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Non-Resolution New Year Bliss

Jan 2
1 min

Non-Resolution New Year Bliss

New Year’s resolutions are, bar none, the best way to fail because they’re often too unrealistic to be achievable. So that’s my New Year’s wish for you, that you commit to non-resolution like the kind Kelly McGonigal, author of The Willpower Instinct, talks about in an interview titled How to make a New Year’s non-resolution. She says if we want to change a behavior, we simply commit to what we’re already doing. By seeing our current activities clearly (how many cigarettes we

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Sister Sue Bliss

Dec 26, 2022
1 min

Sister Sue Bliss

My sister, Sue, was born on Christmas day just a few short decades ago. She and my older sister, Dee, and I have been a team our whole lives. I know sibling relationships can be an iffy thing. If you don’t have as close a bond as you’d like with your sibs, I hope you have friends who’ve got your back. We all need people like that! Who’s that person (or people) for you? ___ For updates about Martha’s forthcoming memoir, Bliss Road (June 2023), historical novel, The Falcon, the

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Hot Soup Bliss

Dec 19, 2022
1 min

Hot Soup Bliss

California has been a lot colder than normal, and I have a cold, two reasons hot soup is my current go-to. I’ve tried a lot of recipes over the years, but oddly enough, my three favorite soups come from this old, stained cookbook I think my mother-in-law gave to my husband when he started living on his own. Here are the three I love best: What are your favorite soup recipes? And yes, if you send them, I’ll make them. You all have handed me some pretty fantastic recommendation

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Funny Signs Bliss

Dec 12, 2022
1 min

Funny Signs Bliss

Gotta say, as a writer, it makes my day when I see a hilarious sign, either by those showing some good wit, or those unaware of the literary funny they created. ___ For updates about Martha’s forthcoming memoir, Bliss Road (June 2023), historical novel, The Falcon, the Wolf and the Hummingbird (October 2023), or other books, news and giveaways, subscribe to MarthaEngber.com. #blissroad #memoir #books #vineleavespress #nonfiction #mentalhealth #autism

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Dancing Bliss

Dec 5, 2022
1 min

Dancing Bliss

I’ve mentioned before how dance was my thing as a kid. I explain why in my upcoming memoir. In a nutshell: dance allowed me to let off a lot of steam. Imagine my amazement when, as a teen, I realized other people hated dancing! While some people just don’t care about dance, just as I don’t want to play football or skydive, other people have told me over the years about wanting to dance, but being discouraged by unkind comments from others or not possessing the body type they

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Idiom Bliss

Nov 28, 2022
1 min

Idiom Bliss

IDIOM BLISS I love idioms because they’re such a silly, nonsensical way to communicate, which might be the reason others hate them! If you love (or hate) them, here’s a list to read (or avoid): https://www.ef.edu/english-resources/english-idioms/ I like the unusual ones: — Bob’s your uncle — all mouth and no trousers — pardon my French — cat got your tongue? What say you? Are you an idiom lover or hater? ___ For updates about Martha’s forthcoming memoir, Bliss Road (June 2023

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Tree Bliss

Nov 21, 2022
1 min

Tree Bliss

I love the maple that grows in front of our house. First, the tree is situated in a tight corner by the garage, yet persists in growing forth into this huge, beautiful round canopy that every fall turns into a campfire of color. Secondly, the tree is to our house what a fancy ballgown is to a mannequin: dressing our house’s lack of interesting architecture into all kinds of posh. Do you have a favorite tree? ___ For updates about Martha’s forthcoming memoir, Bliss Road (June

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Taste Bud Bliss

Nov 14, 2022
1 min

Taste Bud Bliss

Thanks to Covid, nobody takes their taste buds for granted, especially who those who got the virus and lost their sense of taste (hopefully only for awhile instead of permanently!). The taste buds that speak to me most are those that yell out for sweet things. The minority are those that like bitter things. What taste buds are dominant for you? And no, I’m not a fan of cilantro. Everyone says they taste like soap, though I wouldn’t know because I’ve never eaten soap. ___ For

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Game Night Bliss

Nov 7, 2022
1 min

Game Night Bliss

On Saturday my husband and I hosted a game night. Always so much fun when we do! Here’s how we run it: Everyone brings the games they like and something tasty to eat or drink. We bring out a lot of our games. People choose a game and find others who want to play. Typically we’ll have 2-3 games going at any one time. Do you like to play games? If so, what kind? I love most word games and ones where you have to draw or act out concepts for your team. No Monopoly for me! ___ For

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Hallelujah for Halloween!

Oct 31, 2022
1 min

Hallelujah for Halloween!

I loved Halloween as a kid and still love it! We’d get home from school, put our costumes on and take off around the neighborhood. We wouldn’t come home until about 8:30 p.m., or our bag got too heavy. What's your Halloween story? More importantly, what's your favorite candy? Me: Snickers bars and candy corn. ___ For updates about Martha’s forthcoming memoir, Bliss Road (June 2023), historical novel, The Falcon, the Wolf and the Hummingbird (October 2023), or other books, ne

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Introvert or Extrovert?

Oct 19, 2022
1 min

Introvert or Extrovert?

In keeping with Monday’s post about solitude, today I’m writing about a book I loved: Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World That Doesn’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain. Written in 2013, the book made being an introvert trendy, which is somewhat amusing. The book is really meant to help introverts embrace their inner quiet in order to think about and enact big ideas, rather than feeling the need to be showy. Which leads to today’s question: How do you like to deal with big ide

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New Book: How Changing Your Perception of Time Can Make You Happier

Oct 12, 2022
1 min

New Book: How Changing Your Perception of Time Can Make You Happier

Yesterday I listened to a fascinating Hidden Brain podcast that featured psychologist and researcher Cassie Mogilner Holmes . The author of Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most, she talked about how we can make ourselves happier by changing our perception of time. Here are a few tidbits that stuck with me: — In studies where some people were told to think of their weekend like a vacation, and others were not, the former group

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Appreciating Native Americans Day

Oct 10, 2022
1 min

Appreciating Native Americans Day

While not Native American, I’ve studied for years about various tribes across America and am fascinated by the many different cultures, especially the music and artwork. This artwork, “Campfire,” is by Frank Howell, who died in 1997. If you’re interested in other contemporary artists, Sacred Arts Research Foundation has a great article on 10 Native American Painters, Schools and Styles You Should Know. Do you have any favorite Native American artists? Send URLs! ___ For updat

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52 Reasons to be Blissful Week 17: My Sister, Dee

Oct 10, 2022
1 min

52 Reasons to be Blissful Week 17: My Sister, Dee

As you know, I have two sisters and the oldest — though by no means old — is Dee. It’s her birthday this week, which is why she’s getting featured. That and she’s an awesome person who takes time to listen, has an adventurous spirit and loves little kids, especially her grandchildren. The photo of me (left) and her is from our most recent trip to Italy where we toured Lagazuoi, a mountain that was hollowed out to make a WW I rock fortress from which Italian forces could blast

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Happy Birthday, Mike

Aug 8, 2022
1 min

Happy Birthday, Mike

I had a pivotal moment at the end of my sophomore year in college. While driving through campus, I stopped at a crosswalk to let students cross. One of them was my new boyfriend, Mike. Rather than beep and wave, I just watched him. He moved easy, just going about his day. I knew then this was a guy I’d never change, and had no desire to change. And that was the beginning of a great friendship that’s lasted 39 years, 37 of them married. So happy birthday, Michael, my dear! You

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To Be Creative, We Need Our Sleep: A Podcast to Make That Happen

Aug 3, 2022
1 min

To Be Creative, We Need Our Sleep: A Podcast to Make That Happen

This really happened last week: Lynne (member of our community) recommended the Nothing Much Happens podcast. I downloaded an episode, and in the process could see the podcast had something to do with helping you sleep. That night while sleeping, my mind chewed itself into an angry hairball. I woke up both upset and unable to change my negative thinking. In the past I’ve tried commanding my mind to stop being stupid and relax; or to count; or to read for awhile: all with limi

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Book Review: "Automatically Hip" by John McCaffrey

Jul 15, 2022
2 min

Book Review: "Automatically Hip" by John McCaffrey

(You can also read this review on Goodreads.) This fabulous short story collection is automatically readable! Every story spotlights the brilliant, life-changing moments we all experience, despite our otherwise common lives. While all of the stories are worth reading, the book opens with what remains my favorite. Imagined moments from multiple viewpoints postulate about the true life ousting of jazz pianist Thelonious Monk from New York’s club scene after he was arrested for

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To Cuss, or Not to Cuss...

Mar 28, 2022
1 min

To Cuss, or Not to Cuss...

CUSSING — OR NOT — MONDAY Do you think swearing is therapeutic? The question occurred to me when I was scrounging around for a Swahili swear word — for a story, of course — and came upon cussionary.com, a dictionary of cussing in a variety of languages. To me, such resources are awesome because seeing row upon row of foreign words for the same crude concept shows a certain universality akin to music. When we get upset, only a particularly rancid word seems capable of conveyin

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7 Habits for a Healthy Mind

Dec 20, 2021
1 min

7 Habits for a Healthy Mind

I used to think I was enlightened about good mental health, but that I personally didn’t need therapy. Then I went through a crisis, one I talk about in my upcoming memoir Bliss Road (2023). Now I know differently, that all of us can use personal training of the soul to become our best selves. Having collected a lot of resources while writing my memoir, I’ll pass them along over time, including that of the Mental Health Foundation, a groovy organization based in Albany, NY, t

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