Author name: Jan Whalen

Hello Sunshine! While sorting files from the past twenty-five years, and throwing out what I can live without, I found a scrap of an old newspaper. I’d saved it because it contained an old old Dear Abby column telling her readers how to be popular—written fifty-eight years ago. Her advice includes: Be kind Be honest Be

Dear strong woman, The saying begins, “Behind every successful man…†and the next words are always, “IS A WOMAN.†The endings vary, yet it’s clear that women hold a vital role in our world. This is especially true about military wives. The impact of the military has been on my mind because next week, we’re going

Dear Beauty, Mother’s Day burns with emotion. Everyone (especially card and flower companies) wants us to remember our moms, yet often they don’t make cards to express the soul’s voice. Mother’s Day can be a difficult day if you desperately want a child but can’t have one, or you’ve just lost your mom, or your mom

Dear determined woman, It’s fun to stand near the finish line of a race to watch that magic moment when each runner steps over the line to success. I’m not exactly sure why this is so, but it’s fun to clap and holler for each one, whether you know them or not. It’s also heartwarming

Dear Cool Woman, It all started with reading The Boston Girl. About a hundred pages into this book by Anita Diamant, Addie, the main character, visits a seemingly eccentric potter who wears pants. Because she was an early 1900s girl,  Addie jumped at the chance to try on this unorthodox garment. Here’s her reaction:â€When I put

Dear cherished woman, When I began writing to Ariel, I had no idea what her life in prison was like. I’m beginning to see her as a woman who depends on God to bring her through each day. She looks at her life honestly and has a passion to help others—someone who has a story

Dear Beauty, I don’t know about you, but every once in a while I face a situation where I can’t see my way through. It feels like being in the ocean, going down fast! Fortunately, this feeling usually lasts a short time because a minor miracle, or (as we say in my family) “A God

Dear Dancing Heart, How do you manage those low points in your own life? We all have ‘bad’ hair days and sometimes the days turn into months or years. It’s helpful to exchange stories about how other women manage their lives. Today’s guest author is Lisa Edwards, international trainer (ROI of Coaching), coach, author and

Dear Wonderful Woman, When I was little, I enjoyed taking long walks near my home in rural Harmony, Minnesota. I’d get lost in the journey, but every once in a while I’d look back to see how far I’d come. It might be a good time to do the same with our Whalen Voices blog. We’ve had many comments