I'm going to start this post with a story.
I liken it to my self-love 'origin' story, at least in the sense that it may have been the first time I really understood that I was (a) responsible for my own growth and (b) capable of achieving it. At the end of this story, I'm going to offer a tool that you can try at home. With any luck, you will achieve a similar feeling of enlightenment, love, and self-forgiveness that I did.
Read MoreImagine your world view as a window. With blinds.
Each blind presents an obstacle, of which there are many. The bright spots between the blinds represent the little joys, the moments of happiness, the feeling of connection and synchronicity—frankly, all the elements people allude to while trying to convince you that "life is beautiful."
Read More2017 has been a divisive year: everyone I know has either loved or hated it. I did not love it. It has had so many—maybe too many—growing pains. My personal career pursuits have become clearer, but for most of the year they've been unsteady. Following the news has been stressful. Watching people go at each other's throats, cut each other down, and advocate hate has been disheartening. But as I stood before my 2017 Gratitude Calendar this morning, coffee in-hand, head tilted to the side, reviewing every single day that this Earth tripped around the Sun, I saw something emerge beneath the overwhelm: love, focus, and hope.
Read MoreIt's been a weird few weeks. I have been busy working on gratitude calendar designs, sorting through various freelance writing gigs, and managing my personal writing schedule. On top of all the other random inconveniences of life: internet outages, incredibly involved vet visits, and the like.
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