Alphatudes by Michele Wahlder

Today I'm glad to be featuring Michele Wahlder and her book Alphatudes. Be sure to read to the end as I have a book to giveaway. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a life & career Coach, author and motivational speaker and am the founder of Life Possibilities, a company that guides people to become the highest vision they hold for themselves in their lives, careers and relationships through the vehicles of coaching, seminars and books. I hold an MS in Counseling and Development from Texas Woman’s University and a BA in Communications from Tulane University. I serve as the Global Spokesperson for Bayer’s Global MS Campaign and live in Dallas, Texas, with her fiancé Michael, “bonus daughter” Zoe and Portuguese water dog Moses.

You sound like a busy person. When did you first know you wanted to write a book?

The idea for my book, Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude, came to me in a most unlikely way. I wasn’t feeling grateful at all. In fact, I had been going through a period of disrupted sleep and was quite cranky over my inability to sleep soundly. I had tried many different techniques, but none had worked. On one particular night, while lying in bed, the concept of gratitude entered my thoughts. I spontaneously started thinking of things I was grateful for using the structure of the alphabet –it was easy and fun! Counting my blessings instead of counting burdens or sheep, turned out to be a habit that had begun to affect my outlook on life in a positive way.

I shared the “Alphatudes” process with my life coaching clients and got a really great response .The positive results encouraged me to want to share the process with a larger audience – I became a writer!

That's so cool when things just fall into place. I had a college professor that always encouraged her students to list three things you are thankful for before you even get out of bed each morning. Many times she'd start the class calling on 3 random students to give her something they are thankful. Many times she'd ask us to list attributes of God. Loved that professor, still do and keep in touch with her. What is one thing you are most thankful for right now?

My loving, supportive family and friends.

It always helps to have a good supportive backing. When you are asked to list blessings what is one that you always include?

My health.

What is one you tend to forget?

My perfect way that my body functions without my help – i.e. breathing, walking, chewing etc… It is such a miracle!

Aren't our bodies an amazing machine? How long have you been writing?

I have been journaling for over 15 years. Besides articles for Life Possibilities’ newsletters and various other publications, writing for the public in book form, began 2 years ago with Alphatudes.

I've never taken the time to keep a journal many people do though. Who or What has been you’re biggest inspiration in writing?

I would have to say Louise Hay. At the time when she wrote her first books, what she had to say was controversial – but she wrote anyway.

It's always helpful to have a good inspiration. If you could spend an evening with some special people, who would you invite and why?

My grandmothers and my mother – there are so many things I wish I could have asked them and learned from them. I dedicated the book to the three of them.

Mothers are always good at teaching us important things in life. They leave lasting impressions. If you were planning a Girls Night only: Who would you invite and what would you do?

I would invite my book consultant team at The Cadence Group, right now. I have been working with them for a year and haven’t met them in person. I would love to have a long dinner and just get to know them more personally.

Of course dinner, food is a wonderful thing at a party. I love parties. Could you tell us a little about the featured book

Alphatudes: The Alphabet of Gratitude—26 Solutions for Life’s Little Challenges, uses the structure of the alphabet, to provide 26 spiritual solutions to help individuals develop a perspective of gratitude to better cope with the challenges of life. It offers a rare combination of uplifting and beautiful illustrations, quotes, narratives, affirmations and prayers to give the reader an experience of gratitude rather than just a theoretical explanation. This book will help you:

• Heighten your awareness and appreciation of life’s daily gifts
• Attract opportunities with a positive mind-set
• Surmount life’s challenges with a healthy reservoir of gratitude
• Find the hidden blessings in difficult situations
• Free yourself from worry, negativity and resentment

I totally enjoyed reading your book. Why did you feel this type of book was needed?

In a world obsessed with negativity and materialism, I wanted to give people a simple, practical and fun method to shift their thinking toward the positive. In our society, we desperately attempt to get more and more, which leaves us feeling lacking and negative. Alphatudes helps readers to discover the prosperity and abundance that is already theirs!

What do you hope the readers of Alphatudes will come away with?

My hope is that as readers use this method to grow in gratitude and optimism, it will become a natural reaction to the events their lives and will allow them to build a more positive relationship with themselves and the world.

Have you written any other books?

Not yet!

Do you write only non-fiction/self-help type?
At this point, yes.

Do you have any other books in the works? If so can you tell us about what is ahead?

Only ideas that aren’t fully formed yet.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Being amazed by what comes through my hand onto the paper.

I since I'm not much of a writer I think what I got down on paper would amaze me too. What is your least favorite part of writing?

The rewriting phase, which is an essential part of the process that requires much organization and clarifying.