Permission Granted

Today I give myself permission. I give myself permission to exist wherever I am,to enjoy the air moving around me,to luxuriate in the comfort of my warm bed. I give myself permission to share space with my animals who love me,to be proud of how I take care of my home,to feel OK with being … Continue reading Permission Granted →

Back to normal …

Today feels like the real wrap up of summer here, and it’s one of those changes you can actually see and hear. Just a few days ago the town was bursting at the seams, with voices carrying up from the beach starting before 6:30 in the morning and still drifting through the streets at one … Continue reading Back to normal … →

To Hill and Back

This is the story of how I am winning my weight loss battle. And the truth is, a big part of it comes down to moving to Spain. What matters most about that is that it has happened in spite of everything else going on in my life. I moved to Spain for a lot … Continue reading To Hill and Back →

What happens next?

Well, it happened—I missed a day of posting. Some days you have to just turn it all off for your own well-being, and yesterday was that day. I was overwhelmed this weekend. Between email misunderstandings, rent stress, and the isolation that comes with moving to another country alone, it all just caught up with me. … Continue reading What happens next? →

From “Ew, Shrimp” to Paella Night: My Spanish Food Glow-Up

When I first got here, I couldn’t peel a shrimp. Wouldn’t. Couldn’t. Too gross. Little antennae, little eyes, absolutely not. I ordered them, sure, but only if someone else did the dirty work. Fast forward, and now I’m the one in the kitchen elbow-deep in mussels, scrubbing shells like it’s the most normal thing in … Continue reading From “Ew, Shrimp” to Paella Night: My Spanish Food Glow-Up →

These shoes weren’t meant for walking … apparently.

Some things you keep wearing long after they’ve stopped fitting the world’s idea of what’s “appropriate.” For me, it’s a pair of flip-flops. I fell again today. Same pair of flip-flops, same week, same downward momentum. I’ve always been a jeans-and-t-shirt-and-flip-flops kind of gal. I’ve built my life around comfort. Back when I was working … Continue reading These shoes weren’t meant for walking … apparently. →

Steps, Big and Small

I have this goal to post every single day, but tonight when I sat down I wasn’t sure what I was going to write about — because it’s actually been a good day. And lately, I’ve caught myself wondering where my good days have gone. Still, I’ve been showing up for my goals, even when … Continue reading Steps, Big and Small →

Yesterday, I fell. Today, I got back up.

You know, I don’t know when I started collecting phrases to survive, but I’ve been doing it for a long time. They go in my journal, on post-its, anytime I have thought or realization that hits hard, I keep it. Affirmations have gotten me through more of midlife than I ever expected to live through. … Continue reading Yesterday, I fell. Today, I got back up. →

Let’s call this: A little clarity I didn’t know I needed.

The author expresses gratitude to Charlotte Lee-Rau for creating a supportive platform where they encountered coach Lori Cunningham. Their partnership ignites a newfound sense of direction and meaningful dialogue about the author's professional life. The author reflects on their emotional struggles after leaving a previous role in martial arts, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and guidance in personal rebuilding.

Moving Towards …

I thought I was chasing a new place, a new experience — but I was really searching for a version of myself I hadn’t met yet. This is a story about movement, identity, and starting over at 53, even after everything breaks.