Introduction To Living In The Different

Do you remember the Hallmark movie where the writer moves back to her hometown, falls in love, and writes a New York bestseller novel? Well, that is not the news here. How about the writer moves back to her hometown and writes a column for the local newspaper? Yep, that’s what is happening right here. I grew up on a farm in Wyandot County and graduated from Upper Sandusky High School. If you are from Upper, you are already asking yourself, “Who are her parents?" My parents are Richard and Dorothy Clinger. My siblings and extended family live all around the county. Yes, I am related to about half of the county.

I’m a writer and a counselor grounded in my faith and foundation. If you want my bio, you can google me or go to my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com. I am here not to talk about myself, but to share life stories that will be a guide to living into the life you now have. Your life is different from what it was whether from aging, loss of loved ones, challenges, seasons, transitions, illnesses, or changes. Different is not always bad, it is just different. So how do you live not just exist? How do you live fully and abundantly without fear, worry, and anxiety leading the way? Well, that’s our focus for this year.

Let’s start with a few words that prevent us from living with joy and fulfillment. Anxiety. It is the fear of what may happen and is filled with worry and being overwhelmed. I’m seeing some head nodding as you read these words. You are just a worrier by nature, right? Worry is the belief that nobody is in control, and you need to be. You anticipate what could go wrong and fear you will not be able to handle it. You worry about everything and worry if you are not worrying.

As 2025 begins, what if we lived differently than we did in 2024 regarding worry and anxiety? First, not everything is your responsibility. Ask yourself, what is my role in each situation? Next step, focus on the present moment not what could happen in the future. Start living in today. It may not be what you expected or wanted, but it is all you have. Worry and anxiety are not going to change your present moment except make you more negative and unable to function. It is accepting that this is what you have in front of you. Look around you and find a good moment or make the moment good. You say, “There is nothing good.” Then change your focus. Yes, there is bad all around us in our broken and fallen world, but there is good if we look for it. A smile. A sunrise. A squirrel running up and down the tree chasing another squirrel. Good is all around us, if we just look for it.

Anxiety and worry are fed by the noises of this world. Are you distracted by the negativity and busyness of daily tasks? Let’s slow down our thoughts and begin this year listening to the gentle whisper of our souls and begin the search with me for peace, hope, and purpose. Hope you will take this weekly journey with me and begin living in the different!