Each week in my free newsletter community, I share a personal essay. Readers describe them as a dose of “realistic optimism” and “a hug and a cup of tea in newsletter form.”
At its heart, my writing is about authenticity and changing our inner voices from critical to compassionate. And who wouldn’t want that?
What would it feel like to collect evidence that the world can be a delightful place? In real time, collecting such evidence can help us witness and tune into moments of delight, to create little respites from the challenges of our lives and the world around us.
Read MoreLoving reminder: sometimes the best thing we can do is remove ourselves from a situation — give ourselves time to reset and seek out something that offers comfort or joy.
Read MoreMoments of connection and delight tend to pass right by if we don't pay attention, especially if we don’t share them. Talking about the session with my friend, I started out agitated as hell, depleted, stuck in a loop of frustration. At the time, I’d describe my level of motivation as zero-adjacent...possibly negative? With my friend’s support, I shifted my perspective to finding joy infusions,
Read MoreThat’s the question a therapist asks in the book Evvie Drake Starts Over. She explains that with a pair of pliers and some perseverance, it’s physically possible to pull your own tooth. However, things are far less difficult and less painful when you get support.
Read MoreWhether a natural disaster, fussy baby, or work meeting (rudely scheduled in the middle of a work day!) prevented you from attending, I get it. This moment is a lot to navigate, and logistics can be hellish. I’m in your corner, my loves, and it’s not too late to join in!
Read MoreThese last few days, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’m calling “non-toxic positivity.” Toxic positivity silences negative emotion. It forces ourselves and others to pretend to be happy or look only at the bright side. Eff. That. Non-toxic positivity honors the complexity and trauma of this moment while seeking out opportunities for joy and connection.
Read MoreA category 3 (maybe 4?) hurricane is set to make landfall in my beloved New Orleans this Sunday, on the 16 year anniversary of Katrina. Today, as I prepare to evacuate to Atlanta, I’m reminded of moments of pure joy amidst the grief of Katrina.
Read MoreI’m sharing my fears with you to acknowledge that even as someone who has built a business around personal vulnerability, I experience hesitation and sometimes intense anxiety about putting myself out there.
Read MoreI’ve long believed it’s perfectly healthy to experience a full range of emotions, but these days I experience all the feels amplified and accelerated. We’re stuck on the spin cycle, feeling a ridiculous range of emotions all in one day, except when we feel totally numb instead. Here’s what I know: moments of meaning, connection, and joy can help stabilize us.
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