If you’ve ever been told you might have a personality disorder (or wondered if a family member, partner, or friend might) you probably know how heavy that can feel. For many people, those words carry shame, fear, or confusion — as if something deep inside is “wrong” or unchangeable. This is certainly the lens taken by most media; how often are we shown villains with borderline or paranoid personality disorders? But the truth is, our understanding of personality has come a long way.

The holiday season is often portrayed as a time of warmth, connection, and celebration. Everywhere we turn, we’re met with images of cozy gatherings, sparkling lights, and the expectation that this time of year should feel joyful. But for many people, the holidays bring something very different: grief, in all its complexity.

EMDR is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that helps people process traumatic memories. It involves bilateral stimulation, which is a fancy way of saying it involves gentle back-and-forth movements. This might look like small hand buzzers that buzz back-and-forth between each hand, or a light bar moving side-to-side while a person tracks it with their eyes. This bilateral stimulation helps people reprocess the experience and can provide a release from the emotional grip of this distressing memory.

Oftentimes, trauma symptoms show up unexpectedly. You might be strolling through a park or walking through the grocery store and suddenly feel like you’re back in the moment where something awful happened. Your heart races, your chest tightens, and your body reacts as if you’re in danger again. You might even feel like you are the age when the traumatic experience happened, even if it’s been decades since.

When we talk about trauma (both in and out of mental health settings), we often focus on what is lost or diminished — our sense of safety, confidence, and control. This is understandable because trauma often shakes the very foundation of who we are. However, over time and with support, another outcome is possible. Alongside the suffering, growth can occur.

Sex and intimacy are some of the most tender ways we connect with others—and, in many ways, they’re mirrors. They reflect how we give and receive love, how safe we feel being seen, and what we learned early on about closeness, trust, and vulnerability.

I find it genuinely insulting how much sleep humans need. The wellness checklist always starts off reasonable: eat healthy, drink water, exercise, nurture your relationships… but the moment some professional casually tacks on, “Oh, and get an amazing, uninterrupted, eight hours of sleep per night,” I feel my body tense, a reaction I get when I feel the need to defend myself. Did an alien who has never struggled to fall asleep write this list? Can we get some empathy on this one, please? We have endless data and articles reminding us about how important sleep is, but when it comes to realistic ways to actually fall asleep… crickets. Which is ironic, because that sound would probably knock half of us out cold.

Defining Neurodivergence & Neurodiversity

Neurodivergence is a broad term that encapsulates a range of identities such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other cognitive or sensory differences. We live in a world that is largely designed for neurotypical people, and the needs of people who are neurodivergent are often not considered. Yet neurodivergent people are expected to meet neurotypical standards, which can be the source of a lot of suffering.  

Neurodiversity is a term that reflects the idea that there is no one “normal” or “right” way to think, learn, or process information. Importantly, neurodiversity isn’t only about diagnostic labels; it’s also about rejecting ableist assumptions about what it means to be “functional,” “social,” or “successful.” Diversity in neurological wiring, like diversity in culture, gender, or other forms of identity, is a vital and valuable part of humanity. 

Expectations are woven into our lives from an early age. Some are spoken outright – what it means to succeed, belong, or thrive. Others are unspoken but deeply felt, tied to our identities and shaped by the cultural, societal, and familial worlds we inhabit. From a young age, we may internalize messages about what it means to be “good enough,” “smart enough,” or “acceptable,” often without even realizing it. These messages can influence how we think, act, and feel about ourselves for years to come.

Perfection often feels like the standard we should strive for: a life without mistakes, flaws, or failures. But the pursuit of perfection can be exhausting, isolating, and ultimately unattainable. It’s a standard that keeps us from appreciating the growth, connection, and creativity that come from being imperfectly human.

Embracing imperfection means shifting how we see ourselves and our experiences. Instead of viewing flaws as failures, we can recognize them as opportunities. It’s about letting go of the pressure to have it all together and finding strength in vulnerability and authenticity.

When someone we care about is struggling, we usually know how to respond: with patience, encouragement, and understanding. But when it’s us facing a challenge, many of us default to

self-criticism, judgment, or pressure. Self-compassion is the practice of treating yourself with the same kindness and care you would offer a friend, and it can gently transform the way we cope with life’s difficulties.

Let’s name something that no one wants to talk about: being a stepparent can be really, really

hard. Beautiful, yes. Meaningful? Absolutely. But also heavy in ways that people don’t prepare

you for—especially if you’re someone who showed up with an open heart, ready to love kids

who weren’t born to you, and being met with different forms of resistance.

You’re not broken for finding it difficult. You’re not failing because it’s not all falling into place.

What you're doing is messy and brave and often invisible.

Let’s sit with that for a minute.

When we think of meditation, we often envision complete stillness—eyes closed, legs crossed, and minds emptied of thought. But this perspective overlooks a vital truth: meditation isn’t about “just doing nothing”. It’s about doing one thing with full presence. For those who find traditional seated meditation difficult or uninspiring, active meditation offers a dynamic and equally effective alternative. By engaging the body and the senses, these practices ground us in the present moment—without requiring us to sit still.