Thursday, December 28, 2017

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly -- Can there be humor in that?

Barbara Carter is a visual artist, author, and instructor.  Barbara is a memoir writer who connects with her readers to help them understand themselves.  Her stories offer hope and raise awareness about various issues including anxiety, depression, loss, grief, a difficult mother/daughter relationship, alcoholism and other addictions. 

She began as someone who didn’t think she had anything of value to say but through her various struggles has discovered that she has much to offer to the world.

Her art and writing have led her to the importance of healing wounds from the past so that one can live in joy and peace.






Monday, December 18, 2017

Is There Any Hope in the Hood?

Colleen Adams made an impact in the world of fashion, but it was not the legacy she wanted to leave.  After years as a fashion executive, she left the industry to make a difference in the life of urban teens.  Sacrificing her financial security Colleen carved an innovative path of hope by establishing Empowered Youth USA.  

In the depths of inner-city America, poverty and crime shape the lives of underprivileged youth. The children’s role models are drug addicts and criminals. Attending funerals of their friends seems as commonplace as hanging out at the mall and taking out the trash which might result in being shot to death. Electricity and functional plumbing aren’t guaranteed.
By stark contrast, Colleen Adams hailed from the racially segregated south in the 1940’s and climbed her way to the elite end of the social scale. But after accomplishing hollow success as a fashion and publishing marketing executive, Colleen heeded her life’s calling to tackle the hopelessness and despair of disenfranchised inner-city young men.
But could ONE person provide the means for youth from the most crime-ridden and poverty-stricken neighborhoods to actually achieve the American Dream?

Colleen's interview will inspire you and hopefully, challenge you to help bring Hope in the Hood.  She has the unique ability to see the real person inside kids whom society has tossed aside. 

Monday, December 4, 2017

When You Just Want the Pain to End


Lorraine Reguly
Lorraine Reguly, B.A./B.Ed., is an author and English teacher-turned-freelancer for hire. She offers 4 different services on Wording Well to help you with writing/blogging, and editing. Lorraine has helped many become published authors and she can help you, too!


In her interview, Lorraine shared her story of how she overcame suicidal thoughts that plagued her for years.  "Deciding what to do when you are suicidal is tough. You don’t know what to do. You don’t know who to turn to. YOU JUST WANT YOUR PAIN TO END."

Lorraine was raped when she was a 14-year-old virgin and tried killing herself when she was 15 years old.  She felt hopeless many times throughout her life.  She was a single mom who got involved with prostitution.  After going to school and becoming a high school teacher she quit teaching to return to prostitution. Her son ended up disowning her and in her pain, she smoked crack cocaine for 10 months. That was when she hit rock bottom.  There was nowhere to go but....up.

After she nearly died from a burst appendix, it was a major turning point for her. She realized she did NOT want to die!  She wanted to LIVE!

Thursday, November 30, 2017

How Would You React if Your Son said "Mom, I'm a Girl"

Judy Glenney
Judy Glenney is an author, speaker and a mover and shaker.  She wanted to compete in weight lifting but quickly realized there were no categories for women to compete.  Through a long process she started the competition sport for women nationally, then internationally, then into the Olympics.

She has won several championships, both nationally and internationally.  




As a late in life mom, she had only one son whose life was cut short by suicide at the age of nineteen.

Judy's story of her son's life will grab you from the beginning of her interview as it is about the very timely and sensitive issue of transgenderism.  

She openly revealed her emotions and frustrations both before and after her son's death.  She shares how she reacted to her son's wishes to become a girl to the guilt she encountered when he died.  

Judy shares how the public school agenda is too quick to embrace the transition for young children 

Friday, November 24, 2017

How to Take Charge of Your Health and Vitality

Kelsey Matheson
Kelsey Matheson is a serial entrepreneur and success coach for women. She transforms her clients at a cellular level and supports them in getting out of their own way!  

Kelsey is the Founder and Co-Owner of Anamaya Resort, a yoga retreat center in Costa Rica, and BE Outfitter, a backpack and outdoor gear company that helps put children around the world through school. These businesses, along with helping women live the lives they were born to live, have become her passion in life.

While many new and exciting ventures were happening, Kelsey had her daughter and subsequently suffered from severe depression.  Much discovery led to the recovery and the realization that Kelsey could help others. The call to coach was heard and kelseymatheson.com now serves as a hub for those seeking to benefit from either her business prowess, through private 1:1 training sessions, or achieve optimal health through her brand new e-course The Optimal Health & Conscious Living Academy.  

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

There is Always Hope -- You are Worthy and Valuable

Charlana Kelly
Charlana Kelly is an author of numerous articles and three books, “You are Not Here by Accident,”  “Reaching Out with a Message of Hope” and “In Search of the King's Court.”  Charlana's accomplishments are numerous; entrepreneur, pastor, community ministry leader, Podcast Host and CEO of SpeakTruth Media Group LLC. 

At the age of six, Charlana found out that she was adopted which sent her into a downward spiral into her teens and beyond.  During her interview, she delves into this subject and how it can affect kids.  

Charlana learned many truths on her journey such as:


What we expect to come to pass.....will

There is always hope -- you are worthy and valuable

Hopelessness is losing your expectation of good

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Seeing Something in it's Mess, You can See the Potential

Lori Gano is a speaker, teacher, and author.  Lori has a passion for broken women and she goes into the trenches to help restore these women in rebuilding their shattered lives.

Lori's career as a licensed general contractor and owner of a residential design and build construction company is what inspired her to help restore broken lives.

Lori was born into a difficult family life whose parents were alcohol dependent and severely mentally ill.  She struggled through abuse, neglect, panic disorder, PTSD, and anorexia. But she was determined to make something of her life which led her to help others less fortunate.

Marrying at 23, she was still suffering through panic disorder and anorexia.  She lost her mother-in-law to leukemia, became pregnant with twins but one was lost.  She lost her ability to work due to the high-risk pregnancy and they lost their home, cars and all their belongings.  They had to file bankruptcy and begin the process of starting over.  

Monday, November 6, 2017

How to Live Fully the Life You Did Not Plan - No Matter What

Rebecca Faye Smith Galli is an author and columnist who writes about love, loss, and healing. Surviving significant losses—her seventeen-year-old brother’s death; her son’s degenerative disease and subsequent death; her daughter’s autism; her divorce; and nine days later, her paralysis from transverse myelitis, a rare spinal cord inflammation that began as the flu—has fostered an unexpected but prolific writing career. 







The Baltimore Sun published her first column about playing soccer with her son—from the wheelchair. 400 published columns later, she launched Thoughtful Thursdays—Lessons from a Resilient Heart, a weekly column that shares what’s inspired her to stay positive.

Becky Galli was born into a family that valued the power of having a plan. With a pastor father and a stay-at-home mother, her 1960s southern upbringing was bucolic--even enviable. But when her brothe­r, only seventeen, died in a waterskiing accident, the slow unraveling of her perfect family began.

Though grief overwhelmed the family, twenty-year-old Galli forged onward with her life plans–marriag­e, career, and raising a family of her own–one she hoped would be as idyllic as the fam­ily she once knew.


Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Never Give Up On Your Dreams



Simone Pond
Simone Pond is an award-winning USA Today bestselling author of dystopian fiction and urban fantasy. As a young girl, she loved writing in her journal and making up stories, though it took several years before she published her first novel. Since then she hasn’t looked back. Pond currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their Boston Terrier. 


As a young girl, Simone felt overwhelmed with hopelessness, starting from the age of twelve when she realized her father was a drug addict and was selling drugs from our house. Her severely depressed mother locked herself in her room for about a year, while Simone muddled her way through puberty. She wanted to disappear. The shame was too heavy. She lived in the constant fear of her family being arrested.  She watched her father fading away before her eyes and at one point wished him dead.  

In rebellion she became an alcoholic who was severely depressed and manic. Simone went through two divorces which left her suicidal. This devastating event was the pivot point in her life when she made the decision to take control, get help and she turned her entire life around.  Now, she has a passion to help other young women who may be going through similar circumstances. 

Saturday, October 21, 2017

No Matter What Happened - You Can Still Realize Your Dreams



Madhura Joshi
Madhura is an Ignition Coach, speaker, and author who has made it her mission to help people bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be.

She helps people gain clarity, direction, peace of mind and conidence so they can move in that direction.





Madhura overcame severe depression, being abused as a young girl, and being kicked out of university.  At 25 years old, Madhura was told she would never walk again without the use of a cane and pain medications.  

She was able to pick herself up and turn her life towards a positive direction with a passion to help others who have to overcome trauma and major obstacles.  



Friday, October 13, 2017

Do You Want to Take Your Career to the Next Level?

Awilda Rivera is a result oriented Success Coach who has dedicated her life to helping others succeed.  Whether you are an Entrepreneur, Career Professional, or Small Business Owner  - Awilda has the tools to assist you in making the progress you desire.

The Success Conversion coaching method is centered on creating measurable results. As a Certified Success Conversion Coach, Awilda uses a step by step process to help clients realize their intentions & efficiently accomplish their objectives. 

This is a goal oriented coaching style where the primary focus is on helping the client develop workable strategies that will enable them to take the action necessary to achieve their desired outcome.





As well as the adversity and common pitfalls that many business owners and entrepreneurs face. I have learned that career professionals also encounter many of the same obstacles as they work to excel in their chosen fields; i.e. self-doubt, trouble with strategic planning, motivation, & execution.

Friday, October 6, 2017

Do Negative Circumstances Make or Break You?

Qiana Hicks
Qiana Hicks is a mother, a college graduate, a career professional, and an author. Her parents were drug and alcohol addicts, and her father spent most of Qiana's youth in prison.  She has an MBA with a specialization in finance and is now managing a team of IT resources for a pharmaceutical management company in Minneapolis.
Although her life can be categorized as that of a disadvantaged childhood, due to her mother’s substance abuse problems, her biological father’s absence, and her stepfather’s alcohol and drug addictions, she survived a tumultuous youth. Qiana and her siblings suffered from many forms of abuse, neglect, and poverty and had to raise themselves.
At age 15, Qiana became an adolescent-parent.  But she worked tirelessly to overcome the challenges of her past and positioned herself to face the obstacles of the future. She finished high school on time, then enrolled in college immediately after graduation, and raised her son while pursuing a college degree and building a career. 
Qiana REFUSED to allow her past to determine who and what she would become.  She used her experiences as opportunities and lessons for her future, making her wiser and stronger.  (I nicknamed her Qiana 'tenacious' Hicks and you will too!)

Friday, September 29, 2017

What is the Difference Between Visualization and Reality?

Beverly Walthour
Beverly Walthour, the owner of BCW Business Ventures, is a Business Strategist for women who work full-time and have an online business - or want to start one.  She has inspired hundreds of passionate women to confidently build their online business. 

Beverly is a co-author of the book, Tying the Knot Between Ministry and the Marketplace, and is an award-winning educator.  

During her interview, Beverly shares the fears and obstacles we often face when we want to venture out of our comfort zone and start our own business. Beverly can help you overcome each of these hurdles and become the success you want to be.

She shares how visualization can help you program your day - and then watch yourself fulfill it.