Phoenix: Live Love Laugh

Reflections from a Grateful Heart

Today has been filled with reminders of grace, presence, and divine timing. Thoughtful Tuesday, where it all began. 

This morning, my friend Anatashia sent me a quote that stirred something deep inside me: 

“Replace your doubt with confidence. You are a fighter with faith. That means if you fall, you get back up wiser, more resourceful, stronger, and more determined every single time.” 

It was just what I needed to hear. That quote ignited my motivation—and set the tone for the day. 

Later, I stepped outside to check the mailbox, and to my surprise, there it was: the author copy of my first girls’ Spring coloring book, delivered a full day early! I had stayed up until nearly 4:00 a.m. this past weekend finishing it and seeing it in my hands brought tears to my eyes. Proof of perseverance. A reward for not giving up. 

Just as I sat down to write this very blog, a chime from the Ring camera interrupted me. A salesman was at the door. We started with business, but—like it often happens with me—we ended up in a deep conversation. He told me there was an aura about me. Something peaceful. Something comforting. He said he felt at ease in my presence. 

It wasn’t the first time I’d heard that. 

Back in 2019, I had two surgeries in Texas, including my left shoulder replacement. I remember waking up from surgery and noticing a dietary worker standing silently in the doorway, just smiling at me. I smiled back and asked, “What?” She replied, “You have a halo over you. A glow—for someone who just came out of surgery.” We spoke a little, then she asked if she could come sit with me after finishing her rounds. And of course, you know me—I said yes. 

Before that moment, I had a similar encounter at an AT&T store. A young man walked over and told me, “You have a light in you.” I looked at him, puzzled, unsure what he was seeing. He said, “You can’t see it, but I can. You radiate something.” My son often jokes about it, saying strangers tend to open up to me instantly—even in Walmart. He’s convinced that’s why he avoids shopping with me. I always remind him, “That’s not my fault—you’re just an introvert!” 😊 Most salespeople who knock on my door always tell me there is a presence about me.

I even looked up the word aura. The dictionary defines it as “a distinctive and pervasive quality or character.” It can also refer to a sensory experience—often visual or emotional—like an energy you can’t quite explain but definitely feel. 

While I don’t fully understand all the science behind it, I’ve come to accept this:
Even when I can’t see it myself, I’m grateful that my light shines for others to feel.