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Megan DiMaria

Author/Speaker

A Prisoner of Hope

Offering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life.

A Prisoner of Hope

Offering hope and encouragement for life, writing, and living a thoughtful life.

I post every Tuesday.

Here's a new take: writing as part of a diet plan

Megan DiMaria

Apr 27, 2021
1 min

Here's a new take: writing as part of a diet plan

Summer is fast approaching, and with COVID restrictions lifting, thoughts are turning to shedding our COVID fat. Have you considered writing as a diet plan? That sounds crazy, but writing as part of your diet plan might just be the nudge some writers need to stay productive. Here's the catch: you have to care about what you're writing. A study found that people who write about what they valued lost weight. Apparently, experts have concluded making ourselves happier acts as an

Slow down this Christmas season, and here's how to do it.

Megan DiMaria

Dec 10, 2019
1 min

Slow down this Christmas season, and here's how to do it.

If you don't purpose to slow down and savor the beauty of the season, it won't happen. Here's some advice to slow down and savor Christmas: Make your favorite hot beverage, turn on the Christmas tree lights, sit down, and chill out. Give yourself a few minutes to just b-r-e-a-t-h-e. Listen to some Christmas carols. Sing along, if you'd like. Soak in the meaning of Christmas. Pray to Emmanuel (God with us!), and be quiet to listen to His leading. If you'd like a more structure

Want to be a writer? Here's some advice:

Megan DiMaria

Feb 19, 2019
1 min

Want to be a writer? Here's some advice:

Want to be a writer? Are you thinking about it? And thinking? START NOW. If you don't know how to start, get a how-to book out of the library OR go to a writers group OR go to a seminar/writers conference OR look online for advice OR simply sit down and open a word document. DO IT. Don't wait for the day it will be easier or simpler. Life is always complicated. Start now. In a year, you'll be glad you did. Practice persistence. Write daily—even if it's only a couple hundred w

Guard your thoughts, they have the power to determine your reality

Megan DiMaria

Sep 4, 2018
2 min

Guard your thoughts, they have the power to determine your reality

Friends, don't you know that kind words benefit both the hearer and the one who speaks? My previous post discussed the power of words to wound or to heal. Before words are spoken, they're thoughts. A favorite Bible verse tell us to "take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)." Our thoughts create our reality. Depending on the situation, we can be joyless curmudgeons, or we can squeeze past difficulties and find the good—even in dark circumstances. I know that's easier sa

How to create a writer's affirmation to stay focused on your goal.

Megan DiMaria

May 1, 2018
2 min

How to create a writer's affirmation to stay focused on your goal.

Remember when the dream of writing a novel first bloomed? How exciting that was, right? And then time wore on, and your writing career didn't reach the apex you'd hoped it would. I'm here to tell you that now is not the time to stop. You've started, don't stop! Everyday, go to the spot where you write, sit, and get cracking. Maybe you're tired of the struggle. Guess what? You're not alone. But it's the writers who continue on the journey who get the results. I'm glad you sto

Nine simple morning strategies to help you win the day!

Megan DiMaria

Apr 24, 2018
3 min

Nine simple morning strategies to help you win the day!

I'm always on the lookout for fresh ideas and clever tactics to help make my life easier. However, one thing that I know I do well is mornings. That wasn't always the case. But as I've matured, I realized that to have a successful day, you need to build off of a successful morning. Strategy #1: Get enough sleep and have your clothes ready and waiting Make sure you're getting enough sleep every night. Believe me, I know that sometime's it's difficult to put that book down or

What Christmas should NOT be about

Megan DiMaria

Dec 12, 2017
1 min

What Christmas should NOT be about

Friends, remember what the holiday season IS about: celebrating Christmas—the birth of our Savior. It's not about Santa, Rudolph, and empty traditions. Christmas is a season to enjoy friends and family. A time to dwell on the gift of our Savior. A time to be grateful for the gift of faith and hope. The end of the year is a time to be introspective as 2017 draws to a close and a new year is upon us. Please don't allow busyness, stress, or striving for perfection ruin a beaut

Grocery-store blues or how to find perspective in frustrating circumstances

Megan DiMaria

Oct 31, 2017
1 min

Grocery-store blues or how to find perspective in frustrating circumstances

It’s confession time. I don’t like grocery shopping. At all. I just returned home from doing my grocery shopping, and if I were a paranoid person, I’d think some folks were out to get me. You know that lady that pushes around the cranky child? Somehow she always shadows me through the store. Yeah, she was there today. What about the person at the deli counter that has a list longer than Santa’s naughty and nice list? Yeah, I was behind him today. And don’t you just want to cl

Have a little fun, and check out these unusual word facts.

Megan DiMaria

Oct 24, 2017
1 min

Have a little fun, and check out these unusual word facts.

This post serves no purpose other than to allow people a moment to say, "Hmm." And sometimes that's a good thing. Enjoy! 'Stewardesses' is the longest word typed with only the left hand. And 'lollipop' is the longest word typed with your right hand. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple. 'Dreamt' is the only English word that ends in the letters 'mt'. The sentence: 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' uses every letter of the

What's the best way react when you're scrutinized and found lacking?

Megan DiMaria

Aug 1, 2017
2 min

What's the best way react when you're scrutinized and found lacking?

I once read an article about famous Hollywood types who feel compelled throw around their celebrity to get their way. "Do you know who I am?" Apparently that question opens doors, gives them discounts, offers a way out of legal situations, etc. Those people had learned how to get what they want by throwing the weight of their fame in the faces of anyone opposing their desire. That's too bad. I've always been an Acts 10:34 gal, treating everyone equally. After all, if it'

Do dreams expire?

Megan DiMaria

May 9, 2017
2 min

Do dreams expire?

Is it ever too late to pursue a dream? Can you ponder a dream for too long, and miss the opportunity for accomplishment? Consider the words of C. S. Lewis, "It's never too late." I prefer to think he's correct. We're all so busy. Sometimes we forget to dream or don't have time to set goals. But in the quiet, solitary hours, our mind and our heart wanders to what if. What if I try . . . Are you wondering if it's too late? Are you wondering if you've missed your window of

The Truth about Defining Moments

Megan DiMaria

Apr 11, 2017
2 min

The Truth about Defining Moments

Have you experienced a moment when when reality crystalizes and you finally KNOW a deep, personal truth? I’ve been thinking about defining moments lately. As an author, they populate my books. As a human being, they have shaped my character and my choices. Merriam-Webster says a defining moment is the time that shows very clearly what something is really about I’ve often heard good fiction characterized as real life without the boring parts. That’s true, and both fiction and

Are you kind to others?

Megan DiMaria

Mar 14, 2017
1 min

Are you kind to others?

Are you a door holder? Do you notice someone behind you and pause to pass off the door? I know, I know—you’re in a hurry. You’ve got something to do/somewhere to go. We all do. I always do the pause and pass. And when someone does it for me, I’m appreciative. A few days ago, I was going into a store behind a woman and her teen daughter. She slowed to toss something in the trashcan by the door, and I know she saw me. But when she passed through the door, she let it slam in my

Character traits in real life and books

Megan DiMaria

Jan 24, 2017
2 min

Character traits in real life and books

Do you appreciate admirable character traits? Excuse me while I get a little introspective. I've been counting my blessings lately, and ALL of them are people, not things. No surprise there. I have amazing family and friends. What I truly value about those who are a close to me are the attributes of their characters. As I thought about my loved ones and friends, I compiled a list of what I admire most about them. Yes, this is what's needed in excess in our world (and in the b

Writing as a diet plan?

Megan DiMaria

Sep 27, 2016
1 min

Writing as a diet plan?

Writing as a diet plan? That sounds crazy, but writing as part of your diet plan might just be the nudge some writers need to stay productive. That is if you care about what you're writing. A study found that people who write about what they valued lost weight. Apparently experts have concluded making ourselves happier acts as an appetite suppressant. So hustle over to your keyboard or notebook, and get writing! For more information, check out an article about the study here.

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