challenges Archives - Mandy Hale - Just a single girl with a story to tell

The Hardness of Life. The Goodness of God.

March 29, 201629 CommentsMandy Hale

It’s impossible to REALLY know God if you’ve only known good.

This is the phrase that keeps running through my head these days. Hard days, for more reasons than one. I’ve found myself increasingly attune lately to the hardness of life. My dear friend, probably my best friend, Caroline, has lost two friends in six months. One to disease, another to addiction. Another friend of mine is facing a huge life challenge and spiritual battle that … » Read More

One Year Ago Today

March 14, 201625 CommentsMandy Hale

I woke up this morning with snapshots from one year ago today running through my mind.

The phone call on that fateful Monday morning. My mom’s voice, tearful and frantic, on the other end. “Kevin has been in an accident and we don’t know how bad it is. Cher and Daddy are on the way to him at Vanderbilt. Mandy…pray.”

Trying to throw on clothes while intermittently throwing myself on the floor before God to beg, to beseech, … » Read More

Dash of Sass: Whatever You’re Facing Today, Tomorrow Is On Its Way

December 1, 201521 CommentsMandy Hale

I have a dear friend going through a big heartbreak right now…and this morning she texted me “How is it possible for this to still hurt me so horribly?” And I texted her back: “It hurts because you’re human, and because you were vulnerable with someone who didn’t value your heart and THAT’S NOT ON YOU…” And you know what? It also hurts because she’s stuck in the Today of it all. The newness of … » Read More

Dash of Sass: It’s Okay Not To Be Okay

September 10, 201433 CommentsMandy Hale

Who can relate to the struggle to show yourself grace and the tendency to beat yourself up for having a bad day or an off moment? After coming out on the other side of a very challenging few months, I am finally able to see the greater purpose of seasons of struggle: Nothing makes a person more sensitive and compassionate and forgiving of the plight of others than actually stepping into that person’s experience. I … » Read More

Dash of Sass: Happiness is a Choice

August 25, 20143 CommentsMandy Hale

We all get hurt by life. By people. By events and situations not going our way. Let’s face it…it’s tough to be human! But every single second we are given the choice to choose our attitude. No circumstance can define or destroy or control us unless we let it. So despite what’s going on in your life today, I urge you to think happy thoughts and speak happy words and choose to be a happy … » Read More

Dash of Sass: Finding Out Who You Are

August 21, 201416 CommentsMandy Hale

We tend to long for certainty and comfort and ease and structure…but the truth is, it’s in the midst of the uncertain and dark and unclear and broken times that we learn who we really are and what we’re capable of. So if today you’re going through it, know that it’s because you’re being prepared to come out someone entirely different on the other side. No pressure, no diamonds. No pain, no pearl. No cocoon, … » Read More

Dash of Sass: Want a Bestselling Life? Stay Open to Edits!

January 7, 2013CommentMandy Hale

Quote of the Day: “It’s never too late – in fiction or in life – to revise.” ~Nancy Thayer The Single Woman Says: Since my life is consumed by writing these days, I thought I’d share a little more wisdom with you today that I’m learning from the book-writing process. Writing a book is one thing, with all of its many challenges and fears … » Read More

The Single Woman’s Dash of Sass: Bring On the Rain!

November 27, 2011CommentMandy Hale

Quote of the Day: “Tomorrow’s another day, & I’m thirsty anyway…so bring on the rain.” ~Jo Dee Messina The Single Woman Says: They say that when it rains, it pours…and this weekend, the flood of random events in my life brought that old adage to life. First, my car broke down. My dad and I jumped it off, thinking it was just a fluke, and it … » Read More

The Single Woman’s Dash of Sass: Your Inner Butterfly

November 7, 2011CommentMandy Hale

Quote of the Day: “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.” ~Unknown The Single Woman Says: This is a classic quote, and one of my favorites. It says so much, so eloquently, and in so few words. It seems that very often in life, our biggest breakdowns come on the eve of our biggest breakthroughs. It’s all a part … » Read More