Live Joy

  For as long as I can remember, I’ve carried this underlying feeling of not being enough. And it’s hard to explain because it’s not rooted in comparison—I don’t look at others and wish I were more like them. It’s deeper than that. It’s an internal feeling of not enough as a mom, friend, sister, daughter, or partner. A quiet but persistent voice that whispers, you should be doing more, being more. In many ways, this feeling has shaped who I am today. It’s made me a goal-setter, a problem-solver, and someone who thrives on productivity and control. And while those traits have helped me achieve a lot, they’ve also stolen moments of joy—because no matter what I accomplish, that nagging voice still lingers, telling me it’s not enough. Lately, I’ve been sitting with this feeling instead of pushing past it. I’ve made 2025 my year of introspection, and the same two questions keep surfacing: What is enough? And enough for who? I believe that when a thought keeps resurfacing, it’s ...

  We often think of training as something we do for a specific goal—losing weight, running a race, lifting heavier. But real training goes beyond the physical. It’s about building a strong body, a sharp mind, and a peaceful spirit so we can show up fully in life, not just in the gym. Are some ideas for “training” your body, mind, and spirit. Train Your Body – Lift for strength. Do cardio for heart health. Stretch for mobility. Your body is your foundation, treat it well, move it often, and challenge it to grow. Train Your Mind – Read for knowledge. Journal for reflection. Create for expression. A strong body is nothing without a strong mind. Keep learning, thinking, and making space for creativity. Train Your Spirit – Practice gratitude to appreciate what you have. Spend time in nature to reset. Meditate to find stillness. True wellness isn’t just about how we look or what we achieve—it’s about inner peace and presence. The key is balance and consistency. When you trai...

  Empathy is such an interesting thing. I’ll be honest—I’ve never been great at it. By nature, I’m a problem solver. I love solutions, game plans, and checklists. But lately, I’ve been realizing something: I don’t like the discomfort that empathy brings. Empathy, by definition, is the ability to understand and share the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another person. It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, recognizing their emotions, and responding with care and compassion. Sounds simple enough, right? Well… not exactly. A few weeks ago, I had my first real revelation about empathy—and let me tell you, it’s uncomfortable and hard. My ex-husband was going through some tough stuff, and it was time for him to face it head-on. As often happens in life, when it’s time to confront something difficult, a tidal wave of emotions can come crashing in. As he started to process everything, I made a conscious decision: I was going to be empathetic. Not my usual problem-s...

  Over the last few months, I’ve been making a real effort to focus more on my feelings—something I mentioned in a recent newsletter. It’s been quite the journey, and along the way, I discovered two simple questions that have made a big difference in how I process my emotions. I wanted to share them with you, in case they help you too. I do this as journaling practice, one so I can get it all out and on paper and two I can reread it later to help me process new emotions as they arise. 1.               What am I feeling? This might sound like an easy one, but when was the last time you really stopped to name exactly what you were feeling? I was talking to my therapist about how I tend to react quickly in certain situations, and I said I wanted to change that. Then he asked me, “What were you feeling in that moment?” Honestly, all I could come up with were the usual suspects: mad , angry , sad . But here’s the thi...