Summertime

Hello everyone on the longest day of the year!

I’ve been busy with a few projects that have kept me from writing this blog, but I managed to shoot some photos along the way, not just in Pasadena, but in Coronado, California, a small “island” south of San Diego.

Also…a few weeks ago I was featured on a podcast! Here’s the link: charity-matters

Heidi Johnson was so generous with her time and allowed me to broadcast my story, along with June Penrod at City of Hope who has helped create the Dana Pepper Bouton Endowment Fund. We’ve raised over $40,000.00 thus far! This means many more families can get the supportive care they need while dealing with a devastating cancer diagnosis. A small donation of even $25.00 helps families pay for a meal or a few hours of child care. These donations add up to help hundreds of families FOREVER!

Besides the podcast and raising money for my fund, I just finished another writing class through UCLA Extension. I hope to receive another certificate, this time in Non-Fiction Creative Writing. Even though there’s a push to get back to the classroom and return to the office, online education is a lifeline for people who want continuing education. It’s magical to learn with people who live all over the world. Plus…deadlines anchor my days and keep me focused.

No time for a class, but still looking for more inspiration? Get yourself out of TikTok or Facebook Watch and…check out out this increasingly popular platform for writers: Substack.

Here are some of my favorite podcasts, quotes, and songs of late:

Local author, podcaster, and personal friend Lian Dolan has a podcast with her sisters Julie and Liz called Satellite Sisters. For over twenty years they’ve been discussing the news and latest trends with a light-hearted approach.

“Love is spelled T-I-M-E”—Ryan Holiday

“First decide what you want to be. Then you need the discipline to make it happen.” —Stoics

“What gifts we are given by simply holding and listening.”—Elizabeth Berg

“Learning to swim in the ocean of not knowing—that is my constant work.”—Suleika Jaouad

“Standing out in the Universe”—song and lyrics by Paul Weller written 2002.

Control your pace by pausing, listening, and capturing the important pieces of your day. Ask yourself, “what is my intent? What are the steps I need to take to stay focused while navigating the unknowns that swirl around me?” Hold onto the intangibles: love and kindness and generosity of spirit so you can “stand out in the universe.”

See you back on the blog soon!

dana pepper bouton