Living in the Gray

Joy and Pain -- we can experience both. Sometimes just a few moments apart. My Dad died several years ago. It was the worst Sunday of my life. For those struggling with the loss of a loved one, I offer tips for navigating grief. I was broken, and these strategies were hard-learned. I've been moved by a couple of Andy Grammer, an artist I absolutely love. They're linked below. The song talks about...

It's been a long and challenging week in the news. There's a lot of healing that needs to be done in our country and our world. As you know, I love quotes, and I want to talk about another one that moved me recently. "Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone." -Allan Watts I had a still moment this week watching the news. A story about people, mostly college students, climbing the stairs at...

I love good quotes. So I want to talk about a great one I heard: "Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else. You are the one who gets burned." We all have this in our lives. It might be about someone hurt us. It might be because we're angry at someone. Regardless, we all have it. One of the ways I combat this is through metta meditation. This is...

I've had to train my brain that there's a lot of good out there. It doesn't come naturally -- we're wired to look for danger to keep us safe. But our brains aren't bosses, they're employees, I've been spending time each night picturing how I want my life to turn out. And then I do the same with the most important people in my life -- I picture them doing the things they most want to do in life. It...

The book is out! Woke up and friend had ordered my book. The book will begin landing on people's doorsteps on Aug. 26, my birthday! That's definitely the universe talking! I'm so thankful that people are spending their money to support me by buying my book. ---- In my full-time job. I work with formerly incarcerated people. We had one gentleman who came to our organization on his birthday not long...

My book is getting close to coming out! Today, I talk about my process, inspiration, and need to write about what's happening in my life. I talk about transitioning from sharing my writing with no one, to a few select friends and family, to finally the general public. For me, writing is a calling. It's my gift. It's why I'm here. It's what God put me here to do, If you heard yourself in today’s ep...

I'm pulling together a ton of really valuable lessons from a range of sources. We'll look at the different types of self-care and what each one looks like in your life. What lights you up? Do it. You deserve it. What's something you're scared of doing? Try doing it, even if simply for the sake of doing it. Don't forget to have some compassion for yourself. Treat yourself the same way you'd treat a...

Please welcome our special guest -- Lou Lou. He's my 13-year-old son. And he's going to give us a translation of all the latest popular slang parents just don't understand. Plus offensive punctuation. Did you know a period at the end of a text sentence likely lands as if you, the Gen Xer is mad at the Gen Zer? But is there hope for overlap? There sure is. We'll spill all the 411. (information) Lin...

I heard a great quote, "A bad day for the ego is a great day for the soul." It really resonates with me and I unpack exactly what it means. You deserve better. Sometimes, we need to really stop and take a look at ourselves and be honest about what we see. What is most important right now? Links from this episode: Dan Harris -- 10% Happier If you heard yourself in today’s episode, you’re not alone....

Moving to a new city can generate a lot of inner turmoil. That can bring up feeling of not fitting in or belonging. They're different, and I explain the distinction. I also provide tips on addressing the discomfort and whether fitting in really matters. (Spoiler alert: It might not!) If you heard yourself in today’s episode, you’re not alone. My book, Living in the Gray gathers ten years of writin...

Are you ready for your 2.0? I've put together years worth of my writing into a book. And I'm excited to say it's coming out soon! Living in the Gray is for everyone -- but especially those who feels like there's more to life than you're experiencing. Links from this episode: My Fentanyl Project If you heard yourself in today’s episode, you’re not alone. My book, Living in the Gray gathers ten year...

Sports are an empty vessel. We assign values to them, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. It's important not to put your kids' value in winning or losing. And their success or failure is not a reflection of you as a parent. And it's important how you show up -- you might think you're being supportive, coming from a good place, but that might now be how it's received. Think about asking your ki...

Riding with a new driver can certainly make you scared. Or is it fearful? There is a difference between the two and it's an important one. And both are completely normal. Lots of us are living with fear, and much of it stems from balancing what we can control and what we can't. Lack of control often leads to fear, which can manifest in many ways including anger. Remember, you can't mop the ocean!...

There's nothing more in the gray than raising kids. There's no blueprint, there's no instruction book, and what works for one kid won't necessarily work for another kid, or even the same kid a few months later! But there is hope. I share some strategies to set parents up to successfully navigate the choppy waters of parenting. If you heard yourself in today’s episode, you’re not alone. My book, Li...

If you're great at giving compliments, but accepting them makes you cringe, you have plenty of company! Sharing my work publicly makes me vulnerable, and it's hard to talk about. But I share some strategies to make it feel less awkward and a little more honest. Links from this episode: The Partnership Aligned podcast If you heard yourself in today’s episode, you’re not alone. My book, Living in th...

Your body is enough in every way -- good enough, small enough, strong enough ... everything enough. Your age is something to be embraced -- there's a positive for every quality society says is a negative. If you heard yourself in today’s episode, you’re not alone. My book, Living in the Gray gathers ten years of writing about living inside life’s tensions — the both/and moments that shape who we b...

Five life hacks for leaning into positivity when your brain simply wants you to go back to bed.