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.
The Power of Hindsight: Learning, Growing, Moving Forward
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Dear Reader Life's Lessons - Does Hindsight Bring Understanding?If you challenged me, I could never count the number of times I might have said: "If only I'd known how this was going to turn out, I wouldn't have been so upset, worried, or afraid back then." I guess you've had a similar moments - times when something that seemed bad at first led to unexpected growth, insight, or even a silver lining. Hindsight can be a wonderful thing. It lets us look back on challenging experiences and recognise how we might have handled them differently. More importantly, it allows us to learn from them, equipping us for the future when similar situations arise. Take decision-making, for example. With travel, I've learned what's truly essential for my own comfort and safety - wisdom gained through trial and error. After once taking too few pairs of socks on a hiking trip, I now always pack extras to keep my feet warm and dry, even when my boots get soaked. Over time, I've learned what I can easily buy on the road (like body wash) and what's worth bringing from home (my favourite moisturiser). Small lessons, but they make a difference. But what about the bigger things? The times when life throws you something big and unexpected, and you have no choice but to adapt? Imagine uprooting your family, settling into a new home and community, just to have your partner transferred across the country within the year. You’re forced to move again, with no say in the matter. It’s natural to be frustrated. I certainly give myself permission to rant in those situation! (Setting a time limit on how long I can rant helps, but only if I remember to follow it.) Soon, though, the rational mind takes over. You start making decisions - do you sell your home or keep it, hoping for a return in time? You look for silver linings. Could this be an adventure? Will your family visit? Will you make new friends? With time, you might even come to appreciate the change. Perhaps the new place suits you better. A better job, deeper friendships, even reconnecting with long-lost friends - blessings that wouldn't have come without that upheaval. Of course, hindsight isn't always comforting. Sometimes, it reveals painful truths - mistakes made, opportunities missed, things we wish we’d done differently. Parenting is full of these moments. I wrote about our family’s experience in my memoir An Addict in the Family, sharing what I’ve learned about addiction and the role family dynamics can play. I know, without a doubt, that I was (and am) a good mother. But I also recognize that there were circumstances beyond my control that contributed to my son's struggles. I did the best I could with the knowledge and resources I had at the time. Would things have been different if I’d known then what I know now? Maybe. But would the ultimate outcome have changed? That, I can’t say. What I do know is this: my experiences have deepened my compassion for others going through their own struggles. We are all part of this human journey, living complex, unpredictable lives. None of us are exempt from hardship, but every challenge holds an opportunity for growth. If I could share one wish, it would be that we each find our own unique lesson in life’s difficulties. May we transform those lessons into strengths that lead us to our own expression of joy in living the life we’ve been given. With love My thoughts for Living Life in 2025 and beyond: "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, please share with your friends and encourage them to subscribe www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com Join my Reader's Group on Facebook. FOLLOW ME Like, post and comment at any of |
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 Wedding Anniversary A truly happy day! I am soooo excited. This week Neil and I celebrate our 14th wedding anniversary. The photo I'm sharing sits on our kitchen wall as a reminder of that beautiful day. I often look at the photo of Neil and see how happy he was then. I look so I can check if I still see that joy today. Last time I looked though, my eyes fell on my face and the joy I see reflected there grabbed at my heart in recognition that I still feel that joy now - seven...
Dear Reader A little apology - Because last newsletter was a week late, I decided to keep to my schedule and share this newsletter on my Tuesday, as per normal. But I've written this on Mother's Day so I'm sending it out today, two days early! I'll be back on schedule next time I promise! Mother's Day Me and my Mum 2002 I'm writing this on Mother's Day because thoughts of my Mama have been with me since I woke up. This photo was taken not long before she died. Mum had vascular dementia and it...
Dear Reader Where do we find Joy? Finding the joy in my every day life is something I've committed myself to over the past few years. I admit I'm not always successful. I don't always like the things that pop up in my day - and sometimes the whole day appears to start miserably! Where's the joy in that? And it's been particularly hard the last few weeks. Splitting headache, double vision that's got a whole lot worse. I ended in the Emergency Department where the diagnosis was blood pressure...