Relaxation

“Putting yourself first is not selfish. Quite the opposite. You must put your happiness and health first before you can be of use to anyone else.” ~Simon Sinek If you’re someone who cares deeply for the people in your life, you may want to do anything you can for them. This devotion isn’t always reciprocated.

“How people treat other people is a direct reflection of how they feel about themselves.” ~Paulo Coelho He used to tell me no one else would love me because I’m damaged goods. And I believed him. Because I received messages for most of my life that there was something wrong with me. I wasn’t good

“What nine months of attention does for an embryo forty early mornings alone will do for your gradually growing wholeness.” ~RumiWe would likely all agree that manicures, baths, and cozy movie nights on the couch all fall under the umbrella of self-care. But I believe that it’s time—actually, beyond time—to go deeper and re-claim what

“Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” ~Oprah Winfrey In 2012, during my community college years, I began to experience mild anxiety. I assume it was the stress and fear that came with maintaining a good GPA in hope of transferring to

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~Maya Angelou When I look back, I am amazed at how differently I dealt with adversity

“The one thing you learn is when you can step out of your comfort zone and be uncomfortable, you see what you’re made of and who you are.” ~Sue Bird I am a recovering people-pleaser. I grew up in a hardworking, blue-collar house, nestled in a humble, rural, blue-collar town. I was instructed, both consciously

Hi friends! I’m sure many of you are already familiar with Sounds True. They offer books and programs to help us all live more genuine, loving, meaningful lives. Through the years I’ve found some fantastic resources for personal growth and healing through their site, so I was happy to oblige when they asked me to

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” ~Seneca Like most people, I’ve tried to control many aspects of my life, and this hasn’t always worked in my favor. Just when I thought I had it all under control, life has inconveniently shown me many, many times that I was getting a little too

“Don’t use a lot where a little will do.” ~Proverb One of the most common paradoxical statements we hear is “less is more.” I, like many others, understand what that means in the context of personal style, where it is commonly used. I can appreciate, for example, that when we overdress, we are often taking away

“It’s okay to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave.” ~Mandy Hale When it comes to plane travel, I frequently quip: “I’m not a nervous flier, but my bladder is.” In a way, this is true. Aside from brief freak-out moments when there’s a patch of turbulence or when

“Never be afraid to try new things and make some mistakes. It’s all part of life and learning.” ~Unknown A few months ago, I was warming up for a dance class. It was a beginners’ class, but the instructor was one of those people who have been dancing all their life, so movement came easy

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~Maya Angelou Throughout my childhood experiences I did what every child does and rejected parts of myself. It makes sense because kids depend on adults for survival, so I was in no position to reject my parents. But as an adult I feel

I care. I’m here. I’m sorry. You can. Two simple words can make a huge difference. They can soothe, heal, connect, and inspire. Perhaps the two most powerful words in the English language: You matter. Far too many people don’t believe this is true. Especially since the start of the pandemic, many have felt isolated,

“The only person you can now or ever change is yourself. The only person that it is your business to control is yourself.” ~Melody Beattie In 2019, I decided to leave my marriage and start over. Although my relationship with my ex-husband brought deep pain and many months of suffering, I felt content with my

“Sometimes you get what you want. Other times, you get a lesson in patience, timing, alignment, empathy, compassion, faith, perseverance, resilience, humility, trust, meaning, awareness, resistance, purpose, clarity, grief, beauty, and life. Either way, you win.” ~Brianna Wiest “Good as gold,” the cab driver replied as I nervously handed him the $20 bill and asked,

“If our hearts and minds are so unreliable, maybe we should be questioning our own intentions and motivations more. If we’re all wrong, all the time, then isn’t self-skepticism and the rigorous challenging of our own beliefs and assumptions the only logical route to progress?” ~Mark Manson I often hear people encourage others with the