Embracing Self-Care: My Journey to Finding Balance and Peace By: Ashley Gray In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, finding moments of calm and clarity can sometimes feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Over time, I’ve discovered that nurturing my mental and emotional well-being is not a luxury but a necessity. Today, I want to …
It’s okay to continuously pivot and go in different directions. Our path and journey in life is unpredictable. We never quite fully know where we will end up. That can be scary, but it can also be exciting and empowering. And it’s okay if you take one path that at one point felt like the right choice for your future, …
Co parenting is hard. Harder than I thought it would be. When my ex and I first split, my biggest issue was having to spend time away from Charlotte. The idea of it drowned me and made me feel helpless. Over time, I became okay with it. I learned to embrace the break time and even find ways to go …
Have you ever spoken to someone who has died? What about someone who died twice? Because that’s exactly what anyone is doing when they speak with me. In 2010, my life turned upside down when my teaching career came to a screeching halt. I spoke up when no one else felt they could about an issue at the time and …
Mother’s Day has been conflicting for me for a few years now. The last Mother’s Day my mom spent on this earth was the one I told her that I was pregnant. The joy she had on that day was unmatched. The news of my pregnancy took away some of the pain, fear and sadness for her, even if it …
I think I was around 12 years old when I started to have mental health issues. I had been in 6th grade, just a few months before Coronavirus hit and I was beginning to feel anxious all the time. I started to go to therapy but had to stop a few months in due to quarantine. I was originally diagnosed …
When I released expectations, I began to love motherhood. I have spent countless hours on this new journey soaked in tears, frustration and sadness. Early on, Charlotte had pretty bad acid reflux that required her to be held 24/7 and led to crying and fussing around the clock. It all felt unfair. Why are friends with babies around the same …
Stay ALERT Kelly D. Holder, Ph.D. One question that I often get as a clinical psychologist and wellbeing leader is, “What can I do when someone I love, care about, or work with is struggling with a mental health problem?” While each person’s situation is unique, there are steps we can take as supporters to foster a culture of support …
There’s a song I’ve been listening to a lot lately, called Pretty Day. The lyrics say “it’s going to be a pretty day for me. I throw my hands up in the air, I’m free”. Yesterday, I had the song on repeat because I truly felt free. I finally finished what seemed like the longest, most exhausting process of buying …
The question of what self-care is is one I found myself trying to understand for weeks during a dark time in my life. I knew it was time for me to be cared for, and that care started with the love God showered me with. Then, he asked me to do the same for myself instead of looking outward for …
