Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
The Interviews
happened, it was music 24/7…pretty much the same as it is now. My first stereo came with two little
Oscar Winning, Grammy Winning, and Emmy nominated producer, engineer and mixer talks to Inspire Us
microphones, and I became fascinated with recording. I read liner notes and everything I could find on recording, which wasn't much back then. But this was the 70's. What was growing up like for you? Interesting…this is by far the toughest question to answer because it is something I never think about. I was very close with my younger sister, and played a lot of sports, baseball, mostly. The reason why this is a tough question is because I was bullied throughout my time at school. I dealt
Tell us a little bit about yourself.. My name is Robert L. Smith. I'm a Music Producer and Mix Engineer, based in New York City. I have been fortunate to have my dream career for all of my adult life. It has never been easy, but I am the most persistent
with it through sports and tools, becoming proficient at hitting inanimate objects instead of classmates. Needless to say, I was quite anxious to get away from everything about that life as fast as I could.
person you have ever met. Who influenced your life when you Where are you from, what you wanted to do when you were younger etc?
were growing up? Another atypical answer. The only people who influenced me were those
I'm from a small town in upstate New
that I did not aspire to be. I've always
York called Lagrangeville. Growing up
had a staunch refusal to live by what I
I was a book fanatic; that is until I
refer to as 'the template'. What is this
discovered records. Once that
template? It’s the one that society uses
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
to dictate everyone's life. The usual
How do you deal with setbacks now?
path of school-marriage-house-kids-
The only benefit of aging is wisdom. I
retirement-death. I've never been okay
truly built my career in the hardest way
with that and have done everything I
possible, no question. I made every
can to live a different kind of life. One
mistake possible and did so many
that was not dictated by someone
things wrong. Seeing how I got through
else's idea of happiness.
it and am still left standing, and in a better place than I ever could have
What were your ambitions?
imagined, a setback these days isn't
To be the best at whatever I chose to
really anything at all.
do Name three achievements you're most Did you ever feel you weren't going to
proud of.
make it?
I did it my way, without wasting time
To a degree, but that was other
taking useless classes that I'd still be
people's opinions. As you can imagine,
paying for.
this fueled me even more. I can be
I finally figured out what to do with my
relentless, to say the least. Which is
hair
exactly why 'Defy' is my favorite word,
I'm surrounded by only the best people
and why it represents the name of my company perfectly.
What do you think was the most important reason that you achieved them and why? Struggle brings strength and promise brings hope. Doing your best work and treating everyone with respect brings you strength and hope. You can build
How did you get over that?
anything when you have both.
By refusing to give up even when sanity suggested otherwise. I've been
What motivates you now?
called "crazy" more than a few times.
Silence and Peace. I lived without either forever and now that I have them I never want to be without. Those would not be a part of my life now if it
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
weren't for freedom and sanctuary, my
My Dad, Grandad, uncles were all in
other two favorite words.
the Royal Navy, my dad was a diver so every school holiday was spent by the
Contact Robert L Smith:
sea, rock pools, cliffs to climb, surfing
Twitter:
and snorkelling.
https://twitter.com/defyrecordings
All I wanted to do was join the navy, but I got no GCSE's from school. At
AJ Pingram
college a tutor called Val was trained in
Gold Medal winner at the
me totally different to school and I went
Invictus Games, winner of Disability Sports Award and the Denbighshire Sports Ambassador.
a new thing called dyslexia and taught onto get English, Maths and Science GCSE's with high grades so I could join the Navy as an Engineer. I owe a lot to Val she changed my life and I still talk to her now 24 years later. So I fulfilled one of my ambitions by joining the Royal Navy. While doing nuclear propulsion engineering training the instructors found an understanding of physics in me, I found it easy and enjoyable. It was suggested I go to university and study science. I then got selected for the Royal Navy
I grew up in Tamworth in Staffordshire
Hockey team of which I was so proud
a small town in the middle of the
and was even prouder when I was
countryside. A great place to grow up.
made captain.
Trees to climb, rivers to swim and fish
I was then injured while playing hockey
in, woods to camp in.
which not only ended my hockey
Not very academic at school (Dyslexia
career but also my Navy Career.
was not about when I went to school)
I was devastated but picked myself up and applied to university which I did
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
and became a lecturer in further
Follow on Twitter:
education until my disability got worse
https://twitter.com/AJPINGRAM
and I had to give my job up. I did another degree this time in science and loved every minute of it and
Scott McGlynn
started helping kids with dyslexia at
The Author, Celebrity
school. Then the Invictus Games came along
Interviewer who has also
and I applied to do the trials in
been voted in the Top 100
wheelchair Basketball after 6 months of training and trials I was selected for the team a very proud moment. We
LGBT list by the Guardian, talks to Inspire Us
then went to the games and beat the USA in the finals in front of 10000 people and I am now the very proud owner of a Gold Medal. My future plans are to represent GB at a Paralympics and I am training hard to do so! However my body is not playing the game and I have deteriorated, my GP thinks that I have got MS, I am not letting this stop me, I
Hi, Scott! Tell us a little about yourself,
am adapting I train when I can and
where you're from and what you do?
sleep when I have to.
I'm from Cardiff, Wales, and I travel
To prove its not stopping me, I have
back in forth to London for work. I'm an
been selected for the GB team for the
author and a celebrity interviewer.
2016 Warrior Games in New York.
Check out my site:
My advice to people is don't deal with things on your own communication is key! I have anxiety and depression but
www.scottmcglynn.net What was growing up like for you?
I talk to my councilor and my family
Being a gay man in the late 90s early
and this makes troubles and worries a
2000 was hard. Going through high
lot smaller Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
school, getting bullied for who I was
Being the TOP 100
and trying to accept myself was hard!
LGBT inspiring people by the Guardian
When I got older working and being a
and Out New Global, With my idols Ian
young adult I soon found myself and
Mckellan, Ellen, Sue Perkins; that was
accepted who I am. I haven’t been
an honour!
more proud to be a gay man with a fiance I love with all my heart.
Working with some amazing people worldwide in the LGBT community
What job did you want to do when you
and anti-bullying charities
were young and why? I have been working with youth centres I always wanted to be a singer in a
and libraries giving talks and Q&As
boyband. I love girl bands and How do you overcome obstacles in
boybands, but I can't sing so didn't really help me ha! I always enjoyed swimming which I do at least once a day, and writing, always writing little stories growing up.
your life? I always see the positive out of a negative. After a number of rejections from publishers and
What's a normal day like for you?
PR/Managing companies, I didn’t stop. I kept going until I fulfilled my dream.
Start my day off with a cup of tea, Walking my dogs, Tweeting a lot and running my website always looking for new artists, authors and actors to interview and feature on there Name three achievements you are most proud of and why?
What are your fears? Spiders! Mostly! Ha! But I don’t like any bug. Also not making my life goals and dreams a reality, I worked hard for eight months, and I continue to work even harder.
I have four ha! Releasing my book by a publisher, After a few rejections by publishers I finally got my book out in the world.
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
an amazing roller coaster ride of emotions, which I love because that means I’ve taking them along with me on my journey. My goal is to help anyone who has encountered any type of bullying, whether it’s in schools or the workplace. I started last September 2015 in a really hard time in my life; I knew it was time to start writing. The book covers bullying in school, college and work life, But I do share
What are your goals?
when I moved out to the big city,
My next goals are to work on some TV
Cardiff, in my early 20s and meeting
shows (This Morning), and also I’d like
my amazing fiance, Justin, and how I
to do or be a part of a show centering
come out to my parents.
around the LGBT community in the UK or worldwide; talking with people and finding out how coming out and being bullied affected them.
In the UK, it’s available on Amazon (worldwide), libraries and independent bookstores. In America, it’s in Barnes and Noble.
I'm in talks to be working with schools to start an LGBT anti-bullying program as well.
How can we get hold of you? For all business enquires and advice
We see that you have a book out, tell us why you decided to write it, how
my email is - info@scottmclynn.net My Twitter page - @Scottymcglynn
long it took, what was the process and of course how we can get hold of a
Facebook page:
copy.
- https://www.facebook.com/ScottyMc Glynn1/
Yep, it’s called "OUT." I’ve enjoyed writing since I was a child and I wanted
Also my Instagram:
to share my story with others around
- https://www.instagram.com/scottymc
the world. People have been calling it
14/
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
Future plans?
to Coast bike with a few friends for charity, and played football once a
I have more radio shows coming up, In talks with a management team which is exciting! I'm hoping to do a TV show sometime this year, And working with
week with work, but I was just in goal so not moving around that much. So I got bigger, I just picked the next size up when shopping for clothes.
LGBT and anti-bullying charities. We got married in 2006, and I did lose a bit of weight for that, but it soon came back on, and some more and life
Craig Jenkins
carried on the same way. A photo of me was taken at a friend's 40th Birthday in 2012 it did not even look like me. At Christmas, I got on the scales and was a little bit shocked and scared at the number looking back at me. It hit home that is was time to do something about my weight for the sake of my health.
When I was growing up, I was always
I was 18 stone 11lbs then; I could have
the big kid, not built for speed but good
easily been 20 stone when I did not
for a game of British Bulldog. These
dare get on the scales.
were the days when you could still play this at school. I was into playing all sports, rugby was my thing, and it helped to be big then.
Melissa had been given a work based incentive offered by her boss. A week's stay at a fantastic Beach House Retreat in Goa
Melissa & my story is much the same;
(http://www.thebeachhousegoa.com/ )
growing up with lovely home cooking
to detox. The staff were wonderful and
with big portions. When we started
helped me to put a plan in place to
dating, we were going out for meals
kick-start the much-needed lifestyle
and drinking a good few pints with the
change. We could have gone and just
meals. I had an injury to my knee, and
sat on the beach and had massages
that stopped me playing rugby and
but we were on yet another fad of
sports for a long time. I did the Coast
trying to lose weight and thought we 'd
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
give it a try, what did we have to lose. I
other people who turn up that first
must admit, the (self-administered!)
week, I was worried I would come in
coffee enemas were a shock though!
last. But as soon as I got there I was
We were very sceptical about it and thought we would be hungry all the time. We took a bag of mini mars bars but ended up bringing them home unopened. I am amazed how we did not feel hungry on the juice detox. In the five-day detox programme I was doing Yoga twice a day and had two sessions of exercise during the week and it made me see how unfit I was. I told the staff there I had always wanted to take part in London Marathon as I
made so welcome, and I did not come in last with a time of 26.32 at Tilgate. On that day, 237 people took part and now it is getting over 500. I tell everyone about parkrun and a few friends have come along and we have visited a few others as well I completed my first Marathon and have now gone on to run 5 now and 10 1//2 marathons and various over events from a father Christmas fancy dress to a Military mud run.
had grown up watching it on TV and saw friends take part over the years. I carried on with the exercise when I returned home first using the weights and cross trainer which had been used as a clothes horse. I then found the C25K and completed my first 5k. Then I found out that the company I work for are a large sponsor or a marathon in Germany and were more than happy to have me as part of the team when I enquired about running the full marathon. The Marathon takes place in June and I got my training plan in October I signed myself up for the Paddock Woods ½ marathon in March,
To have an event to train and look forward to gives me something to focus on and helps me maintain my weight loss and fitness levels.
Not long after I started my training I was told about Parkrun. Like most Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
I feel that I have come a long way
and in fact, had a bleak future. They
since I stepped on the scales and feel
said Jenny would never work in a
so much better inside and out.
bank, never get married, and never do well in Math and so on. I remember
Contact Craig: https://twitter.com/runcraigierun?lang= en-gb
walking out of the room and saying, “That is not going to happen.” And I can happily say it didn't, as Jenny is flying, not only is she a Best Selling
Janet and Jenny
Author, she is also a professional 2D and 3D Animator and graduated from Vancouver Film School. She just finished helping out on a film for Super Channel with her animation and is writing her second novel as Dysnomia is a Trilogy. I am very proud of her but more importantly so happy for her; she has worked so hard to be where she is at today. Her novel is a Fantasy Fiction, and she did her own illustrations in the novel. Geared towards young adults, however, all age
Jenny's novel, Dysnomia - Outcasts on a Distant Moon, was a best seller in pre-order in April 2015 on both
groups are loving this novel and can’t wait for the second one to come out. And she just turned 23 in February.
Amazon Best Seller List and Canadian
In saying this, my book, The Autistic
Best Seller List and still is. In the same
Author and Animator - A Daughter's
month and in pre-order, Barnes and
Triumph Through a Mother's Eyes, is
Noble ordered 450 copies. Very
all about Jenny and her road with
exciting for Jenny considering I was
Autism through a mother's eyes with
told when she was three years old that
the trial and tribulations she went
she was Low Functioning Autistic and
through, however, talking about her
that I shouldn't expect too much, she
triumphs and achievements as well. It
would not be up to where her peers are
is a heartfelt feel-good story which I
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
want to share with not only the Autistic
inspirational, hard working and an
community but to everyone, to show
asset and blessing for not only for our
how one can push down barriers set in
society and workforce but are a role
front of them and there is a light at the
model for us individually as what they
end of the dark tunnel and that dreams
have to troop through to reach their
and goals can be grabbed and
goals and dreams. I have had so many
achieved. Jenny is a role model and
people who have read my book and
living proof that Autism is not a Death
then Jenny's novel and have said to
Sentence but a Richly Deserved Life
me, "Wow, when reading all that she
Sentence, so to speak. It shares her
went through and got herself to where
life full circle from when she was born
she is today, what is stopping us, we
to present and how her as an
want to do a Jenny. "
individual, the love and rock of a Mother and family, the unconditional love and support of the Professionals and Non Professionals, who I call my Dream Team and the support of Jenny's peers who accepted her for who she was, made Jenny into the talented, successful, beautiful, humble and kind young woman she is today.
We started showing our books in the Okanagan, had book signing tours in Vernon and Kelowna in British Columbia, which were very successful, and spoke about Jenny’s story on Global TV, Shaw TV, as well as a number of radio and newspaper Interviews. The reception has been awesome and so many people are
In a world where there is a lot of
inspired, engaged and enlightened by
negative and with Autism on the rise, I
her story and engaged in her novel as
feel sharing this journey brings a
well. We are doing a lot of media in
positive ray of sunshine. It enlightens
Vancouver and a lot of book signings
and opens up to everyone what an
as well. Just recently we were Keynote
autistic individual and their family go
Speakers at The ANAC World of
through, the ups and downs, the highs
Autism Festival in Vancouver. We
and lows and how Jenny got to where
were recently featured in an article in
she is today. Let’s have people go
Autism Society of BC, and they are
outside of the stigma box of Autism
doing videos on us as well. We have
and see the rainbow of colors with it.
been doing several speaking
These individuals are a joy,
engagements and media events as
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
well. We have also done talks with
book event for “RAW” and signing in
EduTalks, posAbilities Association of
Vancouver, where we met and talked
BC, Book Groups and have done
with them both. They were so inspired
Podcasts, and WSA Speaker
by Jenny’s life and her novel, and they
Association TV and much more. And
have our books. Emma gave me her
just last month it was announced that
number and said we would be talking a
Jenny and I are Official
lot as she has a similar mother bond as
Spokespersons for ANCA/Naturally
me.
Autistic. Here is our Facebook page: We also were back in Vernon end of
https://www.facebook.com/writersinthe
August as a Principal at an Elementary
family
School there bought my books for each of her Teachers and then bought Jenny’s novel for each classroom and the Library. Her reactions to both our books was what we were hoping for
One of our recent interviews: Part 1: http://autism30.com/janetwalmsley.html
and so happy that it is happening. She
Part 2: http://autism30.com/janet-
said every Teacher should have my
walmsley2.html
book and get a parent’s perspective as it is a positive learning tool for Teachers in helping Autistic students. She loved Jenny’s novel and said it was so exciting and engaging to read and couldn’t put it down. The
One of our radio interview links: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Citr-DaveRadio Links for TV Interviews:
characters, animals, landscape, and scenarios with may twists and turns,
1) Global News Okanagan: Try this
she loved Jenny's imagination and
link or check out on YouTube and go to
writing.
Global News
We also recently met actress Pamela
http://globalnews.ca/news/2079056/mo
Anderson and her photographer and
ther-and-daughter-both-have-books-
makeup artist, Emma Dunlavey. Emma
published-inspire-others/
sent me several emails and wanted to meet us. So they asked us to Pam’s Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
2) Doug and Lisa Show/Shaw Cable
addiction issues. I was the woman who
Kelowna Try this link or go to YouTube
dreamed of love and a family; I'm a
and type in Doug and Lisa show and
hopeless romantic! I did have a
our names.
daughter with my ex-boyfriend (but that's a whole other story entirely). I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0z BSV09q8
don't remember wishing that someday I would be the wife of an alcoholic, but that's exactly what happened. What
Our Publishing links:
was I to do, he is the love of my life,
www.influencepublishing.com/janet-
and I knew it from the first moment our
walmsley
eyes met!
www.influencepublishing.com/jenny-
My husband was an actively verbally
story
abusive drinking man for 12 1/2 years of our life together. Of course, it didn't
Our books can be found on Amazon.UK, Barnes and Noble, Red Toque, Chapters, BlackBond Books, BookWarehouse
start out terrible. I had a six-year-old daughter and so did he and he had two other children as well. We couldn't get enough of one another; we fell deeply in love, and it was truly amazing. He
Tina Cook Hello, my name is Tina Cook, and I published a book almost two years ago titled Married Under The Influence by Harmony Rose, that's me. It's my memoir about being married to an alcoholic.
did drink, but I didn't realize at first it was a problem. You see my husband is one of those people that could go months without a drop of alcohol but when he did drink he would binge like nobody's business. As the years went by his drinking was getting out of control. He would go to
I met my husband when I was 30 years old. I never had great relationships; it seemed like the men I dated were all emotionally or physically abusive, emotionally unavailable, or had
the bars a lot leaving me here to raise four children, and three of them weren't even mine. I did the best I could under the terrible circumstances. Fast forward 12 1/2 years later and my
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
husband called me in the middle of the
I stayed with my husband all of these
night because he had been arrested
years because I love him with all my
for a DUI! I prayed for that to happen
heart, and I never gave up on him even
for so long hoping it would help to save
while losing myself. I'm not sure how I
his life and someone else's. Needless
functioned to be honest with you
to say, it did change everything for the
because there were times I didn't
better (or so I thought). My husband
shower for two days, I just didn't care I
attended an intense outpatient
became so depressed. I didn't even
treatment program for five weeks and
want to get in bed; I walked around like
then continued with AA meetings. The
a zombie. I was utterly heartbroken. I
first three months seemed OK. I was
couldn't believe after all those years of
finally able to breathe; he seemed to
standing by him when he drank
be learning how destructive all of this
begging him to stop and taking care of
was to our family for so long and so the
him when he was sick that he was
healing was beginning.
ready to walk away from our marriage after ten short months of sobriety.
Slowly, to my surprise, in sobriety, my
Then four weeks later my husband
husband was becoming more selfish,
dealt me a second blow, this one was
more arrogant, and self-righteous it
absolutely devastating! My husband
was sickening! I didn't really
told me that he was unfaithful and had
understand what was happening but
sex with another woman! Right then
suspected that he was what they call a
and there I dropped to my knees. After
"dry drunk" and boy was he a
13 1/2 years with this man this is how
nightmare! Being the spouse of an
he treated me! I was beside myself,
alcoholic was so damaging to my mind
literally freaking out. I was curled up in
and body. Alcoholism is not an
a ball on the floor crying; my heart hurt
individual disease it is a family
so bad.
disease, and it doesn't care who you are, it will take you down a very dark
Thank goodness I was seeing a
path. Well, ten months into his
therapist at the time so a few days later
sobriety my husband told me he
I saw her and talked about everything.
wanted to separate because he didn't
Well, a few days after that I was sitting
know if he wanted to be married
on my bed crying that deep down to
anymore. I was devastated!
your soul kind of cry where you can't
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
breathe. My vision was fuzzy at best
though I had a new clear path to take
from all the tears, they burned, I was
without any of the baggage weighing
emotionally exhausted and drained.
me down. I told my husband whatever
Although I am one of the most
he chose to do was his decision but
optimistic, I can find a silver lining in
that I Forgive him completely for how
anything kind of woman; I gave up. I
badly he treated me the past 13 1/2
grabbed my full bottle of Xanax from
years and for all the terrible things he
my nightstand and poured them into
had done. I told my husband I was
my hand, and I said out loud looking up
going to love him through this, and I
at the ceiling, "I can't take the pain
wanted to rebuild our marriage. So
anymore, I just want to die." As I was
from that day forward that is exactly
contemplating swallowing all the pills, I
what I did. I never felt resentment
looked up again crying hysterically
again only an abundant amount of love
choking on my tears saying, "Please
and understanding for my husband.
help me, please help me." All of a sudden this warm flushing feeling
I have to tell you that I loved my
started from my head and slowly went
husband when he couldn't love
through my entire body down to my
himself, and I forgave my husband
toes as though I was being hugged
when he couldn't forgive himself. It was
from the inside out and a voice said,
only about three weeks later when my
"Everything is going to be all right."
husband turned a corner and changed
Then I assume I passed out from
for the better. He told me he wanted to
exhaustion. It was the most incredible
work on rebuilding our marriage and
thing I have ever experienced, and I
being the man that I deserve for him to
have no way of putting it into words.
be! I am happy to say that my husband has been sober for almost four years
I put the pills away and decided I didn't
now. We are more in love and have
want to die. I wanted to live, and I
such a strong marriage today. I never
didn't want to hurt anymore, and I
thought me of all people would be able
didn't want to be so resentful towards
to overcome and forgive infidelity, but I
my husband either. I know it was
did! My husband and I just celebrated
divine intervention that helped me that
our 13th wedding anniversary, and we
day and saved my life! The weight was
have been together over 16 years now.
lifted off of my shoulders; it was as
We renewed our wedding vows two
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
years ago, and it was the best thing we
that you really can change your life
could have done for our marriage. My
one day at a time; you just have to be
husband takes his sobriety seriously
willing to put one foot in front of the
and realizes that there is a big
other, hold your hand out, and move
difference from putting down the bottle
forward. The world is full of miracles
and working your recovery.
just waiting to shower upon you!
I have always loved to write in journals,
Want to know more? Check out Tina
so I decided that I would turn my
Cook’s blog:
journals into a book and share our
https://marriedundertheinfluence.word
story about what life was like for me
press.com/2015/10/30/emotional-
living with an alcoholic husband. I
abuse-is-a-silent-pain/
know the emotional roller coaster of hell I was on for a long time; you feel so many emotions it is too much to handle. I know many people know someone with addiction problems, so I wanted to share my story to help others understand how destructive alcoholism is to a family. I wanted to reach out and let others know they are not alone; there are so many people that have been where you are and
Michelle Reeves
understand. I wanted people to know the worst place you can be is in your
Michelle Reeves is a professional
own emotional prison but know that
blogger, MIND charity ambassador for
you hold the key to free your mind,
West Essex, entrepreneur and Mum of
body, and soul. My husband and I are
two under seven. She was the winner
blessed to have come out the other
of this year's Inspire award at the 2016
side of alcoholism together. We are
Brilliance in Blogging Awards and is
stronger for it, and we wanted the
passionate about helping busy mamas
world to know that our book Married
and bloggers to become their most
Under The Influence is out there to
positive and productive selves.
help others. We're just one example
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
I started blogging around this time and having a creative outlet was definitely an essential part of my therapy. But here's the thing; I became a positive person on the outside – full of energy and busyness. Heck, I usually FELT positive. But on the inside, my glass was still almost permanently half empty. I often say that I've had two starts in
Negativity was my dialect,
my life.
perfectionism my disease. I knew I was
The first is the obvious one; I was born, I grew up, yadda yadda. But then I had another start that led me to where I am today, sharing the lessons I've learned moving away from negativity to inspire others on their journey to joy. In 2009 I hit rock bottom. After a successful career in the City, I was struggling to get through each day. I was an expat in China, with a premature baby daughter who struggled to feed or sleep, and I didn’t care what happened to me. On the day I was diagnosed with Post Natal Depression my new start – my journey back to JOY - began.
but these two traits clouded my everyday. They skewed my priorities, affected my most important relationships, stopped me reaching my potential and distracted me from the moments of joy in my, frankly, blessed life. I strongly believe that negativity can become a habit - it was for me. Through therapy, time and support I recovered from postnatal depression but even, so negativity was my first reaction to a situation, with negative words often tumbling out of my mouth before my brain had time to engage and stop them. That negativity had just
And step by step, day by day, I found myself again.
a strong, confident, capable woman
built up over time and became my default, like the inner commentary that played in my head, all day long, noting all the bad things, creating a cloud of negativity that hung around me, and
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
my kids, stopping the beautiful
realised I needed to create a NEW
sunshine of everyday joy from shining
NORMAL - a new routine that would
through.
create the space in my day to help me practice these positive habits – my 8
One of the questions I've been asked
happiness habits – every single day.
most since I launched my new site – TheJoyChaser.com - last year is how I
So I created one. A routine that gives
broke this habit of negativity and how I
me time back for ME. That boosts my
continue to stay positive on a daily
positivity and self-esteem every day.
basis.
That helps me reach what I call my 'I'm-a-mama-but-still-me' goals. That
As a business owner, blogger, ambassador for the MIND mental health charity and a mum of two, it's
sets me on the right course, with purpose, every morning and puts me to bed with gratitude.
sometimes tough to find time in the day for ME, let alone anything else!
And it worked. People started noticing the new, more positive me and I knew
But I DO find the time for me. Every. Single. Day. And I feel passionately that everyone should try to do the same. As busy mamas, wives, sisters, daughters, colleagues so much of our daily routines revolve around everyone BUT ourselves. I was in that exact,
that I had to share it with others so that they could benefit from it too. So I created the Happiness Habits Routine TM eCourse to help busy mamas like me to set up their own simple daily routine using the 8 happiness habits. Because if I can do it, anyone can.
same place. Wanting to take a time-out (without feeling guilty about it) to
A final thought from me? Chasing joy
discover my more positive, happier
is not just about finding happiness –
and successful self.
each step we take along this path is a chance to learn more about ourselves
My default negativity took time to build up and become a part of my life. So if I wanted POSITIVITY and JOY to be
and what brings US joy. And that journey is an important and worthwhile experience in itself.
part of my every day, it followed that THEY needed to become habits too.
Michelle posts regular #busymama
To break the habit of negativity, I
video tips on her Facebook page at
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
Facebook.com/thejoychaser, and you
everything he had all through grade
can also find her at her happiness
school and high school.
focussed site TheJoyChaser.com, and her homes and interiors site TheEssexBarn.com. For more information about the Happiness Habits Routine TM eCourse visit www.HappinessHabitsRoutine.com
With the assistance of awesome teachers and assistants, as weak as he sometimes was in social situations, he excelled academically. He earned a scholarship to our local university and we were very proud of how far he had come.
Dealing with It By Jayne Thurber-Smith
Parents worry about many things as far as their children are concerned, and parents of special needs kids worry about much more. I worried that
A mother's view of her special needs son's journey to getting an education. Upon his high school graduation, she was content with how well he had done but he wanted more; higher education. That caused a great deal of worry but once again he excelled and taught her the greatest lesson of all; you're only limited by what's in your mind. If you're willing to work hard, all things are possible.
maybe John had gone as far as he could go. His older siblings had found it hard to switch gears from high school, where the teachers kept close contact with the parents, to being a college adult on their own. They commuted from our home, so I saw them regularly but suddenly had no idea how school was going. Even though I paid their tuition, I was cut off from all communication with their educators. If my brand new adults
Life hands all of us things that need to
didn’t want to keep up with their
be dealt with along with the tools to
assignments, which often got away
deal with them; if we are willing to deal.
from them, I wouldn’t know about it
My youngest son, John, didn't say his
until the end of their semester when
first word until he was three, and
they failed.
couldn’t put more than two words together until he was six. He fought his high-functioning autism diagnosis with
John always had good grades in computer, math and science courses, and so was looking forward to majoring
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
in computer science. But maybe a
smiling. John carried his diploma. As
smaller trade school learning
he and I walked together, there was
something more basic would be easier
that awful man again waiting for us,
on him adjustment-wise? How was he
and I walked right up to him. I do not
going to navigate a huge college
condone violence of any sort but my
campus with long class hours and
stored-up anger over John’s struggles
longer assignments all on his own?
for the past twenty years overcame
The night before John’s first day of college I was a nervous wreck for him.
me. I shoved the tormenter to the ground, kicking him as I yelled:
With the struggles he had to overcome
“How dare you! You don’t know what
throughout his childhood, he had
my son can do, and you’ll never stop
already exceeded all of my
him.” I was kicking autism to the curb,
expectations when he graduated high
just like John had done every day of
school with flying colors. He had been
his life.
independent of an educational assistant ever since he left middle school. Maybe very good was good enough.
The next day John drove off to college with his brother who was a sophomore at the same school. I was no longer nervous for him. It wasn’t an easy four
When I finally fell asleep, of course, I
years by any means, but we watched
dreamed of John. He and I were
John graduate this past May, and he is
walking to his university which isn’t
now working at his dream internship.
physically possible since it’s a half hour drive away. All along the way, this
No one is telling him he can’t.
overweight, obnoxious, ugly man trailed just behind us, laughing and making fun of John. “You’re so stupid! You really think you can do this? That’s hilarious…” and on and on. John just kept walking on unperturbed, as the man ignored my attempts to tell him to leave us alone.
‘It’s A Small World After All’ Author Jaimie Hope discusses her latest release, The Lil’ Defenders. Armed with only one superpower between them, these kids learn the
Then my dream flashed to John and me leaving the university, and we were Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
ultimate keys to defeating any foe;
explained, and the
friendship and teamwork.
two kids discussed the incident and
I have been writing and publishing for
remained friends at
almost ten years now. Although I have
the end but still
written in multiple genres, but with nine of out my twelve titles in the juvenile category I consider myself to be a Children’s book author first and
people were unhappy about the fact that anyone got hit.
foremost. I have also had my own
In 2015, I published
publishing company, Back To Basics
The Alligator and
Publishing since 2014.
the Ducklings, which was written in
Throughout my career, both in writing
the 1960s by an
and publishing, I have had to deal with
author who is no
my share of odd and whacky reviews, but the blog tours advertising the last two Back To Basics Publishing’s Children’s books takes the cake. I know you’re probably thinking, it’s par for the course and goes with the territory when you’re in publishing. While I would have to agree that is technically true, that doesn’t give reviewers carte blanche to make up things that aren’t there. What do I mean by that? Hold on; I’ll tell you.
longer living. Back in those days, Children’s books were more or less cautionary tales for would be criminals and this book was no different. This book demonstrated a bully (the alligator) receiving the treatment he doled out tenfold. Reviewers went nuts! Even though the ending turned out to be appropriate for all concerned (they lived happily ever after), the reviewers wanted the animals to have the sit-down and
I guess I should start by telling you that
become friends. Nothing less was
I already write a series, The
going to be acceptable in their view.
Adventures of Baby Jaimie. In volume five, Baby Jaimie Loses A Tooth, the lead title character (Baby Jaimie) gets punched by a classmate when she expresses a desire to lose her loose tooth. The punch was thoroughly
Even though I thought these reviewers were wrong (and the Readers’ Favorite sealed helped to confirm they were), I gave them a lot of consideration before writing my latest release, The Lil’
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
Defenders. Reviewers seem to think I
Why did I use teenage litterbugs
put it together quickly, but nothing
instead of a more likely supervillain?
could be further from the truth. In truth,
Because the recommended ages for
The Lil’ Defenders had been over a
readers is currently (6-8 and might be
year in the making.
lowered soon). When writing for
Since the publishing of my first book, The Adventures of Baby Jaimie in November of 2006 I knew I wanted to write a book featuring a superhero, just didn’t know the plot. It wasn’t until I was spending time with my niece, who loves all things superhero, just what I wanted to do. I wanted to create a book where kids are the superheroes. Using children for superheroes adds its own problems. Truthfully, would anyone want to see young children using all these high tech weapons and fighting villains like Joker or Lex Luther? I wouldn’t, so I didn’t. The Lil Defenders are comprised of four
children of any age, it is best to write a story they can relate to in their own lives. Now I’m sure parents would prefer their kids tell an adult about such matters but in instances such as bullying where they can’t walk away wouldn’t it be better for them to have an example of teamwork and logic to use what’s around them over brawn? I think so. Oh yeah, did I mention there’s no violence in The Lil’ Defenders? Seriously, no punches were thrown and yet the children managed to outsmart the enemy. This didn’t sit well with reviewers, but it really is quite super, in my opinion anyway. Want to check out The Lil’ Defenders
children who each possess one special power each. However, none of them is strong enough to defeat the bad guys (teenage litterbugs in Book One) on their own; they have to work together to defeat their foes and help the police bring them to justice.
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016
for yourself? The Lil’ Defenders is available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook format.
US: Amazon: Paperback Kindle (free on Kindle Unlimited) Audiobook Barnes & Noble: Paperback
UK: Amazon: Paperback Kindle Audiobook
Want to see all titles available through Back To Basics Publishing? Check out our website: Back To Basics Publishing. For the latest updates on releases and other news, please follow us on Facebook: Back To Basics Publishing and follow Jaimie Hope on Twitter. And be sure to check out Back To Basics Publishing’s trailers on our Youtube Channel.
Inspire Us Magazine – October 2016