CONTRIBUTORS( CONTINUED)
DENISE DENTON THIERY
ANN PAPAYOTI
began writing a weekly column in 1988 for the Campbell County Recorder, a local newspaper based in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. As a stay-athome mom, the column provided her an outlet to connect with the world beyond my rural home until early 2000. When her youngest son entered first grade, Denise became a secretary in the Guidance Department at the local high school, where she worked for 22 years. Later, for two years, she served as a staff writer for the Fort Thomas Living, a local monthly magazine. Denise subsequently worked in syndication for the Senior Wire News Service. She authored humorous essays for three books and has been published three times in Reminisce Magazine. In 2018, Denise started blogging, and in 2020 and 2022, she served as a preliminary judge for the humor writing competition at the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop, held every other year at the University of Dayton in Ohio. In 2022, Denise won first place in the National Society of Newspaper Columnists’ online humor category, and in 2023, she placed third in the same competition. Now, as a grandmother, she continues with her passion for writing. Denise returns, sharing a hilarious, fun holiday story,“ I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar: Bah Humbug,” to emplify the joy of the holiday season, for our Living Life With a Touch of Humor section. is the founder of SkyView Coaching and hosts a weekly podcast, Soul CPR Healing Out Loud, on the Bold Brave TV Network. She is also an international life, leadership, and relationship coach, speaker, writer, educator, and co-author of The Gift of Shift, an intimate self-help book. Ann is an Expert Contributor for YourTango Media and has been featured in MSN, Google, Yahoo, and Apple News. She has spoken at conferences, summits, and commemorations, both live and online, throughout North America. Ann captivates, educates, and inspires thousands by sharing her personal experiences of loss, transition, and triumph, and she helps them attain their personal and professional goals. Known among her friends as the go-to girl if you are experiencing problems, Ann could have started her own‘ Dear Annie’ column decades ago. Little did she know then that listening with empathy was an invaluable, innate skill that would become the foundation of her life’ s work. Ann’ s remarkable life journey and passion for family love are hallmark examples. Ann returns with insightful and empowering advice to help“ Blue Burden” and“ Silent Night Hopeful” on how to have a refreshing new perspective about the holiday season when it comes to families and loved ones, and self-nourishment of joy and happiness, in her advisory column,“ Dear Annie.”
ALYSIA LYONS
8 | Inspirations for Better Living • December 2025 wears many hats. She is a mother, a business owner, an author, and a life coach. Being a mom has been the most rewarding experience of all. Besides seeing her son, Zander, thrive, she feels joyful about motherhood. Alysia ' s personal motherhood journey began when she chose to start a home-based business after leaving Corporate America, drawn by the freedom and flexibility of working for herself. One of Alysia ' s most meaningful contributions to life is giving life itself. After learning about the challenges families face in having babies, she decided to become a surrogate mother for parents who wanted a family but encountered maternity difficulties. Her maternal instinct made her realize she could make a difference in these families ' lives. Acting on her maternal love, she became a surrogate for four fortunate families, and with the last, she gave birth to twin girls. As a certified Neuro-Transformational
Results Coach, Usui Reiki Master, and Biddy Tarot Advisor, she combines science, intuition, and energybased practices to help her clients overcome blocks and frustrations so they can step into the life they truly desire and deserve. Alysia returns with an inspiring and empowering approach to self-care, using compassionate reflection on events that occurred throughout the year in her insightful story,“ Choosing Light as the Year Comes to a Close,” in our Mom Support Corner section.