Plots Twists & Pep Talks

Words to Inspire:

“Resilience is not about how you endure. It’s about how you recharge.” — Author, Shawn Achor

Leave it to our dog to remind us how to recharge in style. While it might seem like we’re mildly obsessed with our pets — and as empty nesters, that's a fair point — there’s truly nothing like the antics of our current Mad Dog to inspire moments of reflection or at least a good story. Case in point, the dramatic side-eye she's giving in the picture below. The epitome of recharging—with a side of sass.

She is my constant reminder of how important it is to take time to pause, recharge, and reflect, and of course, wag our own tails. So, here's to embracing life’s little dramas (more on that below), bouncing back and never underestimating the power of chilling with the perfect iced coffee to keep us moving forward.

MAD DOG MOMENTS:

Short Memory/Letting Go

Dogs are resilience in motion. They don’t dwell on the past, they don’t overanalyze—they shake it off (literally) and move on. If our current Mad Dog has taught me anything, it’s that a short memory for the negatives and an enthusiasm for the moment can take us further than worry ever will. 

Recently, we left her for over a week while we went on vacation. When we finally arrived home in the middle of the night, she erupted into a full-blown lecture—yipping, barking, and jumping around as if listing every single grievance from our absence. A most dramatic scolding indeed. But within moments, she'd flopped onto the bed between us with a heavy sigh, snuggling in as if to say, Fine, I forgive you… but no more leaving me to sleep outside like a commoner. And just like that, all was right in her world. Oh, to be a dog!

HEALTH HABIT/HACK: 

Make Your Tail Wag

A naturopathic doctor once told me to do something every day to “make your tail wag.” Simple, right? Find joy. Every. Single. Day. Sometimes it's as simple as treating myself to my favorite iced coffee from my favorite barista. Okay, let's be honest. It's always about getting my favorite iced coffee, even if the barista changes. 

Resilience isn’t about perfection—it’s about adaptation. There are trillions of chemical reactions happening in our bodies at any given moment, so oversimplifying health advice (like “sugar gives you cancer”) is not only misleading but irresponsible. Health is about balance, and sometimes, joy itself is medicine.  

For me, joy can mean embracing small pleasures like watching sunsets, taking a drive, or listening to my favorite playlist. Sometimes it means cheesecake for breakfast on vacation with my favorite people. Because while eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep are key, laughter and connection can trigger just as many positive chemical reactions as the “healthy” habits we try so hard to maintain. The key is knowing when to wag your own tail—and not letting something less important wag it for you. On that note...

ON THE WIP:

The Tail Wagging the Plot Twist:

Have you heard the expression "the tail wagging the dog?" It's a phrase used to describe letting a small or unimportant thing control a larger, more important thing. Ever a fan of cliché sayings, I’ve always appreciated this one: “there’s nothing new under the sun.” And while it’s usually meant to remind us that everything has been done before, sometimes the universe likes to really drive that point home—and provide an opportunity to remind me who’s in charge of wagging my tail. Spoiler: it's me. I'm in charge. But sometimes we like to test that theory. Let me explain...

You know that moment when you're on vacation and you think you’re being super productive—reading a book for both fun and research—only to realize the female main character not only has the exact same name as your FMC but also shares the same sweet nickname given by the MMC? Cue minor vacation meltdown.

For a second, it felt like the universe had flipped the script on me. But after some deep breaths (and maybe a little cheesecake therapy), I reminded myself: stories are more than just names. My characters, their journey, and their emotional depth are uniquely mine—and vastly different from the book I’d just read (for the record). So instead of letting this moment derail me (forever), I’m pressing forward. But, full disclosure, it's still there in the back of my mind.

What would you do in my shoes? Granted, we’re not talking about a world-renowned book here, but it’s definitely not from an unknown, obscure author either. There are bound to be comparisons, especially since we write in the same genre. 

Would you push ahead as planned? Some have suggested I change the name to avoid any issues. But, just so you have all the information...this name is the basis for my 3-book series, titles included. Hence the mini meltdown. I'm eager to hear your thoughts. Give me the good, the bad and the ugly. I'll wait...holding my breath. Take your time. Just kidding...about the breath part. But I will be waiting...eagerly. 😉

BOOKS and BEATS:

And while we're on the subject of books and current reads, I was gifted the opportunity to read another ARC (advanced reader copy) of an unpublished book to carry me through the last two days of vacation. Aaand distract me from the WIP name drama. This author is currently querying her work and hopes to be traditionally published. So, while the book is not available to purchase, I can't stop thinking about it, and wish I could pass it on to everyone I know. It's a strong debut from Author, Jessica Belshe, called Hunting Autumn. Feel free to check her out on instagram. If you like Verity, you'll like Hunting Autumn. Fingers crossed it will be available to the world soon.

And here's your beat: My FMC is all about old-school music, so my playlist is filled with classic covers. One I’ve been loving lately is Kelsea Ballerini's live version of Landslide. Speaking of Kelsea, I'm heading to her show next week with my adult kids. We’ve had these tickets for a while now, and we can’t wait! Music really is the cure for what ails you—or at least a great tail wagger. I’m just glad there’s no nanny cam in my car when I’m giving free concerts to my windshield. Because let’s be honest, I’m shamelessly in my feels, belting it out to my steering wheel.

Until next time, wishing you all good health, good books, and something special—whether it’s iced coffee, music or a moment—that makes your tail wag every day. 

Carol