Happy 3rd Birthday Daily 3's

Oct 4,2017

3 YEARS.


It's hard to believe that I have been posting my daily 3 pictures of appreciation for 3 years. As the day approached, I started looking back and recognizing that although officially I began posting today on my Bliss With Mac health coaching site, I was posting pictures on my personal page a bit earlier. Funny how that works. What we remember and how things actually happened at times get a little fuzzy....

So, I choose today as the Daily's Birthday. 

For those of you new to this page, or new to the idea of Daily 3's, here is a quick overview of who I am and most importantly how the pieces of my life's journey are fitting into place...

My name is Macara Brachmann, I was widowed at 41. This is not something I like to dwell on but state more for being the turning point in my life. 

You see, when Scott died, a shift happened... when people asked me how I was doing I gave them 3 blanket answers... 1)thankful the bad guys didn't kill him(being in the Seal Teams for 21 years it was always one of my realities) my boys do not have subconscious feelings of retaliation  2) there was no question about if he had suffered (the coroner said he was dead before he hit the floor with this heart attack) and lastly 3) I didn't have to think about bringing his body back from over seas, since he had just returned from Africa 4 days earlier...These were my go-to responses.... 3 things.... why? I have no idea.... 

Something shifted my thinking. Why? I have no idea and in all honesty realize that this shift is a gift that was given to me. 


SR and I began a long distance relationship while I was living in MN and him in CA.

We decided it was time to live under one roof, so the big move happened in 2013, returning back to CA and into SR's home. We were blending 2 families into 1 (which is no small feat with the kids all having experienced a loss of a parent). We always knew that his home was not going to be our second chapter home together.We both wanted a fresh start, so house hunting began.  

Here's where the whirlwind began...

SR's house went on the market and sold in 4 days with all cash offer+ 20 DAY ESCROW!!!!!

yup, SHIT HIT the FAN...

Life went into complete get'er done mode. You know what I mean, the panic of oh shit, 20 days to pack and find a house.... 

To make a long story short, we didn't find a house in 20 days. We moved into an original bungalow in the opposite direction from where we wanted to live with an insane commute.Mentally, I am a firm believer that you can do anything you set your mind to, it was the transitional chapter, I kept telling myself...  I can do anything for 3 months.... 

After we moved in and the dust settled. I was staring at what I was calling home. Dark paneling, 1200 square feet of cozy for this family of 5 with 2 Labradors. I had to pull up my big girl panties and say to myself that I can make anyplace feel like home, and went to work.

What can you do to make the biggest difference I thought? PAINT...I had watched enough HGTV to know that painting the dark paneling was the easiest fix. A fresh coat of white paint made a significant difference, it began to feel like a quite cottage vs. craptastic reseda reno.  

3 MONTHS TURNED INTO 7 ..


I would sit in the house and feel overwhelmed at all that transpired for us to be living there. It was pretty craptastic, I'm not gonna lie. If I told you the entire story your head would be shaking, like you gotta be kidding me....I kept telling myself, it was happening for a reason, it would all make sense at some point....

 I decided that the way I was going to change my mindset was to take 3 pictures a day of appreciation. no fancy lighting and cameras, just my phone camera + 3 things that made me smile. 3 things that might not make a difference to anyone else on the planet, but for me on that day, it did.That day was OCT 4,2014 my #Daily3 was born.... I began training my brain to look for the silver lining of each day.

Here was the first official post..
It was nothing exciting, morning coffee with coconut oil, dinner and enjoying some quality time with Mitchell while the little's were at practice. This was my transitional life that I was embracing...finding moments that made me smile.

 I made the commitment to myself to post everyday.....  What happened next was such a complete surprise.  I started receiving emails from people who had found my page and were thanking me... I thought to myself... why? I started these posts purely as a method to shift my thinking going through a sucky situation and somehow someway, it is touching others.... Interesting how life works....

After a complete renovation, we  moved into our current home The RNB (Rogers n Brachmann) in March of 2015.  I decided to continue to post since truth be told, it helps me stay focused on the good in my day to day life. Raising teenage boys, any children for that matter, can be challenging.... this keeps me focused on the good in each day. The re-wiring was a success! 

So although I was faced with living in that original cozy bungalow in Reseda Ca,with a 3 hour commute each day... something wonderful resulted....little did I ever consider that my daily 3's would make a difference in other people's lives.

This life has been quite a journey in all honesty.At 47, I am thankful where I am standing today.  My heart is humbled by the response of others. I am happy to know that my nightly posts have turned into something that others look forward to seeing.


I believe in the world of social media, my posts are different. I keep my daily 3 posts genuine to who I am and why it began. I would be lying if I said it was easy to find 3 things everyday... some days its tough..but all the more reason to find the positive and post. I am embracing this journey I have been given and continue to look for the silver lining each day.


I do laugh at times. I get posts from many different people trying to solicit me. Here is my info if you are interested. I am in private practice as a Certified Health Coach. I only take as many clients as I can balance with my own life. I received my training through IIN, I am AADP certified, I  have my 200-RYT and am a contributor to Mindbodygreen.... BLISS with Mac, Balanced Living In Small Steps is my practice. I don't sell any specific products or product line, I am not getting paid for any endorsements, if I post a product, it is because I believe and have used them .. I teach my clients how to find balance in their lives...teaching them about shifting their thinking...finding their own sweet spot...finding homeostasis.... we are all different...BUT.... there is one central idea that is universal....

 Water,Vegetables and exercise are good for you

Today I am happy to say that the upcoming launch of  the Daily 3 app is SOOO CLOSE... YES... DAILY 3 APP.... I will be posting more in then next few weeks about launch date. It has taken time to find the right people and whom I feel comfortable with to see this vision of mine come to life...I am looking forward to creating a community and watching the ripple effect it brings. 


Happy Birthday Daily 3's and thank you.  I am thankful that my mindset in day to day living has shifted. It continues to make my heart full when people who first meet me say I have such a great attitude! I am thankful for the people who have reached out and lives I've touched. I hope you begin to see the silver lining in your days as I have done mine. ...   I am so very grateful for those of you who have supported this journey of my Daily3 's these past three years, thank you.  

Time and again I am amazed at how everything truly happens for a reason. 

Wishing you all the best with Peace, Love, Blessings and Gratitude,

2015.. the blog that got me published, updated

Sept 19,2017

This blog post came up as a memory for me on Facebook from 2015...

I decided to re-read what I had written. It was my original blog that was chosen to be published with mindbodygreen. A few tweaks later, I was published.. such a whirlwind time..

2 years have past.

Much has changed yet much remains the same..

What has remained the same?
I am grounded in knowing that shifting my thinking changed my life. 
I continue to believe it is a gift that was given to me.
I continue to plant the seed of shifting your thinking to others. I believe when you recognize and find your gift, it is meant to be given freely...
***please be ready for some announcements in the near future about this:)***

What has changed?

Well, my mom passed away after a brief fierce battle with Leukemia. Her faith and her spirit amazed me until she decided to have her Irish goodbye and transition home in 2016.

Scott's passing does not come up as much in conversations now. After 6 years, I choose not to remember the specifics of losing him, rather the positives that came from after the aftermath. 

I am sharing this again because I believe that it is meant to help someone today. Maybe you have a tendency to look at the worst case scenario of things, maybe you have experienced some tragedy or health issues.... look for the silver lining...They could be dim... but it is there.

Much love from my heart to yours,

Sept 7, 2015


Shifting your thinking....

I woke up in the middle of the night last week with an idea. An idea that kept me awake as I tried to force myself back to sleep.I acknowledged what was happening, made a mental note of the idea and then I was able to fall back to sleep. That sentence will make sense in a minute. You see, this has happened to me in the past.

It first happened after my dad died in 1989. At the time I was 18, and I admit  I was freaked out after watching my father take his last breath and leave this physical world. I found it very difficult to sleep for the months to follow.

Several months later, I had a life changing conversation with a family member. Lola explained to me, not to be afraid of my dad making contact with me in my dreams. That I needed to change my way of  thinking. She went on to tell me it was a gift. I think I looked at her in utter disbelief, so she went on to explain that  he was visiting me, not to have me feel scared but to reassure. To know that his spirit was alive and well. That he would always be with me, while not in his physical body but in spirit.

That was a lot for my teenage brain to wrap my head around. Not gonna lie. That seed was planted and needed a lot of water.... 

Fast forward.

Scott died suddenly in the shower of a massive heart attack. My boys unfortunately found him with my dear neighbor.

I was in shock. It was devastating.

When people began to ask me how I was doing, Something shifted my thoughts. I would say to them this:

1) I am happy that the bad guys didn't kill him. That my boys will never feel the need to seek revenge.(having been in the Seal Teams for 21 years there was a possibility of this)

2) There was no question about if he suffered. The coroner said it was very clear he was gone before he hit the ground.

3) I couldn't imagine having to transport his body back from overseas. He had just returned from Africa 4 days earlier. He was home. I have a friend whose husband passed in Iraq. By the time his body was returned and an autopsy was performed, all tests proved inconclusive. She was left with no closure.

I focused on the silver lining of the shitty cloud I was under.

The shift in my thinking had happened without me even realizing. How and why I have no reason or answers.

It just happened. It was a gift.

When I meet people for the first time and they have been told the story, they look at me and say they are sorry. I think this is an automatic response. My usual response goes something like this, there is no need to apologize for what I have gone through. It has molded me into the person I have become. I did the work, learned valuable lessons and am far stronger and wiser than I ever could have imagined.

I had read a book years ago by Elizabeth Lesser called Broken Open. It is a powerful book with several short stories of people going through tragic situations. The premise was this, you can continue to live your first life.... or you can phoenix from the ashes of the tragedy and live a second life with meaning and purpose. Not forgetting the events, but using the knowledge one gains in those times to help others. 

Shifting you thinking

I hashtag #theshiftisthegift all the time on my social media. I am a firm believer that you can rise and phoenix, if you choose. Shifting your thinking does not have to refer only to when tragedy strikes. It can be usefully applied in day to day situations.

 I use the example of my mom. When she was diagnosed with Rheumatoid years ago,she was put on Lasix. A medication to decrease fluid retention. She had to pee a lot. She was letting me know how tired she was getting up and down having to go to the bathroom. I explained to her she needed to shift her thinking... She needed to think of transitioning from sit <--> stand as an exercise. It was an opportunity to get her legs stronger. 

At first she looked at me like I was a bit nutzo and laughed.Then she realized the logic. Now?... my mom does not mention the Lasix side effects. If anything, she tells me how many "squats"she gets in during the day!

I woke up the other night, with the idea of writing a blog about shifting thinking.I have come to accept my thoughts that come during my sleep as a gift from the other side, just as Lola explained so many years ago.

In truth, I am not sure why the idea came to me.I choose to trust my inner compass and my gut. I firmly believe someone out there in need of  guidance in shifting their mindset. Possibly this little blog of mine can make a difference.

Wishing you all the best,

oldest kiddo is now a driver... sweet jesus

Feb 22,2017

Life is so funny. I started this blog the day after my oldest passed his behind the wheel test.

I was in shock. I was stressed, had total anxiety... you know the whole nine yards..thinking my gawd... he's legal to drive alone??

When I write these blogs, it is typically a one shot deal. Put my thoughts down, press send and done. There isn't a big process here. It's me, my mind and probably many run on sentences...

The first attempt was started and for some reason(to which in truth,I don't remember why) didnt get posted.

So here, I will try again, this time making sure I push post...

Behind the wheel test Jan 30th...

I was trying to stay cool. 

I was hoping he would pass, then I was selfish and started hoping that he needed another month of me riding shotgun... I don't know we (specifically mom's) in general are ever 100% ready for their 1st born to drive without some underlying nervousness. It seems to me that the men I have spoken to about driving have far greater ease with teaching a young driver.... 

I sat patiently... He was in the car a long time after his test finished with the woman grading him.... I thought... oh shit... then this happened. I captured the moment on video.... 

You see, it started April 8th with passing the permit test.... I thought to myself, thank God he has to have his first 2 hours behind the wheel with a qualified driving instructor... I'm not going to lie, I had a hard time being shotgun... it was more about safety, teachable moments without losing my shit, which apparently I did quite a bit... I even bought "please be kind, student driver' magnets for the car....Which I have to say, helped tremendously with other drivers giving us space :)

But in my defense, when I feel like we are going to crash I feel as though it is acceptable to yell...Its not like we live in small easy town without much traffic. We live in a suburb of northern LA county... traffic, people riding your bumper, blowing through stoplights....

This was the first time he drove my big car home from swim practice...far different than the golf cart and the prius he had practiced in.....

Sweet Jesus... Not a born natural behind the wheel quite yet... but he passed...

So, it was time...

I was having some major anxiety... not gonna lie... I am the first to acknowledge that I am not the first to feel these feelings and I wont be the last. The path had been paved far before me. It's quite a milestone.. stepping into increased responsibility and adulthood....

Maybe the reason for the initial blog not posting was because I needed time... space to process my thoughts..... giving him time to him demonstrate responsibility....There has been a bump or two in the last month, I would be lying if I said otherwise....I am happy to report, no accidents or tickets have occurred.

These blog postings are about my life. If you are looking for blogs about my health coaching practice, um... you will not find it here... This is straight up my life, my thoughts and my journey...Ironically, I'm posting this on my dad's 98th birthday if he was alive... He's was my driving teacher... <3

Wishing you the best,

Holy crap 2017.
Jan 24,2017

truth tree...

Ok, in complete honesty, 2016 was a bit of a blur. At the beginning of the year, my energy and focus was toward taking care of my mom who had been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. She passed away April 15th, quite suddenly after being diagnosed 5 months earlier... 

The outpouring of love and support was humbling. Relationships grew stronger, love was felt deeper, the rainbows came from the rain.....

The rest of 2016 I spent focusing on self-care and my family. I put absolutely no pressure on myself to write about my healing process. It has taken me until now to want to put my thoughts down. Interesting really, it's Jan 24th. 

Life continues... this is true... we have 3 boys that all need time, energy and guidance...

Water polo season, Football season, driver's permits, licences, 3 in high school.... keeps us busy...

Steve and I trained + finished the Santa Barbara triathlon in August. My mindset had shifted, I didn't have a race mentality, trying to achieve certain times, my type A was shelved.  I enjoyed the whole experience start to finish. It might sound crazy but I smiled and took the whole event  as a complete gift. Every aspect of the day, was exactly what I needed. I was reminded of how incredible our bodies are.How we have a natural ability to heal through exercise, releasing those feel good endorphins... I thought about writing about my experience, but I didn't, for whatever reason.My training had paid off, but what I tend to remember most was how my heart felt.

After the tri, my focused went inward.I returned to my yoga mat. My first class back I broke down after class when I thanked the teacher. It was exactly what I needed, body, mind and spirit. Healing from the inside out.  You see, I have been the teacher when students thanked me in tears..How full circle this life is I thought to myself... and what a gift yoga is in my life....

So here I sit, typing in my office while I am having a leaky pipe jack hammered in my kitchen.... this is life...My life that I would not wish to change for  one moment . Well, it would be nice to change some moments, but what I have learned in my 46 years, those shitty moments are there for a purpose...

So why today? I have no idea. That is my truth. I think my love of writing is coming back. What does this mean? Maybe just maybe you might see more blogs posts about life as I know,see, live and learn through it. Until then, I'm still posting my daily 3 pictures of appreciation to keep my mental focus on all the blessings in my life. 

My updated website is up and running which makes me happy. www.blisswithmac.com

My idea for creating a daily 3 app is being manifested and happening....  www.blissdaily3.com

Looking at the sign in the front room that  I made in 2005, Embracing the journey is exactly what I continue to do...

Until next time friends, I hope you are healthy, happy and embracing the life you have been given. 

Much Love,