That good kind of sore, the fun kind of work.

I really enjoy productive friend dates. I think the ‘raising the barn’ type stuff that we do together is just as important as going out for coffee.

Friends and Family, Relationships, GardeningMeredith LyonsApril 12, 2024friends, gardeningComment

The one where Cloud has emergency surgery.

PSA: Those cute pictures of kittens playing with balls of yarn are false. Cats and string can make a deadly combination.

Friends and Family, Health, PetsMeredith LyonsDecember 29, 2023cats, petsComment

The best part has been you.

Am I excited? Yes. (Am I exhausted? Also yes.) I’m proud of myself, I’m super happy that Ghost Tamer is out in the world, and I’m thrilled to be able to call myself a published author. But honestly the best part of this week has been having you all cheering me on. Thank you

Friends and Family, WritingMeredith LyonsSeptember 22, 2023friends, family, writing Comment

On interspecies relationships.

I keep a creature in my house. I feed him dollar bills.

Friends and Family, PetsMeredith LyonsSeptember 8, 2023cats, petsComment

Let's talk about our changing bodies.

As a society, I think we’re getting better at openly discussing these things unapologetically, but I think it’s still important, maybe even more important, to shine a light on these personal experiences as we move through them. I’m in my mid-forties, which is almost like a second puberty. Just when I had my body figured out, it’s changing on me again.

Fitness, Friends and Family, Health, Kindness, Mental Training, Relationships, Resilience, WomenMeredith LyonsApril 7, 2023women, health, mental trainingComment

In my day, we didn't have school shooting drills

This is the absolute last thing I wanted to write about this week. But honestly, everything else seems trivial, so here we go, I’ll try to keep it short.

Friends and Family, Grief, LossMeredith LyonsMarch 31, 2023family, loss, love, politics, grief Comments

Finding joy through shared discomfort.

Nothing’s ever as terrible when you go through it with friends. (Even Malӧrt.)

Friends and Family, HumorMeredith LyonsMarch 24, 2023friends, humor Comments

Seven Bullets for Forty-Five Years Around the Sun

This one is going to be shorter because it’s my birthday, the weather is decent so I’d like to get outside, and my best friend from New Orleans is flying in this afternoon. We’ve known each other for thirty-five years and haven’t seen each other since the Before Times. So, here are a few bullet points from the other side of forty-five.

Friends and Family, RelationshipsMeredith LyonsMarch 17, 2023friends, RelationshipsComment

An Affection for the Darkest Days

I love that we, as humans, regardless of what ritual we may or may not be observing, collectively throw up lights against the darkest time of the year.

Friends and Family, Holidays, Relationships, TraditionMeredith LyonsDecember 23, 2022Gratitude, friends, family, HolidaysComment

NaNoWriMo ~ Was it worth it?

At the beginning of November, I posted an entry detailing my decision to participate in my first NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), a writing ‘contest’ held every November. It’s free and the goal is to get to 50,000 words by the end of the month. Now that it’s over, here are my takeaways.

Friends and Family, Motivation, WritingMeredith LyonsDecember 2, 2022writing, friends, Motivation Comments

All Ships Rise: On asking for help.

Asking for help can be intimidating. There are three things I believe to be true:

The first ‘yes’ generates confidence and makes it easier to go after the next one.
People, as a rule, want to help where they can.
When you get those yeses, reciprocate. There’s always something you can give back.

Friends and Family, Marketing, Relationships, WritingMeredith LyonsNovember 11, 2022Relationships, Creativity, MarketingComment

Living Car-less

Our car broke down. And we got to see both how much we’ve come to rely on having a car in three years, and how much we’re actually able to do without one.

Fitness, Friends and Family, HealthMeredith LyonsSeptember 2, 2022change, healthComment

In which Dean has a seizure and I'm not there.

Dean has epilepsy. I’ve known this as long as I’ve known Dean.

Share your joys, share your sorrows

Find people in your life who will lift you up, no matter how high or low you already are. Don’t be afraid to share your joys and sorrows.

Our dance with Covid

Dean contracted Covid from somewhere. We managed to distance in an 800 square foot house and I didn’t get it. Here’s the breakdown.

Fitness, Friends and Family, HealthMeredith LyonsJune 24, 2022COVID-19Comment

Kitty Health Scare

Aang scared me to death on Tuesday, but we’re all good now! And if you haven’t heard about it, Chewy.com has an amazing service where you can live-chat a vet.

Friends and Family, PetsMeredith LyonsJune 10, 2022Pets, familyComment

Seven Years After

Dean and I are celebrating our seven year wedding anniversary this weekend. Over ten years together. I’m looking back on what I’ve learned about marriage as well as the advice I would give my pre-married self if I had the opportunity.

Friends and Family, Marriage, RelationshipsMeredith LyonsApril 22, 2022Married Life, RelationshipsComment

Vacation? You mean go somewhere?

After being shut in for so long, what’s it going to look like when we try and step out? Vacations? Dinners? How’s that working for everyone?

Then and Now: A couple decades later

My kindergarten friend, Aerie asked me to write today’s post in a compare and contrast theme. Specifically, comparing how I was at twenty to how I am now.

Hormones and Winter, a one-two punch.

It’s not your imagination. Your PMS is probably worse in the winter.

Fitness, Friends and Family, Holidays, WomenMeredith LyonsDecember 17, 2021health, womenComment