A dear friend gave me the idea for this blog a couple of months ago and I have been thinking hard about it ever since. I think it is because the word “courage” is not often used today. In shows that I watch, books that I read and podcasts and talks I listen to, there […]

The title of this blog is in quotes because it is from a movie or book from some years ago. I cannot remember the name of the movie or book, but I do remember hearing the phrase and it being quite significant. While I am not one of those people who easily memorizes movie or […]

Scientifically friction is defined as the force that opposes the motion of a solid object over another. “In the scientific study of habit formation, the thing that makes it harder for you to achieve your goal is called friction. Reducing friction means removing an obstacle or coming up with a strategy that makes a task […]

Working as a therapist can be exhausting and emotionally draining at times. I work two jobs, both as a therapist. I have eight dogs, yes you read that correctly. In my defense, before my mother passed away, she asked if I would care for her four dogs and I said yes. Added to my four, […]

Being a therapist who worked in an addictions facility and then moved to a private practice, it was a bit of a shock to see both how many people not seeking treatment for substance use are still impacted by substance use in their own or their loved one’s lives, as well as the misunderstandings of […]

If you have ever found yourself without hope, it is a very dark place. As a therapist, I would love to say that I have never been without hope, but that just is not true. If I am honest, there have been moments when I have thought, “I have no idea how this is going […]

“Just keep swimming!” Do you remember this line from the movie, Finding Nemo?  I do.  And when I think of this saying, the very next phrase that comes to mind is “sink or swim.” I probably think of these phrases together since they both involve the ocean and more importantly, the tenacity to keep going. […]

“The honey doesn’t taste so good once it is being eaten; the goal doesn’t mean so much once it is reached; the reward is not so rewarding once it has been given. If we add up all the rewards in our lives we won’t have very much. But if we add up the spaces between […]

The vast majority of people we will interact with over the course of our lives will mean well. Sure, there is a small subset of the population who, due to brain wiring issues, enjoy causing physical and emotional harm. But these people are rare and we will go most days of our lives without encountering […]

As I sat at my computer trying to figure out what to write about, one of my favorite TikTok people, went live. I love him because he is so incredibly positive, he plays these cool instruments called handpans and plays them outside in some beautiful locations. He has dreadlocks and a long beard turning grey. […]