Category: Opinion
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What a Sudden Spike in Blog Traffic Taught Me About Consistency
The other day, I had an inexplicable, exponential spike in traffic to this blog. I’m talking about an almost 8x jump in a single day. See stats. This is a more normal week for me: The best I can tell is that my blog was linked to by another media outlet. One with a much…
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2025 So Far – Reflections and Lessons
Some years feel like running a marathon uphill… in the rain… while carrying a backpack full of bricks. That’s how 2025 has often felt for me so far — but I’ve also found unexpected treasures along the way. I’m not complaining, just stating the facts. Just the facts, ma’am. In thinking on the current state…
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Roger the Orange Cat: A Delightful Life Cut Short
We figured it was coming, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less. This is the story of how our 4-year-old orange cat, Roger, got out of his contract with it only 25% or so complete.
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Should is a Four-Letter Word
Here is a bold assertion: should is a four-letter word. Not technically, of course. I am literate and aware that there are six letters in it. Allow me to explain briefly what I mean. In polite society, the “four-letter word” refers to the naughtiest words among those raised with strict rules of conduct. I won’t…
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4 Unusual Things I’m Grateful For
The month of November in the United States is “National Gratitude Month“, and an opportunity ripe for people to rightfully declare the standard things that fill their hearts with gratitude: family, friends, shelter, love, pets, etc, etc. This is not that post. Instead, I will deviate from convention and hail some odd and vulnerable things…
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On The Power of Curiosity
“It’s a Saturday night at a tropical beach in paradise; what are the odds we’ll be able to find a hotel room?” That was the question my husband Mike and I pondered after “stumbling upon” the most magical beach in Queensland, Australia, where we had spent the afternoon swimming in the gentle turquoise waves. This…
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On Recovery from Failure (Or less than stellar progress)
It’s an experience that plagues all of us from time to time: failure, and recovery from failure. However, failure is a harsh term, which is why I added (or less than stellar progress) to the title. As I’ve reflected on this year, I could easily use either term to describe how I think things have…
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Pros and Cons of Social Media
Pros and cons of social media, examined. The rise of social media in the last 15 years has been both wonderful and terrible. As someone who has used it from the early days, as a marketer and consumer, I’ve often pondered the pros vs. cons of social media. It surely has many of both. The…
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2020 Year in Review: Comments on the State of Things & the Sorensen Household
At the close of this historically terrible year, it is hard to know exactly what to say in a post that aims to describe how the year went for Mike and me and our current state of mind. But I’ll try. After all, that is why I am writing this post in the first place.…
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What is the Pro-Life Position?
I am a pro-lifer. I have been for as long as I have been old enough to know and articulate the moral principles by which I live. What is the pro-life position? As I understand it, is this: We oppose the premature ending of pre-born life. We believe that all humans are created in the…
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M.I.A. in MIA: Adventures in Miami & South Florida
Do you have a particular vacation style? As in, do you prefer to relax, or are you more of a go-go-go vacationer? Do you determine in advance which style each vacation will be before you go? It may take some negotiation with other members of your family who have different preferences. While my preferred style…
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Cheers to 10 Years! Wedding Anniversary Reflections
If you clicked on this post, you might be expecting something sappy and sentimental. You know what? You’re right. There will be some of that. This is our “cheers to 10 years” story. On October 1st, 2010, I, being Summer Hamilton for the first 32 years of my life, married Michael David Sorensen. After an…
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Extroverts, Here is What Your Introvert Friends Want You to Know Post-Quarantine
Most introverts have probably fared better during quarantine than extroverts. Here is what introverts want extroverts to know as stay-at-home orders lift.
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An Introverted Entrepreneur’s Take on Social Distancing
The following is a tale of the upsides of “social distancing” as an introverted entrepreneur. If you would have told me, even a month ago, that the current state of affairs would be the case in the dealing with the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, I would not have believed you. Would you have believed you? And yet,…
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To Niche Down or Not to Niche Down?
Dearest Reader, I’m working through a bit of a challenge in my posting topics, and I wanted to ask your opinion. This has historically been a variety blog. I write about whatever topics come to mind. Christian discipleship topics are what most often fill the pages; I delight to write about what I am learning…
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How Long Should I Leave Up My Christmas Tree?
How long should I leave up my Christmas tree? Some type A folks take down their tree on December 26th without fail. To me, that is too soon. It actually stings a little to think about it. Others leave it up for New Year’s, then promptly remove it on January 2nd. Good on them for…
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New Year Planning for Introverts
I’ve come to a realization about starting out the new year that has made a big difference for me, as an introvert. Read about it in less than 500 words!
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2019 Year in Review
I’ve come to appreciate that each year is unique in its own way. Though many things remain the same year over year, different themes and challenges emerge each lap the earth takes around the sun. As such, it is fitting to document an overview of 2019. It did not disappoint in terms of uniqueness among…
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An Optimist’s Take on Political Division: Maybe Things Aren’t as Bad as We Think
Political division is at an all-time high. In the United States of America, we are more divided as a nation than at any time in recent history. While I wasn’t personally alive during the Civil War (despite what small children might think regarding my ancient status), my knowledge of it makes me conclude that the…
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Entrepreneurial Gratitude for My Mentors
As a new business owner, I’m reflecting with thanksgiving on the professional contacts that have helped make my journey possible.