Sidetracked Stories

"I vow to stand by your side when the zombie apocalypse comes and should you be turned into one, I promise to let you bite me, so I can too be one and, therefore, stay by your side forever." --Tamara Sanon (contributor at YourTango.com) In today's episode, the Sidetracked Sisters pay homage to a popular wedding month (June) by reminiscing about wedding days.  It's a topic that has never before com...

"Sometimes," my mother went on, "I think of white dresses as a way of starting over. They're sort of a way of wiping the whole slate clean. Just like what happens in the wintertime when the snow comes. It wipes away everything in preparation for a new year, a new spring." --Mary Pflum Peterson (author of White Dresses: A Memoir of Love and Secrets, Mothers and Daughters ) Today I'm talking with Be...

" Yes, sitting in your car alone in your pajamas, chowing down on your favorite fast food and super-sized soda while rapping along to songs about drugs and money is a completely valid and oftentimes necessary form of self-care. "  --@Marrage and Martinis NEVER have I done any of these things, but I think the visual is hysterical! This week, the Sidetracked Sisters got together to write about...

"If you're going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can't be erased."  --Maya Angelou Legacy writing is a creative process that we HOPE our kids and grandkids will appreciate someday down the road! Today's guest, my cousin, Marcia Hero, isn't recording her life using only a pen and paper or a laptop. Instead, she is a visual artist who uses a variety of mediums to do this....

Would you describe yourself as a quantrelle ? Are you a bold woman who loves deeply, someone who lets go of pressure and false identity to follow your heart? Or, maybe you are a novaturient kind of person who desires or seeks effective change in your life, behavior, or situation. Perhaps you would describe yourself simply as a philocalist --a lover of beauty...one who finds and appreciates beauty...

" You already know the story that you should be telling that will break the chains of your past and bring healing to your present. This healing creates a ripple effect out towards your future, as well as to those around you. " --Codi Chen Today I am interviewing Codi Chen! She is the co-owner, with her wife, Renee, of HeartWorks Writing. She loves traveling, coaching writers, editing, and all thin...

" You'll never be bored when you try something new. There's really no limit to what you can do. " --Dr. Seuss I have to admit that writing about the topic, " My Greatest Fear " is NOT for the faint of heart! Besides writing, and sharing about a challenging topic, this new format of the four of us all on one Zoom call is taking some getting used to. Thank you for joining us for what is, at times, a...

" Everyone has a writer living in their soul. " --Maria Secoy (teacher/mentor/writer) Maria Secoy believes that your voice is the best one to tell your story. She has worked for more than 15 years with writers of all ages and levels of experience. She's on a mission to help women use the communication skills they already have to tell their stories.  Today we get together and talk about writin...

" Too many people spend money they earned, to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. " --Willl Rogers (American actor) I think we all know people like this and probably have succumbed to the temptation once or twice ourselves. This week, the Sidetracked Sisters got together to talk about money. We all had different perspectives and stories on wealth, money, and abundance. W...

"Stay committed to your decisions but, stay flexible in your approach." --Tom Robbins (American novelist) The Sidetracked Sisters definitely believe in the philosophy of flexibility. My sister, aunt, mom and I have been writing together for many years. Then, just 4 months ago, we decided to start this podcast to let more people know about "Legacy Writing". To do this, we would write together, and...

" The best bucket lists are simple and profound. Actually, I believe that the best things in life are both of those things, too. " --Julie Schooler (author of Bucket List Blueprint ) I think Julie and Judy must be soulmates from another life or time. This quote really speaks to Judy's mix of uncomplicated and serious items. She has both kinds on her checked items bucket list and on her current, in...

"The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." -Walt Disney I can feel Sandy agreeing with this sentiment. She gets so frustrated listening to big talkers!!! This week we are writing and talking about "bucket lists". We discuss Sandy's cottage dream and her desire to travel. Sandy also confesses a desire to go zip lining and go tubing...Who knew?

" I had a lot of insecure moments in high school, it wasn't all peachy keen. But I don't necessarily think that I hate high school and wanted to crawl into a hole either. " --Kirsten Bell Michelle uses the phrase "peachy keen", made popular by Rizzo in the movie "Grease". It embodies that perfect blend of sarcasm and ambiguity that is so perfectly her! Today we are talking about "Bucket Lists". Mi...

" The moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. Whatever you think you can do, or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, power, and grace ." --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe This quote has several variations, but they all have the same command "BEGIN IT". In this episode, Michelle and I talk about goals, bucket lists, and dream boards. We get into the fact that sometim...

"Stop setting yourself on fire to keep someone else warm." --unknown We figured out that my mom and Sara were friends for about 6 years. There were days, weeks, months, that turned into years where mom was trying to help her friend. Then one day, she had enough. Living through, and ultimately ending, that relationship was. very. difficult. This week the Sidetracked Sisters are writing about our "G...

"You're always one choice away from changing your life." --Marcy Blochowiak (author) But no one ever said that making that choice would be easy. And no one said that changing your life wouldn't be scary! This week, the Sidetracked Sisters are writing and talking about our "Greatest Challenge".  Throughout my life, I have always questioned, " What am I going to be when I grow up? " Although I'...

" Freeing yourself was one thing. Claiming ownership of that freed self is another. " --Toni Morrison Michelle began her self-discovery story last week when she talked about being a chameleon throughout her life. This week, we talk and write about "Our Greatest Challenge". We get into her separation and divorce story. The book "The 5 Love Languages" is a real eye-opener for her. Then, we begin wor...

"Let go of the illusion that it could have been any different." I don't know what wise soul uttered those profound words--but this is the beginning, middle, and end of healing. Today Judy and I talk about our "Greatest Challenge". We discuss her sister Kathy's illness and how it affected her development. We get into resilience, flexibility, and Judy's search for self. Then, at the end of our inter...

"Be yourself, everyone else is already taken." --Gilbert Perreira Throughout her life, Michelle has struggled with being a chameleon. She's tried to be what she though others wanted her to be or who she felt others NEEDED her to be. Over the years of this, it got to be that nothing felt...real. Music, food, activities. Others had favorites and opinions, not Michelle. She was willing to go along fo...

"Every time we start thinking we are the center of the universe, the universe turns around and says with a slightly distracted air, 'I'm sorry, what'd you say your name was again?'" --Margaret Maron (Amerian mystery writer) Learning that she WASN'T the center of the universe was a lesson that Judy learned from a therapist when she was in her twenties. It's not an easy lesson to learn and it takes...

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." --Matthew 6:21 "Show me where you spend your time, money, and energy and I'll tell you what you worship..." --John Quimby (pastor and author) "Tell me how you spend your time, I'll tell you what you value most." --Melody Wilding (performance coach and professor) Personally... screen time (whether on the tv, computer, or phone) is NOT whe...

"Parents can only give good advice or put children on the right path, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." --Anne Frank Sandy received some wisdom jewels from her parents that have served her well and that she hopes her kids and grandkids will take to heart also. This week, we are talking about Memorable Advice. Sandy received (at least) four profound pieces of a...

If you have definite opinions about the presence of Hawaiin rolls and plain jello at Easter dinner or, if your dog somehow channels your personality or, if you've ever considered that the item you're about to receive for Christmas is a three-foot dildo... then this is the episode for you! Michelle and I talk about how her kids each follow in her genetic footsteps when it comes to aversion to chang...

" Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are Anger and Courage. Anger at the way things are, and Courage to see that they do not remain as they are." --St Augustine  Although Sandy always thought that the perfect number of children in a family was three...she has nonetheless hit the jackpot with the two daughters she has!!! Today we talk about ALL the things! We discuss the fact that b...

"I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes on that I just assume you can hear."  --Maynard Keenan (musician) I know Judy loved having an only child in our interview. But I didn't actually ask her if she had wanted more kids. Being a step-mom and becoming Matthew's mom at 40 was pretty exciting! Today we discuss te...