Know Answers vs. No Answers – Part 1

Recently, while on vacation in South Dakota, my family enjoyed a tour of Wind Cave National Park. My kids, especially my four year old daughter, were particularly excited about seeing the inside of a cave. I was not exactly looking forward to the outing, being slightly claustrophobic and always battling a wildly out of control …

Continue reading Know Answers vs. No Answers – Part 1

Healing, Hormones, and Emotions

It has been a long journey, almost five years, to rediscover and readjust to my new body cycles, health rhythms, and emotions.  But, my biggest take-away right now is the reminder that emotions are complex, sometimes intense, and that is okay.  As I have made my way through February, I have practiced pausing and identifying the emotions I actually feel.  Then I gently remind myself to be thankful I can feel again, the good and the bad.  Even when it is hard, this process of acquainting myself with the emotions present in all of life’s journey is often worth it. 

The Little Things: Holiday Edition

As we enter another holiday season, I’m reminded of the reality that the anticipation of the celebrations and the initial enthusiasm for the traditions can sometimes be derailed by the nuance and contradictions of the season. Excitement can be deflated by stress and unrealistic expectations.  The busyness of the holidays can distract from the joy of the season.  While navigating this year’s festivities , I took the opportunity to reflect on a past post, “The Little Things”, and to revisit the question of “What is saving your life right now?”

A Journey of Friendship

As we mark our third blogiversary of The Unexpected Ever Afters, I’m reminded of our goal and mission for this blog: to establish connections, to share stories of everyday life, to support and encourage one another, to remind that we are not alone in our thoughts, anxieties, hopes, and dream; that together, we can tear down isolating boundaries and build connections. In a way, our mission really is about friendship.