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 →
(And the Day I Completely Forgot Everything I’ve Learned) Let’s be real, staying calm during conflict sounds great in theory. Deep breathing, mindful pauses, maybe a peaceful cup of tea afterward. But sometimes, despite all the personal growth and journaling and healing, something happens that makes all of that fly right out the window. A... Continue Reading →
How I stopped swimming in other people’s drama pools For the longest time, I misunderstood “detachment.” I thought it meant cutting people off or becoming some kind of emotional robot. No feelings, no problems, right? Wrong. What I’ve discovered is that healthy detachment is not about shutting people out, it’s about keeping my heart open... Continue Reading →
Or in other words...How I Protect My Peace While Supporting Others There was a time when I thought empathy meant giving everything I had, my time, my energy, my emotional reserves, until there was nothing left for me. I’d walk away from conversations drained, resentful, and sometimes even a little lost in someone else’s pain.... Continue Reading →
Learning to step back so others can step into their own strength I’m just going to be honest here… it wasn’t until I was almost 40 that I even knew what enabling meant. For most of my life, I thought helping someone was one of the many ways you showed love. I was a fixer,... Continue Reading →
Evolving Boundaries Over Time: How My Lines Shifted as I Grew When I first started my recovery from codependency, I thought boundaries were just walls you put up to keep people from hurting you. I imagined them as invisible force fields that kept everyone at a painful distance. Honestly, I wasn’t wrong for where I... Continue Reading →
How I Respond to Guilt Trips (Without Losing Myself) There was a time when a sigh, a disappointed glance, or a few carefully chosen words could send me into a spiral of guilt. I’d drop everything to smooth things over, even if I wasn’t the one who caused the problem. That’s the grip guilt had... Continue Reading →
The Difference Between Walls and Boundaries: Finding the Sweet Spot Between Openness and Protection When I first began to set boundaries, it was confusing and difficult. I used to think I was setting healthy boundaries, but in reality I was building emotional walls, tall and thick ones. I told myself it was self-protection, a way... Continue Reading →
When Boundaries Are Tested: Holding the Line When It’s Hard Because sometimes, “No” is a full sentence… even when it’s whispered through clenched teeth. Let’s talk about that moment when you’ve clearly drawn the line—and someone tries to tap dance all over it. You know the one: You’ve told a friend, “I’m not available to... Continue Reading →
How I’ve Built a Life That Reflects My True Values: Aligned, Caffeinated, and Content There was a time when my calendar was full, but my heart felt empty. I was busy, yes—but not with the things that truly mattered to me. Somewhere along the way, I had adopted someone else’s idea of success, and my... Continue Reading →
Loving Without Losing Myself: A Delicate Dance There was a time when I thought love meant saying yes to everything, being available 24/7, and bending myself into a human pretzel to meet everyone else’s needs. You know what I mean, don't you? Spoiler alert: That didn’t end well. Turns out, that’s not love—it’s self-abandonment, self-neglect,... Continue Reading →
Confessions of a Recovering People-Pleaser: My Hilarious Journey to Healthy Relationships Once upon a time, in a land not so far away (okay, my own life), I was the Queen of Codependency. My royal duties included rescuing distressed citizens (a.k.a. significant others, friends, coworkers, and the occasional lost puppy), fixing problems that were never mine... Continue Reading →
Journey On Strong 