stories about life's minute beauty, maintaining mental wellness, and cultivating a positive mindset--so we can all experience more peace, joy, and contentment.
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Lighter Days | She’s Not From Around Here
Amy Allender [Photo: Amy Allender] Light at the End of the Cold, Dark Tunnel I think the darkness is harder to bear than the cold. Everyone who comes to Minot thinks about the cold. Everyone dreads the cold. Everyone talks about the cold. But very few mention the...
Participation and Enthusiasm | She’s Not From Around Here
I’ve always been an eager participator; I think that’s why I feel so at home in Minot. It’s a community of participators. Need someone to join in? Chances are I’ll raise my hand. Power of Participation On Monday, I went to the Soggy Doggy Pool Paw-ty at Roosevelt Park...
Cream of Mushroom Soup | She’s Not From Around Here
A sign that survival instincts have kicked in across Hot Dish Territory [Photo: Amy Allender] Hot Commodity in Times of Trouble We’ve got to talk about the blizzards one more time. Just once more. Then I’m done. Unless, of course we get another blizzard. If we get a...
The Honor Code | She’s Not From Around Here
I’ve never been robbed. Not really. There have been two instances in which something of mine was stolen. They are as follows: Once, at a pumpkin patch in Delaware, I painted a small pumpkin that came complimentary with each corn maze admission. I brushed on...
NoDak Bar Culture and the Perfect Bar Recipe |She’s Not From Around Here
There may be no perfect answer, but I have found the perfect bar recipe Midwest Bar Culture “Are you willing to bring a pan of bars for the after-funeral luncheon?” This sentence was written in a now nearly-decade-old email. As I read and reread that...
The Secret to Thriving Where You Live | She’s Not From Around Here
Today, I’m going to tell you a secret. To understand the secret, you’ll need to know the question I’m asked most often: “Why do you insist on liking Minot so much?”
Hot Dish Land | She’s Not From Around Here
Finding fun There are very few things I enjoy hearing less than the words, “There’s nothing to do in Minot.” I’ve spent the last three years intentionally combating this phrase, and the negativity that comes with it. Before a new transplant arrives in Minot,...
Small Magic | She’s Not From Around Here
Small Magic can be found in things often overlooked. When describing why I find life in North Dakota so enjoyable, I usually site a combination of local culture, quirks, and my stubborn insistence on finding beauty in things often overlooked. Giving a singular and...
Trash Christmas | Minot Fall Clean Up Week
Minot ND Fall Trash Christmas is Here My favorite biannual holiday starts on Monday. That’s right, I’m talking about Trash Christmas. Formally, I suppose it's called Minot Fall Clean Up Week. I know a lot of new folks have moved into Minot since the last Trash...
Minot, ND Library Sale | She’s Not From Around Here
The Minot, ND Library Sale is an ideal place to observe North Dakotans being North Dakotan. A local friend once told me the library sale is an ideal place to observe North Dakotans being North Dakotan. It’s a place to see Dakotaness on display. Like a lot of things, I...
Rewriting the Narrative | Positive Thinking in Minot, ND
Many people move into Hot Dish Land dreading the cold winters. Focusing on the negative can blind us to the positives. With a little practice, anyone can become savvy at telling themselves a positive narrative. Positive Thinking in Minot, ND-- I’m not an expert at...
The Miracle of Unanswered Prayer | Breaking a Prayer Rut
Hope for Unanswered Prayer and Ongoing Pain My prayers seemed to be met with silence. My perspective on unanswered prayer was about to change. I had been praying for things to change for months. Over and over I asked God to remove the pain in my body and mind. Still,...
A Mental Health Story | Depression, Faith and Hope For You
Let My Mental Health Story Encourage You In Yours The following is a brief overview of my mental health story. I put these words down in hopes that you'll be encouraged to move forward and keep living. There is hope and life beyond depression and anxiety. You CAN...
I Lost My Mind, Here’s What I Found | Hope for Mental Health
I Lost My Mind and Want to Bring You Hope. Let me tell you the story I most wanted to keep secret. It’s the experience I never wanted to live, the story I didn’t want affiliated with who I aimed to be, the tale I feared would both define and disqualify me. I’ll keep...
Critical Truth About Mental Health For Military Spouses
Mental Health for military spouses is a tricky subject. Navigating a mental health crisis is never easy. Mental health for military spouses can be especially difficult. Coping with and recovering from a mental health battle as a member of the military community...
