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Brandi Easterling Collins, independent author

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Essays, General Thoughts

Unexpected Employment Changes

Note: Edited on August 20, 2021, in order to clarify some points that I did not communicate clearly in the first publication which caused some hurt feelings with some former…

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July 25, 2021
General Thoughts, Pop Culture

Day 7: Countdown of my favorite love songs (message to new lover)

Welcome to day seven of my ten-day series of Valentine’s Day-inspired blog posts. Yesterday, I wrote about my favorite pour your heart out songs. Today’s songs are all messages to…

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February 11, 2018
High School Poetry

The Night

I wrote this one when I was 15. “The Night” 11-22-96 Deep in the night I had a dream, and in it everything was okay. I was thoroughly happy, and nothing could…

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July 24, 2016
  • Man looking at goals checklist
    Essays,  General Thoughts

    Can High Goals Get in the Way of Contentment?

    April 18, 2025 /

    Having hopes and dreams for ourselves is healthy. But at what point can high goals get in the way of happiness? Dreams vs. goals It’s natural for humans to have dreams. They start when we’re little kids, dreaming of being a ballerina, a pro athlete, or just like Mom or Dad. It’s good to have dreams because they’re one of the things that set us apart as a species. Later in my childhood and early teen years, I dreamed of someday being a writer—an author of published novels. Goals are a bit different and less easily forgotten. As a child, I wanted to be all sorts of different things, but…

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    A scary topic: suicide

    April 11, 2017

    My husband: the best example of a good father

    June 17, 2017
    Snoopy thinking he has a pretty good life.

    A Lesson in Gratitude

    February 25, 2024
  • Illustrated race track scene with children driving cars at a starting line
    Essays,  General Thoughts

    How Many Times Can You Start Over?

    February 16, 2025 /

    Several times in my life, I’ve had to hit the reset button and start from scratch. It can get exhausting, but it’s also a chance to change or improve the outcome by making different choices. Starting over can be difficult On January 18, 2024, I started over on a better health journey. I had planned my “start over” to coincide with the first of the year, but life and some health issues got in the way. So, that Saturday morning, I stepped on the scale. And I cried. I didn’t like the number staring back at me and knew I had to change my habits to be healthier. Since that…

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    To All The Pets I’ve Loved Before

    September 11, 2020

    Unexpected Employment Changes

    July 25, 2021
    Woman typing on laptop

    Self-editing a Story: What it Takes

    January 16, 2021
  • General Thoughts,  Pop Culture

    2024 in Book Reviews

    December 31, 2024 /

    I read 75 books in 2024 and wrote half of my sixth novel, which is tentatively titled Four Hearts. While I originally planned to set a goal of 100 books, I changed my goal to 75 books early in the year due to unforeseen circumstances. Here are my top reads for the year. Top 10 best reads for 2024 (traditionally published) These are in order, starting with my favorite read of the year. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr This Used to Be Us by Renée Carlino This Impossible Brightness by Jessica Bryant Klagmann Spirit Crossing (Cork O’Connor, #20) by William Kent Krueger Camino Ghosts (Camino Island,…

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    You May Also Like

    My love history and why I never wrote about my husband until now

    July 30, 2016

    Update During Chaos

    March 28, 2020

    Day 5: Countdown of my favorite love songs (non-romantic love)

    February 9, 2018
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Recent Posts

  • My Favorite Holiday Movies and TV Specials (Even the Guilty Pleasures)
  • A Family Road Trip: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
  • Summer 2025 Writing Update and Sixth Novel First Chapter Teaser
  • Can High Goals Get in the Way of Contentment?
  • How Many Times Can You Start Over?

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