Beyond basic affirming — It’s common to look outside ourselves for evidence of our worth. Strength and inner work are necessary to conquer the false beliefs we accept. It takes growing beyond society’s conditioning. A conditioning that dictates what’s required to be valued. Negative words and actions of others awaken a critical inner voice…

You better walk, “bish” — Does your busy schedule make you put off exercise? Thoughts about the little time you have in a day fills the heart with discouragement. Exercising seems challenging when you haven’t moved your body with that much intensity in a while. May even seem painful; and a burden to exert soo…

Did he really delete himself? — One thought came to mind when I first heard the news about tWitch passing. Hmm, that was fast! Autopsy results, the conclusion he unalived himself, no foul play, case closed — all determined in a day. Such a rapid assessment. Is that normal in these cases? I continued watching the…

Hopeful the words flow again — I stopped writing in October 2022. Come November, I couldn’t get the words to flow anymore. A clog without the gel of lubrication. These circumstances are a writer’s nightmare — I was indifferent. Lately, I feel a tug in my soul. A desire to write. Who am I to dare…

Read and you may finally appreciate a cat lover’s devotion — I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for cats. Captivated by their mojo. Sweet style and grace, covered in fur with unconditional love. Most dogs make me smile — yes. Yet, somehow cats elicit a special response. I feel supreme appreciation for the felines in my lifetime. Muffin…

Happy Hallows’ eve — There was once a little girl named Nadja born near Halloween. Her birthday was so close; she arrived home from the hospital on that holiday. Must’ve been a day like no other for her mom. Newborn baby, candy, trick-or-treaters, and horror movies. As Nadja grew, she had birthday parties full…

Chilling story of a monster — I didn’t plan on watching Dahmer. With strong ties to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this felt different. Watching the show wasn’t for entertainment. I’m aware the series opens deep wounds, retraumatizing those directly impacted. There was no pride in my viewership. No, this was more for knowledge. I grieved for the victims…

Yes, there’s more — The state fair of 2022 is long over. But, I have more to share on why it’s soo dear. It’s the last bit of summer fun before fall. The finale, soon followed by the cold of winter. An event many Minnesotans look forward to — a yearly tradition. Your favorite…

A woman’s struggle with anxiety dips into the frightening unknown — Annie pushed the red crayon hard into the page, filling in the line art of a heart. Coloring — her favorite coping skill for anxiety. So typical she thought, the color chosen. She picked a deep red, the sharpest red from the carton. The closest to the color of an…