Sherri Ross

05
Nov
2014

The Hot 100 (and a giveaway!)

WAHOO! Champagne! Balloons! Confetti!

(Quite a difference from last night’s post, eh?) Today I hit 100 followers on my lil ol’ blog here. I’m thrilled beyond measure that 100 of you want to know when I have a thought or 20. Seriously though, I appreciate each and every one of you. And I can’t wait to see what this month (#bloglikecrazy) and the next year hold for us. I hope to relaunch this blog and my other sites under one roof and with a whole new look – more on that later. In the mean time, let’s get ready for the new year. It’s less than two months away, can you believe it? I, for one, would like to start living my life fuller, being more mindful, and really taking the time to do those things I’ve always wanted to do and tend to those relationships that need nourishing. Not to be completely selfish, but I need it. I’m at that point in life (almost 40!) where I value relationships and making memories much more than having status or material things.

In that vein, I’d like to share a book with one lucky follower that I’ll be reading in the new year. In honor of his visit a few weeks ago, I’m going to read The Art of Happiness: a Handbook for Living from His Holiness The Dalai Lama. I’ll be coordinating with the winner and hope to read this alongside them and have some meaningful discussions when we’re both done. Click here for your chance to win. You can enter once a day until the drawing ends on 11/13/14 and I’ll announce the winner shortly after. Happy entering!

04
Nov
2014

I’m over it

categories: bloglikecrazy, Death

I’m still going to blog today for #bloglikecrazy, but I received word that a former classmate of mine from high school lost his battle with cancer a few hours ago. I was beside myself when I found out last week they were sending him home with hospice, but had hoped it would be longer. Now I’m just a wreck. We weren’t close and hadn’t kept up with each other through the years, but it still hit me hard. I know there are reasons for everything, but he was 39! And with a family! Young children that will never know their father.

This is the second death in less than two months of a young father and husband that I know. It’s nonsense to me. I am heartbroken for their wives and children.

Say what you want, but I am angry. I am pissed off. I don’t understand. I know it’s not for me to understand, but it still bites.

More tomorrow. Maybe I’ll be in a better mood.

03
Nov
2014

I wish I had known then…

categories: bloglikecrazy, Life

what I know now. Don’t we always hear that? Isn’t it always the truth? Years bring experience and experience often brings wisdom. If I could go back, I would tell my younger self a few things:

It always works out. Maybe not the way you had hoped, but it always works out.
The pain subsides and eventually fades. It may never fully go away, but it definitely diminishes with time.
You’ve never been more beautiful.
Don’t dwell on the past. Learn your lessons from it and move on. It does you no good to wallow in it.
Be true to yourself. That’s the greatest gift you can give yourself and others.
Give more than you get in everything – love, charity, forgiveness, etc.
Hold your dear friends close for as long as possible. The years may ebb and flow, but you will always need your friends.
Be thankful – let it radiate from your being.
Ask for help when needed. Don’t try to do everything yourself or hold everything together alone. If you need a hand, a shoulder, a ride – ask. People aren’t mind readers, but they are usually more than willing to help if you ask. And just because they don’t offer doesn’t mean they don’t want to.
Listen to this song and LISTEN to this song. It has more truths in it in five minutes than you may learn in fifty years.

02
Nov
2014

But why?

categories: blog, bloglikecrazy

Photo Courtesy of BuzzFarmers at Flickr Creative Commons

I love irritating my husband like a 6-year-old sometimes, constantly asking why every time he answers the previous question. “But why?” Answer. “But why?” Some days he’s ready to throw me out the window.

Today’s “But why?” is about blogging. Why do you blog? I know blogging fulfills different needs for different people. Whenever I attend a See Jane Write event I love finding out what people blog about and why. It’s really interesting to hear the reasons behind someone purposefully taking time out of their day to sit down and write to strangers.

I blog because it helps me get things off my chest – bottom line. I am not a regular blogger (sadly), but when I do blog it’s usually because something made me feel a certain way, good or bad. I would like to become a more regular blogger and blog about more of my passions. I’m getting there…slowly. These days it’s because someone or something either brought me great joy, sadness, or some other reaction. I hate confrontation so I often vent on here.

I am a big fan of bloggers who write to tell a story or educate their readers on particular topics. I know exactly where to go when I need advice on cooking, branding, exercising, writing, reading, fashion, or just need good laugh. One day I hope people come to me for their information on xyz. I’m still figuring out xyz, but if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them in the comments below.

Until tomorrow!

01
Nov
2014

It’s time to get crazy

categories: bloglikecrazy

Today starts BLOG LIKE CRAZY! It’s a fun, 30 day challenge started by my friend Javacia, founder of See Jane Write, a few years ago. During November, we blog everyday for 30 days. I usually start strong and then peter out. Fingers crossed and mind ready to go strong all month long this year! Javacia always gives us great writing prompts to help in case we get stuck, but I want to build off that. What do YOU want me to blog about during the challenge, dear reader? Do you have any questions for me?

I’ll answer one that I asked a few of my blogger friends the other night during our Power Girl Book Club meeting: what is my brand? I’ve heard “You are your brand” numerous times from Chanda, Jennifer, and Javacia, but what did that mean for me? I wasn’t quite sure so I asked a few close friends their thoughts on my brand. They nailed it: my brand is Birmingham and building community. My passion for Birmingham is no secret and I love connecting people with each other and building those relationships. Kyra Sedgwick was The Closer….I am The Connector. So, look for more posts about Birmingham, connecting friends and community, and, of course, unicorns.