I turn my eyes forward, and together Zoey and I start running along the water’s edge, our footfall heavy on the cold, wet sand. Together we are running, slowly at first, and then all at once faster: Toward tomorrow. Toward the future. Toward all our journeys ahead.
The bittersweet end to my Everyday Nostalgia series was a little more than a year ago. But in many ways, it seems like only yesterday I typed those words with an eye toward the unknown, exciting future that lay ahead for me and my daughter. I believed the coming year was going to be a watershed year full of change, opportunity, and growth. And you know what?
It was.
After three-and-a-half years, I left a job where my time was undervalued and my talents were underutilized and started as the Director of Marketing in a completely new industry. I was selected as one of the first Writers in Residence on Kindred Mom. I celebrated my thirty seventh year of being alive and my daughter’s seventh.
I learned to be a little more leisurely. I started going to movies again. I read more. I got a lot more sleep.
And I fell in love.
So here I am in January 2019, counting my blessings and feeling happy and alive and wondering what comes next. For me. For my daughter. For my writing. For my life.
Well, dear readers, while I’m not quite certain about where my life will take me, I can tell you what comes next for my writing.
Your love and kindness and encouragement were so overwhelming and inspirational I just couldn’t leave my words to remain floating around the digital landscape of the internet. They needed a new life beyond The Nostalgia Diaries blog. A life worthy of The Nostalgia Diaries ideals. And what’s more nostalgic for a writer than to have your words live a perpetual life on actual paper?
Because you all had wonderful things to say about my Everyday Nostalgia posts and because many of you suggested I needed to make it into a book, that’s exactly what I did.
I am thrilled to announce that my book, Blessed, Beautiful Now will be published and available from Amazon at the end of this month, January 31, 2019! The book is a collection of lovingly curated stories from my Everyday Nostalgia series. As those of you who followed my journey know, my essays followed my year long journey with my remarkably insightful daughter as I navigated the complexities of my unexpected life after divorce. You’re sure to find it engaging, inspirational, relatable, and heartwarming.
Whether you’ve read one, a few, or all of the Everyday Nostalgia posts on The Nostalgia Diaries blog (or maybe you haven’t read any of them), I think you’ll love having them compiled in one place. There’s just something real…comforting…satisfying, about a book you can hold in your hands, ink indelibly printed on creamy white pages, ready to flip and dog-ear and bookmark. In the immortal words of Hemingway, “There is no friend as loyal as a book.”
(Of course, for those who love the convenience of having all your books in one place, Blessed, Beautiful Now will also be available to download to your Kindle).
So at the risk of sounding completely “salesy,” please head over to my website, coreywheeland.com, to learn more about my Blessed, Beautiful Now book, and sign up to my mailing list. You’ll be one of the first to know about my special book-launch price, which will be good for only a few days after the book is released! You won’t want to miss it! Buy it for yourself or buy it for a friend. Maybe one for your mom. Or for a mom-to-be! And once you have read it, I’d love you to take a moment to be one of first to review it on Amazon! (As you may know, early and authentic Amazon reviews help so much!)
Thank you to all you amazing Nostalgia Seekers! We are looking forward to a fantastic, fulfilling, and fabulous 2019!
BONUS! 21 Songs That Inspired Everyday Nostalgia and Blessed, Beautiful Now
Since it is Monday, how about a new Music Monday list? We haven’t done a playlist in a while, and we are feeling a bit nostalgic for the songs leading up to the creation of the Everyday Nostalgia series and my book, Blessed, Beautiful Now. We are throwing it back to 2017, and, really, basically all the years before that. Or after. It’s an anything-goes post! Enjoy!
Follow Your Arrow – Kacey Musgraves
Keeping the Faith – Billy Joel
Feel it Still – Portugal. The Man
Rain – Patty Griffin
Can’t Stop the Feeling – Justin Timberlake
Brand New – Ben Rector
Roar – Katy Perry
Brave – Sara Bareilles
How You Get The Girl – Taylor Swift
Fight Song – Rachel Platten
I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar – Helen Reddy
This is Me – The Greatest Showman Cast
Sunset – The Midnight
Happy People – Little Big Town
Want You Back – HAIM
Waiting for My Real Life to Begin – Colin Hay
Unavoidable – Neon Trees
Light On – Maggie Rogers
Damn, Do I Think About You – Steve Moakler
Somebody Loves You – Betty Who
Talk to Us: What songs are going to inspire you to follow your passion in 2019?
Corey is a writer, graphic designer, and mom to her amazing daughter, Zoey. Here at The Nostalgia Diaries, her goal is to simplify, enhance, and engage people’s lives by helping them focus on the most important things: remembering, appreciating, believing, and becoming. It’s all about celebrating the past to create better days today.
At The Nostalgia Diaries, our goal is to help you simplify, enhance, and engage your lives by focusing on the most important things: remembering, appreciating, believing, and becoming. It’s all about celebrating the past to create better days today.
P.S. You can find our colorful, creative spaces on , and . Stop by, leave a comment, like (or love!) a post or photo, and enjoy our happy, nostalgia-loving community!
This is so exciting, Corey! I’m happy for you. You are such a wonderful writer so I know the book will showcase those talents well.
Book launches are so exciting! I just had mine in November! CONGRATULATIONS!
Thank you so much, Kristin! And congratulations on your book launch, too! Can you tell us more about your book? We’d love to check it out!
That is so exciting about your book! Congrats! And your playlists is awesome! Going to save some of those on my amazon playlist 🙂
Thanks, Rachel! We’re suckers for good music 🙂 Thanks for checking out the post!
I love your playlist! Congrats so much on this new journey. It took a lot of faith to take that leap. I’m praying for lots of success with this book and new journey.
Thank you for your kind words and prayers, Judy – it means so much to have supportive readers like you!
Congrats on your upcoming book! That’s fantastic. Love this playlist too, especially Kacey Musgraves song.
-Lauren
Thanks, Lauren! And yes, Kacey Musgraves is so fun – we really like her new High Horse song and video 🙂
So exciting!! I’m genuinely happy for you!! I help people self-publish their books with grace and ease and when I read about a new author coming to the stage it makes me leap with joy! I always tell people that YOUR STORY IS IMPORTANT so TELL IT!! You go girl! Looking forward to checking it out.
Yay! We’ve learned so much in the past few weeks about publishing – it’s a lot of work but so much fun! Thank you for stopping by and checking out our fun news 🙂
Seriously, Corey, I’ve been waiting for this to happen since the first day I read one of your posts! Your writing makes me feel all the feelings!
Oh, Divya, I love you! (And not just because you say nice things like that! :)) Thank you so much for your support – it means so much!
Your happiness felt like a storm brewing. A new level of happiness. I know you made for incredibly sunny skies under less-than-ideal conditions. You kept your balance and your face to the sun, my friend. With that sweet child of yours and your own unwavering light, you found the shore. And it’s only just begun.
I cannot wait to open this book.
I asked Pandora for divine intervention to find me a song for 2019. Paul McCartney’s “Michelle” came on, followed by “Please Please Me” by the Beatles. So there’s still work to do there!
Love your list. “Waiting for my new life to begin” plays close to my heart.
Thank you. For bringing your words back.
Thanks, Eli, for all your kind words these past couple of years. Hope Pandora keeps bringing you good music in 2019!
This is the most incredible news Corey! Huge congratulations to you! It’s well deserved and I absolutely cannot wait to see your book in print. I’m glad you are doing well, it sounds like you’ve found happiness and that makes me smile big. Here’s to those wonderful vibes continuing and a great 2019!
Thank you, Beth! I’m hoping you have an amazingly successful 2019, too!
What a story! You’ve led an eventful life. Good luck with the book.
Thanks so much! I’m very excited about the launch 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
I am so flipping excited for you and this new journey! Published! BOOM! Also, your little playlist here has lifted my spirits to the sky. After the week I had, I needed that so much so thank you! How can you not watch the video for Brave and not smile? Am I right? Have an amazing weekend!!
Aw, thanks, Kim! Also so happy to have lifted your spirits 🙂 Brave got me through! 🙂 Hope your week is off to a great start!