Do you have a loved one struggling with mental health? I have something for you.
Last Saturday, I attended this event: on cultivating courage: An Evening with Pema Chödrön and Greg Boyle. To Benefit Homeboy Industries Pictured: Pema (Buddhist monk), our moderator José Arellano, and Father Greg (Jesuit priest, affectionately known…
I'm thrilled to report that this batch of babies has flown the coop. Look closely. In the picture on the left, you can see the mama (her green back is facing the camera) perched on…
This is a quote from Brené Brown's book The Gifts of Imperfection on top of a picture of my art. Comparison, like over-thinking, is a habit that has plagued me most of my life. Early on, if…
In 50 for 50 #11 (here), I wrote about the Mindfulness Meditation class I was taking and what I was learning about over-thinking. I have been a tenacious over-thinker for forever, and because this was my…
May is mental health awareness month. This is a partial repost of a blog I wrote a couple years ago about the danger of fear and labels. Please. Don't let fear stop you from seeking help. …
Thank you, readers, for sending in questions about my self-care journey and blogging. I answered a few. Do we really need a goal to be able to take care of ourselves? I’ll only speak for myself…
Here we are again, trying to outwit Mother Nature. If you read 50 for 50 #14 (here) then you know Garden Scarecrow Eagle Decoy with scary flashing eyes and frightening sound pest repellent—motion activated and…
Here’s a brand new shot of mama hummingbird tending her eggs. The nest is directly outside our back door, nestled high in the leaves of a ficus tree. Season’s worth of babies have been nurtured…
We sat, as we had before, in our sacred circle—a group of women gathered together in safety to write down our words and speak them out loud. Beth, our leader, called to order our crew…
Like most of the lessons I’ve learned over the last 5 years, I’d prefer for this one not to be true. Connection may be as fundamental to our well-being as clean air, healthy food, and adequate…
All my life I have been a “doer.” One who does. I have striven. I’ve defined myself as diligent. If you’ve needed a job done well, I’ve been your go-to person. If you’ve needed a…
In my first “how” post (read here), I shared the revelation that numbing is not, cannot, and will not ever equate to self-care. This bummed me out. Some of my favorite and most entrenched habits…
Over the last several years, I've written on multiple occasions about my desire to remember hard-won wisdoms from my family's healing journey. Sometimes this work requires many words and sometimes not. Sometimes the words are…
Once I understood the “what” of my journey (self-care intention) and the “why” (maneuvering detritus), it was time to focus on the “how.” Self-care is a lofty goal, one that is as individual as we…
It’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week. I wrote the majority of this post back in 2016 after I presented a NAMI program calling Ending The Silence to a large group of local high school sophomores. I’m…
April 20, 2013 I stare at the paper in front of me: The Whole Person Wheel. I can already sense where this project is headed and want no part of it. I haven’t felt…
Do you have a loved one struggling with mental health? I have something for you –
8 Tips to Beat Fear, Overwhelm & Confusion when a Loved One Struggles with Mental Health.
