Anything about Everything

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...

  If you asked me what I am most grateful for right now, I could probably give you a million answers. This would have nothing to do with the fact that I am indecisive.  But when I actually sit with the question - it truly comes down to a few things. I am grateful for my husband and the life we’re building together. Not because every day is perfect (HAHA NO). But because having someone to share the ordinary parts of life with is something I never ever ant to take for granted.  I am grateful for my family, my friends, and the people who continue to show up for me. The ones who listen, laugh with me, support me, and remind me that I don’t have to navigate everything alone.  I am grateful for my health (for the most part), the opportunities I have been afforded, and the ability to keep starting over when something doesn’t go as planned.  I am grateful for my little home, our boy Gus, the routines we’ve created, and the seemingly insignificant moments that make this ...

  For a long time, I thought gratitude meant being thankful for the big things. A good job, a happy marriage, a comfortable home, financial security, or accomplishing something I worked hard for.  In my old age, I am beginning to realize that gratitude is so much more than “the big things.” To me - gratitude is being able to recognize that life can be imperfect and still be beautiful. It’s appreciating what I have without pretending that I don’t want more. It’s being thankful for where I am while acknowledging that I’m still working toward where I want to be (not easy at ALL by the way). It’s understanding that I can have difficult days and still have a wonderful life. I can be (and am at times) frustrated with my circumstances and still recognize the blessing surrounding me.  I have been called toxicity positive many times - I have discussed it in depth on this blog more times than I should have needed to. But I am someone who is trying to continue to see the good i...

  If someone told me last November what my life would look like today, I am not entirely sure I would have believed them.  The past year has been full of changes (some expected and others completely catching me off guard). I have experienced professional changes, personal growth, heartbreak, new challenges, and moments that forced me to reconsider what I actually want out of life.  Three things in particular stand out to me… First (and this is big for a recovering people pleaser): I’ve learned that advocating for myself is not optional. Whether it’s in my career, my relationships, or my personal life - I deserve to have my voice heard. I don’t have to make myself smaller to make others feel comfortable.  Second: I’ve discovered that I am capable of navigating change - even when I don’t have it all figured out. Change is REAL uncomfortable. But staying somewhere simply because it’s familiar isn’t always the right choice.  Third: I’ve learned to appreciate the peo...

Have you ever had one of those days where you look at your life and think: “I need to change everything.” The job.  The routine.  The house.  The schedule.  The relationship. The goals.  The entire damn personality. And then you sleep for eight hours and suddenly you’re like… “Oh.” Maybe I didn’t need to blow up my entire life. Maybe I needed a nap. We’re so quick to assume that exhaustion means something is wrong. Sometimes it does.  But sometimes we’re simply tired. We’ve been doing too much. Carrying too much. Thinking too much. Giving too much. Expecting too much from ourselves. And eventually the brain starts whispering: “Perhaps we should simply move to a cabin in Vermont and never speak to anyone again.” I’ve been there.  Okay, maybe not the cabin.  But emotionally?  Absolutely. The problem is that exhaustion makes everything feel permanent.  A bad day feels like a bad life.  A frustrating week feels like a t...

There are certain things about adulthood that still feel like someone is going to come tap me on the shoulder and tell me I’m doing it wrong. For example: Going to bed at 8:30 p.m. and being genuinely excited about it. Canceling plans and feeling immediate relief. Getting excited about a new vacuum. Having a favorite burner on the stove. Buying storage containers for fun. Having a favorite grocery store. Being emotionally attached to a particular brand of paper towels. Saying “I have errands to run today” like that’s an exciting Saturday itinerary. And my personal favorite: Choosing not to leave the house because the weather is bad. When you’re younger, you’re like  “It’s raining! Let’s go somewhere!”  Now?  “It’s raining? Excellent. Nobody expects me to leave.”+ There is also something incredibly humbling about realizing that you can technically do whatever you want. Want ice cream for dinner?  Go for it. (my favorite dinner) Want to spend Saturday rea...