by Lynn Sanders | Mar 23, 2025 | Personal Stories
Have you ever had a moment where life stopped you in your tracks and whispered, “This is it. It’s time”?
For me, that moment came like a thunderbolt — the day my mom passed away suddenly from a heart attack at the age of 73.
She was vibrant. A loving, kind, compassionate soul. My dearest friend, filled with wisdom and dreams of her own.
And just like that… she was gone.
In the days and weeks that followed, grief washed over me like waves. But beneath the sorrow was something deeper, something louder — a calling.
It was the realization that our time on earth is limited. That tomorrow is never promised. That the dreams placed on our hearts aren’t there by accident — they are whispers from the Divine, meant to be followed now, not someday.
In trying to make sense of it all, I found the book, Infinite Possibilities by Mike Dooley.
Or maybe it found me.
Dooley’s words have been like oxygen to my soul. He writes, “Thoughts become things. Choose the good ones.”
He reminds us that we are not passive observers in life — we are powerful creators. Dream-weavers. Possibility-makers.
And what we dare to envision, we are equally capable of achieving — if only we’ll believe.
Reading it was like having a conversation with the version of myself that had always known this truth deep down. The version who had put dreams on the back burner while life kept calling for responsibility, duty, and practicality. But after losing my mom, I couldn’t ignore the urgency any longer.
I began to ask:
- What dream have I buried under the “somedays”?
- What story have I been waiting to write, speak, live?
- What legacy do I want to leave behind?
And so, I started to say yes — to bold ideas, divine nudges, and scary, beautiful leaps.
I stepped fully into my calling as a storyteller, coach, and difference maker.
I started writing books for children that spark compassion and courage.
I began helping other purpose-driven leaders share their stories with impact and authenticity.
I no longer waited for “the right time.” I made the time.
Because this is the art of living your dreams:
It’s knowing that dreams don’t come with expiration dates, but we do.
It’s choosing to act, even when the path isn’t clear.
It’s trusting that the universe rearranges itself around the boldness of a dream pursued.
My mom’s passing broke my heart wide open — but in that open space, light rushed in.
A deeper truth. A deeper purpose. And an unwavering commitment to not just dream, but to live those dreams out loud.
If you’re reading this and you’ve been waiting — for the perfect time, the perfect plan, the perfect courage — let this be your moment.
Your wake-up call. Your invitation.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to believe that it’s possible.
As Mike Dooley says, “Your dreams are not here to tease you. They are here to show you what’s possible for you.”
So go ahead.
Dream wildly.
Live boldly.
And write your masterpiece — one inspired word at a time.
by Lynn Sanders | Feb 19, 2025 | Personal Development
Ever since I was a kid, I adored stories.
My dad read bedtime stories. My mom recited poetry around the house. And I’d love to read stories of real heroes.
As I soon realized, every great movement, every powerful mission, and every life-changing initiative begins with a story.
But are you telling yours in a way that captivates, inspires, and compels action?
If you’re a cause-focused leader, nonprofit professional, or changemaker, your story is your most valuable asset. It’s the key to building trust, attracting supporters, and driving real impact.
After over 30 years as a professional storyteller — attracting results through a 6-figure donation, doubling memberships and increasing followers significantly, online, I recognize that more of us need to learn how to become effective storytellers to achieve results.
That’s why I invite you to join me for my upcoming webinar:
Transforming Purpose into Prosperity: Mastering The Power of Storytelling
[Date & Time]
Register now: https://bit.ly/Webinar-StoryPower
In this free session, you’ll discover:
The essential elements of a compelling nonprofit story
How to emotionally connect with your audience and inspire action
Proven strategies to use storytelling for fundraising and advocacy
The power of AI-driven storytelling to amplify your reach
Your mission deserves to be heard, remembered, and supported. Let’s make that happen together.
Spots are limited—secure your place today!
Register now: https://bit.ly/Webinar-StoryPower
Let’s craft stories that drive change,
To Your Success,
Lynn
by Lynn Sanders | Jan 7, 2025 | Personal Stories
Happy New Year, my friends!
The start of a new year is the perfect time to reflect on your story.
What story do you tell about yourself, your business, or your cause? Is it clear? Is it compelling? Does it truly represent your mission and vision for the year ahead?
How do we unlock the power of a new year? I recommend doing that by stepping outside your comfort zone. You can choose to launch yourself into a new reality by working on your inner story first. Each day, I recommend taking early morning time to do some spiritual practice — meditate, visualize, journal…
To boost your inner strength, I’ve made a commitment to serve more difference makers this year. I’m planning to start a “Storytelling for Nonprofits” group coaching group in the next few weeks. It will serve as a guide and mastermind group to raise awareness, support and money. If that’s something you’re interested in, let me know.
For the next 30 days, I’m also launching a “Story Tips” challenge. Want to join me? It’s free. I’ll be sharing a quick 1-2 minute video tip on building your business through stories. You can choose to share a tip from your business, and then post it in the Facebook group too.
For my tips, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel – https://YouTube.com/@LynnSanders. in the Difference Makers Facebook group, you can participate at: https://Facebook.com/DifferenceMakersMedia
Authentic storytelling is not just something that comes from Artificial Intelligence. It comes from your heart and soul. It’s true to just YOU. Of course, artificial intelligences is terrific as an assistant and springboard for your work. But people also want to hear your inner stories.
And only YOU know all your stories and the lessons you learned from them.. waiting to be explored and shared with others.
To begin, I’d like to share one of my earliest memories that reinforced my joy of storytelling.
I’ve been immersed in the world of storytelling for as long as I can remember. My parents read stories to me constantly, and visiting the Chicago public library was always a treat. I loved writing poetry because it was a fast way to capture a moment, a feeling, an idea. Since I didn’t have paper handy most of the time, I’d scribble poems on paper napkins. When I was about 7 years old, I eventually got a small notebook, which became my poetry journal.
One of my early poems was called, “The Wonderball,” and I was so proud of it! My dad thought it was so good that it made me feel like a million dollars. It was a fantasy poem about seeing into the future with a magician’s ball. Now, many years later, I still love sharing stories in both my personal and business life.
Your Next Step for 2025?
Consider the story behind your “why.” Why do you do what YOU do?
Take time this January to revisit and refine your “why.”
It’s the foundation of a powerful story, and it will guide your goals for the year ahead.
Here’s to your success,
Lynn
by Lynn Sanders | Sep 4, 2024 | DMM Blog
My dad’s health was declining, and I knew I needed to visit him in Florida while I could.
When I got to his condo, I noticed my brother and his wife, sitting nearby. I approached them with my blue “Who I Am Makes A DIfference” blue ribbon, and they shooed me off. They didn’t feel comfortable. Especially because it seemed silly, inconsequential, unnecessary.
Everyone was in such a somber mood. My dad wasn’t talking anymore.. He just responded to questions with a “yes” or “no.” I wanted to get the group smiling. I keep a stack of blue ribbons in my purse to lighten people’s spirits, and I definintely wanted to use them with their permission.
I turned to the caregiver, hovering beside my dad. She allowed me to honor her with this ribbon, a globally recognized tool to unite humanity through the power of love. She listened to me, as I acknowledged her kindness, compassion and dedication to my dad. I spoke freely from my heart, and her eyes brimmed with tears.
“You’re going to meke me cry,” she said. I smiled as I placed the ribbon above her heart.
I then turned to my dad’s wife, Hana, who had been my dad’s loving companion ever since my mom passed away so suddenly. Hana’s smile was so bright as I honored her. As I placed the ribbon over her heart, she exclaimed, “You made my day!”
Then it was time to honor my dad. I leaned close to him in his wheelchair, and showed him the blue ribbon. His eyes followed me intently.
“I have a gift for you,” I said. “It’s a blue ribbon that says, “Who I Am Makes A Difference.” Then I started reflecting about why he meant so much to me.
In my mind, I was remembering the year after my mom passed, and my dad had gone mentally off-balance. His anger was at himself, but he couldn’t face those recriminations, so my husband and I became scapegoats. Dad and I didn’t speak for at least a year. Forgiveness took time. Yet the sadness remained etched into his face. Hana had been a blessing to ease his pain. I didn’t want to dwell on those unhappy times.
So I focused on the good he did for me: supporting our family, caring for me as I grew up, taking me to Riverview when I was small. I asked if he’d accept my gift, and he nodded “yes.” He heard every word.
“May I have permission to place it on you?” He nodded “yes” again.
We both knew that love was the most important thing to remember. As I gently secured the ribbon over his heart, a small tear fell from his eye, sliding down his cheek. Everything was still. Dad motioned with his hand, beckoning me to move even closer.
With a great deal of effort, he spoke in a raspy, whispery, slow voice – “May I – kiss your – cheek?”
“Of course,” I answered softly. Dad’s head leaned towards me. In that instant of his kiss on my cheek, I was thinking – this might be the last time I ever see my dad again. A wave of sadness swept over me.
Yet in almost the same instant, another thought arose. If that’s the case, I’ll be glad that I have this memory – of honoring dad.
I then kissed dad’s cheek too. For a minute, we were swept up in a timeless love. No words needed to be spoken. I mentally took a picture of that moment, savoring the sweetness of just us together.
Over the year, my dad’s health worsened. Before I could catch a flight out to Florida, he passed away… alone in the hospital due to Covid. My brother Mark was able to sneak into his room just once, to see him for a few minutes. By that time, my dad was mainly unconscious.
In that final week, I was so sad that I didn’t get to see dad again. I felt some consolation in knowing that at least we shared a precious memory. That moment of us wrapped in a cocoon of memories filled with love. I’ll never forget it.
“Who I Am Makes A Difference” Blue Ribbons have touched over 50 million people worldwide in 12 languages, and the mission is to reach one billion people. Most people are never honored for simply being who they are. It takes just a minute to honor someone and uplift their life. The ribbon has even saved lives.
It certainly made a difference for my dad and me. A final tribute to my his life. And my acknowledgement of gratitude.
For those who want to learn more about this amazing empowerment tool, visit: https://blueribbons.org.
You may never realize the power of your words… or the power of a “Who I Am Makes A DIfference” blue ribbon unless you go out of your comfort zone, and decide to honor someone. It can make all the difference in your life.
.
Transforming Purpose into Prosperity: Mastering The Power of Storytelling
[Date & Time]
Register now: 
The essential elements of a compelling nonprofit story
