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Posts by Holly

Holly Archibald is a writer, music lover, and travel addict with a weak spot for big, friendly dogs and movies starring Dolly Parton. You can follow her on Twitter (@hollsthesmalls).

In a Rut? Your Second-Grade Self Knows What to Do

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“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” ~Pablo Picasso

It amazes me how often our personalities, habits, and interests as adults resemble the same ones that we had as elementary-aged kids. In fact, I’m convinced that when we are feeling lost, in a rut, or at a crossroads, we should consider the wisdom we had as eight-year-olds.

I first became aware of my love for writing when I was in second grade. When my teacher created a class newspaper, giving each student an individual piece of paper on which to …

Thanking the Thankless: A Little Praise Can Go a Long Way

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“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.” ~Dalai Lama

The school bus driver that I had throughout elementary and middle school was invariably grouchy. She was gruff and intimidating; she had a look affixed to her face that could best be described as a perma-scowl. As far as I could tell, all of the kids on the bus were afraid of her.

And so it perplexed me each year on the last day before Christmas break when my mom handed me a box of chocolates for me to give to my bus driver as …