Relaxation

“I’ve met people who are embattled and dismissive, but when you get to know them, you find that they’re vulnerable—that hauteur or standoffishness is because they’re pedaling furiously underneath.” ~Matthew Macfadyen It was impossible to miss the dismissive hand gesture and distasteful look on her face in response to my comment. “You ooze empathy,” I

“Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.” ~Oprah Winfrey “How on earth am I supposed to survive? I have no friends whatsoever!” These were the thoughts that ran through my mind then when

“Sometimes we self-sabotage just when things seem to be going smoothly. Perhaps this is a way to express our fear about whether it is okay for us to have a better life.” ~Maureen Brady Have you ever decided to try something new—like getting into a new relationship or doing something that would help you experience

Does stress cause sleepless nights, or does a lack of sleep cause stress? Both have been true for me, especially since becoming a parent, and I’m guessing for you too. When life gets challenging, it’s hard to shut your brain off at night. You know it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. You know

“Resilience is all about being able to overcome the unexpected. Sustainability is about survival. The goal of resilience is to thrive.” ~Jamais Cascio The pandemic has forced us to avoid people, self-isolate, and keep to ourselves. It might seem like you’re in a position where you don’t have many options. You can’t freely hang out

“The answer to the pain of grief is not how to get yourself out of it, but how to support yourself inside it.” ~Unknown  Since losing my husband Matt over eight months ago to cancer at the age of just thirty-nine, I have noticed so many changes happening within me, and one of those changes

“Only recently have I realized that being different is not something you want to hide or squelch or suppress.” ~Amy Gerstler I grew up during the traditional times of the sixties and seventies. Dad went out to work and earned the family income, while Mom worked at home raising their children. We were a family

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.” ~Rumi The quarantine has felt oddly familiar. That’s because I spent thirteen years largely homebound with a mysterious, viral-like illness. It even started with a cold on a flight back from Asia in 2005. My nose was an open faucet, and my head felt

“You are allowed to take up space. Own who you are and what you want for yourself. Stop downplaying the things you care about, the hopes you have.” ~Bianca Sparacino I deserve to take up more space. Plain and simple. By taking the space I deserve, I further build the confidence I need to live

“All appears to change when we change.” ~Henri-Frédéric Amiel The biggest life-changing moment in my life would have looked unremarkable to an outsider looking in. I was at a point in my life (my late twenties) where everything seemed to look good on paper. I had a great job, I was living in downtown Seattle,