A simple goal. Write weekly, forgive myself if I miss a week, or even two, and keep writing for my blog. By 2022, I had accomplished half-consistently posting at this rate. As a university student, that felt good. If I could continue like that, I could start seriously working on my other goals: grow myContinueContinue reading “Why I Stopped Writing at the End of 2022”
Author Archives: mandyraclark
Why You Might Be Feeling Negative
As a little girl, I loved to play all day. I would play and play and play, and sometimes, everything would go right. I’d get to have my favorite lunch, Chef Boyardee, spend some time at the pool, and go outside with my dogs. Then, near the very end of my day, something bad mightContinueContinue reading “Why You Might Be Feeling Negative”
Start of School Anxiety
University, high school, elementary school. No matter the grade level or the age, going back to school can bring amounts of anxiety that topple over even the most confident, smartest students. As a person who qualifies as neither of those, I’ve surprisingly only felt slight dread at losing my summer freedom. Except for this year.ContinueContinue reading “Start of School Anxiety”
The Secret to Giving the Best Gifts
Giving presents can feel like a lot of pressure. One might think they know someone inside and out . . . and still have no idea where to start. This uncertainty might lead to ghastly gifts that result in historical disappointments. After enough “failures,” one might even take out the sharpie and right on theirContinueContinue reading “The Secret to Giving the Best Gifts”
God Guiding the Heart and Mind
This talk was given in a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sacrament meeting on Sunday, June 12, 2022. Good afternoon brothers and sisters. In case you don’t know us, my name is Mandy, and that was my husband, Josh. He’s from Massachusetts; I’m from Nebraska. We both served in the same mission, butContinueContinue reading “God Guiding the Heart and Mind”
When My Sock Fell into the Toilet
On one recent day, I had brought my exercise clothes with me to work. I could conveniently walk over to the gym once I had finished my job, change in a bathroom stall, and lose little time in the process. This was not my first attempt at saving time this way. I had done thisContinueContinue reading “When My Sock Fell into the Toilet”
Finding Time to Do What You Love
Ever been a full-time student during a spring term and had a job and ran a blog and had 2 books and a journal article you were working on for publication? Yeah, me too. To stay on track to graduate by next April, I’m not taking a break from classes this summer. I’m officially aContinueContinue reading “Finding Time to Do What You Love”
Under a Foot Away from My First Kiss
Warning: This story contains moments that may move you to cringe, gasp, and frown at the unlikelihood of the following unfortunate events. Now, let the story commence. Every Saturday, the grocery stores fill with shoppers, and in Utah, most money-wavers want to purchase their puddings and pasta before Sunday—the day of rest. So, I don’tContinueContinue reading “Under a Foot Away from My First Kiss”
The Nightly Triple Tens
In a month or less, I’ve changed my bad days to good days, and the outcome of my days have improved due to a practice I’ve implemented into my nightly routine. I call it “The Nightly Triple Tens.” Before I began doing these triple tens, I looked at life and sometimes felt “meh.” It wasContinueContinue reading “The Nightly Triple Tens”
Mother’s Sonnet
The womb and heart overflowing with loveSome mothers’ role began with one small spark:Deciding to welcome home the new dove,And now begin her most selfless embark. The womb empty, but the heart overflowsWith longing, love—feeling liens du choixFor with no child, it was this they still chose:To give age, ear, heart, hand to those theyContinueContinue reading “Mother’s Sonnet”
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