Hi, my name is Michele Anderson, and I started this blog because I want to help people feel more connected to their life and experience the joy and peace that comes with that.
For decades I struggled with anxieties that kept me from truly living my life and experiencing the peace and happiness that we all have a right to. Through the loss of a job, I tumbled down into a deep depression and finally realized that I had been living my life in survival mode completely lost.
Something inside of me wanted more than just to survive–I wanted to feel good about who I was. I started on a spiritual journey and read everything I could on the subject. Some of my favorite authors are Dr. Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Louise Hay, Dr. Judith Orloff, Don Miguel Ruiz, and Jon Kabat-Zinn. What I learned on my quest was that we all have a right to be happy; we just have to choose to be.
I realized that I was carrying a lot of negativity–the result of wounds from a bad childhood. I knew that I had to heal myself, but the first step in doing that was to forgive–a very hard task for me. I had to forgive everyone who ever hurt me–including myself.
My journey of healing led me to writing a book, A Daughter’s Journey Toward Enlightenment. I’m still looking to get this book published.* In the book, I take the reader on a journey of my life in the hope that by sharing my experiences I can help those that are suffering with the same negative emotions I had for my mom and myself, and maybe shed some light on helping us all to be mindful parents and better nurturers.
Thank you for visiting my blog, and please share your thoughts with me; I care about you.
Remember, you are not all alone on your journey, so ask for help when you are lost.
Sending love your way.
* 2018 update on publishing the book: I’ve decided not to publish the book in its current format and have set it aside for now.
Life as a Garden 
Hi Michele! I’ve nominated you for the Liebster award for new bloggers! http://wp.me/p1BT8Z-aY
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I’m honored. Thank you, Laur 🙂
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I love the way you write and I wish you every success with your book. Love Jenna 🙂
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Thank you, Jenna, for your sweet words of encouragement. I enjoy your writing too!
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Hi Michele! Thank you so much for visiting Word Share Junkie. I’m glad you enjoyed my latest post on not settling in life. I think you and I have a very similar purpose in writing, and I love to see others on a journey toward happiness!
Sonia
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Hi Sonia 🙂 Thank you for visiting my blog also. I look forward to reading about your journey toward happiness.
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You are very welcome. Thanks for following! Have a positively positive week. =)
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Michele,
Your writings are like a wonderful series of meditations. Thanks so much, I have read several today, but like all good meditations it’s wise to digest them slowly and not gorge yourself at a single sitting. Will be back for more!
😉
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Thank you Robert for your kind words 🙂
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Don’t forget kind thoughts and feelings, that were only represented by words…you really did make my day!
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You make me feel wonderful that I made your day 🙂 Thank you for reblogging Trust–what a wonderful compliment! You made my day also.
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Hi Michele very inspiring blog. Good luck with your book. I wish you every success. Lisa ❤
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Thank you, Lisa, it’s great to meet you 🙂
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Wishing you well with your book and your continuing search for peace for yourself and others…
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Thank you for your kind words and for visiting 🙂
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I just your way on writing (bare with my english) It touches the heart ..
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Thank you so much.
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sending you much peace 🙂 Peace in =’s Peace out 🙂 you will find your way…
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Thank you for your sweet words:)
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Thank you so much for visiting and following my blog 🙂
It is really appreciated 🙂
~Ankush
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You are welcome 🙂 Thank you for following my blog too.
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😀 x
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Thank you for following my blog Princess of the Light and I wish you all the luck in the world getting your book published! Have a blessed weekend!
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Thank you so much 🙂 I look forward to your posts.
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I would read your book! I’m so glad I found you here. Blessings. I look forward to reading more.
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Thank you, Audrey, I would love you to read my book! Thank you for coming by and for all your sweet words.
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No problem! 🙂
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I totally agree with you about how it is very important to surround yourself with positive energies/thinking/people/etc. That is something I wish everyone could learn! This world would be such a better place! I appreciate your contributions to this effort.
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Thank you, Nicole 🙂 I try hard to keep those positive energies going. I send them out to the universe every morning and night to help everyone.
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I awarded you the Awesome Blog Content award
Click here to get it – YAY!
http://hunt4truth.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/awesome-blog-content/
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Thank you Eric that’s so sweet of you 🙂
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Thank you for the follow! You have an awesome blog!
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And thank you for following me too! I love your blog.
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Awesome are you and quite an amazing journey you are on, we have some of the same teachers and I look forward to what you share and learning with you. 🙂 Thank you for being you! 🙂 Joe
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Hi, Joe, nice to meet you! Thank you for coming by. I welcome you as a companion on life’s journey 🙂
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What a kind and gently thoughtful ‘About.’ Eight years ago, someone very close to me suffered a kind of breakdown. He had a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering and had his own company – somewhere along the way he became overwhelmed and couldn’t manage it anymore. He spiraled downward to where he almost couldn’t function. That’s when I pleaded with him to come live with me and my family. He stayed for almost a year – in that year we went to therapists and there many, many days of conversations…ultimately, he stopped spiraling downward. He returned to a point where things leveled off. A few years later he met a terrific woman and they’ve since married and he’s happy again. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story.
AnnMarie
I’m glad you found your way back, too 🙂
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Nice to meet you, AnnMarie 🙂 Thank you for your lovely comments, and for sharing the story of your friend. I’m glad we both found our way back to a better life.
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This is a beautiful story AnnMarie. How simply wonderfully, amazing that you took in your friend and restored him. I am truly touched by your words. Thank you for taking care of your friend – somewhere inside me (through this story) I feel as if I am being taken in too and restored too. Marie 🙂
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Thank you, Marie.
Here’s to peace in 2018, and to unwavering faith in the spirit of compassion.
am:)
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💞
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Hey!! Congratulations. You got an award. I nominated your blog for Liebster award. Keep up the good work . Happy inspiring!
For details, please check this link-
http://inspiringevolution.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/liebster-award-wordpressi-like-this-award/
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Thank you, Deepa 🙂
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Hari Om, Michele,
Lately, I’ve seen a lot of blogs but I dont feel connected with all of them.
Its nice to have found you as a person through your blog. It takes courage to quit the rat race and create your own life, the way you want it. Where you do not live to satisfy the opinions of others.
Regards,
Krishna Dev
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It’s so nice to meet you, Krishna Dev. Thank you for your lovely words and following my blog. I look forward to following your blog and getting to know you.
All my best,
Michele
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Michele, you are always welcome in the garden of my thoughts “my blog: Grabyourmind”.
Sometimes, I try to be a little poetic in my conversations. At times I get too carried away in my thoughts. Be kind and bare with me. 🙂
Hari Om!
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Thank you 🙂 I am enjoying your blog.
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I saw a picture that looked like me at the age of 4. It was the exact same haircut and expression on the face. I clicked on the picture and it took me to your website. I don’t know the specifics of your childhood, but the journey toward healing had striking similarities.
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Hi, Joelle, thank you for coming by 🙂 That is very interesting how you found me. Those little picture poses and hair cuts were popular in the 50s and 70s so we may have been kids around the same time and had similar experiences. I’m glad you too found the road toward healing and a happy life.
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Michele,
If you haven’t published “A Daughter’s Journey to Enlightenment” yet, why not self-publish? If you go to smashwords.com there you can download “Smashwords Style Guide” for free, and Adobe Digital Reader as well. To create the ebook cover, YouTube has tutorials showing how to use Microsoft “Paint” for that. The style guide from Smashwords is essential for ebook creation – saves a ton of headaches. If its hard copy go to createspace.com (Amazon), a little more tricky than ebook, but the help is there. Then add an ebook version at Amazon. Everything’s free.
Jerry
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Hi, Jerry 🙂 Actually, I’m going to rewrite the book this summer. There are some things that I don’t feel the same about as when I wrote the book, and I have come up with some new ideas. Thank you so much for the information. I have decided that the only way to go is to self-publish. I’m going to look into the information that you have given me, it sounds really interesting–especially the Createspace at Amazon. As always, I just love it when you stop by.
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Hi Michele
I am featuring one of your posts at my page on Facebook. It is called Spiritually Awake. I’m wondering if you use Facebook. If so, I hope you’ll check out my page there and maybe even consider contributing posts. ❤
~ Eric
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Thank you, Eric, for featuring me on one of your blog posts! I’m not on Facebook yet. I thought when I rewrite my book and self-publish that I would then start up a Facebook page. If there’s any way I could help you with a contributing post I would love to.
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no worries… I’ll post some and let you know when I place them… I don’t know if you can view them if you don’t have a FB account though. Most authors have two FB pages (or more)… one for each book or discipline (etc.) and one for their interests that they choose to post. ❤ Eric
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Thank you, Eric. I guess that I better get with the program and get myself on Facebook! I’ll do that in a few weeks and let you know 🙂
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Many~way too many~can, and will, relate to your message, Michelle. It is evergreen, and something our present world craves, if we only knew it! Do let us know when you’re on FB 🙂
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Thank you so very much, Yayo! I think it’s my purpose to help in some small way all of us on the journey of life. I will be sure to let everyone know when I’m on FB. Thank you again for your kind words 🙂
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I meant them. And yes, Michelle, we are in dire need of help and healing. Every single hand contributes to mending broken spirits. Looking forward to seeing you 🙂
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Hi Michelle chanced upon your blog..I wish you luck with getting your book published. Can I just say that I had to google you as your Gravatar does not take you to your blog which means you are probably missing out on a lot of hits ( I was the same ) until another blogger pointed it out for me and the travel to mine has now increased wholesale. If you get stuck I will send you a how to do it 🙂
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Thank you for visiting my blog–it’s so nice to meet you! Thank you also for wishing me luck with my book. I need to get started with re-writing it. My goodness, I had no idea that my Gravatar is not working. I will look into that for sure. If I get stuck, I will appreciate the help.
All the best to you 🙂
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Nice to meet you to…I was the same as I said Michele and it’s actually amazing how many gravatars do not link to blogs 🙂 Let me know if you need help 🙂
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Michele, I hope you continue working on getting your book published. It sounds like you have much wisdom to share with the world!
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Thank you so much, Denise, and thank you for visiting my blog 🙂
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I am glad I am knowing you more. We are all together in this journey : )
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So good to know you too, Khris, and to have you with me on our journey.
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same here Michele! Be happy!!!! : )
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Your words above moved me…
Thanks for sharing a bit of your life… I am pleased to know you and glad to connect. Have a good week… Best wishes. Aquileana ☀️
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Thank you so much 🙂 It’s wonderful to get to know you too.
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I am pleased to meet you. 🙂
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Very nice to meet you too, Nomzi 🙂
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You are most welcome Michele and thank you for your support too. Have a lovely morning. 🙂
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🙂
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What an inspiring and helpful intro 🙂
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Thank you, Alex, I’m so glad you like it 🙂
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Hi Michelle!! Can you email me at warriorprincesscait@gmail.com? I wanted to talk to you about your blog and writing as a contributor but I can’t find a contact form on your blog. If this is something you aren’t interested in, no pressure or worries. Love your blog and you are fantastic. Best of luck! Hope to hear from you.
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Hi Michelle, how are you, I’ve been following you from my previous blog, since will no more longer that active in that, I decided to follow you in here, my new blog , for some reason that I love reading your personal thoughts.. Have a good day..
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Nice to meet you, Zy 🙂 Thank you for following my blog and I’m glad you enjoy the posts.
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Yeah, keep posting Michelle.. ( : Have A Good day..
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what a lovely site!
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Thank you, Daal 🙂 It’s so nice to meet you!
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likewise, Michele 🙂
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I can’t believe I have not read your ‘About’ page before now Michele. Have you published your book yet? I realise it’s years since you wrote this page – so you probably have. 🙂
“I realized that I was carrying a lot of negativity–the result of wounds from a bad childhood. I knew that I had to heal myself, but the first step in doing that was to forgive–a very hard task for me. I had to forgive everyone who ever hurt me–including myself” – I can so identify with these words. It’s taken me ages to forgive – such a difficult thing to do when those who hurt you were supposed to have loved and taken the most care of you. I’m happy you were able to do this and bless us with your wisdom. Well done! Marie
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Thank you, Marie for your lovely kind words 🙂 No, I never published the book. I tried a little bit to find representation so I wouldn’t have to self- publish, but no one seemed interested. Then I got busy with everyday life and sort of forgot about the book for awhile. Later on, I thought maybe I’d just self-publish, then something happened–I wasn’t the same person anymore that wrote the book. Things in my life changed and I started to see my whole life in a new perspective. I’ve thought about changing the book to be more of a mother/daughter or parent/child theme, but I just have been too busy to sit and think about it. You have reminded me that I should update my “About Me” page–ha, ha, and that maybe I should take the time and rewrite the book. Thank you for your encouragement.
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You are welcome Michele.:) Sometimes the book doesn’t need to be read by others. Sometimes in writing we ‘heal’ ourselves and change, taking a different and better path. I hope this is the case with your book,💞
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I think it is 🙂
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As you observe, we are, in fact, never alone.
The greatest treasure the Great Cosmos has bestowed upon me is the enlightenment, the knowledge, that all things are equal throughout the limitless universe. I am kindred to every fly and leaf and grain of sand, every comet and meteor and star nebula.
It’s a wondrous feeling of belonging, and I am indeed, never alone. Wherever I am, the cosmos reassures me, “I’m right here.”
Seek peace,
Paz
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Beautifully said Paz!
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Thank you for following:) Made me very happy:)
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You are very welcome 🙂 Thank you for following me.
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Dear Michelle, I hope your wonderful book gets published soon. Pray that it goes to the world, enriching them and you in multifarious ways.
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Thank you Parnett, I appreciate that 🙂
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Nice to come by your blog. Also welcome to visit mine, hoping my travel tales bring some joy to you. Bliss.
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Thank you for dropping by. I will certainly visit your blog.
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