Mandy Hale, Author at Mandy Hale - Just a single girl with a story to tell

A Lesson in Gratitude, or, How the Little Things Became the Big Things

October 29, 201417 CommentsMandy Hale

I’m sitting here in my tiny little kitchen that I don’t own…gazing out at my cozy little loft with the turquoise carpet that someone else picked out long before I ever arrived here…watching my sweet kitty, Prince Hairy, stalking a bug across the room, carefully following the bug’s path so he can “protect his domain.” (He never actually harms the bug, he just likes to monitor the bug’s every move.) Steam rises from my coffee … » Read More

Dash of Sass: Why You Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For

October 28, 201441 CommentsMandy Hale

Sometimes we get mad and frustrated when we don’t find what we’re looking for. Or sometimes we find what we’re looking for but it’s not looking for us. But what we can’t see at the time is that the things that we DON’T find are the things that were never meant for us anyway. Pause a moment and consider the fact that maybe you haven’t found that dream job yet because God knows there’s a … » Read More

I Told You I Was Strong & Independent. I Lied.

October 27, 201472 CommentsMandy Hale

It hit me yesterday that I talk regularly about how strong and independent I am as a single (and fabulous) woman…

…and yet, it’s all a big, gigantic LIE.

The message in church yesterday was about singleness and how our contentment can only be found in God, not in the safety of marriage or the independence of single life (Thank you, Pastor Trevor Atwood, for BRINGING IT). And as I sat there and listened and let the … » Read More

Dash of Sass: Let Today Be Today

October 20, 201426 CommentsMandy Hale

What if we just let today be today and let yesterday keep all of yesterday’s:

FeelingsHeartbreaksExesMistakes
Insecurities
Sadness
Failures
Regrets
(Insert anything else here)

Today is Monday. Let it be Monday. Not last Tuesday. Not last October. Not 3 years ago. Let this moment be everything it’s trying to be and stop crowding it with yesterday’s nonsense! You don’t have to hold onto the pain of the past. You simply DON’T. You can open your hands & let it fall, without any … » Read More

Dash of Sass: You Did All You Could. Now Let Go.

October 13, 201456 CommentsMandy Hale

Maybe there wasn’t one thing you could have done differently to make things turn out differently. Maybe you did all you could (and then some). Maybe you should give yourself a break. Maybe, just maybe, you tried to love someone who didn’t love themselves enough to accept your love. Maybe the fact that you simply cared shows how brave you are. Maybe next time your efforts will be matched by someone who appreciates everything you … » Read More

Day 17: What Are Your Spiritual Beliefs and How Do They Impact Your Relationships/Relationship Status?

October 9, 201473 CommentsMandy Hale

My spiritual beliefs are pretty simple. Jesus is Lord. And it impacts every single thing that I do, big or small…simple or complicated. You know how at the end of The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy turns to the Scarecrow and says: “I think I’ll miss you most of all”? Well, I think my walk with Jesus impacts my love life most of all.

God has saved me from toxic, damaging relationships. He has protected me from … » Read More

Day 16: If You Planted a Time Capsule Right Now To Be Opened in 20 Years, What Would Be In It?

October 8, 20142 CommentsMandy Hale

If I planted a time capsule right now that represented my life…what would be in it? Hmmm. I think I could probably fill it to the brim with books and call it a day. But that wouldn’t be very diverse, now would it?

There are the obvious things. My two books…words that will hopefully stand the test of time long after I’m gone. Writing is immortality, I suppose. It’s kind of nice knowing that 20 years … » Read More

Day 15: Narrate a Conversation Between You and Someone Who You Never Had Closure With

October 7, 2014105 CommentsMandy Hale

It’s been almost exactly a year since I posted my last #30DayBloggingChallenge blog. I actually wrote this a year ago and wasn’t brave enough to post it. Since I wrote this blog, I have actually had this final conversation of closure with this person, who many of you will recognize from my latest book I’ve Never Been to Vegas but My Luggage Has. I’ll save that final conversation for another day…but for now, here’s what … » Read More

Dash of Sass: You Are NOT Alone

October 6, 201425 CommentsMandy Hale

I received this question this morning from a Facebook friend and wanted to post it here, along with my answer, because I feel like this is an issue that many single women struggle with.

Mandy,

I keep trying and trying year and after and I am still alone. I pray every day. But everyone is a pair that I know and I am not included in anything. Many of my friends are married. I get excluded from the … » 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