Hello from Nebraska! For Spring Break, some go to Florida or Mexico, but this year we take our college-age children to North Platte, Nebraska to see the Sandhill Crane migration. Isn’t that every teenager’s Spring Break fantasy?  I’m just happy to have everyone in the car together. With Hazel graduating from High School in May, … The post Advice from Cranes on Empty Nesting appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

A winter storm came through Colorado last week. Four feet of snow fell in 48 hours in the little town of Nederland, just thirty miles from where I live. Many rushed away from the mountains, trying to get to low ground before they closed roads and lost power. We rushed toward the storm. Kurt and … The post Learning How to Fear appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

What do Willie Nelson and the Dalai Lama have to do with 2024? February has been one of the toughest months on record, personally. The year of the Dragon came in breathing fire and smoke all over the people I love. I won’t go into detail, but just know that it has something to do … The post Dueling Teachers: Willie Nelson & the Dalai Lama appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

They are all better writers, with better stories to tell.  As a college admissions and essay coach, I hear this all the time. There’s a misconception that the essay needs to be about overcoming adversity.  There’s also a myth among adult writers that only important, earth-shattering stories deserve to be told. It’s another way that … The post Everyone Has a Story appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

Saturday morning, I wore black to speak at an 18-year-old’s funeral. In the evening, I put on a pink jumpsuit to attend a birthday party. This day of opposites captures what 2023 has felt like: a year of contrasts. In the words of my former boss and mentor, Rick Ridgeway, “There is no life without … The post 2023 A Year of Contrasts appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

There’s a children’s book that sums up my experience with confronting life’s obstacles pretty nicely. Remember Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen & Helen Oxenbury? A young family sets out on an adventure to find a big bear, only to encounter obstacle after obstacle in their path. We’re going on a Bear Hunt! … The post Going on a Bear Hunt to Confront Life’s Obstacles appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

This blog is about coping with uncertainty. Recently, someone asked, “How do you do it? You’re so good at facing the unknown.” And I laughed because I don’t feel good at it. I much prefer to hold the steering wheel and the GPS. But I am getting better at handling uncertainty. Here’s how: #1. I … The post 4 Steps to Coping with Uncertainty appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

We must let go of the life we have planned to accept the one that is waiting for us. –Joseph Campbell I need another, smaller surgery. I’ve had intense sciatic pain for a few months (part of the reason why I haven’t been writing). I’m so grateful to be under close watch because the doctors … The post I’m a Pain in the Neck; Now I’m also a Pain in the A** appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

In ten days, I’m running the COLDER Bolder. Yes! I’m running again! Repeat the Sounding Joy! It’s been six years since I last ran. It feels amazing to run my favorite trails again, with dogs and friends, letting the dog off the leash, and letting my soul off leash, too. My goal is to complete … The post Run Toward the Danger appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more

When I feel heartbroken or stressed, I head outside. My friend Teresa and I arrive at Wonderland Lake (a man-made pond), with a plan to go birding. My mind is in a fog. Lately, all I can think about are mass shootings and wildfires burning. Neither of us are birders, but we like the idea … The post Misidentifying Birds; Finding Peace and Possibility appeared first on Susie Rinehart ..read more