200w" alt="" data-attachment-id="22591" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/03/obvious/obvious/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/obvious.jpg" data-orig-size="426,640" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Obvious" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/obvious.jpg?w=200" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/obvious.jpg?w=426" />

At times ….. but, NOT today!

“I need to be alone. I need to ponder my shame and my despair in seclusion; I need the sunshine and the paving stones of the streets without companions, without conversation, face to face with myself, with only the music of my heart for company.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/i-need-to-be-alone.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/i-need-to-be-alone.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="22553" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2020/01/02/i-need-to-be-alone/i-need-to-be-alone/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/i-need-to-be-alone.jpg" data-orig-size="550,457" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="I Need To Be Alone" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/i-need-to-be-alone.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/11/i-need-to-be-alone.jpg?w=550" />