identity

Have you lost your HAPPY? (part 2)

/ Dora Hiers / 5 Comments





In last week’s post, we discussed how we’re not always given a choice regarding divorce, health or even life. But…

Do we have a choice when it comes to being happy?





Let’s gauge our happy level. How many of these phrases have you repeated? 

“I’ll be happy when I…

Land the right job.
Make more money.
Meet Mr. Right.
Snag that publishing contract.
Finish school.

You get the idea.

Once you achieved those goals, were you happy? Maybe for a time, right? Until another goal or achievement was added to the list.


Happiness isn’t found in a place or thing. It’s not an event like a wedding or a divorce.

I’m a firm believer that being

HAPPY involves a choice, a daily decision, on my part.


So, how can a person find their HAPPY? 

Dive into the Word. This is the first place I seek refuge, to find a way out of the darkness, to dig myself out of the hole of discouragement.

I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? 
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV) 


Discover who you were created to be (a child of the King) and what you were created for (worship).

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:1-3 (NIV)

Yeah. I know it’s not easy to shout for joy when you’re slogging through tough times. But, that’s what we were made for and praising God will naturally lift your spirit.


Rest on God’s promise to never leave you or give up on you. Deut 31:6 (NIV)

Pray. Ask God to help bring the joy back into your heart.

 Focus outward, not inward. Get a job, take up a hobby or volunteer for an organization with a cause that you’re passionate about. Spending time with others, whether it’s of the people or animal variety, takes your mind away from your problems. Always a good thing, right?

Recognize that time heals. Each day that passes lessens the sting of whatever trial or pain you’re suffering. Have you ever gone through a bleak period, and then looked back later to realize you’d grown stronger because of it? Take heart in this. Know that tomorrow, while you might still hurt, God will eventually calm the storm. 

He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. 
They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven. 
Psalm 107:29-30 NIV

Have you lost your HAPPY?
What are you doing to get it back?
Come back next week and we’ll discuss specific short-term ideas
to regain your HAPPY.

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Meet K. Dawn Byrd and Double Identity

/ Dora Hiers

Good morning, all. Today, let’s welcome K. Dawn Byrd and her newest release, Double Identity. 

Good morning, K. Dawn. Tell us a little about yourself. What is the toughest test you’ve faced as a writer?

Finding time to write. I work a full-time job and also a lot of weekends, which means that I have to be really devoted to my writing time. I set aside at least an hour every night, six days a week if possible. The fact that I start with a well-developed plot makes things move faster.

Wow! That’s amazing. Talk about discipline. What accomplishment are you most proud of, writing-related or not?
I’m proud of earning a master degree in professional counseling from Liberty University. I believe this degree helps me to understand my characters better and what makes them tick.
I bet it does. Congratulations on that. What kind of planning do you do before writing a novel?
I fill out character sketches in order to get to know my characters better. I ask myself what their goals are, what motivates them, and what’s keeping them from reaching their goals. Sometimes, I start by writing a synopsis. This gives me information about the plot as it develops. I usually have a pretty strong plot before I actually begin the story because I write all of my books in 30-day marathons. That doesn’t mean that sometimes the story doesn’t take a life of it’s own, surprising me when it takes me down a road I hadn’t planned to travel.

In this past year, I made the transition from pantser to plotter and I found that writing a synopsis first does keep me more focused and on task. Tell me, K. Dawn, why do you write?

I write because I can’t stop. It’s more than a hobby, it’s a passion. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had in my life!

What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a thriller about a serial killer. It’s a difficult story because there are several twists and turns and I have to be careful how I write it for everything to fall into place correctly.
Oooh, that’s different. What would you be doing if you weren’t writing?
Probably still riding a Harley. I sold my bike in order to have more time to write. On weekends, I’d rather curl up with my laptop and the story in my head.
Do you listen to music when you write?
I must have total peace and quiet when I write. I hate it because it keeps me from writing sometimes when I’d like to.
Same for me. The only music I enjoy is my golden’s soft snore in the office. What do you do for fun when not writing?
I love to read. Romantic suspense or young adult novels are favorites.
How can readers get in contact with you? 
Email: kdawnbyrd@yahoo.com
Twitter: kdawnbyrd
Pinterist: kdawnbyrd
Facebook: kdawnbyrd

Thanks so much for hanging out with me today, K. Dawn. It’s been a pleasure getting to know you better. Why don’t you tell us more about your latest release,


Double Identity.

Seventeen-year old Bree has always wanted a sister. She’s shocked when she learns that her father is alive and her identical twin sister, Cassie, is coming to live with her. She can’t wait for Cassie to arrive. She just knows they’ll be best friends. 

Bree soon discovers that even though they look alike, they’re totally different. Cassie is wild and impulsive. She hates Bree’s little town and everything in it, except Bree’s boyfriend, Luke. When Cassie becomes obsessed with Luke, she’ll go to any length to have him for herself. 
Luke has a secret, which Cassie learns and uses against him. She’s off her medication and will stop at nothing. She says he’s in love with her. He says he loves Bree. Will their secrets destroy them and their relationships?
K. Dawn Byrd
is an author of inspirational novels in several genres, including, historical, suspense, romance, and young adult. Some of her favorite things are chocolate, cars, and her pets. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and riding down country roads in the passenger seat of her husband’s Corvette Stingray. When asked why she writes, her response is, “For the simple joy of placing words on the page!”