The possibility of success outweighs the fear of failure…such a beautiful reminder.

We are such fearful beings. I’m continually learning about this in many areas of my life. So many lessons with just my ACL recovery. It is truly WILD what our mind remembers from trauma and what it tells our body. Back in August 2025, I was 3 months post-op and was cleared to go out on the paddle boards. I remember being terrified of getting in the water, for fear that I couldn’t get back on my board. I was strong enough to get on the board, but the fear took over my mind.

Recently in physical therapy, my therapist put a box in front of me and asked me to jump up with both feet. Funny, with all the work I’ve done (7 months in), I hadn’t done this yet. I physically couldn’t jump on that box. We had a good laugh about it and he had ways to inch my way to doing this. Start with one foot, start by jumping down and then eventually, Voila – I did it. It was the weirdest feeling. My mind told me I couldn’t do it…but physically I was completely capable. Huh!

Let’s talk about this. When you just hear the word FEAR, what happens to your body? When you are faced with a tough decision, do you let fear take over? We face fearful situations of different magnitudes daily…even multiple times a day. There are so many different statistics out there – some say we make an average of 35,000 decisions a day – CRAZY!

It’s OK to be fearful of things, however, we shouldn’t let it stop us. Don’t let the fear win – take chances and try something new. I’m not saying we need to go jump off the nearest cliff and climb the highest mountain, but I am suggesting that each and every single day of your life, do one thing that scares you a little. Dip your toe into something you haven’t done before. If you look at the opposite and play life safe what excitement is there in that? Perhaps it’s age or the stage I’m in, I’m not sure, but I just want to share my experiences to maybe help inspire you to change it up a little and give you permission to do so.

I keep going back to this quote that multiple people have sent me and also came up all over my social media feeds of when you have your GPS on and you go in the wrong direction, it simply reroutes you. Mike drop – end of story. I don’t understand why we can’t live our lives like that. Who cares – you make a wrong turn or you make a wrong decision. Is it really ‘wrong’? It’s just a lesson. It’s just a path. It’s life-changing if you allow it to be. Sink into the lessons that it teaches you. Perhaps the path you thought was your destiny hits a bump and ends up being the most beautiful detour ever. I don’t know, sometimes you just have to rip off the Band-Aid and go after what you want in life. The path is never ever a straight line. It’s not necessarily easy, but my gosh, the journey, even the yucky stuff, it’s all a beautiful path and it’s your life to live, love and embrace.

Don’t let fear debilitate you. This could be something as small as going to a movie by yourself, riding a train for the first time or planting a garden…this doesn’t have to be BIG moves, although that works too. Sometimes the little things will catapult you into a big bold change. Embrace all of the ‘wrong’ turns and know that we are powerful beings and capable of SO much…the only thing EVER holding you back is YOU!

Go buy yourself some flowers and as always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers to an epic 2026!

This month is the one year anniversary of my blog. It has been over a month since I have posted a blog entry. To say I’ve been busy living my life, exploring and doing other things…well, that is just an excuse. If I’m being honest with myself, I completely got off track, overwhelmed and I cracked. This last week I was reminded why this blog is so important to myself and others.

I’m going to get a little vulnerable here and share that I had a bit of breakdown, bout of depression or something that just wasn’t quite right this last week. I’m not going to dwell on what it was or how I got there, I would like to focus on how I pulled myself out…and much faster than I have previously. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve had one of these types of episodes – that is NOT a brag, that is just a matter of reference. When I was in the thick of it, the tears were in great abundance at the drop of a hat and I did not want to speak to or see anyone. I was just so very sad. I’m not even sure what triggered it, as I felt fine in the morning and then wham. In hindsight, it wasn’t out of nowhere, it was a complete build up of the stresses of life. THIS…

In those times, it is an overwhelming feeling of loneliness. Even though I have a beautiful and supportive circle of family and friends, I convince myself that sharing what I’m going through is burdensome and doesn’t even compare to what others are dealing with – my struggles don’t matter. But, let’s be honest, in the end…it IS just us with our own thoughts and decisions and sometimes that is just too much to handle. It was a pity party for one.

We are our own worst enemy and best friend all wrapped into one

As I was in the thick of this, I received a message from someone that really hit me. Sharing the realities of life and the ‘not so picture perfect’ path is so important. Between that one message and others that reached out, when I finally shared that I was having a down day – the support and love I felt was immense. The feeling that the things I share and the words I write matter and how very valuable it is to be raw and real – people need to feel a connection to their journey…know that we aren’t alone on this roller coaster of life. There were two pieces of advice that stood out the most that I wanted to share…

1. ‘Crumbling is good for a restart – proud of you’
   • This person just gave me space, made me feel validated that it was OK to feel this way, said she was there when I was ready and gave great advice…having someone tell you they are proud of you feels good too
2. A complete understanding of what I was going through (like she was in my head) and then told me to blast Wilson Phillips.
   • As I was laying in bed the next morning with tears streaming down my face ‘Alexa – play Wilson Phillips radio’ – Wilson Phillips radio for the win! This whole message was straight out of a book of ‘what to say to your friend when they are on a downward spiral’

Let’s peel this wide open guys and give ourselves full permission to not have it all figured out. It’s OK…

• To not have a plan
• To eat that piece of chocolate cake
• To start over in your 50’s…or at ANY age
• To be completely silly and laugh at yourself
• To be vulnerable and admit that you are struggling and could use someone to talk to
• To be proud of yourself – even during the messy times
• To stray from steps you know will help you reach a goal

This list could go on and on – perhaps make one that is real for you. I think the key to all of this permission is to understand reality. I know that I am most driven when I have a plan and do the small things to accomplish a goal…but it’s OK to veer off that path now and then. You just need to get back ‘on track’ – whatever that looks like for you, as soon as you can. That is my tool for pulling myself out. I think I just gave myself permission that it’s OK and not beat myself up that I left my blog for over a month. I guess I needed a break…and that’s OK! Most importantly, when we are in that deep space and start saying all of those awful things about ourselves, let’s remember to Love Ourselves. Please listen to this song below…here is my favorite excerpt:

I love you, I don’t say it enough
I love who you are, who you’ve become
Don’t know why I cannot hear it
‘Less it comes from someone else
But I’ma find a way to finally feel it

When I say it to myself

In the end, we really don’t have anyone to answer to, but ourselves. We tend to put SO many pressures on ourselves when no one else knows what our overall plan is. I didn’t think this would be my ‘plan’ in life…but man oh man, am I enjoying the heck out of my life and I couldn’t imagine being in any other place than I am right now, even though it is really tough at times. I’m far from having it all figured out, but I’m learning to dive into the journey and not take life so seriously. There is SO much joy in the process. It will all unfold the way it’s supposed to and I’m here for all of the lessons, joys and adventures along the way.

It’s so wild how it all comes back to – it is OK to not be OK, you just can’t stay there. I will get back to my blog schedule and continue to be vulnerable and share my reality. We need to ride the high’s and make a mental note of how euphoric that feels…so when you get hit out of nowhere with a really rough day, you know that it won’t last and you have tools to pull yourself out. Permission to not have it all figured out…it’s OK! Please do yourself a favor and actually write down what your tools are to pull yourself out of a funk. We all need to know what works for us.

What did I learn from this downward spiral? Lean into loving myself more, make a list of joys and ways to bring myself out of a dark space, know who your people are and reach out to them when needed AND don’t hide the messy parts of life…lean into them, learn from them and share them – you might help pull someone else out too! Go buy yourself some flowers and as always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers!

Once again one of my words for the year comes a knockin’ on my door this week. LISTEN! This is such a HUGE word and comes in so many forms. The way listening came into play for me this last week, was listening to my body. I didn’t feel 100% when I went to bed the night before and when I woke up, in the time I was taking to debate pushing through the day or not, I was knocked back out again. I literally slept all day long…we MUST listen to our bodies. They talk to us, but do we always listen? It’s taken me 51 years to learn this and I’m all ears!

Gosh, as I write about this word, I have so much passion behind how important listening is in all faucets. Let’s chat about listening to others. Do you interrupt others when they are talking? Do you actually hear what they are saying? Are you thinking about what you want to say next…because if you are – you aren’t listening. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Another big aspect of listening to others is listening to your children. When my kids were growing up, it was SO hard to not react at some of the things I heard. But, here’s the deal – they really don’t want to hear what you have to say (unless they ask, of course)…just LISTEN…without judgement. What a beautiful gift to give your friends, family, significant others, children, co-workers, employees, bosses…JUST LISTEN!

If you follow along on my blog, you know that I am a BIG ‘signs’ person. Whatever higher power you believe in, God, the Universe, Mother Nature…all of it – JUST LISTEN. If you are open to listening to these signs that are presented to you (and they are presented to you daily), it’s amazing what you will hear. Now, I also have a feather/brick theory. You can listen all you want, even when you know what you are listening to is the right thing, but until that brick hits you in the head…you don’t always follow the path laid out in front of you. It’s magical and truly so beautiful when you are OPEN to listening to all the signs all around you.

LISTEN! Listen to yourself. You know yourself better than anyone else. Everyone will tell you what you ‘should’ do, you know, because they know better than you do of what YOU should do. I’ve grown to really shut down when people tell me what I should do. Advice is great, when it’s asked for. Unsolicited advice, most times, does not sit well with people. Just sayin. So, listen to YOU! I mean, take it ALL in. It’s great to bounce things off of those you trust most but NO ONE and I mean NO ONE knows your body, your situation, you life better than you!

Do you have your listening ears on? I couldn’t help myself, with all the kids’ returning to school – don’t you remember your teachers saying that to you? Let’s check ourselves and put on our listening ears. There is so much beauty in what you can actually hear when you listen. Above all, listen to YOU…never doubt yourself and remember – there are no mistakes, just lessons. Go have yourself a beautiful weekend and pick yourself a small bouquet of wildflowers. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers!

When I hear this word, that old Billy Joel song plays in my head…anyone else?

Everyone I know, and I mean everyone, is under some kind of pressure. Some from outside sources but we also put SO much undo pressure on ourselves.

• Are we raising our kids the right way?
• Are we performing well at work?
• Are we eating the right foods and getting enough exercise?
• Are our friends and family OK – do they need help?
• Are we doing enough in school to get the right grades?
• Are we good enough…or just enough?

The list could go on forever because it is US – WE are our own worst enemy. WE are putting all of this pressure on ourselves. And guess what – WE ARE ENOUGH and we don’t need validation from anyone else but us! I have a friend that said to me one time, ‘I’m not doing the best I can, I’m doing the best that I can do’. It took me a minute for that to sink in. The majority of the time, we are giving it our all and doing our absolute best. But, why do we put so much dang pressure on ourselves to always be the best. Sometimes, it is OK to just do the best that you can in that moment. Sometimes that is all we have to give…and THAT IS OK!

Now, I understand there are outside pressures in life that we just simply cannot control. However, you can control how you react to those pressures – how you take it on, how you present yourself to others and to YOURSELF…how your show up. How do you handle pressure? Really ask yourself that question. Some folks are dealing with life threatening pressures. I read about some of those people (know some of those people) and take a page out of their book. They are choosing to respond to these incredibly tough situations with grace and understanding and still finding gratitude. Once again, GRATITUDE is our key…it is always the answer! Where is the opportunity in your struggle – there is one, if you take the time to dive into it. I’m not taking away the suck factor, as pressure, struggles are tough as heck, but being sad, angry and frustrated isn’t helping anyone – especially you!

Let’s work together and normalize the fact that in this exact moment, what you are doing personally, professionally, as a parent, as a student, as a human being is perfection! We are flooded with way too much information that quite honestly can be a detriment. I just blogged about comparison (Click HERE to read). Comparison, Stress, Overwhelm, Pressure – it all steals your joy. Take back your power and don’t let the pressures of life get the better of you. Flip that script and find the lesson and attack with gratitude!

I encourage you to read this a second time and let it sink in. You don’t need to succumb to the pressure. Take a breather and peel back the layers of what is important to YOU. You are the most important project you could possibly work on. Go grab yourself some flowers and enjoy their beauty, as you should enjoy your own beauty. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers!

Holy cow – we all seem to subscribe to the something shiny theory. I posted this image (above) a few weeks back and I’m definitely not alone. I mean, I walk through my place and there are small unfinished things darn near every step I take – a half written grocery list, the dryer open with half the clothes still in there, the bathroom is partially cleaned (from last week), the dishwasher is open and cleaned out, but there are 4 dishes in the sink…I could go on and on, but this is my real life situation. Hey Google…Why Do I start things and never finish them?

Uhhh…all of the above. I definitely can relate to suffering from perfectionism, fear of failure or success and lack of planning. Although I’m pretty good at planning, sometimes I write the SAME thing on my list week after week. A BIG issue I often find in myself and others is we think a task is so daunting so we keep ignoring it, when, in fact, it actually takes us 15 minutes. How many times has this happened to you too? You work yourself up, thinking ‘this is going to take forever’…and it just doesn’t. The lists both personally and professionally will always be never-ending, but I will continue trying different tactics to actually finish what I start. This isn’t anything new, it is just unbreaking a lifelong pattern.

Here’s an idea…make a list of all the tasks you have to do and then make a separate list of all of your projects (these have multiple tasks associated with them). Whip out a pen and paper and start writing – please don’t do this on your phone. You need it IN YOUR FACE. Review this list EVERY night before you go to bed and decide what you want to accomplish the next day. Then DO IT! This is what I’ve been trying and it’s motivating. I’m also making a conscious effort to not get distracted by something shiny. It’s even the little tasks, like unloading the dishwasher and then start cleaning out the frig when I’m halfway done unloading the dishwasher. I stopped myself and completed the dishes and then moved to the frig. Multi-tasking isn’t always a super power.

So, as I’ve mentioned before, sometimes I write a blog post over a period of a few days. The above was written last week. It is very early Tuesday morning and I’m here to say – I took my own advice. You know those items you have on your list that have been there for what feels like an eternity. Or, you dive into a task and then just say – Oh, I will finish that later. Well, I made some MAJOR headway this weekend and I wanted to explain how this feels because I feel quite accomplished!

Here is a real life example of me taking the bull by the horns and focusing on finishing a pretty big task…my disastrous closet. My closet was (notice I said ‘was’) a complete disaster and it kept snowballing. I just continued to pile things up. Well, this weekend, I decided to tackle that lovely closet of mine. It was later in the evening on Saturday night (Yes, quite the wild Saturday night) and I took EVERYTHING out of my closet and piled it on my bed and around my room. This motivated me to have to finish. Finish what you start, Tiffany – don’t half ass it. I think I finally went to bed after 2 AM – but I got it done!

Talk about being vulnerable. Here take a look at my complete mess of a closet…but….THIS felt SO good. I ended up with 8 very large trash bags filled with clothes, shoes and purses to donate. Your external environment absolutely contributes to your internal. Organization and cleanliness just FEELS good. I’m not kidding when I say, I woke up and could breathe a little easier for sure AND I felt super accomplished.

Actual entry in my Notes on my phone:

4/3/24 – How many times do you start over? How many times do you have an epiphany? You think you got it and you change your ways for 3 days, maybe even a week and then poof…10 years passes you by

Wow, if that wasn’t the perfect time to find that Note. Working on not ignoring the signs that whack me right in the face. Let’s do this together FINISH WHAT YOU START…AND, if it isn’t on your list, don’t do it. If it is important enough, put it ON your list, so you have the satisfaction of marking it off. Work on ONE thing at a time, finish it…THEN start the next thing. Stop thinking things to death – JUST DO IT!

I’m in love with this quote below!

So, let’s do this. Live your life with purpose and finish what you start – the choice is yours. I’ve downsized my notebook to fit in my purse. Need one? I’ve got you covered…and it’s SO cute. You can shop HERE.

Write on that list of yours to go buy yourself some beautiful flowers that will brighten your day – you deserve it. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers!

Be prepared to have your mind blown!

Well, I can tell you that the average person has between 2,500 and 3,300 thoughts PER HOUR. Yes, I said per hour…so if we average 3,000/hour and say we are awake 16 hours a day (yes, you should try for 8 hours of sleep)…that is 48,000 thoughts per day – FOURTY EIGHT THOUSAND. When I looked this up, the hamsters on that wheel in my head felt like they sped up a little. I mean – WOW, just Wow! And crazy that this is on the low end, some studies show up to 80,000 thoughts per day. What do we possibly do with all of that information swirling in our head? No wonder why most of us subscribe to the ‘Something Shiny’ theory – we are inundated with thoughts!

Now because I like to take things one step further, do you ever consider the person you are talking to at any given moment (your child, partner, teacher, parent, boss, employee, grocery store checker, etc.) has the same amount of thoughts running through their brain AND they aren’t inside your head – neither of you have a clue of what the other is thinking or dealing with internally. Perhaps they are snippy with you or checked out…uhhh, they may have 100 thoughts running through their mind as you are speaking to them. You may be having an amazing day and they may be struggling today. Perspective ya’ll…PERSPECTIVE!

Once again, I’m dished perspective (I’m beginning to be grateful for my word of the year). This isn’t permission to be rude or mean to others, it’s just another way to look at things. If the person you are talking to snaps back at you or you feel isn’t listening, you can kindly ask ‘do you have something on your mind’, ‘can we chat when you have a few minutes to be fully present’, ‘I know my mind is completely overwhelmed, how are YOU feeling’. Compassion guys…let’s all give grace to ourselves as well as others. You never know the mental obstacles someone may be experiencing. Perhaps you dive in and find healthy ways to clear your mind.

I practice a good amount of those things mentioned above, but one of my favorites is a good ole brain dump. I try to do this once a week. Do you ever do a brain dump? I am a pen and paper kind of girl. If I put a note in my phone, the odds of me seeing it again are quite slim. If it isn’t written down and in front of my face, it’s not happening. A good brain dump is good for your mental state too – get it out of your head and on paper and GET IT DONE! Here are a few ideas to get you started…

Just about everyone I talk says that they have one million and one things on their mind. Two things – figure out how to best work through that, so you don’t make yourself crazy AND secondly, have some empathy and compassion for others…they are in your same boat, just different paddles (or potentially no paddles at all).

Writing this blog is such a beautiful part of my healing process and I truly hope it helps you in some way…even just a tiny bit. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers!

I was listening to a podcast recently and they were chatting about gratitude. The guest on the show (Mel Robbins podcast with Jay Shetty as the guest) said, ‘Instead of thinking what do I have that I’m grateful for, think of what can I not live without’. That made my mind implode!

I mean, think of how your life would be without something or someone. The old adage – ‘You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’. Thinking about gratitude in reverse is such a game changer. It made me think of all the people, places and things that I feel I cannot live without and in turn am so incredibly grateful for. Wow…just Wow!

Think about that quote above. Reflect on your life, you are most likely currently living in an answered prayer. We tend to dwell on what we don’t have or constantly striving for more. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with goals and aspirations…but do you truly take time to sit in your current state. Sitting in the present (your current gift) and having gratitude for where you are and what you’ve overcome. If you are overjoyed with every aspect of your current situation – kudos to you. But let’s be real, that isn’t quite everyone’s reality. If you are currently trapsing through some tough times, I encourage you to find SOMETHING to be proud of yourself for – something to give gratitude for. PLEASE remember, there is ALWAYS something.

Someone Would Love to Live Your Worst Day. ~Jay Shetty

That one was worth repeating. Personally, I write in two journals in the morning. Don’t deep sigh at me…my morning process is less than 10 minutes. I write in my manifestation journal. EVERY entry since October of last year starts with ‘In diving timing…’ and then I go from there. I write my vision for myself and I’ve already had one come to fruition and it was a big one. Secondly, I write in a prompted journal. It’s great, as I’ve heard from so many people ‘I don’t know what to write about’, this journal takes the guess work out. It’s one question a day and some really make you think. I answer my journal prompt and end my entry with gratitude. I’ve recently altered my gratitude practice. Not only do I list all of the people and things I’m grateful for in my life, I’ve started to reflect on what I’m grateful for about ME. I’m grateful for my strong body, my creative mind, generous heart – so much gratitude for the work I’ve done on myself and I thank myself every morning. Try it!

So, I sometimes write a blog over a period of a few days. Here is reality at it’s finest. Ironic that I had a bit of a Debbie Downer moment yesterday. I wrote above ‘we tend to dwell on what we don’t have’…well, I did just that yesterday and my sweet boyfriend pulled me out by flipping the script and reminding me of the things I should be grateful for. I AM grateful for those things, but I was believing all the silly things my mind was telling me that aren’t going as I’d like them to. It was an instant mood booster. You need people in your life to check you. One step further, in chatting with a friend this morning and sharing with her that I miss my boyfriend, she said ‘be grateful you are with someone worth missing’. Wowzer – I’m blessed.

A gratitude practice really works my friends! When you have a moment where you aren’t feeling so grateful, yet have a regular gratitude practice, it’s so much easier to get back in that state. I am SO incredibly grateful for my village of people that lift me up when I need it the most. Surround yourself with beautiful people and LIVE IN GRATITUDE, even when you have to dig deep to find it. After all, you are living and breathing, even if you are struggling – you are HERE and on this earth and you have a purpose. Do you need something to be grateful for – you woke up today. Cherish that! Go buy yourself some flowers or take photos of beautiful flowers on a walk. These flowers were at a woman’s home on the Oregon coast and I was so taken by how gorgeous and vibrant they were (I LOVE hydrangeas).

As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference in our own lives and in the lives of others. Cheers!

P.S. Need a journal? I’ve got you! Head on over to my shop HERE and you can have your very own Heal Cook Love journal and pen. Your support on this journey means the world to me.

Well, it has been over a month since I have posted a blog…I’ve been busy taking care of myself. I’m at 6 weeks post-op from ACL surgery and I was back to work in a week and a half – I’m pooped. Although, I have been diligent in my physical therapy and working on my mindset, I definitely have my rough days. Pain just sucks and pushing through that pain knowing that you need to is a wild mental game. Juggling work and recovery is tough. However, I’m blessed to be able to work from home while I recover.

I just had a follow-up with my surgeon and he said these next 6 weeks are the most crucial. The pain will start to decrease and strength will increase – a little false hope. He said this is when most re-injuries occur. Two things can be true…I’m getting stronger, but I’m still weak. This is where mindset REALLY comes into play. I was chatting with a woman in the waiting room at physical therapy this week and she said to me – ‘this entire process isn’t fun, but you just have to keep your head straight, it is more of a mental game than anything else’. SO SO true!

Almost daily during this recovery process, my mind wanders to my daughter. My daughter had ACL AND Meniscus surgery. They also had to go back in a month later and do a manipulation – OUCH! She was a college athlete and was working hard to get back on the field. She was doing this recovery in a whole other state, all by herself while living in the dorms. Talk about being dished perspective. My heart has been aching for what she went through all over again. I truly don’t know how she did what she did – she’s an absolute warrior!

I’m sinking back into some normalcy, my new normal. I have really missed this outlet…I’m back! I’ve been doing quite a bit of writing and reflecting and I was stuck on ‘two things being true at once’ for a few days…

• I want to sleep a little longer AND I need to get up early to get my PT in
• I miss crazy sports weekends with the kids AND I love my current more chill (soon-to-be adventurous again) weekends
• I can be frustrated about this process AND I can be thankful for this process – SO much perspective and lessons
• I miss having both kids under my roof AND I love watching the process of them flying and finding their way
• It’s a tad weird to have someone else’s body part in me (I have a cadaver ACL) AND I’m incredibly grateful to my donor

Give it a try – what two things are true for you? It’s a beautiful way to dive into some perspective. My list is quite extensive, but I will spare you the rest.

So yes, two things can be true…surgery sucks AND recovery is a beautiful process. To those of you out there working on ANY type of recover, YOU’VE GOT THIS and you aren’t alone! You are so much stronger than you think. Your mind will try to tell you that you can’t or it hurts and I’m here to tell you that you can. Override your mind! Go get yourself some flowers – they will make you smile. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference. Cheers!

Do you embrace the present moment? Do you sink in and truly feel your joy, your pain, your feelings, your relationships…do you lean in?

I had ACL surgery last Thursday, I’m 4 days post-op. You can prepare yourself as much as you want for surgery, but just like everything else in life…you never know what something feels like until you go through it. Today is the first day since surgery that I’ve chosen to surrender to leaning into the entire experience. I sunk into my routine (that will last for the next few weeks) and gave myself full permission for my morning nap. Sounds silly, but I always feel like I need to do be doing something. I’m consciously leaning in. It’s almost like you need to give yourself permission to feel all the feels of the roller coaster of emotions – this doesn’t just apply to surgery, this applies to every day life. Lean in!

Pain sucks – period. I should know better, as I’ve had major surgeries before. The afternoon of surgery and the day after are a bit of a teaser, since you have all the other pain killers running through your body. It’s the handful of days after that the pain really kicks in and you have to figure out how to manage it. This is a physical game, as much as it’s a mental game. Since my mobility is drastically decreased, I had to accept the help of my AMAZING Mother and stay with her for a few days to help care for me. THIS was a tough decision. Again, may sound silly to some, but I’m the one who likes to care for others. Accepting help from others is a tough one for me, makes me feel like a burden. Once again, in true fashion of my darn word of the year, I’ve been dished some perspective. The way that it brings me joy to cook or care for others, my Mother feels the same – it’s in my blood…it’s our love language. I’m leaning in to allowing her to care for me and have stopped apologizing for asking for more water or crackers. Although, those of you that know my Mom, I don’t have to ask much, as she’s already thought of everything. I only hope to be the type of caretaker for others, as she has been many times in my life for me.

I’m going to embrace this week as I work on my healing. Lean into all aspects of my life, do some reflecting and give myself permission to rest and truly heal. For others going through similar situations, I’m not taking away the suck factor of being in pain, it’s tough…but SO ARE YOU!

My message to you…lean into ALL of it, there are always lessons, even in the pain. Being in this much pain or having the slightest movement send a shock wave through my body, makes me want to do ALL the things to heal properly, and that includes rest, accepting help, doing my PT and slowing down. It also gives me so much gratitude for how powerful my body is and its amazing capability to heal. Lastly, most things in life are temporary…this pain I’m feeling is temporary and I know there are days of hiking, biking and being out on the water right over the horizon. In the meantime, I’m going to lean into ALL of it and learn from this experience.

Don’t forget to buy yourself flowers, you are worth it and I promise they will make you smile. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference. Cheers!

I don’t want to speak for everyone, but most of us seem to have a tad bit of chaos in our lives. But do we really?

A little over a week ago, I was hit with complete overwhelm. It felt exactly how an old therapist described it to me. One little thing happened in the morning and then another and then another and then…well, you get the idea. All of the sudden, my mind was swirling with ALL of the things on my plate (and then some) and it hurt to try and breathe normally. I felt very strange and needed to lay down. I use breathing to help calm me and it wasn’t working. I think I was having an anxiety/panic attack.

It wasn’t until 2 days later that I was finally able to take a full and deep breathe. After having some good conversations, submerging into things that bring me joy, truly resting my body, and writing ALL the things in my head on paper…I felt like myself again. Do you ever feel so overwhelmed with what feels like one million things going on in your life and on your to do list, that you just need to stop and take account of how things are going and why you are spinning out of control? I had a realization later that evening – after doing a big brain dump (getting EVERYTHING out of my head and on paper), planning my meals for the week (it had been 2 weeks of flying by the seat of my pants) and making a to do list for the following week…it completely validated that THESE were my tools for dealing with multiple irons in the fire. When I get all of the madness out of my brain and get things planned out, it makes those hamsters on the wheel in my head stop running so dang fast.

This may not be the solution for everyone but this is what works for me. This is yet another lesson is finding the tools that work for YOU and do THAT repeatedly. For me, writing it all down makes what seems impossible possible. It also makes me realize that some of those things that seem SO big…aren’t really that big. Sometimes our mind can make things just seem insurmountable, when they truly aren’t. Do you ever get really worked up about something that hasn’t even happened…you know, future trip about it. That adds to your chaos too. Or how about adding things to your task list in your head to make you feel even more overwhelmed…when, in reality, it will only take you a short amount of time to accomplish.

How about together we all practice simply being present and allowing life to organically happen. Find the calm in your chaos and focus on solutions (whatever that looks like for YOU – this isn’t a one size fits all). Don’t forget to buy yourself or someone else flowers. It will not only bring you joy, but joy to those around you. As always, thank you for being on this journey with me – together we can make a difference. Cheers!