At its core, mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment, on purpose and without judgment. It’s not about emptying your mind or trying to get rid of unpleasant thoughts and sensations. It’s about noticing what’s happening, both internally and externally, with curiosity rather than criticism. As you practice observing your thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment, you’ll notice that, over time, your anxiety gets quieter, you ruminate less frequently, your stress feels more manageable, and you’re able to slow down before reacting to stressful events or conversations. You don’t have to go all-in with lengthy mindfulness meditations; there are lots of ways you can start small, so that implementing a mindfulness practice into your life can be a sustainable habit.

Coming out later in life is more common than people realize. Many adults spend years, sometimes even decades, suppressing or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity before finally allowing themselves to explore and embody who they truly are.

There is no “right” timeline for coming out. For many, later-in-life coming out happens after major life transitions: divorce, kids growing up, leaving a religious community, or finally feeling safe enough to ask questions that were once too scary to touch. It can be a long process of first coming out to yourself, then deciding if, when, and how to share this with others in your life.

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.