Latest posts
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Journaling Prompts for the End of the Year
There’s something about the end of the year that makes us want to pause, reflect, and maybe panic-clean our emotional closets. I’ve been journaling since I received a diary for Christmas when I was 9 years old. Thankfully, I still have all of those old journals and love to skim through them again every now
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What Paddle Boarding Taught Me About Anxiety (And Life)
The first time I went paddle boarding, I was terrified to even try to stand up. I sat for the first half hour because I was convinced I would fall off the board immediately and maybe even get eaten by an alligator (it was fresh water in Florida after all). My brain immediately went into
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How to Protect Your Peace During the Holidays
(When “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” Feels Like Chaos Wrapped in Tinsel) Ah, the holidays, that magical time of year when family drama, financial stress, and unrealistic expectations come gift-wrapped in twinkly lights and sprinkled with guilt. Don’t get me wrong, there are parts I love: cozy lights, watching my dogs stare at
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An Introvert’s Guide to Holiday Survival
‘Tis the Season for Overstimation If you’re an introvert like me, this isn’t ‘the most wonderful time of the year.’ The holidays are often full of social events and family gatherings, which can feel a bit draining to introverts. Needing quiet time doesn’t make you antisocial. It’s just self-preservation. And yes, even though I talk
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Healing Through the Holidays: A Therapist’s Honest Take on Grief and Hope
If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you know that I lost my mother in March 2025 after moving to Florida to be closer to her. Now I am facing my first big holidays without her: Thanksgiving and Christmas. Both of these holidays bring about images of family get-togethers and celebrations, long-held family
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What an Ancient Place Taught Me About Slowing Down and Being Present
When I first moved to Florida, I promised myself I’d explore more, to get outside, slow down, and soak up the sunshine I’d once only dreamed about. But between work, rebuilding life after loss, and everyday responsibilities, I realized months had slipped by without me really seeing much of my new home. So when I
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10 Gratitude Journal Prompts for Thanksgiving Week
Thanksgiving is often seen as the season of gratitude, but in reality, gratitude is a practice, not a moment. It’s something that deepens over time, especially when life hasn’t gone perfectly. I’ve learned that firsthand. When I moved to Florida, I imagined peace and new beginnings. Instead, my first few months were full of challenges:
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Why People-Pleasing Leaves You Drained and How to Break Free
For most of my life, I thought being kind meant always saying yes. Yes to extra work, yes to last-minute plans, yes to being the one who helps, listens, fixes, and smooths things over. It took years, and a lot of burnout, to realize that what I was calling “kindness” was often self-abandonment. I over
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How to Manage Stress When Life Feels Overwhelming
There are seasons in life when “just breathe” feels impossible. I’ve had those seasons, the kind where your to-do list just keeps growing, your body feels tense all the time, and even simple decisions feel heavy. When I first moved to Florida, I thought I’d finally slow down, that sunshine and salt air would somehow erase
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30 Journal Prompts for Women Starting Over
Starting over isn’t easy. Whether it’s a move, a career change, the end of a relationship, or rediscovering who you are after loss, beginning again takes courage. I know that feeling well. When I left New Jersey last year and moved to Florida, I thought I was chasing sunshine and simplicity. What I found instead