The True Spirit of Gifting: Celebrating Deep Connections
As I write my Christmas cards, I'm reminded of the precious few in my inner circle. Dunbar's Number reassures me it's the quality, not quantity, that counts in friendship.
Read MoreSwapping Summer's Heat for Autumn's Heart
Fall whispers in with cooler air, pumpkin flavors, and the sweet anticipation of family gatherings. Celebrate the season where every leaf tells a story, and every moment is a chance to slow down and savor.
Read MoreHappy Mom Summer > Hot Girl Summer
Here’s a quick summer tip: Skip Hot Girl Summer and dive into Happy Mom Summer instead. Let's swap perfection for laughter, ice cream dinners, and real joy. This year let's make being present and happy our summer trend.
Read MoreGet Rid of the Junk
Sometimes, the act of letting go is the first step towards truly moving forward.
Read MoreThe UnBucket List
Before the pandemic, Marie Kondo promised we’d find joy in having less clutter in our spaces, and I think that includes our headspace. It’s the last few months before That Birthday, and in tribute to KonMari, I submit to you something new: The UnBucket List, a list of things I vow NOT to do. If I have to face mortality, even in the long view, this list will help me focus on what’s most important, what makes me the happiest, and gives me permission to ignore the rest.
Read MoreThe Way Back Home
In early 2020 when things shut down, my family and I shut down, too. At first, it was just supposed to be a few weeks. No big deal: After Spring Break (our trip was canceled like everything else), we’d be back.
Of course, it didn’t quite work out that way.
Read MoreLifting the Weight of BMI, For Good
I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t worried about being fat.
I suffered through the indignities of having my BMI measured and announced publicly in gym class and struggling through the Presidential Physical Fitness test twice a year (fuck you, flexed arm hang). I did endless sit-ups in my room in the middle of the night to ensure I would pass. I went on ‘diets’ where I restricted my eating before I was 10. I wrote down everything I ate in my diary.
It is a very boring diary.
I’m Fine and Other Half-Truths of Where I am Now
One day during a miserable time in my life, I was wandering around a neighborhood store when I saw a small, gray stone with the word Truth painted on it. I picked it up. The oval fit perfectly in my palm, and something shifted in me. I realized I’d been lying to myself, lying to those closest to me, just to get through each day.
Read MoreSuccess through Kindness in the New Year
The cult of the ‘New Year, New You’ is hard to shake, but frankly, facing 50 is daunting. I'm not sure what being 50 is supposed to feel like, to look like. Where am I supposed to be after five decades of life?
I'm not sure, but I do know that I'm proud of making it through 2020, changed but still standing, mostly. So as I leap into 2021, I’m working less on fixing myself and more on loving myself.
Read MoreA New Resolve
Last year I wrote about seasons of resolutions, which is my approach to adopting new habits a few months at a time in the New Year. Each quarter is an opportunity to grow and learn, and this process keeps me motivated throughout the year. I usually approach it with a spirit of renewal and change, with clarity and resolve.
This year, resolve has new meaning.
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