Fall has arrived with its cooler weather and gently tumbling leaves. Everywhere you look, you’re reminded of the upcoming holiday season. It’s almost Thanksgiving, a time for celebrating family and gratitude. But what if you don’t exactly feel like celebrating those things?

I encourage you to take time to figure out what you value most. That will help you determine how you will spend your time and resources.  And be sure to carve time out for self-care, since we usually end up at the bottom of the list.

As I evaluate how I use my time and my resources, I determine priorities based on roles that only I can fill. For example, if I have a client meeting in the evening and my daughter needs me to be at a mother/daughter event at the same time,  I can always send a staff member to the client meeting. But I’m the only person who can be my daughter’s mom, so being with her takes priority.  

Balancing your life and figuring out what to prioritize is an ongoing journey, yet I believe it all begins with this question: What do you value the most?

As I grew older, I went off to college, and the name Grace gave me the confidence and strength I had longed for.  I became very driven and worked hard to gain an edge which would fit the image I was chasing. Little did I know that I was losing myself in the process. I was drifting further and further away from who God created me to be: Gracie.

One of the questions I’m most often asked about my site is why I gave it this name. Everyone knows me as Grace, so why did I call my site “FInding Gracie”? The answer to this question is far from simple, and goes back to the very beginning of my life. I’ll start the explanation this week and I’ll continue it next week. I hope this helps you understand how very important this simple phrase is to me!

I see my guests as friends rather than strangers. and I believe this is why people book my house months—or even years—in advance. I’ve had several repeat visitors and have received many beautiful notes from guests saying how much they enjoyed their experience. Guests like to say that my little cottage is their “home away from home.”

What does home mean to you? To me, home is my happy place. My home is my haven of rest and place of peace. And yet, in 2017, I only spent 7 nights in my own house. How can both of those things be true? The answer is a story that starts in my childhood.

Have you been throwing money at online retailers, hoping that the next new delivery will help you find happiness? If so, you might want to take a step back and make some important adjustments to help save your budget—and your emotional health.

Why wasn’t I as happy as everyone else? What was I doing wrong? It took me way too long to figure out the key to happiness, so I want to share it with you today.