Recipe For: A Strong Woman

I've never intentionally set out to be a strong woman, I think in many ways I'm naturally strong, but I've also gained fortitude through some of the experiences I've had to endure through the course of my life. However, I am opinionated, not afraid to stand up and do what's right, stay true to who I am and I'm vocal about my beliefs. This has a tendency to rub people the wrong way. Marilyn Monroe said it best, "Strong women don't have 'attitudes' we have standards." I absolutely believe it's the truth. I also like to quote, "I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.” I've come up with a recipe I hope will help connect you with your strength: Recipe for a Strong Woman She knows who she is. She knows what she wants for herself. She follows her heart. She honors her instincts. She stands...
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Leadership, Responsibility and Does Everybody Hate Me?

I've had the opportunity many times over the course of my life, and even currently, to be a leader. Whether that's a youth organization, on a committee within my church, or at my child's school. I do possess many leadership qualities: integrity, courage, respect, creativity, accountability, decision-making skills, problem-solving, vision, and excellent communication. That doesn't mean I always like being a leader. Do you know what else comes with being a leader? Responsiblity. That's not to say I lack the ability to take responsibility; quite the contrary. In fact, I would argue, I'm all too willing to take responsibility even for things I have no business taking responsibility for, AND too often other people are far too willing to pass the buck and give responsibility for something I definitely didn't have anything to do with. Responsibility is a tricky little thing, isn't it? Who's responsible? For what? How did this...
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Harsh Truths From A Known People Pleaser

Being a people pleaser is not for the faint of heart. Letting people down is one of the most upsetting feelings I manage. I feel it in my heart deep down in my gut and I carry the horrible feeling around with me for weeks and often months when I have to say no or can not fulfill an obligation. Being a Type-A, anxiety-riddled, control freak really ramps up the intensity too. I'm also organized, and efficient and I genuinely like helping out! So when people ask me to get involved, I'm always happy to do so and excited to be asked. However, several times, just this calendar year, several things I keep sort of on a low burn - if you will - have all culminated into high-level obligations all at the same time. Just when I came up for air from one period of obligations, I went right...
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I’m Not The Cool Mom. Sorry, Not Sorry.

Today my daughter turns 12 years old and she's getting her first phone. Some parents have been really lovely and understanding and have had similar phone journeys as we have, but others have been straight-up judgemental. Uncool. Would you like to hear my elevator speech? I nearly have it perfect I've given it so many times. She's 12. We've been leaving her home alone sometimes and occasionally with her 8-year-old sister. We don't have a landline. When we built this house 7 years ago, we didn't have ports installed. We haven't had a landline in more than a decade. We weren't even thinking about why would ever possibly need one, it seemed like antiquated technology. So, now when we leave our 12-year-old home, the only way she can call us is through Facebook messenger and that's only if the WiFi isn't out, which is keeps going out a lot recently...
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Heather Chastain

About Heather

(So, my web designer says I needed to include a bio, though I find this task silly because, if you’re here, you know me.)

I’m a writer. It’s what I do. It’s a cathartic mechanism when I need release from my anxiety. I’ve had blogs in the past; I’ve taken them down, but I never stopped writing. I simply can’t. My notes app is forever long as it’s filled with pages and pages of different topics. Sometimes I just write a few sentences. Sometimes I write paragraphs.

Recently, I've been writing long essays. My friends and others I hold dear have coaxed me into sharing my work again.

So that's what I'm doing, you wicked, pushy people. LOL

I have no desire to see my writing be anything more than an opportunity to share what I love doing most. I have no interest in this blog reaching the masses.

I thought it would be fun to call it My Spicy Disaster because that's often how I feel. A complete mess of epic proportion. So join me, if you'd like, and let's pretend we're not sitting amongst the chaos crying, but laughing instead.

Or maybe we do cry sometimes, but then wipe our tears and remember one person’s disaster is another person’s … well, who the hell knows …

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