“Many of our relationship struggles are not character flaws but survival strategies that once made sense.” ~Unknown Throughout my life I’ve often been described as confident and outgoing. I can be the “life and soul” of a party and am able to strike up conversations with a wide variety of people. But what nobody would have guessed is that I…
“Enough is a decision, not a condition.” ~Unknown The night sky above Disneyland shimmered in color as fireworks burst to life. My daughters leaned against me, sticky-fingered from melted ice cream, eyes wide with wonder. It was supposed to be the happiest place on earth. Then Mirabel’s voice from Encanto echoed through the speakers: “I will never be good…
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson I grew up as the fifth of seven children in a strict religious family where faith shaped everything. From an early age, I learned to follow the rules, perform to be seen, keep the peace, and be…
Trigger Warning: This piece contains references to childhood trauma, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Please take care of yourself as you read, and step away if you need to. If you are struggling, you are not alone — support is available through trusted loved ones, a therapist, or resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (in the U.S.). Hello,…
FREE Live 90-minute Write to Heal class and 20-page guide with prompts, recordings and more to support your healing journey. When I was studying writing in college, my personal essay class was my favorite. I’d already been journaling for almost a decade, so I understood the power of exploring life experiences through the written word. Journaling wasn’t immediately helpful…
“You can’t add more to your life until you first let go of what weighs you down.” ~Unknown I used to think being busy meant being successful. My days were a blur of meetings, notifications, and commitments. My calendar looked impressive, but at night I lay awake wondering why I felt so exhausted and strangely unfulfilled. One rainy Tuesday,…
“That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” ~Friedrich Nietzsche I was twenty-five weeks pregnant when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Still working, still showing up, still dreaming of a gentle homebirth. We had an event at work that day, and I had to walk to it. I remember feeling so out of breath that I…
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future by merely changing his attitude.” ~Oprah Winfrey The fluorescent lights of the grocery store hummed, a cruel counterpoint to the silence in my head. I watched the cashier scan the items, the familiar beep-boop-beep of the register a countdown to my humiliation. Pasta, milk, a…
“Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.” ~Eckhart Tolle For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the kind of person who plans everything. My calendar was color-coded, my to-do lists perfectly alphabetized, and I could tell you what I’d be doing six months from now almost down to…
“The way you look at things is the most powerful force shaping your life.” ~John O’Donohue As often happens at this time of year, I recently found myself lamenting how quickly time had passed. In this agitated headspace, the myriad of goals I did not accomplish and the numerous targets I did not reach sprang to the forefront of…
