I write stories shaped by real life: the hard bits, the beautiful ones, and the moments that remind us that even in the darkest seasons, there is always a way forward. Whether you’ve come here through my memoir, my cosy mystery‑in‑progress, or my newsletter, I’m glad you’re here.My work weaves together themes of heart, hope, and second chances. I write about family, recovery, resilience, and the long thread of love that connects us across generations.
New Adventures
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Dear Reader 2026! Time for New AdventuresI am happy to say farewell to 2025, with gratitude for learning more about what's on the horizon and what I need to approach these new challenges with joyful anticipation. One of my darling daughters gave us a New Year challenge recently: Every year we choose a power word and I invite you to do the same.
A word that lifts you, pushes you, and motivates you to keep going and doing what will bring you joy.
I love the simplicity of this concept of choosing a power word. I started reflecting over my life, what I've learned brings me joy, and how did my thinking and acting lead to those moments of joy. ReflectionsWhen I was little, before I knew I was afraid of heights, I used to climb through our back fence and climb as high as I could into the trees. To be honest, it wouldn't have been high. But that's one of the things that I remember feeling joyful about - being in the trees. I'm a tree hugger from way back, it seems! And it was the adventure of going alone, through the fence, up the tree that lead me to experience the joy of being in nature. As I grew, challenges came, as they do for us all. My parents divorced - life changed for my siblings and me. We played games to turn our hearts and thoughts from some of the most horrible experiences. Our "let's pretend" games turned our lives into joyful adventures - mainly because we were together. Many years have passed since then, along with many more challenges. You may have been in my life and seen those various life experiences and their challenges. I wonder if you saw that sense of adventure that finally shone through to take me into a place where I found joyful experiences. So What's My Power Word?Looking back, the power word, as it's been all my life, that lifts me, pushes me, and motivates me to keep going and doing what brings me joy is Adventure. I need Adventures that not only allow me to explore this beautiful world, but that also give me space to reconnect with myself. This year I've come to realise that, as I am less able to enjoy those physical adventures such as ziplining, my inner world has always been my greatest Adventure. Exploring the Inner MeThis past year has brought experiences that have challenged thoughts of myself as being ageless. I'm laughing as I write this because I know on some level that's true - I am ageless, as are we all. Yet I now know that, for me, on the physical level it is far from true. I'm in the stage of life when the physical presents the greatest adventure of all: How do I live my best life in a body that is in its late 70s? My hope is healthily and joyfully. The reality of 2025 is that it's not so healthily - which makes it hard to be joyful. I've taken on finding ways of living healthily as an adventure. Not as an adventure to return to the "perfect" health of former times, as was my previous hope and intent. The adventure now is in coming to an understanding of what health at this stage in life means in general, and for me specifically. And my current thinking with an eye to the adventure in this search has resulted in an extreme mindset shift. I no longer resist my doctor's pleas to consider medication. I finally admit that my body needs help. I'm fortunate in having a doctor who is willing to work with me in a way that honours my commitment to the natural ways of healing and I'm hoping she continues to do so. I promise now that I won't be so stubborn. I almost gave you a list of this past year's trials. But hey! It's not my purpose to seek sympathy - I give myself enough of that, believe me. No, I'm here to make a promise - not a New Year's resolution, but a whole lifetime of a solemn promise to you - and to myself. My promise is to embark on the mental, emotional and spiritual adventure to understand the needs of my body and then support it joyfully as it embarks on its own adventure into (dare I say it?) old age. So far, I am committed to the following: - learning about autoimmune dis-eases in addition to the diagnosed Hashimoto's and how these others may relate to my body. It's an exciting discovery! - learning about diet - having been challenged by my dietitian to eat my leafy greens even though I stoically told her "I don't like greens".
"Doesn't matter if you don't like them," was her retort. "Find a way to eat them, your body needs the nutrients in green leafy vegetables."
So I'm learning new things about diet and I've found ways to joyfully eat spinach and I've discovered some amazing vegetarian recipes Neil and I will prepare to see if we can add them to our repertoire of evening meals.
- learning about keeping my body moving: Walking daily. Trying new exercises at the gym (making an appointment with my personal trainer for the coming weeks).
- scheduling regular chiropractic and massage visits.
These are just a few things I've planned or am doing so far to understand the needs of my body - because I know when I feel good physically I can be more joyful. What's your Power Word? I'd love to know. Here's to an amazing 2026 for us all - regardless of the downs we may face, may we all find our power word that brings us joy. 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 write stories shaped by real life: the hard bits, the beautiful ones, and the moments that remind us that even in the darkest seasons, there is always a way forward. Whether you’ve come here through my memoir, my cosy mystery‑in‑progress, or my newsletter, I’m glad you’re here.My work weaves together themes of heart, hope, and second chances. I write about family, recovery, resilience, and the long thread of love that connects us across generations.
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