I’m burned out and I need to pull back — I’m sitting here trying to write, and I feel like a truck is parked on my chest. I’m having trouble breathing, and I’m stressed to the max. I hope I’m not getting sick. I have to do a huge amount of cleaning to get my mother’s house ready to sell…

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. — As a person with chronic pain, I am grateful for my yard guys. It took me forever to find someone, and they have been lifesavers for me. I used to do all my yard work myself. I still remember getting up all the leaves by myself. I would have 100…

Stop “shoulding” all over yourself — I’m struggling with this challenge. I’m frustrated because I’m exhausted and few people are reading the series. I get it. It’s a big commitment. I’m overwhelmed myself. I don’t feel very compassionate towards myself today. I guess that’s the point of all this. To change the way I treat myself. …

No is a complete sentence. Don’t be afraid to use it. — As a recovering people pleaser and perfectionist, no is the most difficult word in my vocabulary. I like to be that person who is supportive and helpful. But here’s the problem. If people know they can take advantage of you—they will. I’ve had to put my foot down with several…

With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend. — You may be wondering what self-compassion is. It’s simple. With self-compassion, we give ourselves the same kindness and care we’d give to a good friend. The book Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Dr. Kristin Neff was a game-changer for me. It helped me see how…

Standing up for your needs pays off! — Yesterday I mentioned turning down an offer to republish one of my articles. Well, guess what? They reached back out to me and offered me an opportunity to write original content for them—for pay. I did what was most compassionate for myself and now I have an awesome opportunity! This…

Do people expect you to give away your time and work for free? If you work in a creative field, they do! — It’s been a weird day. I was asked by an online magazine if they could republish one of my articles on here. I am flattered, of course. But it’s a VERY personal article and they didn’t offer me any money, so I said no. Even if they had offered money…

Learning to trust yourself can feel like moving to a foreign country—exciting and scary at the same time. — I made the decision today to cut my therapy sessions in half. Given how I’ve been feeling lately, and how crazy life is, that’s a scary decision. I had a progress review with my therapist, and we both agreed that I am learning to trust myself more and would do…

Stop the world—I’m depressed, I’m angry, and I need a detox — Darkling I listen; and, for many a time I have been half in love with easeful Death, Call’d him soft names in many a mused rhyme, To take into the air my quiet breath; Now more than ever seems it rich to die, To cease upon the midnight with no pain…

I don’t know how I’m going to get through the rest of the year — I spent a large part of the day cleaning my mother’s house, and I am exhausted. I’m so tired that every part of my body hurts. I had planned time for self-care, but the day didn’t work out that way. I have a good reason, though. A friend offered to…

The daughter becomes the mother, and the mother becomes the daughter — “You will be different. Sometimes, you will feel like an outcast, but you will never be alone. You will make my strength your own. You will see my life through your eyes, as your life will be seen through mine. The son becomes the father, and the father becomes the…

Old habits die hard — I have a confession to make. My self-care has been awful today, so this will be a short, but honest post. I’ve completed various chores, visited my mother in memory care, completed three YouTube instructional videos, and posted six new designs on RedBubble for sale. Is that a lot? It…

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em, Know when to fold ‘em — Kenny Rogers — The Gambler You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em Know when to fold ‘em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you’re sittin’ at the table There’ll be time enough for countin’ When the dealin’s done Every…

Life still happens—even when you have a goal — Wow, what a challenge for my self-compassion practice! I had to move my mom to a memory care facility about 8 months ago. I went to her house to get her some more clothes last week and made an unpleasant discovery. Acorn shells in her dresser drawers. Uh-oh. But wait—there’s…

Personal growth is a string of deaths and rebirths — “Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, she became a butterfly.”—Barbara Haines Howett Caterpillars undergo a massive transformation to become a butterfly. They stay in a cocoon for up to 30 days during their metamorphosis. It’s more than a transformation. The caterpillar’s body digests itself from the inside…

Learning how to prioritize self-care in my life — It’s funny how we can be harder on ourselves than anyone else. I’ve struggled with perfectionism for most of my life. The notion of self-compassion was hard for me to grasp. You can be kind to yourself? For years, I‘ve struggled with anxiety and depression. Perfection was the standard to…