About Me

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As a young girl growing up in Middle Georgia with 2 older brothers and working parents, I was influenced in many ways—influenced by my hard-working parents who made sure we had a home-cooked supper on the table every night (which included sweet tea and cornbread with every meal), influenced by the church I attended every Sunday, influenced by people entering the world and those leaving it, influenced by good and bad decisions. In my 30s I discovered I had not just been influenced; rather, all these things inspired me. 

I have learned we should appreciate all those influences we encounter. Then, as we become adults, we can be who we are in our hearts, in our minds, and in our souls, never forgetting what and who made us who we are. Respect that all people are who they are because of how they were born AND how they were influenced.

One morning I was traveling on a plane to NYC for work, and I was seated next to an older gentleman. I have always felt drawn to hear others’ stories. On this particular day, I was exhausted. It was early and I just wanted to rest. However, he started talking and I was drawn in. As it turned out, he was a retired NY Yankees baseball player on his way to NYC for a reunion with the Yankees. I asked him all about his life, his influences, and his inspirations. After I landed and was in the taxi, I kept thinking about how “everyone has a story.” We ALL do. We ALL can inspire. 

After that day I began to notice how much I quoted my parents, my brothers, old bosses, and many others.  I then realized I may only remember a few moments, sentences, and memories from most people in my life, but I remember those things because they really spoke to me, and I should share and try to inspire others to the best of my “abili-tea.”

I truly believe we all have this “abili-tea” to communicate and reach out to others who may need to hear the same inspirations that have helped us along the way—those things that have helped us to be better people and make better decisions. But let’s face it—we’re busy, we’re tired, and we don’t always have the time to sit down and read a 300-page book.  We do, however, still want and deserve to enjoy a positive and uplifting message. With a full-time job, two kids, a husband, and an active social life, I feel the same way. I crave to be inspired and influenced on a daily basis.

So here I am, a non-famous average “Joanne” attempting to give you small, short, inspirational stories to read when you have just a few minutes at home, on a plane, at the beach, or wherever. These are small tokens from my life that I hope bring you a smile, a laugh, hope, comfort, confidence—positivity! If I can do only ONE of those things for ONE person out there, I have met my goal. Love to you all. Hang in there. Life is hard. Life is a roller coaster full of ups and downs and twist and turns. 

Serena

And this song, this song sums it up for me.  The first time I heard it, I must have played it back-to-back a hundred times!

I believe most people are good.   

https://youtu.be/e6EGQFJLl04