The friends who stay become part of how we survive and grow. Some friendships begin quietly. No big moment. No dramatic story. Just two kids who happen to find each other and somehow keep choosing each other year after year. My best friend and I have been walking through life together since we were 12... Continue Reading →
Time is moving way too fast for my comfort lately. Somehow, we are already well into February and I am still wondering where January even went. It feels like I blinked and suddenly a whole month disappeared. My granddaughter will be 17 in less than two weeks, and honestly, that one stops me in my... Continue Reading →
Closing the year grounded and moving forward with intention. This post feels a little different, because it marks the final entry in my 52-week blogger challenge. As the year comes to a close and a new one waits just ahead, I find myself less focused on endings and more focused on continuation. This challenge was... Continue Reading →
A declaration of how I choose to live and grow This is not a list of promises meant to impress anyone.This is a declaration meant to anchor me. Recovery did not turn me into someone new.It helped me return to myself, clearer, steadier, and more awake. This manifesto is how I intend to keep living.... Continue Reading →
Continuing the growth I’ve already begun When I think about my future self, I don’t imagine a completely different life. I imagine a deeper version of the one I’m already living. One shaped by continued awareness, intentional choices, and the steady growth that comes from staying aligned with who I am becoming. This reflection is... Continue Reading →
Not Perfect, Just More Peaceful I used to think freedom would feel like a dramatic movie moment. Cue the music. Big realization. Instant confidence. No more overthinking, people-pleasing, or emotional gymnastics. Turns out, freedom from codependency feels a lot more… human. It Feels Like Not Being on Call 24/7 Freedom feels like realizing I am... Continue Reading →
A Letter to Someone Starting Recovery From someone who has walked the shaky first steps, sat in the messy middle, and learned to trust the journey. If you are reading this, it means something inside you whispered it is time. Maybe it was a quiet knowing. Maybe it was a breakdown that jolted you awake.... Continue Reading →
What I Wish You Knew Before Recovery Dear Younger Me, I wish I could sit beside you for a moment. Not to change your path or warn you about what is coming, but to offer a little comfort for the heaviness you’re carrying. You try so hard to keep everything together, yet so often you... Continue Reading →
The Habits That Keep Me Focused (Most Days!) Staying aligned with recovery goals can feel a bit like trying to walk in a straight line while carrying a wobbly stack of grocery bags. It is possible, but not always graceful. Over the years, I have learned that the secret is not perfection, it is having... Continue Reading →
How My Definition of Healthy Relationships Has Grown For a long time, I thought love meant giving everything I had and then somehow finding more to give. I thought connection meant answering every message right away and pretending it was totally fine that someone ate the last slice of pizza without asking. Over time, and... Continue Reading →
Finding Strength in the Storms of Life I didn’t wake up one day suddenly strong. Learning to be resilient has taken time, patience, and a lot of trial and error. It’s something I’ve built piece by piece by showing up for myself, even when life felt hard. Here are a few ways I’ve learned to... Continue Reading →
Finding Laughter in the Mess of Growth When I started my healing journey, I took everything very seriously. I thought healing meant sitting in deep reflection, analyzing every emotion, and taking life lessons like a full-time job. It is important work, but somewhere along the way, I forgot how to laugh. I was too distracted... Continue Reading →
Journey On Strong 