Arianna Merritt, MEd | Health Educator & Digital Creator

Scott L Vannatter is the oldest of two children, having one sister. He was born in New Castle, Indiana and lives in Middletown, IN in his grandmother's home with his cat, Tamika. Scott is a published author of 7 short horror stories, 4 of which are currently in print and on sale with Amazon in both anthologies (paperback) and on Kindle. Scott has 2 Master's degrees, worked in computers for nearly 23 years and nearly 6 years as a special education teacher. A massive hemorrhagic stroke in May of 2010 made him stop teaching and start writing. He is, currently, an Independent Marketing Director for Team National. He has been divorced twice and has two wonderful children, one male and one female both 30 years or older. He is happy with life and believes that "all things work together in the end; if it hasn't worked out, it isn't the end."

Rise & Shine Interview: Robyn Hussa Farrell about Writing

I'm really excited that today, Robyn Hussa Farrell is “Speaking From the Heart” and sharing her experiences with all of us. Robyn is the Founder and CEO of Mental Fitness, Inc. (formerly NORMAL), an award-winning arts and education organization that teaches about eating disorders, mental health, and healthy coping through arts and media programs. When Robyn approached me in early August to tell me about her exciting news, I had to spread the message; I invited her to be part of this series. I have known Robyn for a couple of years now, and I am a strong supporter of her work. Even though we live in different countries, we have similar passions. You can read her full bio here or see her "Profile of Perseverance" interview.

Rise & Shine Interview: Reece Sims

Reece Sims is a passionate advocate for the professional development of Generation Y women. I'm a Personal Branding Strategist, Host of The Lovenoteworthy Show (listed as the #1 Business podcast in the New & Noteworthy on iTunes Canada) and Host for Behind the Brand which airs on Novus Television's Community Channel. I had the pleasure of being interviewed on The Gold Zebra and had to ask Reece to be involved in this series. Reece has really inspired me on my journey. I connected with her earlier this year as we both live on the West Coast. I look forward to meeting her in person one day. Reece speaks from her heart and empowers others on their journey!

Rise & Shine Interview: Jenny Blake

Jenny Blake is a bestselling author, micro-business, coach, and international speaker who helps people move beyond burnout to build sustainable, dynamic careers they love. With two years at a technology start-up as the first employee, over five years at Google on the Training and Career Development teams, and two years of running her own business, Jenny combines her love of technology with her superpower of organizing information to help clients through big transitions — often to launch or elevate a book, blog, or business.

Rise & Shine Interview: Jesse Ruben about Writing

Ever wondered how a singer/songwriter develops the courage to speak from their heart? I'm excited that today, Jesse Ruben, is “Speaking From the Heart” and sharing his experiences with all of us.

I had to ask Jesse to be part of this series after reading an article in a local paper about his visit to Vancouver Island to encourage children to persevere. As an educator, I know how much of an impact he made by connecting with these young people in person. Read an article about his visit here or check out his blog post about the visit. I was so touched by his generosity that I had to reach out to Jesse as I wanted to help spread his message further.

Leaving Your Mark in the Sand

This past weekend, while looking at some photos, I realized there are common activities my sisters and I tend to engage in when we travel anywhere. Usually at the beach, after dipping our feet in the water, we make a mark in the sand and take a picture of it. I have a tendency to write the name of the city I am in followed by the year visited. Have a look at a few examples of imprints I have made over the years:

Learn to Ignore "Mosquitoes"

Have you ever tried going to sleep with a mosquito (mosquitoes) in the room? This problem is quite common in the summer, especially in the wilderness. The buzzing sound of the mosquito is quite distracting and can prevent many of us from falling asleep. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we ignored the sound of this small creature and focused on the bigger picture?!

Sharing is Caring

During my undergraduate degree, I learned an important life lesson about caring for others. While studying for the final exam with my fellow classmates, a few of the students legitimately obtained a copy of the previous year’s final exam through a friend. These students didn’t let anyone else have access to the previous exam, or its answers; rather, they kept it for themselves. They thought that by not sharing this special information with other classmates, they would do better on the exam. They were focusing on their individual success, at the exclusion of their fellow classmates’.

Rise & Shine Interview: Gabriello Pitman

Ever wondered how writing can inspire the journey of a professional performer? I'm excited that today my friend, Gabriello Pitman, is “Speaking From the Heart” and sharing his experiences with all of us.

Gabriello is a performer, an entrepreneur, and a professional coach based in Toronto, Canada. I met Gabriello before he became an entrepreneur and was pursuing his PhD in Physics at the University of Toronto. We met and became friends as we were both residents of Wycliffe College's graduate residence. You can check out the story in his own words on how he discovered his calling here. Gab used to come in the television room at the residence and perform card tricks for us. I had to ask Gabriello to be involved in this series as he continually inspires and encourages me on my journey. Plus, he is a fun guy to be around, and has quite the range of facial expressions (as do I :)).

Relationships Start With Hello

How do you connect with people who seem out of reach?

After writing the post last week, I have gotten inquiries about how a person can begin being seen and making their presence known. I get asked this question regularly, as I have connected with beautiful people from around the world. With all of them, we started as strangers; through developing the courage to express our thoughts, we built a connection.

Blog Your Passion

Establishing Yourself as a Life Blogger is about speaking from the heart, sharing your passion with others, and building community.

When people are looking for inspiration, instead of only going outward to others for answers, dig deep and look within. Write your posts as if you are speaking from your heart. Remember, people are coming to your blog to connect with you and hear your thoughts. Blogging is a conversation where you start talking and people respond.

Reflections From Maui

Aloha! I’m back. Hope you all had a great couple of weeks. I had a refreshing vacation in Maui.

If you want to get inspired, you should visit the Hawaiian Islands. They have changed my life; they may change yours. We all have places that empower us. The Hawaiian Islands do this for me. Maui has a special place in my heart; it is where I originally came up with the idea for my blog. So, I thought I should use my holiday as a chance to reflect on my blog, past and present.

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