Today's reading comes from a LinkedIn post that I wrote.

It’s been quite some time since my last recording. Truth is, I just wasn’t motivated to create, produce, or write a single word. Life took a lot of energy out of me.
here’s the thing…I’ve come too far in this life just to be average. one of my goals is to be an inspiration to others and to help others who are on the verge of losing hope. there are a few people in particular who I want to be proud of me. My five-year-old self, my 15-year-old self, and my elderly self.

And this is where that LinkedIn post comes in.

I wrote it on the first day I started one of my dream jobs.

What I would tell my 15-year-old self

Welcome to "Better Said Than Written," the podcast that shares inspirational excerpts from books, essays, poems, and quotes that, when read aloud, just sound better said than written.

For the revamp, and return of Better Said Than Written, I plan to share stories from or about people who overcame difficult challenges in their lives … Stories of Survival. 

The goal… to help others who may be going through struggles of their own. Some people are strategically looking for inspiration and or a blueprint on how they can move forward in their life’s journey.

Take a moment to think about it. As we navigate through this thing called life, there are moments we just don’t know what to do. No matter how much we consult our friends, family or therapist, Google, or ask ChatGPT for advice, its the real life stories from strangers that helps us get through troubled times.

Single parenting, loss of a job, self doubt, procrastination, managing life before during and after a divorce, financial mishaps, loss of a loved one, falling in and out of love, homelessness, managing anxiety, keeping intrusive thoughts at bay…you get the point. All of the above, I’ve dealt with at some point in my life…and I’m still here. I survived even when I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

What helped me get through? Reading memoirs, watching documentaries, and pausing my scroll to listen to those who had the courage to share their stories of survival on social media. 

To kick this series off, I intended to share one peg of my survival story with you, but a headline from the Los Angeles Times that stopped me dead in my tracks.

Molly Wadzeck Kraus, published a personal story where she shared how a cooking show saved her from anorexia and depression.

While reading through the piece, I thought “now this is the perfect for S-O-S…stories of survival.”

The show - Barefoot Contessa.  
The headline - How Ina Garten Changed my Life.

ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES

If you have a story of survival to share, email your entry to StoriesOfSurvivalEntry@gmail.com.

Stories of Survival 
P.O. Box 39072 
Washington, D.C. 20016-9072.


Stories of Survival: How Ina Garten Changed my Life

Better Said Than Written is the podcast supplement to the multimedia blog ArtzOfCulturez.com, where the host, Tamika Cody, shares inspirational excerpts from books, essays, poems, and quotes that, when read aloud, sound better said than written.

New tracks tagged #Tamika Cody