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<channel><title><![CDATA[Exploring Peace with Whitney R. Simpson - Blog]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.exploringpeace.com/blog]]></link><description><![CDATA[Blog]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:37:37 -0500</pubDate><generator>Weebly</generator><item><title><![CDATA[With God in Every Breath: Book Launch]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.exploringpeace.com/blog/with-god-in-every-breath-book-launch]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.exploringpeace.com/blog/with-god-in-every-breath-book-launch#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Wed, 14 Aug 2024 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[book]]></category><category><![CDATA[book launch]]></category><category><![CDATA[community]]></category><category><![CDATA[Devotional]]></category><category><![CDATA[guided meditations]]></category><category><![CDATA[meditation]]></category><category><![CDATA[With God in Every Breath]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.exploringpeace.com/blog/with-god-in-every-breath-book-launch</guid><description><![CDATA[ It's with so much excitement that I share the title of my new book arriving in May 2025.&nbsp;Drumroll, please........With God in Every Breath:A Guide to Drawing Closer to Jesus through Your Senses&nbsp;This book is a labor of love, born out of my deep desire to help others experience a closer connection to Jesus through the everyday moments of life, using their senses. I&rsquo;ve poured my heart into the prompts and guided meditations, carefully crafted to guide you in engaging all your senses [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class='imgPusher' style='float:left;height:0px'></span><span style='display: table;width:auto;position:relative;float:left;max-width:100%;;clear:left;margin-top:0px;*margin-top:0px'><a><img src="https://www.exploringpeace.com/uploads/8/7/0/1/8701352/book-title_orig.png" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; border-width:1px;padding:3px; max-width:100%" alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder wsite-image" /></a><span style="display: table-caption; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 90%; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;" class="wsite-caption"></span></span> <div class="paragraph" style="display:block;">It's with so much excitement that I share the title of my new book arriving in May 2025.&nbsp;Drumroll, please........<br /><br /><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong style=""><font size="6">With God in Every Breath:</font><br /><font size="4">A Guide to Drawing Closer to Jesus through Your Senses&nbsp;</font></strong></em><br /><br /><span>This book is a labor of love, born out of my deep desire to help others experience a closer connection to Jesus through </span><span>the</span><span> everyday </span><span>moments of</span><span> life, using their senses.</span><span> </span><span>I&rsquo;ve</span><span> poured my heart into the prompts and guided meditations, carefully crafted to guide you in engaging all your senses as you journey </span><span>deeper</span><span> </span><span>in</span><span> your faith. Whether </span><span>you&rsquo;re</span><span> seeking peace, renewal, or simply a more tangible sense of </span><span>God&rsquo;s</span><span> presence in your daily life, this book </span><span>is designed</span><span> to be a companion </span><span>on that path</span><span>. Afterall, God is as close as your breath!</span><br /><br /><span>But </span><span>here&rsquo;s</span><span> where the fun </span><span>really</span><span> begins--<strong>I want you to be part </strong>of the excitement from the </span><span>very</span><span> beginning.</span><span> </span><span>That&rsquo;s</span><span> why</span><span> </span><span>I&rsquo;m</span><span> inviting you to join the </span><strong>Book Launch Team</strong><span> for</span><span> "</span><span>With God in Every Breath</span><span>."</span><br /><br /><strong>Why Join the Book Launch Team?</strong><ol style="color:rgb(14, 16, 26)"><li><strong>Exclusive Early Access:</strong><span> Be among the first to receive a sneak peek of the book before it hits the shelves. </span><span>You&rsquo;ll</span><span> get to read chapters, experience (hear!) the meditations, and provide valuable feedback.</span></li><li><strong>Behind-the-Scenes Updates:</strong><span> As a member of the launch team, </span><span>you&rsquo;ll</span><span> get insider updates on the </span><span>book&rsquo;s</span><span> progress, cover reveals, and more. </span><span>You&rsquo;ll</span><span> be part of the journey as</span><span> we prepare for the big launch in May 2025.</span></li><li><strong>Special Launch Team Perks:</strong><span> Enjoy exclusive perks including access to private online discussions, and a chance to participate in live Q&amp;A sessions with me.</span></li><li><strong>Spread the Word:</strong><span> Help me share the message of</span><span> </span><em><span>With God in Every Breath</span></em><span>&nbsp;</span><span>by spreading the word on social media, leaving reviews, and more. Your voice will be instrumental in making this launch a success. It means so much and spreads the impact of this devotional book, truly.</span></li><li><strong>Community Connection:</strong><span> Join a community of readers </span><span>who are</span><span> passionate about deepening their faith and drawing closer to Jesus in an embodied and present way. </span><span>We&rsquo;ll</span><span> share our experiences, insights, and encouragement along the way.</span></li></ol><br /><strong>How to Join the Book Launch Team</strong><br /><span>If </span><span>you&rsquo;re</span><span> as excited as I am and want to be part of this exciting journey, signing up is simple!<strong> Just fill out the form below with your details.</strong></span><br /><span>Once </span><span>you&rsquo;ve</span><span> signed up, you're on the list! Closer to launch,&nbsp;</span><span>you&rsquo;ll</span><span> receive a welcome email with all the details on how to </span><span>be part of the launch team. This is a low pressure and fun community opportunity. And yes,&nbsp;</span><span>I&rsquo;ll</span><span> be sharing</span><span> more about the book, the prompts, the meditations, and everything in between </span><span>as we move closer to the release date</span><span>.</span><br /><br /><strong>Join Us Today!</strong><br /><span>I </span><span>can&rsquo;t</span><span> wait to share</span><span> "</span><span>With God in Every Breath</span><span>" </span><span>with you and the world. </span><span>Let&rsquo;s</span><span> make this launch </span><span>a truly special</span><span> event together. Sign up today and be part of something </span><span>that&rsquo;s</span><span> not just a </span><span>book,</span><span> but a movement to draw closer to Jesus with every breath - in every moment of our lives.</span></div> <hr style="width:100%;clear:both;visibility:hidden;"></hr>  <div><div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div> <hr class="styled-hr" style="width:100%;"></hr> <div style="height: 20px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></div></div>  <div> 	<form enctype="multipart/form-data" action="//www.weebly.com/weebly/apps/formSubmit.php" method="POST" id="form-739570415107821096"> 		<div id="739570415107821096-form-parent" class="wsite-form-container" 				 style="margin-top:10px;"> 			<ul class="formlist" id="739570415107821096-form-list"> 				<h2 class="wsite-content-title">Yes! 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While I adore my Kindle for on-the-go reading, especially when I'm out and about, a special kind of comfort comes from holding a physical book, particularly for the reading ease on my eyes at the end of a long day. But it is more than my eyes that are happy with a good hardback, my soul loves a "real" book in my hands! That's wh [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class='imgPusher' style='float:left;height:0px'></span><span style='display: table;width:auto;position:relative;float:left;max-width:100%;;clear:left;margin-top:0px;*margin-top:0px'><a><img src="https://www.exploringpeace.com/uploads/8/7/0/1/8701352/botm_orig.jpeg" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; border-width:1px;padding:3px; max-width:100%" alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder wsite-image" /></a><span style="display: table-caption; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 90%; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;" class="wsite-caption"></span></span> <div class="paragraph" style="display:block;"><br />&#8203;There's nothing quite like the feel of a hardback book in your hands&mdash;the weight of the pages, the sound of the spine creaking as you dive into a new story. While <strong>I adore my <a href="https://amzn.to/3YIz6BV" target="_blank">Kindle</a> for on-the-go reading</strong>, especially when I'm out and about, <strong>a special kind of comfort comes from holding a physical book</strong>, particularly for the reading ease on my eyes at the end of a long day. But it is more than my eyes that are happy with a good hardback,<strong> my soul loves a "real" book in my hands! </strong>That's why one of my self-care rituals is reading fiction&mdash;often historical fiction&mdash;every night before bed. It's a soothing way to unwind and let my mind wander through different times and places.&nbsp;<br /><br /><strong>One of my favorite ways to indulge in my fiction "real book" reading habit is by picking up new releases from <a href="https://www.bookofthemonth.com/refer/uea50sfr4lp" target="_blank">Book of the Month (BOTM) Club</a>.</strong> They always have a fantastic selection of amazing authors to choose from, and receiving a fresh, beautifully bound book in the mail is exciting. But what's even better is after I enjoy it - <strong>I share that joy with others.</strong><br /><br />When I finish reading my BOTM selections, I don't just let them gather dust on a shelf. Instead, <strong>I pass them on to a friend or place them in a <a href="https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/" target="_blank">free little library</a> in my community</strong>.<br /><br />Buying (to read) and then sharing books is a really fun way to support an author and pass along the joy of reading! And yes, it's a feel-good way that supports my own book habit&mdash;I'm not just collecting books I will never read again but sharing stories with the world! After I read and before I share,&nbsp;<strong>I usually write a note in the front of the book that says I hope they enjoy the read and encourage them to "pass it on" after they read. Then, I surprise someone (friend or stranger) with that book!</strong><br /><br /><strong>Speaking of sharing</strong>, I'm thrilled that <a href="https://www.bookofthemonth.com/refer/uea50sfr4lp" target="_blank">BOTM has allowed me to offer you a special perk&mdash;your first month's book for just $5.</a> <em>(Full disclosure: yes, this is an affiliate link, which means it's good for you and it supports my reading habit, too, so thank you!)</em><br /><br />So nope, buying yourself a good book is not one and done. It's good for the soul to read and to share! <strong>Books are good for the soul because you can enjoy them AND you can share them. </strong>So yes,&nbsp;books make my soul happy and maybe they do yours too!&nbsp;I hope this inspires you to care for your soul by not only reading but by spreading your love of reading in your own creative way.<br /><br /><strong>Happy soul care and happy reading!</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://www.bookofthemonth.com/refer/uea50sfr4lp" target="_blank">Click here to check out this month's selections and get your first book for only $5.</a> <strong>Then SHARE the book love!&nbsp;</strong></div> <hr style="width:100%;clear:both;visibility:hidden;"></hr>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[My #100DayDressChallenge]]></title><link><![CDATA[https://www.exploringpeace.com/blog/my-100daydresschallenge]]></link><comments><![CDATA[https://www.exploringpeace.com/blog/my-100daydresschallenge#comments]]></comments><pubDate>Mon, 04 Mar 2024 18:48:46 GMT</pubDate><category><![CDATA[simplify]]></category><category><![CDATA[soul care]]></category><category><![CDATA[wool]]></category><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.exploringpeace.com/blog/my-100daydresschallenge</guid><description><![CDATA[ &#8203;It's true. I wore this same green dress for 100 days.&nbsp;Why?It started by doing something I have done before, supporting Dressember (and raising awareness for human trafficking) by wearing a dress daily during December. I did that in this dress in December. Then, things evolved from a monthly purpose-driven challenge to a 100-day one that gave me clarity and helped me love my body better.&nbsp;Wool&amp;&nbsp;is the maker of the Sierra sustainable dress I chose. Made of Merino wool, wh [...] ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class='imgPusher' style='float:left;height:0px'></span><span style='display: table;width:270px;position:relative;float:left;max-width:100%;;clear:left;margin-top:0px;*margin-top:0px'><a><img src="https://www.exploringpeace.com/uploads/8/7/0/1/8701352/published/img-5639.jpg?1709578286" style="margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 10px; border-width:0; max-width:100%" alt="Picture" class="galleryImageBorder wsite-image" /></a><span style="display: table-caption; caption-side: bottom; font-size: 90%; margin-top: -10px; margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;" class="wsite-caption"></span></span> <div class="paragraph" style="display:block;">&#8203;It's true. I wore this same green dress for 100 days.&nbsp;<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />It started by doing something I have done before, supporting Dressember (and raising awareness for human trafficking) by wearing a dress daily during December. I did that in this dress in December. Then, things evolved from a monthly purpose-driven challenge to a 100-day one that gave me clarity and helped me love my body better.&nbsp;<br /><br /><strong><a href="https://journal.wooland.com" target="_blank">Wool&amp;</a>&nbsp;</strong>is the maker of the Sierra sustainable dress I chose. Made of Merino wool, which is antimicrobial, and, as a friend who turned me onto this dress put it, it is pretty "magical" overall. <strong>The company has a <a href="https://journal.wooland.com/post/2020/5/1/100-day-dress-challenge" target="_blank">challenge</a></strong>&nbsp;for you to wear one of their items for 100 days, and upon completion, you get 100 dollars towards your next purchase. That's brilliant because I have told everyone about my magical dress. And with good reason!&nbsp;<br /><br />Yes, I changed for workouts, yoga, and a couple of fancy events, but I wore my green dress for 8+ish hours daily per the challenge. I even wore it to bed when I had Strep. It has been worn over and under all kinds of things I already had. And, yes, it's been washed (every couple of weeks, just because), and it still looks brand new. Merino wool is magical; I am a believer.<br /><br /><strong>My word for this year is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.exploringpeace.com/blog/entering-2024-with-intention">Simplify</a></strong>.&nbsp;For this challenge, I wore what was already in my closet (I love supporting local boutiques and have some fantastic pieces from them that showed up consistently with my dress). I also thrifted a few "new" things to wear with my green dress as I simplified my closet. Here's some of what I learned and why you've seen me in my green Sierra for the past 100 days:<br /><br />&bull; My focused attire helped me <strong>eliminate what I no longer wanted</strong> and did not fit over the past 100 days. My closet (and getting dressed) is so much less stressful now! There is less negative self-talk about what doesn't fit because it's no longer there. Indeed, I'm not the only human who falls weak with self-talk. Overall, my cleaned-out closet has improved my mindset and allowed me to focus on more important things, like ministry work and turning in my next manuscript!&nbsp;<br />&bull; Well-made <strong>Merino Wool pieces have great longevity</strong> and are cared for reasonably quickly and easily by spot cleaning and airing out overnight. While they aren't "cheap," they also aren't fast-fashion; they are made in small batches and made to last. Invest in a quality wardrobe capsule, and you're set! I am consigning and selling my excess clothes to buy more Merino.&nbsp;<br />&bull; <strong>I LOVE not doing so much laundry. </strong>I repeat, less laundry. Merino rarely stinks. You hang it up (inside out) to air out overnight, and it is fresh the next day.&nbsp;<br />&bull; Women of a certain age know this one: hot flashes are a real thing. You may not know that <strong>wearing Merino wool has minimized the impact of hot flashes for me!</strong> It's been a tremendous benefit (and again, less laundry!)&nbsp;<br />&bull; <strong>Merino wool is sustainable</strong>, and that means good for our earth. Yes, please! Buying items that I know some of how and where they were made and that they will last matters to me.&nbsp;<br />&bull; Being kind to my body as it changes (one with more curves and those hot flashes) in mid-life has been easier with this magical and comfortable dress. <strong>I prefer wearing natural fabrics now</strong>, and my skin can tell a difference.&nbsp;<br />&bull; <strong>Wearing a uniform is freeing!</strong> Brilliant people like Steve Jobs do this. Don't be surprised to discover my new capsule wardrobe/uniform system will be made mainly of Merino. &#128015; &nbsp;There is a real benefit to my mind and spirit when I limit daily decisions. Try it. It's good for the soul and a great way to find peace!&nbsp;<br />&bull;<strong> My decluttering weakness concerns accessories</strong>, so don't make me clean out my purses, bags, or scarve...yet. I will get there.&nbsp;<br />&bull; Surprisingly, there's a support group for this challenge.<strong> I have made new friends</strong> as I found a wonderful group of wool lovers inspired to live more purposefully with their clothing choices.<br /><br />As part of my commitment to Simplify, I plan to wear natural fibers like Merino whenever possible. I will strive to be kinder to myself, my earth, and my body with my choices and keep my closet decluttered while smartly supporting local, sustainable, and thrifted goods. <strong>This 100 day dress challenge has been a fun soul care experiment for me!&nbsp;</strong><br /><br />I have been asked if I will do this again. Yes, there is a 30-day challenge you can complete once per year with Wool&amp;. The 100 days is one time only, and I don't know if I would do that again. Maybe. Would you?<br /><br />Do something good for yourself, someone else, or the earth today; it will help you feel good, too! &nbsp;</div> <hr style="width:100%;clear:both;visibility:hidden;"></hr>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>