self-care

  • It’s About What You Have

    It’s About What You Have

    I definitely lucked out when it came to the two stepchildren I inherited. They are both fantastic kids my seventeen-year-old stepdaughter and seven-year-old stepson. However, them occasionally challenging me comes with the territory of being their fatherly figure. The little guy definitely likes to push my buttons from time to time. One he unintentionally presses

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  • The Ultimate Validation

    The Ultimate Validation

    Working in any helping profession often comes across a thankless and underappreciated. After working in the mental health field, I’ve learned that it isn’t to be expected. You don’t usually get to see the end result of your work and need to celebrate the small wins. However, once in a while, you get a reminder

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  • Bound to Happen

    Bound to Happen

    It’s been just a few weeks since I started seeing a specialized therapist again for my process addiction. A bunch of issues lingered, and I hit a brick wall with my progress. My growth felt stunted. Just under the surface, all of the guilt, shame, and blame festered. To jump start the battery, I got

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  • My Therapist Yelled At Me…

    ….And for good reason! The entire week leading up to my Wednesday afternoon appointment felt like one big blur. An underlying feeling of insecurity plagued my soul, and it sparked serious internal anxiety. I found myself second guessing every decision. I didn’t feel confident in any context. Some context for you. During my therapy session

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  • Sometimes You Just Have To

    It hurts. My body hurts. My head pounds. My neck,  shoulders,  calves, and hips feel heavy. Yet somehow, I press on. Through the pain, agony, and misery, I find the motivation to do what I must. As much as I probably need a break, I can’t always let my illness beat me down. Over the

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  • A Year Older…A Year Wiser?

    How do I spend my 34th trip around the sun? Sitting in a Starbucks writing for my blog, of course. As an adult, I’ve never put a ton of emphasis on my birthday. Some people celebrate “birth month,” but I keep it low key. It is just another day for yours truly. However, with many

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  • Father’s Day 2024

    Father’s Day 2024

    I know I probably wrote something similar to this past last year, but it felt necessary to share my thoughts again. Today carried such a bittersweet feeling. The day served as a reminder of a significant loss in my life – one that occurred just over three years ago. Not a day goes by that

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  • Reverse Logic

    Reverse Logic

    I am slowly becoming a fan of audiobooks. I hate reading, but I do enjoy listening. I guess that fed into my passion of mental health counseling. I am honestly just happy I found a way to enjoy books after grad school practically ruined reading for me. My newest obsession is The Subtle Art of

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  • The Right To Free Write

    I’m going to do something on here that I haven’t in a long time. I am just going to free write. If you aren’t familiar with the idea of free writing, it is literally just to put down what comes to your mind. I have been slacking a bit on my blog posts (I’m one

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  • Just Cause

    Just Cause

    I finally finished an audibook! If you’re looking for a good listen on day-to-day acceptance, I do highly recommend Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by Dr. Steven Hayes. Towards the end, I loved one concept that I wanted to share. It’s called “just cause.” The whole premise is to take a menial task and works towards

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