Top Notch Weirdos
3 Things I Learned About Healing from an Autoimmune Diagnosis
“To truly heal, we need to create a healing space—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.” ~Lynn Keegan
Growing up, I never understood the importance of taking care of myself. I thought my body was invincible, and I treated it quite poorly. I stayed up late, I ate out a lot, I partied, and didn’t have a care in the world.
In my early twenties this all began to shift for me. I began experiencing all types of symptoms. My body was doing things I was embarrassed to share with anyone.
I started having eight to ten bowel movements per day, I was …
How I Found the Courage to Leave My Unfulfilling Job
“‘What if I fall?’ Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” –Erin Hanson
Have you ever considered how much you’d be willing to tolerate before feeling forced to leave a workplace?
In this economy, people wonder whether leaving their jobs to preserve their mental and physical health without another lined up is worth it if it means financial insecurity. So many people feel stuck in their jobs, and I was no exception.
I told myself any money was better than no money, so I stayed with a job that made me miserable.
After spending several years with the company, …
How Trauma Affects the Brain and How I’m Healing from PTSD
“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” ~Brené Brown
Several months ago, I was stoked about writing a piece on the living legacy of trauma, sharing how much we think we know about these so-called injuries of the mind, body, and spirit when, in reality, we know diddly squat.
I thought that a piece on this topic would inform and help folks like me. I’d suffered long and hard from PTSD, triggered initially by the sudden death of my brother and, simultaneously, the unfortunate finding of an email that confirmed
Available Now: Tiny Buddha Shirts and Posters
Hi friends! Since I’ve received numerous requests to bring back the Tiny Buddha shirts, I’ve decided to make them available again, right in time for the holiday season!
You can choose from six shirt designs, in multiple colors, in a T-shirt, hoodie, or sweatshirt. Here are my favorites:
I’m planning to add a few new shirt designs next week, so stay tuned for an update then!
I’ve also added three (unframed) quote posters to the store.
To grab a shirt for yourself or a loved one, visit the store here.
Please note these …
You Can’t Save People
Tiny Buddha’s 2024 Day-to-Day Calendar is now available for purchase! Stay inspired, motivated, and encouraged with a year of uplifting quotes on happiness, relationships, change, meaning, mindfulness, self-care, and more. Get it here.
The Beautiful Life I Didn’t Plan For: On Raising a Special Needs Child
“I’ve learned that you can keep going long after you think you can’t.” ~Unknown
As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a mom. I held onto the belief that my life wouldn’t feel truly “complete” until I had children.
This dream finally came true in 2010 when I was twenty-seven years old, when my son, Logan Patrick Arnold, entered the world. The moment I laid eyes on him, I sensed something was different about him. And though it might not sound flattering, he looked more like a middle-aged man than a Gerber baby.
Upon …
How I Am Learning to Trust My Body More and Control It Less
“I’m a beautiful mess of contradiction, a chaotic display of imperfection.” ~Sai Marie Johnson
I don’t identify as having an eating disorder. I don’t struggle with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating. Yet I exercise precise control of my weight, down to the pound. If I gain a mere two pounds, I can feel it. First in my stomach. Then in my face.
That’s when the self-loathing kicks in.
I beat myself up for gaining those two pounds.
I wear a shirt to sleep at night, instead of being naked like I am when I am two pounds lighter.
I …
The Secret to Finding Yourself Again: How to Come Alive
“‘Finding yourself’ is actually returning to yourself. An unlearning, an excavation, a remembering who you were before the world got its hands on you.” ~Emily McDowell
Somewhere between becoming a parent, a wife, and a career woman, I began to lose myself.
I wouldn’t say it happened all at once or as the result of any one thing. Instead, it was a gradual process of disappearing under layers and layers of masks I had to wear in order to play the role of the person others needed me to be.
The caretaker.
The rescuer.
The helper.
The teacher.
The nurturer.…
Take Good Care of Yourself When You Do Well AND When You Fall Short
“Kindness is choosing love over hate, light over darkness, compassion over judgment.” ~Raktivist
One of the things about being “good” (and for me that includes things like patience, kindness, and being agreeable) is that people assume things about me. They think I’m always patient, I always make the right decisions, and I’m an all-around great person.
Well, I’m not always anything—except human. And that means I make mistakes, big ones even. This week I did NOT set an example of perfection. I had a moment when I became the exact opposite: loud and emotional. I melted down.
Why did this …
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