Amazing Astrid Asks the Questions

It's FRIDAY!  It's Ask Away Friday which is an excellent opportunity to connect and interview your fellow bloggers. Bloggers swap questions and answer them on their own blog.  We would love to have you join us.


Today I am swapping questions with Astrid.   Astrid is an amazing woman as she has had many challenges in her life that would devastate the average person.  She was born in the Netherlands, three months premature which resulted in health issues.  She is legally blind.  She also is autistic and has other neuro developmental conditions.  Yet, she maintains a phenomenal positive attitude and welcomes challenges, especially helping others who suffer from similar issues.

I am so pleased to have met her.  Here are the questions she asked me today:

Incredible Way to Connect with Bloggers #AskAwayFriday

It's FRIDAY!  It's Ask Away Friday which is an excellent opportunity to connect and interview your fellow bloggers. Bloggers swap questions and answer them on their own blog.  We would love to have you join us.

Today I am swapping questions with Christy Garrett of Uplifting Families.  Christy is a full-time mom and blogger.  She has an awesome blog giving daily encouragement to real families. She faces more than the normal challenges of motherhood as her daughter was born deaf and her son has attention issues.  Please have a look at her answers to my questions about her life.  

Here are the questions she has posed to me today:

1.  My mother-in-law had a small lump in her breast and had to have it removed a few months ago.  She is currently undergoing radiation and has to take medication for several years once she has completed radiation.  What advice do you have to give for someone who is struggling to defeat cancer?

10 Ways to Guarantee You Do NOT Make a Sale

Let's talk. There is a lot of information available on how to sell your merchandise. You can take a course, read a book, do research on-line. What I want to address here is how to be sure you don't sell. I am referring to the face-to-face or one-on-one sales approach.

Whether you are selling a car or a bottle of vitamins, certain things you do will help guarantee you do not make the sale. It has been said that trying to sell yourself is not as important as selling your product. Hogwash! Selling is ALL about selling yourself. Here is how to guarantee you DON'T sell. Think about it!

Starting with the 10th way not to sell.......

Afraid to Speak in Public? Two Secrets to Success

Public Speaking.   Speaking in Public.  Speaking to a large group of people. Speaking to a room full of your peers. There is an old adage that says some people fear public speaking more than death.

Speaking in public is my passion.  Motivating and inspiring people to do more, be more, laugh more, love more, and live better is the greatest reward.  Many people have a lot to share but are afraid to do it in a pubic forum. Two things that I have learned come from experience -- not a textbook or a public speaking course.  Master these two and your fears will be short-lived.

Will a Day at the Spa Remove the Smell of Sheep?

WHAT A SURPRISE!   I have been playing shepherdess to my daughter's sheep, six dogs and a cat while they are in Hawaii. My daughter and family -- not the sheep!  I love being here - in the wooded country, without the pressures of home and work.  I never expected to be compensated for helping her in this way.  It came as a complete shock when she gifted me a full day at the spa.  Not just any spa, but the Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara - 20,000 square feet of spa bliss.

My New BFF - Hurley the Sheep

Shepherdess.  What do you think of when you hear that word?  Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be tending sheep.   My daughter, Rochelle, hubby Thomas and little guy, William, live in a remote area on a large acreage.  They recently got some sheep.  They went to Hawaii.  The family....not the sheep.

"Mom, would you be able to take care of the animals while we are gone?"

"Of course, Honey.  You know I will."

"Mom......we got sheep."

"You got WHAT?"

Oh! To Be A Fly On The Wall

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall sometimes?  Just to see what goes on behind closed doors?  Here's your chance.  This is a group challenge sharing what is going on in our homes.

I have had my Blackberry Q10 for a month.  I walked into the telephone store yesterday.
"Hi, may I help you?"

I managed to maintain a smile, "Yes, you can throw this stupid phone away and sell me one that works properly!"

Never Give Up Hope - Guest Post

When Corinne Rodrigues, blogger, writer, motivator,  asked me to guest post on her blog, Everyday Gyaan, I was honored.  I met her through a blogging challenge at Write Tribe less than a year ago.  She has graciously taught this novice various aspects of blogging with a lot of patience on her part.  She started the blog at Write tribe to motivate and support her fellow bloggers and writers.  I know you will benefit by connecting with her blogs.

Thank you, Corinne, for this opportunity.  

Here is the guest post I did on her blog:   Never Give Up Hope  

Over the course of ten years of writing my memoir, I struggled to find the perfect title.  The message I wanted to convey to my readers was that it did not matter what you have gone through, there is always the expectancy that tomorrow will be a better day.  I received a lot of title suggestions from family and friends but nothing seemed to click until my daughter was designing the book cover and suggested 'Battered Hope.'  The more I thought about it, the more I liked it.  I realized it told my entire story in two words.


Please go to Guest Post on Everyday Gyaan to read more.

Related articles:

• Guest Post at Everyday Gyaan: How Gratitude Will Help You Cope