Plans and Goals

Our photo pretty much gives it away: this is a shameless (but very positive!) promotion for our book, Pictures, Pen, and Positivity. Life is full of small moments, the kind you almost miss if you’re moving too fast. But when you begin to look for them, really look, something shifts. Those moments start to add up. A glance, a laugh, a flicker of light - each can carry more meaning than we often realize. That’s the heartbeat of this book: imperfectly and honestly, we choose to

There you are on the tee box, shoulders squared, dreams high. You’ve got a plan. You’ve watched the pros on The Masters make it look poetic. You draw back, aim and swing with confidence. Then suddenly, instead of keeping it in the fairway, you’re deep in the rough contemplating life’s choices with a squirrel as your only witness. Sound familiar? Keeping it in the fairway is good golf strategy, and good life strategy. The fairway is that clear stretch between where you are and

All living things move and grow - animal, vegetable, and yes, even mineral if you give it enough time and patience. Winter is officially behind us, and “snow” is once again just a distant four-letter word we don’t need to use in polite conversation. Springtime has sprung, stretched, and yawned its way onto the calendar, inviting us all to do what nature does best: renew, repurpose, and refresh. Spring is generous with encouragement, especially if you like words that start wit

Do you know what you’re worth? What would you pay for your talents and services?

Abraham Lincoln said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” We agree—but maybe start by writing it down. Think of it like making a list and checking things off as you go. The first item might be “win the lottery.” (Who says this has to be nonfiction?) It’s your story. Creativity isn’t just allowed, it’s required. Just remember, you’re in the driver’s seat. If you decide on a beach vacation, that might be about four hours east. But if you decide to learn a new

Our patio table was blanketed by fresh morning snow. The colorful umbrella, bungeed tightly closed, crowned a three-inch overnight gift. Four chairs leaned forward, tipped carefully against the table, as if huddled together for warmth. At first glance, it looks like an ending: summer dinners on pause, and conversations packed away. But look a little longer, and it becomes something else entirely. This is what winter positivity looks like. There’s something comforting about ho

Life challenging questions show up early and often, without much warning. We’re expected to answer with confidence. Yet most days, we’re just staring at a page full of dots, pen hovering, thinking, Are these two dots supposed to connect to each other…or what??? Sheri: Life definitely has a very dry sense of humor. It rarely hands us the whole picture. We get hints, a nudge here, or a curveball there. Some dots are bold and obvious like birthdays, graduations and weddings. O

Life loves to serve us glasses filled to unpredictable levels. Some days, the pour feels generous, even bubbling to the brim with possibilities. Other days? Well, let’s just say we’re squinting at the dregs, wondering if the pitcher ran dry. But perspective is a choice.

Add Potential Energy - Sheri & Bill Weights on a rack are stored “potential energy.” Energy in motion (kinetic energy), occurs when you actually lift them up. And when you lift them repeatedly, you experience the heat energy you feel in your muscles (which is internal kinetic energy). Physics in action. Presto, you’re stronger and healthier. Ready to flex, do good deeds and create world peace. Some tasks generate a lot more heat than others. Writing a thank-you note is pretty

Perfection is a path, not a destination - or a bowling alley. You can aim for it, but don’t expect to live there. In bowling, the gold standard is the elusive “300 game,” ten frames of nothing but strikes. Even rarer? The almost mythical “900 series” which is three consecutive 300s. Only 40 bowlers in history have ever done it. That’s bowling perfection.

"Keep Going" (original photography by Sheri & Bill) We captured this image just after sunrise, as the path quietly led us through dunes and sea grass — a trail carved by the footsteps of those who had walked before, and others who wandered simply to see where it might lead. It felt like an “in-between” place: where land meets sea, where morning meets memory, and just ahead, the known gives way to something new. We couldn’t see the water yet, but we knew the ocean was just a

Set your course - Full Speed ahead! Sheri & Bill ...

Leaning out the car window and smiling at your reflection in the mirror is one of those caught-in-the-act-of-living moments that got us thinking about mirrors. So, where’s the metaphor about mirrors, you ask? (You know us – we always have a metaphor!) Mirrors—at least rearview mirrors—remind us that while forward motion matters, our past travels with us, offering perspective. The rearview mirror shows what’s behind us—like poor choices, life lessons, and that guy tailgating

Keep your eye on the goal! Sheri & Bill (original photography by Sheri & Bill) It was a perfect day for shallow waves and sandy toes—the kind of day where the ocean breeze carries just the right mix of adventure and relaxation. With our camera in hand, we weren’t just here for the sun and surf; we were on a mission. Nature’s food chain was on full display as local seagulls patrolled the shoreline, eyes locked on the prize. Each returning wave left behind tiny bubbles risin

If Winter Comes, Can Spring Be Far Behind - Sheri & Bill (Original photography by Sheri & Bill) If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?" ( Percy Bysshe Shelley) For us, it’s “WHEN" winter comes. We both lived in cold (very cold!) northern snow country in earlier years, so we remember what a “real winter” feels like. We happily concede that winter here in Atlanta is considered mild, but somehow that doesn’t make it any warmer. As a matter of fact, winter cold still evokes

FOCUS - Sheri & Bill (original photography by Sheri & Bill) “Focus on Goals”...whether it’s New Year’s Day or the middle of summer, it’s always a good time to set goals and make plans, as they stimulate hope for the future. You don’t have to be Don Quixote, a nuclear physicist, or a great philosopher solving world problems. Just pick something of positive value that bakes your cookies, do a little planning, and then act on it, right where you are. Focus on Goals - Sheri & Bil

Start each day with a grateful heart - Psalm 107:1p “Start each day with a grateful heart” Psalm 107.1… Thanksgiving holiday always reminds us to express appreciation. We are grateful for family and friends, their health and ours, where we live, what we have been able to accomplish, and our hopes for the future. “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the w

"The most certain way to succeed is always to try one more time" Thomas Edison (Original photography by Sheri & Bill) “The most certain way to succeed is to try one more time.” - Thomas Edison Breakfast at iHop one morning found us with too many creamers on our table to ignore. We started arranging the creamers, and after multiple attempts, we were able to create a tower of fourteen creamers high. Success was declared, and 14 high became

“Change is a constant in today’s changing world”. Might sound contradictory, (like a quirky quote from Yogi Berra 😊), but change can...

“Autumn ... the year's last, loveliest smile.” Sheri: This picture draws me in—I want to walk that leafy path. It reminds me of the...