Countless times, people have heard parts of my story and asked if I would change anything about my life.

My response is always the same: ‘Not a chance! I’m more content and happier than I ever imagined I could be.'”

Someone once asked me, “Wouldn’t you want that house with the white picket fence, more money, or that animal sanctuary you’ve always dreamed of? Surely there’s something you’d change, right?”

My response was simple: “No.”

I’m already happy, and who knows how much more money might change my life?

Here’s how I see it: if life were a chocolate buttercream cake recipe that I’m striving to perfect, I’ve finally nailed the balance—just the right amount of salt, baking soda, cocoa powder, flour, sugar, and all […]

I have dedicated much of my life to caring for others, often at the expense of my own well-being. I’ve come to realize that time is a precious resource, and how we choose to spend our days has a profound impact on our energy and overall well-being. It has taken me years to embrace the passage of time rather than fearing or ignoring it.

By being mindful of how I use my time, I’ve been able to reclaim it, making more intentional choices.

As of this writing, I have lived 25,927 days, 622,248 hours, 37,334,916 minutes, and 2,240,094,960 seconds.

Each of those moments has been a gift—the joy, the pain, and everything in between.

Whether in the simple act of folding laundry at home […]

Your mind behaves like a child who always expects to get its way. Pick the description that resonates with you most.

Entitled Brat or Pampered Child.

Your mind acts like it’s always indulged and getting its way!

You’ve trained your mind to think, whether negatively or positively.

Now that it’s matured, it seems to have a sense of its own and doesn’t always follow your lead!

Sometimes, you need to focus on something specific, but your mind keeps drifting to whatever it prefers. And when you try to let go of a thought, it just won’t stop running through your head. Many factors, like anxiety, stress, and other mental health conditions, can disrupt your sleep.

As a teenager and young adult, I didn’t worry much about […]

My stepmother grew up in a home marked by abusive alcoholism, and I suspect she may have had borderline personality disorder. When George and I moved into her house, I was eleven, and he was eight. The memory that stands out most from that day is her explosive anger and emotional outbursts.

Our dad had never told her—the woman he married and had two children with—that he also had two adopted children.

After living with our elderly Italian grandparents for two years, he had no choice but to bring us to her house; there was nowhere else to go. Nowhere else he would let us go. My dad, being very non-confrontational, never intervened or insisted that Dotti change.

Unlike what you might expect, […]

Just as we tend to accumulate birthday cards, clothes, magazines, receipts, and souvenirs, we also cling to emotions like anger, anxiety, confusion, disappointment, envy, fear, guilt, judgment, opinions, pride, sadness, and shame.

I’ve never been one to hold on to material possessions.

What was harder for me to release were my opinions and the ability to open my mind to new ideas, perspectives, and possibilities for the future. My beliefs were the only reality and truth I knew, which created a divide between me and anyone who thought differently. This tight grip on my beliefs was rooted in fear.

Interestingly, as a teenager, I wasn’t afraid of change, strangers, or the unknown—I was a big risk-taker.

Letting go of fear and embracing limitless possibilities […]

Throughout my life, family, friends, and coworkers have told me that I’m ‘overly sensitive’ and advised me to ‘toughen up’ due to my intuitive empathy.

My mother understood this about me, but after her passing, I faced judgment rather than support for my sensitivities.

This led to chronic exhaustion and an overwhelming desire to withdraw from the world.

It took everything in me not to give up on myself. I always felt out of place.

Many nights, I would gaze up at the sky, wishing my mom could come and take me with her. I spent a lot of time alone, with no one to relate to, no one who tried to understand me, and it seemed like no one liked me.

My father often […]

I’ll never forget the day I met my mentor, Susanne. I was drifting aimlessly, unsure of my path. Then she entered my life and turned everything around.

Through countless cups of coffee and deep, winding conversations, Susanne became so much more than just a mentor.

She was a guiding light, offering life-changing insights that have shaped my personal and professional journey since 2001. Take a trip with me as I revisit Susanne’s wisdom, which continues to inspire me today

Fall Eight Times, Stand Up Nine

My daughter had just entered residential treatment, I was still dealing with an abusive former husband, and I was overwhelmed with fear and a sense of failure.

The outside world felt like unfamiliar, uncharted territory.

I had just begun advocating for […]

I pour a cup of coffee and open my laptop.

It’s time to write, and the blank page awaits. A memory surfaces. But where do I begin?

I call on my inner guides to help me navigate the initial steps of crafting a memory into a story. Transforming vivid recollections into narratives that resonate with universal truths requires immense emotional energy. The pull towards the past, the need to make sense of who I am, and how past events have shaped the person I am today can be compelling and frustrating. My memory is sharp, a gift that sometimes feels like a curse. I’ve been jotting down brief descriptions of moments resurfacing when I reflect on the past.

Some memories stir physical sensations—a […]