When you see someone who looks really fit at the gym, the last thing you are likely to consider is that they may be engaged in addictive behavior right in front of your eyes.

I recently met a new friend who moved to the United States with her family from Chile. She had been living here less than a year when we were first introduced, and the language barrier is a challenge for both of us.

During an argument, I’m usually the quieter one. Sometimes, it looks like I’ve shut down. However, I may not have a lot to say verbally in the moment, but my mind is running at 90 miles/hour processing what’s going on.

What she described is called “dissociation,” and it’s defined as “a mental process where a person disconnects from their thoughts, feelings, memories or sense of identity” (BHC, 2012). You may also hear it referred to as “depersonalization.”

It’s clear that dating apps are here to stay, and there are some unanticipated upsides to looking for love online. Of course, there’s always more to the story.

At some point during the pandemic, I realized that I was starting to wonder why I even bothered at all. Why did I get dressed every morning? Why did I shower? Put on a little makeup? Brush my hair?

Sometimes the very hardest part of goal setting is deciding what goal to set. It sounds simple, but if this question is not answered, then there is simply no way forward.

Once I finished one exam, I had to start studying for the next one. And if by some miracle I didn’t have to start studying for a few more days, there was a presentation to crank out or another time-eating assignment.

Have you ever seen a bride karate chop a board in half while wearing her wedding dress? I have! Several years ago, I was lucky enough to photograph a wedding where the bride and groom were both karate instructors so their reception was… shall we say, interesting?

The above are all very real conversations I’ve had with myself, and two of them happen pretty regularly. Talking to ourselves is something we all do, maybe the most when we’re by ourselves.

We all want to be seen. And that’s what makes walking past someone all that much more hurtful. Walking past without even a single glance (let alone a second one) says, “I don’t see you.” It says, “You don’t matter.”

I like a clean house. A house where surfaces are cleared off, items aren't "stored" on the floor, and things tend to lean toward the minimal versus cluttered. My kids do not share this desire. The table is the best place to put all the things.

There are times in our lives, especially after a traumatic event, that we may feel that we are better off if we isolate ourselves from others. Intimate partner violence, loss of a loved one, or recent trauma are a few triggers that may push a person to think that they would be better off alone than with others.

My children have a picture book on the shelf called, Someday is Not a Day of the Week written by Denise Brennan-Nelson. It’s one of those sneaky books that I think is actually written more for parents than for kids.

Confession: I didn’t learn how to truly say “No” until I was well into adulthood. Oh I said no to the big things or easy things. When I was sick enough that I was actually feverish or throwing up for example.

There is one go-to for spending my time that never, ever seems to fail: volunteering. Perhaps part of it is the fact that whenever I volunteer somewhere, I get the satisfaction of knowing that I’m making a difference in the community.

Good news! If you are a teenager, after reading this article, YOU will be able to explain and defend your sleep habits to any adult who questions you. No, seriously, there are hormonal and biological reasons for why adolescents sleep the way they do.

Do you need to wade through the past and make some order, but you have a hard time staying focused? Writing is the best solution I’ve found. 

One of the things we absolutely need to consider when dating is what we are NOT looking for. I call these the non-negotiables. These are the things that, if they become present in a relationship, are a major red flag.

If there was one place I spent a LOT of time in my pre-teen and teen years, it was the car. Yes, the car, but not on my way to vacations, exciting new places, restaurants, or even friend’s houses (all that much). No, I passed countless hours traveling between my parents’ homes.