My Happy Ass Life
Join Karen Key-Smith to grow mind, body and spirit so that we can in turn go out and make the world a brighter and sweeter place. Every episode, Karen aka Happy Ass shares original positive affirmations, stories, and tips to help you live a happier life. Be sweet and remember to follow the podcast to hear new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Follow Karen's Blog at MyHappyAssLife.com
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Rewrite Your Life With Blank Pages and New Pens
As we step into Season 7 together, I’m reminded that every new chapter starts with courage, curiosity, and a willingness to believe that something good is on its way. Today, I’m sharing a little preview of what’s ahead: the stories that shaped me, the lessons God keeps sending, and the small steps that can lead to the biggest changes.I talk about the kindness I felt from the Bay Point Women’s Club, the tenderness of the holidays, and why reinvention begins when we decide to change what we can. I also share the joy of discovering poet Joy Sull...
From Fear To Faith With A Pen
<br />Every once in a while, life hands us a moment that stops us right in our tracks. This encore episode captures one of those moments for me. When I found out my carotid arteries were blocked, fear moved in fast but so did God’s grace. And the very thing that helped me move from panic back into peace was something I’ve leaned on for years: writing it down.<br /><br />I share how putting my prayers, gratitudes, fears, and hopes on paper has become the cheapest and most powerful medicine in my life. When I give those thou...
Transform with Forgiveness
Have you ever wondered what truly changes when you choose to forgive? In this encore episode, I invite you into my own journey of transformation through forgiveness. I’ll share how letting go of past hurts opened the door to growth and healing for me. This encore isn’t just a recap of our Season 6 conversation—it’s my personal reminder that forgiveness is a powerful tool for transforming our lives.<br /><b>Episode Highlights:</b><br />[00:00] Thank you for waking up with Happy Ass and an introduction to forgiveness and daily rituals<br />[01:00] Journaling habits and a eureka moment from rea...
5 Truths That Made This My Best Season Yet
As this season of My Happy Ass Life comes to a close, I’m taking a moment to pause, reflect, and say thank you from the bottom of my heart. What began as a five-minute live stream during COVID has blossomed into a full podcast family of joy, faith, and growth. Together, we’ve laughed, cried, and leaned on God’s grace to keep going.Today, I look back on where it all began, the lessons I’ve learned along the way, and the people who’ve made this journey possible. I share the importance of morning routines, the power of affirma...
Amazing Grace In The Darkest Hour Part 2 With Sheldon Jernigan
This one’s close to my heart. In part two of my conversation with my son, Sheldon, we talk about what recovery really looks like, the hard days, the small victories, and the faith that keeps us both going. We open Hugh’s Big Book, the one my late husband studied every morning, and reflect on what it means to live one day at a time with God at the center.Sheldon shares his journey from relapse to renewal, the dangers of gas-station drugs, and how gratitude and grace pulled him through when nothing else worked. We talk about surrender, serv...
Amazing Grace In the Darkest Hour With Sheldon Jernigan
This week’s episode is one of the most personal and powerful ones I’ve ever shared. I sit down with my son, Sheldon, for a raw and honest conversation about addiction, resilience, and redemption. Together, we open up about years of pain, prayer, and perseverance, and how God’s grace met us both in the middle of our mess.Sheldon shares how his addiction began at a young age, what recovery has truly taught him, and why he believes his purpose now is to help others find freedom. I talk about the journey from a mother’s perspective, learning when to...
Make One Stranger Smile Today and Watch Your Day Change
This week, I sit down with one of the kindest souls I know, someone who believes the smallest act of kindness can ripple further than we imagine. His name is Garrett Aune, and we work and volunteer together. His philosophy is simple: one smile can change everything. We talk about empathy as a muscle, the unexpected ways joy returns when you give it away, and how one day of intentional kindness led to a movement of connection and purpose. He opens up about loss, resilience, and serving others even when your own heart feels heavy. Together, we explore what happens...
Leave A Soul Print!
This morning, as I ran beneath the glow of the full moon, I couldn’t help but think about my late husband, Hugh Smith, and the lasting imprint he left on my heart and the lives of so many others. Hugh lived his life with intention. He was serving, loving, and growing closer to God every single day. Even in his final years, he began each morning on his knees, praying, “Hey Dad…show me how to do Your will.”Today I’m sharing how Hugh’s legacy of recovery, faith, and kindness continues to shape me. When I think about the wa...
Timing Can Be Everything
This week, I open up about the moments in life that nearly broke me—and the unexpected ways God and community showed up to remind me I wasn’t alone. From running (or my version of it!) with a heart full of gratitude, to remembering the days when I had no power, no water, and no money, I share the sobering truth that resilience is often born in the hardest places.You’ll hear a story I’ve never shared publicly, about a season of pain and seizures so severe that I nearly gave up until a letter showed up at just...
Transformation Is Rarely Fun
As I prepared for my upcoming TED Talk, I realized the message I couldn’t shake was resilience. Not the easy kind we talk about in hindsight, but the real, raw kind that comes when life shatters your plans and leaves you with no choice but to dig deep.I open my heart about divorce, infidelity, financial struggle, and the mistakes I made along the way. I also share how faith, prayer, and the kindness of others carried me when I thought I couldn’t make it! Through every heartbreak and setback, I’ve learned that resilience is fully about trusti...
