Depression didn’t show up quietly. It didn’t knock gently or ease itself in. It hit me like a storm I never saw coming.For a long time, I felt like I was trapped inside a glass case — able to see the world around me, but convinced no one could truly see me. My body ached. My spirit was exhausted. And the more I tried to hide the pain from myself and everyone around me, the worse it became. People sensed something was wrong. I could see it in their eyes. Yet we all pretended e

Understanding Midlife Glam Anything can throw you off your game—divorce, death, loss of a career, or even something as subtle as menopause, hair loss, unwanted hair, or mood swings. The list goes on, and all of these can derail your self-confidence. Self-confidence influences how you feel, how you look, and what you expect from yourself. Recently, my daughter was dramatically horrified by the return of 90s fashion. Meanwhile, I spent the 90s in maternity clothes or anything t

The sadness began to dominate, the phobias started to prevail, and a sense of helplessness in my environment set in. Usually people with anxiety disorders hide it well, although in their minds they think everyone can tell. The fear of everyone looking at them when near other people is overwhelming. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older (18% of U.S. population). Anxiety disorders dev

Listen now Belief, Faith, and the Messy Middle This episode — and this post — is a reflection on believing in something. Not necessarily God, not necessarily religion, but something  bigger than us. The kind of belief that anchors you when life feels uncertain — or when you’re sitting in your car trying to remember why you walked into Target in the first place. I didn’t grow up with a consistent religion. There wasn’t one faith that shaped our home or dictated how we prayed,

Ten Books That Stuck With Me Through the Years: A Reader’s List Self-help books are everywhere — on shelves, in podcasts, and in our social feeds. But which ones actually make a difference? After years of reading, exploring, and sometimes rolling my eyes at overhyped advice, I’ve compiled 10 books that truly stayed with me . These are the books I would actually recommend to someone feeling stuck, lost, or unsure how to move forward in life. A reminder:  Self-help books aren’t

Dreams, Diners, and Conversations That Stay With You Have you ever found yourself sitting in a cozy diner in your dreams — the kind with warm light, soft chatter, and the smell of coffee and bacon in the air? You’re across the table from someone you love. Maybe they’re gone, maybe they’re far away. You talk, you laugh, you feel that deep comfort that feels both familiar and surreal. Sometimes, those dream conversations remind us of something powerful — that connection doesn’t

This episode was easier to do than I anticipated—filled with stories about my vagina (AI rant not included). At first, I thought it would be fun to use AI to generate a title for this episode. According to AI, my vagina is a “sensitive subject” and it offered no suggestions. When I tried again for the blog, it flagged my vagina as “offensive content.” With everything out there, how is the word vagina  offensive? Love your body How My Lady Bits Made It Through It All: Love You

I knew I could do it, well, I know now! Season 2 Episode 4: Holy crap I did a photo shoot! Is That Really Me? So, there I was — 55, standing in front of a camera, wearing lingerie I hadn’t touched in years. Was it crazy? Absolutely not. Was it terrifying? Oh, yes. But also… exhilarating, empowering, and honestly, life-affirming. Sharing my photos with a few people, I realized: this experience wasn’t just about pictures. It was about reclaiming my body, my confidence, and my j

Our Childhoods Shape Us We carry our childhoods with us — the good, the bad, and the messy in-between. In this episode, I get personal. I share stories from my own childhood struggles — experiences that weren’t always easy, and moments that still echo in my adult life. The truth is, those challenges helped shape the person I am today . Facing the Past to Build the Present Acknowledging your past isn’t about blame or shame. It’s about understanding: How your early experiences

Thirty. Flirty. And Thriving.... I wish. We all know the mantra from 13 going on 30. But what they don't mention is that as your 30th birthday approaches you are actually thinking: "Thirty, Hurty & Crying". Its about this time that it hits you that this is life, you are NEVER going to figure it out, no-one ever has. While no-one seems to have figured out the secret to life, we have found many ways to work on self-care and self-growth so that we may actually enjoy this planet

Her wheelchair didn’t fit easily between the table and the kitchen island. I finished helping her get ready for the day — the same routine we’d shared for months — brushing her hair, fixing her breakfast, and making sure the morning ran as smoothly as possible. That day, though, I was bursting with excitement. I had something to show her. The Mango. My new car.Bright. Bold. Orange. I couldn’t believe that I  — the woman who hated attention and proudly claimed the title of “in

Kindness. It’s one of those words that gets tossed around like confetti — beautiful, well-meaning, but often forgotten when it comes to the person in the mirror. You determine kindness’s meaning. It’s how you  choose to show it. Kindness can be empathy, acceptance, kind gestures, or thoughtfulness. The possibilities are endless — and entirely yours. We usually think of kindness as something we give  to others. A smile. A helping hand. A “you’ve got this” text to a friend. But

Let’s be honest — “self-possession” sounds like something out of a ghost show. I know, I thought spirits possessed me too. 👻 But no, this kind of possession is about something far more empowering — it’s the ability to control your behavior, emotions, and responses  no matter what’s happening around you. It’s self-command , willpower , and that grounded sense of “I got this” that nobody can take away. And in a world where every post, email, and commercial tells you to love yo

Be Yourself When the sadness starts to take over, the phobias start to win. Feelings of being powerless in my surroundings begin to take over. The walls grow thicker in my head, and the heaviness makes me feel weak. Usually, people with anxiety disorders hide it well — though in their minds, they think everyone can tell. Social anxiety  is a very self-centered condition. Your mind tells you that everyone is looking at you and judging you. This is where you lose yourself — whe

A Real Talk About Body Image, Media Illusions & Learning to Like Ourselves Again Barbie was normal when I was a young girl — dressing her up, brushing her hair, and trying to find matching shoes before the dog ate them. Marsha Brady brushed her long blonde hair a hundred times before bed. Twiggy was impossibly thin with no breasts — I related to that part. I was called “bean pole.” Meanwhile, Farrah Fawcett and Cheryl Tiegs were plastered on boys’ walls. That was my normal —

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.” — Dr. Seuss We live in a world overflowing with self-help quotes and motivational mantras. Scroll through social media, and you’ll see: “Live your best life,” “Choose joy,” “Good vibes only.” Yet, despite all the inspiration, many of us are still putting on masks—pretending to be fine when we’re not. Even Steve Jobs reminded us: “Your time is limited, so don't waste it

Self-image. Sounds simple, right? Ha.  Wrong. I thought this was going to be a deep but manageable conversation. Instead, it turned into a bottomless pit  of questions, confusion, and head-swirl moments. Self-image isn’t just how we see ourselves—it bleeds into identity, self-awareness, and the relentless pressure to be the “perfect” version of ourselves that self-help books, podcasts, and Instagram quotes promise. 🪞 What is Self-Image Anyway? Self-image:  The idea one has o

Comfort zone bliss Have you ever wondered if your comfort zone is secretly holding you back? That cozy little bubble where everything feels safe, familiar, and blissful—could it also be stalling your emotional growth ? I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, and here’s the truth: comfort zones feel good because fear feels bad . Fear is a natural, evolutionarily programmed response that keeps us safe. But it can also become a convincing excuse —a justification to avoid dis