To scan through the titles of the books that Patsy Clairmont has written, you would never guess that at one time she suffered from depression so severe that she was not able to leave her house. Through her faith in God and a purposeful search for wellness, Patsy has become an inspirational writer and speaker who has encouraged millions of women to stop spinning and start twirling. STAINED GLASS HEARTS, NORMAL IS JUST A SETTING ON YOUR DRYER and GOD USED CRACKED POTS are just a few of the books she has written in order to help others reach out for a more joy-filled life.

Patsy begins with a chapter titled “More.” In it, she asks readers, “Did you know you are more than you realize? Inside of you are untapped veins of surprising potential.” She goes on to encourage exploration of the God-given gifts everyone has but may be afraid to tap into for fear of failure, rejection, or any of the other roadblocks to success that often keep people stuck. The short chapter is filled with examples, suggestions and ideas with some specific questions at the end to stimulate further consideration.

"One of the most endearing aspects of Patsy's approach to any topic is the way she blends her unshakable Christian faith with her unique sense of humor --- an often rare and unexpected combination that the world could use more of."

Other chapters reveal her approach to the curves that life often throws us: “Yes!” “Bloom!” “Decorate!” “Read!” “Rest!” “Wings!” “Laugh!” “Ponder!” You get the idea. Not to give the impression that Patsy is a complete Pollyanna, there are others titled “Verily,” “Brave” and “Sorrow.” Regardless of the situation or experience, she has learned to make the best of it, and has done her best  through her books and lectures to pass that ability on to others. And she cites Biblical references to support her conclusions. For example, if we don’t have the time or a place to meditate, God promises to give us “peace in the midst of the storm.”

One of the most endearing aspects of Patsy's approach to any topic is the way she blends her unshakable Christian faith with her unique sense of humor --- an often rare and unexpected combination that the world could use more of. After mistakenly eating two dog biscuits that she thought her husband declared the best cookies he ever tasted, she quips, “Honestly, if you don't laugh at life's awkward twists and turns, you will growl and possibly bite.”

Another characteristic that I admire in this writer is her non-judgmental approach to people and their foibles. She quotes Steve Jobs: “Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently.... They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

While Patsy may not be advocating changing the world, she definitely advocates making changes in oneself that will result in a more joy-filled and less complicated life --- a life that allows you to twirl instead of spin. As she so beautifully puts it: “God uses the peculiar, the odd, the broken...in other words, he uses us. I never imagined that God had such an imaginative plan for me. I was a rebellious child, a high school dropout, a teenage bride, and adult agoraphobic. I couldn't envision good coming out of the mess I had made. Only God. With a redemptive stir he began teaching a scaredy-cat to be brave. God's generosity has no limits.”