Live Joy

In the midst of summer fun and full schedules, it’s easy to forget one important person: YOU . Alone time isn’t selfish—it’s sacred. And summer offers the perfect invitation to slow down, breathe deep, and reconnect with yourself. Whether you're an introvert at heart or just craving a quiet moment, here are 10 self-care ideas to help you recharge and fall back in love with your own company. 10 Summer Self-Care Activities to Enjoy Alone Sunrise Coffee & Journal Sesh Wake up early, brew your favorite drink, and let your thoughts flow onto the page as the sun rises. Take Yourself on a Solo Picnic Pack your favorite snacks, bring a blanket, and enjoy some peaceful people-watching at a local park. Read a Feel-Good Book Outdoors (or indoors if it’s too hot LOL) Find a shady spot and get lost in a story. Create a Summer Bucket List (Just for You) What do you want to experience this season? Write it down and check things off jus...

  Being a parent isn’t easy, but it’s full of joy, especially as the boys get older. Lately, I’ve been seeing more and more of those little life lessons that pop up in everyday moments. Part of my job as a parent is to help my boys recognize those lessons and, hopefully, carry them with them as they grow into kind, strong, and grounded human beings. I like to share these conversations I have with my kids in case it helps another parent going through something similar or to hear any advice on how I could handle it differently. A lot of these lessons seem to come through sports. And I honestly think that’s one of the reasons every kid should play sports. It’s not just about being good at a sport, or even about winning. It’s about learning how to lose, how to be coached by someone you like and someone you don’t. It’s about learning to push your body, work with a team, set goals, and stay committed even when it’s uncomfortable. This week’s lesson was about integrity. My oldest son ...

  When my ex-husband and I divorced, our boys were just 2 and 3 years old. They don’t remember a time when we lived under one roof, but they’ve always known love, stability, and a strong parenting team. We made a decision early on: our kids would come first, always. Coming from a “typical 90s divorce” myself, where parents didn’t speak, barely made eye contact, and created anxiety in every shared room, I knew I wanted something different. And we built it. As Father’s Day approaches, I feel immense gratitude. Not only for the relationship I have with my children’s father, but also with his wife and his parents. We’re truly a parenting team. We bake cookies for Santa together, sit side-by-side at soccer games, and share inside jokes. At a recent tournament, three separate people commented on how well we co-parent. The boys have even asked after watching movies about divorced parents that don’t get along, “Do divorced people really act like that?” They’ve been raised by four l...

  If you've ever looked at your calendar and thought, “There is no way I can do all of this,” then you’re not alone. As someone who prides herself on being productive, organized, and pretty consistent with my daily habits, even I hit a breaking point sometimes. And right now… it’s June, and I am officially overwhelmed. People often ask me if I have more hours in my day because I can usually get a lot done. The truth is, I rely on simple, consistent routines that eliminate decision fatigue and help me stay focused. But no matter how disciplined you are, life happens. And when it does, I go into reset mode. Let me give you a quick picture of what June looks like for me: Week 1: Work trip to California (with a couple of extra days for fun) Less than 24 hours at home before a weekend soccer tournament 2.5 days home, then off to Chicago for another work trip Back home for a day, then my brother and his family arrive We all leave for a family tri...

  Have you ever caught yourself saying, “I’m so lucky,” or telling your kids, “Do you know how lucky you are?” I used to say that all the time—until I realized that luck really had nothing to do with it. To me, luck implies randomness, just happening by chance or due to factors outside our control. But when I pause and really think about my life, it’s not luck that I have a career I enjoy, or that I can take vacations with my family, or that I live in a home that brings me peace. None of that just happened . I’ve worked hard, made sacrifices, made intentional decisions, and kept showing up, even when it wasn’t easy. So, I’ve made a small but powerful shift in my language. When someone says, “You’re lucky to have a job you love” or “It must be nice to get away,” I respond with: “Yes I am fortunate.” To me, being fortunate is the result of intention . It’s the outcome of choices, consistent effort, and sometimes, a whole lot of persistence. This doesn’t mean everything is...

  I saw this quote the other day and it stopped me in my tracks. Because it’s so true. “Healthy people make exercise a nonnegotiable part of their daily schedules. Exercise isn’t a hobby, it’s health care.” And when I read that, I immediately thought of all the people who say, “I don’t have time,” “I forgot,” or “I’ll start next week.” But here’s the truth: if it matters, you make time. For me, exercise has never been optional. I’ve been moving my body consistently since I was a kid. Soccer and track in my school years. Figure competitions in my 20s. Half marathons. 75 Hard. It’s evolved over time, but the commitment has always been the same. I even started strength training at 13, lifting weights at the gym with my brother. That habit became part of my identity. Working out is as routine as brushing my teeth. I don’t skip it. I don’t push it to “tomorrow.” It’s nonnegotiable, because it makes me a better human. I sleep better. I think clearer. I have more energy. And ...

I want to share something today that has been rattling around in my head, and maybe it will strike a chord with you too. I’ve always carried what you might call a scarcity mindset when it comes to money. Every paycheck, every bonus, every windfall — I’ve mentally divided it up, making sure I’m putting enough away for retirement, stashing money in my emergency fund, worrying about what might happen if the bottom fell out. That fear isn’t just abstract: in 2023, I lost my job and was unemployed for over a year. Thanks to a severance package, I wasn’t left empty-handed, but the fear was still real. On top of that, as a single mother raising two teenage boys, my instinct has always been to protect, to prepare, to save. It comes from the way I grew up, watching my mom work multiple jobs, pinching pennies, doing everything she could so my brother and I never went without. It’s no surprise that the messages of “save for retirement,” “plan for a rainy day,” “invest young,” and “Social Secu...