Home 9 Affirmations and Declarations for Happiness

AFFIRMATIONS AND DECLARATIONS FOR HAPPINESS

Your Dreams Deserve You: Overcoming Adversity and Moving Forward

Dreaming Against All Odds: A Belief in Possibility I have always been a dreamer—a fierce believer in the power of dreams to shape our lives. I’ve never doubted that we each carry the ability to manifest our most cherished desires. And yet, life has a way of derailing...

How to Be Happy on Purpose: Simple Ways to Find Joy Every Day

Have you ever whispered to yourself, “I’ll be happy when…”? I know I have. Far too many times, in fact. For years, I lived with a quiet ache, believing happiness lived somewhere just out of reach—hidden behind the next achievement, the next season, or the next shiny...

Eating for Chronic Illness: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let me be honest from the start: I feel a little hypocritical writing this right now. Our household has been under the Covid cloud. One night the only thing we could manage was a milkshake - and that was if we didn't prepare it. Some days, that’s just life. Some days,...

Rest Before You Break: Healing and Self-Care for Life with Chronic Illness

Living Like an Overgrown Garden There’s something sacred about the way early morning light touches a neglected garden. Even the wild parts—the overgrown corners, the tangled vines, the blooms that never opened—are softened in that light. It doesn’t judge. It simply...

Tiki Taco Washington, D.C.: A Taste of Hawaii in Dupont Circle

I discovered Tiki Taco while on a recent vacation to Washington, D.C. It was conveniently close to our hotel, which made it an easy choice after a long day of exploring the US capital. If you love tacos that are a little different from the usual, Tiki Taco in Dupont...

Practical Art Exercises for Managing Emotions and Reducing Stress

Life can feel overwhelming at times, with emotions appearing when we least expect them. Stress, frustration, sadness, or even fleeting moments of joy can leave us feeling off balance. Finding a safe and effective way to process these feelings is essential—and one of...

What is Pancreatitis? Causes, Risks, and Treatment

Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. It can appear suddenly as an acute condition or develop over time as a chronic issue. While some causes are well-known, others are less obvious. I know firsthand how disruptive pancreatitis can be, having...

What Is Art Therapy? How Creative Expression Can Support Emotional Healing, Reduce Stress, and Improve Well-Being

What is art therapy? It's a tender invitation to explore your inner world—not with words, but with colors, shapes, and textures. According to the American Art Therapy Association, art therapy is a powerful approach that helps individuals, families, and communities...

What Not to Say to Someone Struggling: 9 Phrases That Hurt and How to Help Instead

We all want to show up for others with tenderness, especially when they’re navigating life’s storms. We want to soothe, to offer a word, a hand, or a quiet presence. And yet, sometimes—even with the best intentions—our words land like pebbles dropped into still water,...

14 Diseases that Mimic Multiple Sclerosis

Diagnosing neurological disorders, especially when symptoms mimic MS, can feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces. The journey to a diagnosis is often difficult, and it becomes even more frustrating with diseases that look like MS, making it harder to find...

Extreme Fatigue and Chronic Illness: My Journey with CFS, MS, and Allergic Reactions

When extreme fatigue takes over, it can be impossible to keep going, even when you’re surrounded by the beauty of nature. I will never forget that day, that overwhelming extreme fatigue that settled over me like a heavy, suffocating blanket. It wasn’t the kind of...

Best Foods to Reduce Inflammation from Autoimmune Disease

Inflammation, a natural response of the body to injury or infection, is meant to protect and heal. Yet when it lingers, especially in autoimmune conditions, it can turn from friend to foe. For those living with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, or...

How to Stop Criticizing Yourself: A Guide to Self-Compassion

Every day offers us an invitation to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the tender truth that we are enough just as we are. Yet, so often we rush headlong into self-criticism and harsh judgments, wondering why we can’t be kinder to ourselves. Learning how to stop...

We Are More Than Sides

We are all simply people. Neighbors. Storytellers. Wanderers searching for meaning, bound by shared hopes and struggles. When did we decide that belonging meant choosing a side? Somewhere along the road, we forgot how alike we really are. Maybe because we’ve been...

How to Get Your Doctor to Listen: A Complete Patient Guide

Living with chronic illness often means navigating a maze of misdiagnoses, dismissive doctors, and long waits for answers. Unfortunately, this is a reality for many of us. Over the years, I’ve experienced the frustrating process of medical gaslighting—where my...

Adrenal Cocktails: 8 Nourishing Recipes to Support Energy and Stress Resilience

I’ve actually used adrenal cocktails off and on for a couple of years, but I’ve recently set a goal to be more consistent with them. When I stick with them, I notice subtle but meaningful differences—especially in my energy and focus. Some days, it feels like a gentle...

From Comparison to Grace: Learning to Trust Your Timing

Take a deep, centering breath with me. Right here. Right now. Let your shoulders soften. Unclench your jaw. Feel your breath move through your chest like a tide—slow and steady, reminding you that you are still here, still breathing, still becoming. Let your heart be...

50 Famous Soups from Around the World: Iconic International Recipes

Introduction: A Global Bowl of Comfort There’s something quietly magical about the many soups from around the world. Each bowl carries aromas, flavors, and stories from kitchens far and near. Steam rises in soft spirals, mingling with herbs, spices, and the rhythms of...

How to Grow Garlic: A Complete Guide from Planting to Harvest

The Benefits of Growing Garlic at Home Garlic isn’t just a kitchen staple—it’s a garden treasure. Planting garlic at home connects you to a tradition that stretches back centuries, letting you participate in the slow, satisfying rhythm of planting, nurturing, and...

Cultivating an Exceptional Life: Aligning Passion, Purpose, Vision, and Mission

A few years ago, I found myself standing at a crossroads. You know, that peculiar moment where you’re not lost, exactly, but not quite found either. People often call it a “midlife crisis,” though women tend to use a gentler term: reinvention. Doesn’t reinventing...
Your Dreams Deserve You: Overcoming Adversity and Moving Forward

Your Dreams Deserve You: Overcoming Adversity and Moving Forward

Dreaming Against All Odds: A Belief in Possibility I have always been a dreamer—a fierce believer in the power of dreams to shape our lives. I’ve never doubted that we each carry the ability to manifest our most cherished desires. And yet, life has a way of derailing...

How to Be Happy on Purpose: Simple Ways to Find Joy Every Day

How to Be Happy on Purpose: Simple Ways to Find Joy Every Day

Have you ever whispered to yourself, “I’ll be happy when…”? I know I have. Far too many times, in fact. For years, I lived with a quiet ache, believing happiness lived somewhere just out of reach—hidden behind the next achievement, the next season, or the next shiny...

Eating for Chronic Illness: A Step-by-Step Guide

Eating for Chronic Illness: A Step-by-Step Guide

Let me be honest from the start: I feel a little hypocritical writing this right now. Our household has been under the Covid cloud. One night the only thing we could manage was a milkshake - and that was if we didn't prepare it. Some days, that’s just life. Some days,...

Tiki Taco Washington, D.C.: A Taste of Hawaii in Dupont Circle

Tiki Taco Washington, D.C.: A Taste of Hawaii in Dupont Circle

I discovered Tiki Taco while on a recent vacation to Washington, D.C. It was conveniently close to our hotel, which made it an easy choice after a long day of exploring the US capital. If you love tacos that are a little different from the usual, Tiki Taco in Dupont...

Practical Art Exercises for Managing Emotions and Reducing Stress

Practical Art Exercises for Managing Emotions and Reducing Stress

Life can feel overwhelming at times, with emotions appearing when we least expect them. Stress, frustration, sadness, or even fleeting moments of joy can leave us feeling off balance. Finding a safe and effective way to process these feelings is essential—and one of...

What is Pancreatitis? Causes, Risks, and Treatment

What is Pancreatitis? Causes, Risks, and Treatment

Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. It can appear suddenly as an acute condition or develop over time as a chronic issue. While some causes are well-known, others are less obvious. I know firsthand how disruptive pancreatitis can be, having...

14 Diseases that Mimic Multiple Sclerosis

14 Diseases that Mimic Multiple Sclerosis

Diagnosing neurological disorders, especially when symptoms mimic MS, can feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces. The journey to a diagnosis is often difficult, and it becomes even more frustrating with diseases that look like MS, making it harder to find...