We Don’t Need to Achieve Anything to Be Valid
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I believe that most, if not all, of us want the same things in life.
We want to feel seen. Want to be heard. We want to own our truth and express ourselves. And we want to believe we’re making a positive impact—to feel like we matter and that we’re leaving an indelible mark on the people around us in our short time here on this earth.
That’s what writing has done for me, and I’m guessing for many of you too.
But whether you’re creatively blocked or just full of self-doubt, it’s not easy to write consistently.
Instead of …
How My Old Dog Taught Me New Tricks
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~Lao Tzu
With two rambunctious kids, a stressful job, and a house to maintain, life was hectic. For many years, my children begged for a dog, and I would always say, “When you are older and life slows down a bit.”
Time was ticking by, but life was no less chaotic when my then preteens made yet another pitch. With more than a little trepidation, we brought home a little ball of Golden Doodle fluff who we called Murphy. How much trouble could he be?
In a short time, our cute puppy …
Feeling Depleted? How to Overcome Your Internal Barriers to Resting
“Rest is not necessarily a cessation of all activity but a means of going inward, going deeper. Rest is what allows us to go beneath the surface, if we make the time for it. Rest gives us the gift of perspective, and rest invites us into new ways of being and showing up in the world.” ~Ashely Neese
I was probably about sixteen when my dad and I were driving down Main Street in our small town at about 1 or 2 o’clock in the afternoon.
As my dad looked out the passenger seat window, he noticed a man out …
How I’m Navigating My Grief Since Losing My Father
“Grief is the price we pay for love.” ~Queen Elizabeth II
Losing a loved one is never easy, and when that loved one is a parent, the pain can feel insurmountable.
Last August, I faced one of the most challenging moments of my life: My father, my rock and my confidant, passed away after a brave battle with cancer.
As immigrants, my father and I shared a bond that was uniquely deep; we relied on each other for support, trust, and guidance in a new world. His wisdom shaped my life, and his strength inspired me daily. This is my …
The Subtle (Yet Huge) Perspective Shift That Changed My Life
“Dear self: Don’t get so worked up over things you can’t change or people you can’t change. It’s not worth the anger buildup or the heartache. Control only what you can. Let go. Love me.” ~Unknown
When I was furloughed from work back in the early months of 2020, I suddenly found myself with more time on my hands than I knew what to do with. I realized it was the freest time I’d had since I was a child on my summer holidays.
But that Covid-related break was much longer than six weeks; it was three long months. The …
It’s Time to Stop ‘Fixing’ (Because They Need the Struggle)
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” ~Maya Angelou
I have always been a “fixer.”
I liked to fix people’s problems.
Someone feeling down and out? Let me fix it by trying to take away their pain.
Someone on the wrong life path? Let me fix it to get you back on track.
Someone I love making unhealthy life decisions? Let me fix it so they can be happier.
‘Fixing’ people made me feel good.
It made me feel needed and purposeful.
It made me …
Feeling Lost or Miserable? Your Heart Knows the Way Through
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” ~Rumi
My tear-stained face stared back at me in the mirror. Every Sunday evening was the same. I was overcome with the dread of having to get up the next morning and go to a job that, while good on paper, was slowly sucking my soul. I was twenty-seven years old, and I was completely lost, spending my days doing work that didn’t light me up in any way or form.
Until I was twenty-five, I had mostly followed my …
Breaking Free from the Shadow of a Narcissistic Parent
“One of the greatest awakenings comes when you realize that not everybody changes. Some people never change. And that’s their journey. It’s not yours to try to fix for them.” ~Unknown
In the journey of life, we often encounter pivotal moments that force us to confront harsh truths about ourselves and the world around us. For me, one of these moments came with the profound realization that not everybody changes, especially not those who wield the toxic traits of narcissism.
Raised by a father whose larger-than-life persona concealed a darker reality, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery marked by …
How to Embrace the Glorious Mess of Everyday Life
“Embrace the glorious mess that you are.” ~Elizabeth Gilbert
Let’s begin with a simple fact: life is inherently messy. Despite our best efforts to organize, control, and perfect, life has a way of surprising us and tossing our neatly folded plans into disarray. I used to think that if I worked hard enough, if I was good enough, if I did everything right, I could keep the chaos at bay. But life, as it turns out, doesn’t work that way.
My kitchen, for instance, is a testament to the beautiful chaos of daily living. There are dishes in the sink, …
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