I love to talk about what's going on in our lives, mine and yours. In my newsletters, I focus on those things that bring us joy, as well as the tough stuff that comes with being human. Through Memoir, I write about some of my hard life experiences including dealing with family addiction and the struggles of finding a sense of place. I write about the importance of connection in building resilience and finding joy and peace in our daily lives - insulating ourselves from this sometimes crazy world. Share your email below to receive the newsletter every two weeks.
Family Fun at Christmas
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Dear Reader End of Year MusingsIt's been a tough year in many respects - I've had several health challenges and some heart wrenching losses. Yet, looking back on the year, I realise it's been one of the best yet! During it all, we (Neil and me) took time to clarify what we really want out of our life - right now. We love our home and decided to stay here for the foreseeable future, researching where our next move will take us when the time feels right for us both. We've affirmed that what is a priority is our connections with those we love. It's these connections that keep our hearts warm and enrich our lives, regardless of what is happening. We love our friends who live in close proximity - our book club and gym friends and those in other parts of our lives here in Hamilton. And those who live elsewhere throughout the world - mean more to us each passing day. We love our families. Each family member means more than we could ever show or tell and this year, although we've caught up with quite a few who live here in New Zealand and some in Aussie, we miss those we haven't seen - those who live in some parts of Australia, in the USA, in Germany, and in Ethiopia. My wish is that one day we'll all be together in the one place, enjoying the love and fun we've shared this year. Family Get TogethersA couple of years ago, we started a new tradition - getting together at this time of the year for a shared meal and a walk from our place to see the Christmas lights in a nearby street. We appreciated the efforts our neighbours put into decorating their homes for our enjoyment! And fun in the houseThis year we spread our get together over three nights so we could enjoy time with those who couldn't make the designated evening. Grandson Eli amused us with his skill in using the Snap Chat app. Here's his portraits of me and Neil. I must say, I enjoy the new look! I'm not sure Neil feels the same! We really do look like old granny and gramps! Thank you Eli! Seasons Greetings to you allHere's to an amazing 2026 for us all - regardless of the downs we may face, may we all share the hope of enjoying the ups that always follow. With love, Why I Write - for you and for me too. Some stories come from lived experience, like navigating my son’s addiction and the long road of recovery. Others are shaped by imagination, like the cozy mystery I’m writing, set in a small café where trust is both tested and rebuilt. Some of my life stories still bring tears. Others make me smile. And many are filled with memories that warm my heart. I write for anyone who’s ever carried a burden across generations, and for anyone who longs to heal forward. My thoughts for Living Life in 2025 and beyond: "My religion is kindness" Dalai Lama “Cast your bread upon the waters and it will Doris May Payne - my mother "Life is a Daring Adventure or Nothing" Helen Keller “Write it on my heart that every day is Ralph Waldo Emerson "Remember that sometimes not getting “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave [person] is not [the one] who does not feel afraid, but [the one] who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela Read past Newsletters and, if you enjoy them, www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com FOLLOW ME |
Hi! I'm Stephanie Hammond
I love to talk about what's going on in our lives, mine and yours. In my newsletters, I focus on those things that bring us joy, as well as the tough stuff that comes with being human. Through Memoir, I write about some of my hard life experiences including dealing with family addiction and the struggles of finding a sense of place. I write about the importance of connection in building resilience and finding joy and peace in our daily lives - insulating ourselves from this sometimes crazy world. Share your email below to receive the newsletter every two weeks.
Dear Reader Having Confidence in Ourselves One of the women I most admire is Marie Curie. She was born in Poland in 1867. She received two Nobel Prizes for her work: one in chemistry and one in physics - the first woman to receive Nobel Prize in two distinct scientific domains. I honour you, Marie! Marie Curie (from Wikipedia) What I admire most about her is her tenacity. It was not easy for her to work in a discipline traditionally dominated by men. She acknowledged that struggle is part of...
Dear Reader First, let me assure you I am doing well and including some new strategies into my day to day life that are already paying dividends. Life is good. The Uncertainty of Life I wanted to share the events of Thursday last week that show the prompt for the theme of this newsletter. My Thursday included visits with two friends and the dentist, interspersed with home time with my hubby, and daughter recently returned from Australia. The visits started with coffee with a dear friend at...
Dear Reader Update for New Adventures :) I wrote last time about some of the health trials of 2025. This newsletter continues the theme with some of the ponderings from the last two weeks. I am happy to share that I've had x-rays that have revealed I have degenerative arthritis in my lower spine and in the rght side of the sacroiliac joint. This new diagnosis of "degenerative arthritis" is thrilling in a way. I'm exploring what the medical research says about treatments, deciding which ones I...