Anything about Everything

  I think one of the most underappreciated things in society is the emotional labor people quietly carry.  We talk a LOT about working hard, being successful, accomplishing goals, and staying productive.  But we don't always acknowledge the people who are constantly holding things together (or trying really hard to) behind the scenes.  We're talking.. the person who's remembering everyone's birthdays/anniversaries. The friend checking in. The parent coordinating all the schedules. The teacher encouraging a student who needs someone to believe in them. the coach investing time and energy into young athletes. The person grieving but also trying to carry on about their day. The one in your group that's struggling through mental health issues or relationship issues.  The people who remember the details, anticipate needs, and show up when nobody is watching.  These things don't always come with recognition, celebration, or rewards. But they absolutely matter....

  Sometimes the biggest blessings in life don’t look like blessings when they happen. Sometimes they look like losing friendships. Walking away from people you thought would always be in your corner. Realizing that the people you trusted weren’t necessarily the people you thought they were. I’ve learned a few things about friendships over the years, and one of the biggest is that just because someone has a place in your life doesn’t mean they have your best interests at heart. I’ve also learned that people aren’t nearly as subtle as they think they are. The conversations happening behind your back? The little comments, the side conversations, the assumptions that you have absolutely no idea what’s being said? You’d be surprised how much actually makes its way back to you. And here’s the thing: sometimes you know. You just choose not to engage. I think that’s what some people misunderstand. Silence doesn’t mean obliviousness. Not reacting doesn’t mean you didn’t hear it. And choosin...

  Sometimes, happiness really is found in the simplest things.  Here are ten little joys that make my life better: A slow morning when I don’t have to immediately hustle out the door.  Crawling into a freshly made bed, with fresh sheets at the end of the day Finding a book I cannot put down Laughing with Mike over something ridiculous Hearing my favorite song come on unexpectedly (then playing it on repeat 800 more times) Watching Gus do something that makes no sense but dang is he adorable when he does it! A dinner that turns out better than expected A great conversation with one of my closest friends that fills up my cup Checking something off the oh so long to do list that I’ve been putting off Putting on my Adam Sandler outfit and knowing I don’t have to go anywhere None of the list is particularly extraordinary. But that’s kind of the point!  Life doesn’t have to be exciting every second to be wonderful. Sometimes, the best moments are the ones we almost overloo...

  I think one of the easiest things to lose as an adult is the ability to find joy in ordinary moments.  When I was little, I couldn’t WAIT for the next big thing. I was always counting down to something.  When we’re younger, everything feels like an event. A sleepover, a weekend with friends, a holiday, a birthday, or an afternoon doing absolutely nothing. Somewhere along the way, life becomes a checklist. Work. Responsibilities. Bills. Appointments. Cleaning. Planning. Repeating. And suddenly, we’re waiting for the weekend, vacations, holidays, and major milestones to feel excited about life. But what about everything in between? I find joy in a quiet morning. In laughing so hard that I can’t catch my breath. In a really good book that makes me forget about everything else. In music turned up entirely too loud. In a comfortable night at home with Mike and Gus. I find joy in coaching girls who are learning to believe in themselves. In accomplishing something I’ve been wo...

Not going to lie - this post is hard to write. But I’m not a quitter so here we go.  Dear Body, I know I haven’t always been kind to you. Hell, I’m still struggling to be kind to you.  I’ve spent so much time focusing on what I wish were different that I’ve sometimes forgotten everything you’ve done for me. I’ve criticized your appearance, compared you to other people, and allowed numbers to influence how I felt about myself. I’ve treated you like a project that needed constant improvement instead of recognizing you as the place I get to experience my entire life. But you have carried me through so much. You’ve gotten me through long days, stressful seasons, countless workouts, difficult moments, and experiences that have shaped who I am. You’ve allowed me to coach, laugh, dance around the house, hug the people I love, and show up for the things that matter to me. And even when I’ve struggled to appreciate you, you’ve continued showing up for me. I want to approach our relatio...

I've been thinking about how often we say we want more happiness, more peace, more meaningful relationships, and more opportunities. But how often do we actually make room for these things? It's easy to get caught up in the everyday routine. Work, responsibilities, errands, appointments, obligations, and the endless list of things we need to get done.  Before we know it - we're living on autopilot.  I think when it comes to increasing the blessings in our lives that it actually starts with us being intentional .  It means spending more time with people who make us feel good about ourselves. It means setting boundaries with things that consistently drain us (more on this in a later blog... this can be a good thing or an absolute dumpster fire if weaponized). It means saying yes to experiences that excite us and no to things we are only doing out of obligation.  It also means being willing to recognize opportunities instead of immediately talking ourselves out of them....

  I used to think blessings were the big, obvious things… the milestones, the accomplishments, the exciting announcements, and the moments that everyone celebrates. But recently, my definition has evolved. A blessing can really be something incredibly ordinary. It’s waking up next to the person you love. It’s having a safe place to come home to. It’s hearing your pets make noise because they’re excited to see you. It’s having a friend who knows exactly what you mean without needing an explanation. A blessing can even be something that initially feels like a disappointment. Sometimes the opportunity you wanted doesn’t work out because something better is waiting. Sometimes a closed door gives you the push you needed to finally leave a situation that wasn’t right for you. I think a blessing is anything that adds meaning, love, growth, or purpose to your life. And sometimes? The biggest blessings aren’t things we receive. They’re things we learn, people we meet, experiences we survive...