Unlearning Learned Helplessness
On Saturday, I did the quintessential single-mom thing – I learned to mow my own lawn. I had put this off for a while. Why? Learned helplessness. Of course, I…
How to Believe in Yourself: Crossing the finish line!
I recently completed my first-ever half-marathon! Going into this experience, my mind was filled with doubt and fear. My inner critic’s voice was loud and clear – it was hard…
Make miracles happen! Benefits of volunteering in your community.
According to Aristotle, the famous philosopher, "the essence of life is to serve others and do good." That's what volunteering is all about. By raising your hand, you can volunteer…
How to Live in Abundance When Shortage is the Word of the Year
I'm in the grocery aisle and I witness an employee greeting a confused shopper. "Is there something I can help you find?" The customer is looking for a particular brand…
A Community Garden Fairy Tale
I wish I could afford to buy organic produce. Dealing with chronic fatigue and digestive issues while living in a trailer park and mothering a toddler and a four-year-old, I…
I Don’t Want to Write About Being A Work In Progress
Can you spot what’s wrong with my chandelier? Yep, it’s missing a lightbulb. Do you ever feel like you're something gorgeous that’s just missing a lightbulb moment? Projects in progress make me…
Honoring Your Path Through Human Design
There was a time in which I felt really lost. When I didn’t know which direction to turn. When I wasn’t sure which way was up and which way was…
The Two Secrets to Satisfying Self-Care
I Drove to the Store with My Heart Breaking... because I didn’t know what else to do. I’d learned in my support group for spouses of addicts that when my…
Be the Change!
In a world where we see many injustices, inequities, and despair. A world that at times feels heavy, out of control, and out of hand. When at times it seems…
I’m Not Biting My Tongue Anymore! Speaking My Truth: Learned From Kids
Speaking my truth, I'm a GenX'er and that comes with many things I'm proud of. We didn't get trophies much but the ribbons I earned from track are cherished memories.…
A Bucket List: My 40 before 40
A bucket list is defined as a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have or accomplish during their lifetime." I prefer to define more simply as…
Tolerant? 5 Ways We Can All listen to Each Other Better
The definition of tolerance is non-judgmental and open to difference; tendency to be generally free of prejudice. International day of tolerance is on November 16th, and I was just thinking…
The Ultimate Bon-fire; Thanks to My Brothers and Sisters of Camp Alvarado and Beyond…
It seems like another life ago, when I had a whole other family. Living on a compound in the middle of a desert far from home. In between flights and operations, a…
Cutting: A Way to Remind Myself I Was Alive
Trigger warning! Please be aware that this article discusses suicide, self harm, and cutting. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at…
Embarking on Growth: Purple Sweet Potatoes Brought Me Closer to My Grandfather
"Where there is no gardener there is no garden." -Wolfgang von Goethe . This quote reminds me of a conversation that my grandfather and I had after we lost my…
Deleting Social Media: How it’s Improved my Mental Health and Productivity
I finally had had enough. I deleted social media from my phone. The mindless scrolling was taking a toll on my mental health and my productivity. We read all about…
Four Disability History Topics That Should Be Taught In Schools
American history is the story of African Americans, Native Americans, women, immigrants, the LGBTQ and all marginalized people. The version of history taught in classrooms is often just one side…
Spite is the Enemy, Not the Woman Next to Me.
Successful women surround me and it's so incredibly beautiful until I get a knot in my stomach. It happens slowly, but then quickly. Spite blurs my vision and creates lies…
Hispanic Heritage Month – Mes de la Herencia Hispana
"Preservation of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures."Cesar Chavez According to the United States Census Bureau, the U.S. population is roughly 332,693,997. About 18%…
It’s Preparedness Awareness Month! Where Do We Even Start?
Welcome to September! National Preparedness Awareness Month! I honestly didn’t know there was National Preparedness Month till around July when someone mentioned it on my timeline. Turns out it was one…
How I Learned to Redefine Charity By Tithing Time and Talent
Charity is defined by giving money to an organization that helps those in need. And it's true, money does help. Our amazing network of nonprofits within our nation depend on…
To the Village-less Mom – I see you. I am you.
To the mom parenting without a village, I see you. I want you to know, I long for that close circle of support too. My husband and I are raising…
Community Service: How It Helped Me Develop My Leadership Skills
The year was 20-ought something. I would tell you it was the fault of my red, 1991 Chevy Beretta. That car kept me in trouble! The Texas highway patrol would…
The Five Love Languages through Zucchini
The summer light is fading, the morning is starting to have creamy crispness to it, and our gardens are full of zucchini. This zucchini squash quandary is not new...it has…
Summer Reading Book Club Ideas for Women From The We Spot
As things are opening up and people are beginning to reconnect, why not start a new women's book club? Meet with your current circle of friends. Create new connections virtually…
The Ups and Downs of Entrepreneurship: How to Stay Balanced
The ups and downs of entrepreneurship are like riding Mr. Freeze at Six Flags. If you have a business or are in the process of starting your business, you probably…
7 Ways to Encourage Your White Children To Be Anti-Racist
My life is dedicated to working toward equity for all and speak, train and think about racism. I work to be anti-racist daily. I have been a parent for just…
What is Juneteenth? Why This Holiday Deserves Recognition
To be clear, I am not a historian, or an expert in African American history or culture. I am a white woman and only learned of Juneteenth during my own…
Friends and Friendships…Healthy or Toxic? How Do You View Yours?
How do we view our friends and are our friendships? Healthy or toxic? Have you found yourself arguing with your friends after they've disagreed with you? Do you see your…
Calming the Noise of Social Media
We are certainly living in the digital age and it is more important than ever tat we are calming the noise of social media. To begin I wanted to say…
There is Beauty in Giving! But Do You Have Limits?
I write a lot about how the beauty of giving is a gift itself, literally and figuratively. What about boundaries or cut-off points to your extended hand? If you do,…
Spectacular Gifts of Autism I Learned From My Undiagnosed Friend
The most kind man drifted into my life during my mid 30's. He was like no other. Tall, muscular, kind eyes, quiet and clean cut. He was a man of…
Money Fears: Face Them and Rewrite Your Money Story
Feeling unsure about your finances? You're not alone! According to Northwestern Mutual, 70% of Americans say their financial planning needs work. Together we can change that! Let's face those money…
Grief: A Delicate State of Being of the Mind and Heart
Hello there and greetings to all who read this article. I hope and pray that everyone is doing well. That is indeed my hope for you. This article was going…
World Autism Awareness Day: The Spectrum of Life
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain." Viviane Greene Today on April 2nd, 2021 World Autism Awareness Day,…
A Letter to My Grade School Teacher: 5 Things I Wish You Had Known
I’ve been out of school for quite a while now. I’m considerably older than you must have been when I was in your class, but still depend daily on lessons…
Women’s History Month: Women Who Empower Us
"People will forget what you said people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelo Women In History Who Did Big…
A Day in the Life of a COVID Long Hauler
COVID has changed most of our lives in one way or another. It changed our world in what seemed as though overnight. I know that there has been so much…
How Do You Raise Three Kids as a Single Mom? A Tribute to Wing Moms
I have been a divorced single mom now for 18 years. My three daughters are adults now. My former husband and father to my children lives out of state. Basically,…
Reasons Why We Hesitate to Ask For and Accept Help When in Need
Do you find it difficult and are hesitant to ask for and accept help when you are in need? Why do some of us hesitate when it comes to asking…
Distance Learning: Educating the Heart Through Self-Compassion
How to educate has entered pretty much every parent’s home this year in a new way. As I write this I am embracing our third month of facilitating online kindergarten…
Making an Impact on #GivingTuesday: How Can You Give Back?
The smile spread across her tired face. Appreciation, excitement, and joy were expressed in her eyes. The walls had been painted and organizing the storefront was all that remained. Everything…
Life Lessons Learned From Beloved War Veterans
Veterans Day is always a day of great reflection for me. Growing up the daughter of a Vietnam Veteran and then later marrying a Veteran from Operation Enduring Freedom, I…
Extending Kindness: Be Sure To Include Yourself
There’s a popular quote circulating the internet. You’ll find it emblazoned on t-shirts, coffee mugs, and wall art from Hobby Lobby. “In a world where you can be anything, be…
Why Should You Care About Hispanic Heritage Month?
History of Hispanic Heritage Month The Hispanic Heritage observance began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to…
Embracing the Beauty in the Ordinary
I am once again reminded that there is beauty in the every day moments as I watch the sunrise while holding our 8 week old. It is the ordinary, every…
The Grounding Effect of the Library
It's a badly held secret that I am absolutely infatuated with libraries...public, personal, or fictitious. Where there is a gathering of books and information is where I would like to…
Forget-Me-Not: Caring for Those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia
When I try to imagine what it’s like to have Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, I think of the flower that represents the cause — Forget-Me-Nots. Though…
Día de la Independencia de México – What You Need To Know!
El Día de la Independencia de México (Mexico's Independence Day) is a special holiday for all Mexicans, including my family and me. It is a time when our dear Mexico…
How to Connect the Dots of Your Life
We know the day we’re born, but not when we'll die. One bookend of our lives is defined but not the other. In our younger decades we anxiously race toward…
Sensitivity and Imagery: The Meaning and How They Impact You
Are you someone who is sensitive? If you are, do you sometimes ask yourself or just question, "Why am I so sensitive?" I have many times throughout my life, so…
Heart Centered Women Entrepreneurs: 3 Reasons Why I Choose to Serve
Are you a considering entrepreneurship? Wonder what different industries are like? Trying to determine your ideal client? I've been dabbling with my own businesses for the past 5 years. I've…
My Experience with Racism and Showing Up as My Whole Self
In the glow of the morning light is, ironically, when I feel the heaviest. When I wake up, I admire the sun seeping through the cracks of my curtains, spilling…
Surviving School: Practical Advice for In-Person or Remote Learning
Parents are in an impossible situation when it comes to deciding what their children should do for school this year. There truly is no good answer. But we all have…
Dear White Parents of Black Children: Our Love is Not Enough
When I was in college I got pregnant with my daughter. I gave birth to her at the beginning of my senior year of undergrad. From that moment on my…
Why You Need to Tell Your Inner Circle How Much You Value Them
Many of us hesitate to be authentic with others because we have been hurt in the past or assume we’ll have more time once we come out on the other…
Don’t Give Up On Your Purpose in Life: Endure To The End
Have you ever felt like you just want to completely give up and back away from your purpose in life? You have? Me too. Lately, I have felt like it…
The Challenge for Moms and the Childless Woman to be in Community
Moms and the childless in community? All of us crave the fulfillment of whatever we assume is missing in our lives. Otherwise, life would be practically perfect. But the challenge for…
I am Racist
It seems like a patterned narrative that plays on a loop: a white celebrity says or does something overtly racially offensive on a TV show/social media platform/news outlet; someone notices…
What my Failed Tampon Experience Taught me About Period Poverty
I stood there waiting for the airport terminal train, breathing slowly in and out, squeezing my legs together so tightly my muscles were shaking. I was trying to hold back…
Creating your Support System by Educating Family on Autism
Now that you have an Autism diagnosis it is important to begin creating your support system by educating your family so that they can better understand and help support you…
Help and Be Helped: What Makes Accepting Help So Hard?
I love helping people. It makes me feel purposeful and fulfilled. Every time I’ve taken an Enneagram test, I’m a 2. “The Helper.” I want to bring meals to you…
How to Spark Transparent Connections through “How are you?”
I have long known that God created me with the gift of transparency. But have since learned to shroud it in discernment. To pause for a beat. Then, cautiously determine…
I Don’t Have to Save the World Today and Neither Do You
So, I have this problem. It’s not, like, a bad problem, necessarily. And it’s not one of those problems where I have brief moments of anxiety, like when I misplace…
It’s Not Only Okay To Talk About The Hard, It’s Necessary!
"Vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage."-Brene Brown Life is filled with so many amazing moments. There is so much to celebrate, so much to be grateful for, so…
How to Identify Credibility When Information is Constant
There is a constant stream of information in our lives today. We have devices that fit in the palm of our hands that have access to all the information in the world. And if we don’t have said device, there is certainly someone in our circle that does and openly shares this information, whether requested or not. How do we weed out the noxious misinformation? Is it possible to define credibility within constant change?
You Reap What You Sow: How This Phrase Affected My Mindset.
There is an old proverb that mentions the idea of you reap what you sow. If you've ever heard this growing up, how did you decern it? When I heard,…
The Importance of Having People Like Us and Un-like Us!
I'm a big believer in finding our circle, and squad. Individuals who have similar ideas, beliefs, and values is important because they will encourage, support, and cheer us on. It's…
Celebrating the Lives and Legacy of Childless Women
The Lives of Childless Women I often struggle in celebrating the lives of growing families around me. Counting myself among childless women I feel like an anomaly. Although maybe more…
Honor the Cycles of the Moon to Reconnect to Your Natural Rhythms
I often look up at the night sky and feel my home is up there somewhere. I can feel my soul pulling toward the stars and moon, aching to return…
Celebrating the Spirit of Christmas; with the Giving of Tzedakah!
This Christmas season, I encourage you to celebrate the spirit of giving by embracing the Jewish tradition of Tzedakah! More Faith, More Fun! Our family gets the honor of having…
Finding Those Raw, Real, Authentic Connections
Raw, real, and authentic can be hard to find Moving. We’ve all done it. Maybe it was for that dream job or maybe it was to be closer to family.…