Exploring the fabric of our stories one character at a time.

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Have you ever been addicted?

You hear someone say the word “Addiction” and what is the first thing that comes into your mind? Drugs, alcohol, or gambling? Probably. I bet some of you never thought about food, sex, intimacy, exercise, working, the internet, and so much more.  Addiction is commonly described in the 4 C’s: Compulsion, Cravings, Consequences, and Control. Are you compelled to do this, to have this? Do you crave it? Is the consequence of you having/doing this a positive or negative? Can you control your desire for this? So, I have to ask, have you ever been addicted? I have…and I am. …

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Products of childhood or the choices we make

When you were a child, did you have dreams of being a doctor, a teacher, the president, or a ballerina? Did you dream about flying in space or putting on a show for your family and friends? Did your parents and teachers tell you things like, “you can be anything you want to be when you grow up.” And when you grew up, are you the doctor you dreamed about? Maybe a teacher? Or did you become that ballerina in the fancy outfits? Are we products of our childhood, or the choices we made along the way? Kids Confidence and …

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When needing so little means so much

Tired from running around after the kids. Exhausted from the constant demand and questions at work. Drained from the push to do more, be more, show more. Suddenly, the time comes. The desire to step away. Hit the pause button for a little while. Go off grid for some time. Just some peace and quiet to calm the racket in your head. Having the need to break away from the constant can mean so much. Robotic We have all been there. The days are beginning to blend together. The stress of life is so much that we forget what happened …

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How strong is your support system?

It can be fascinating to listen to my various friends and family that I reach out to, in their words of wisdom and empathy as they hear about my struggles. Interesting because each one of them is different than the other. The message may be the same, but the approach and tone is very different. This is why a strong support system needs to consist of various people, various outlets, and a variety of personalities. Because a strong support system will get you through all obstacles in your way. Types of Support As many of us do, part of my …

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Life of a working man (woman)

There are 24 hours a day. That is 24 hours to try to fit in sleeping, eating, working, maybe school, taking care of the family, and if you can find the time, taking care of yourself. On average, reported time spent in America working is between 34-38 hours a week. I emphasized that this is what is reported through payrolls. Because if you ask some of your friends, I bet you will find some working less and some working much more. So on average we are spending over one-third of our daily lives at work. And here is the question…do …

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Never easy to understand grief

I came across an article from PsychCentral that was titled “9 Different Types of Grief”. I had not even read the article, and the title alone opened a flood of emotions. Grief is something we all go through many times in our lives. But do we really understand grief and how we are able to cope through it? Honestly, I thought I did. Until last year. When I was made aware of grief I had not even considered. Defining Grief When you hear the word “grief”, many think of the loss of a loved one. Whether family or friend. That …

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Another Year is Another Chance

In just a few days we are going to say goodbye to 2022 and hello to the new year. If you are like me, these last 365 days have tested you, pushed you, blind-sided you, and maybe even lifted you. But the best thing about 2022, if you are sitting there reading this now, the best thing is…you survived! It is another year you survived and now you are being given another chance. The Old Year I was talking with a friend recently when I admitted that this year, I have changed in so many ways. The past year, I …

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Tis the season to be worried

Tis the season to be jolly. Well, more like tis the season to be anxious, worried, happy, and peaceful. As we are getting closer to the Christmas holiday and so many cultural and religious holidays throughout the next weeks, this is the time that we think about our family and friends. The pressure of finding the right gift, scheduling the dinners and parties, traveling between homes to make sure everyone is visited. The winter holidays are meant to be a time to sit back and enjoy your family. Instead, there are so many of us that are running around, barely …

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Emotional intelligence will provide the way through

This week has been filled with laughter, enlightenment, and stress. Celebrating with coworkers for the holidays, planning my travel to see family soon, and a class at work that struck a chord in me. As I have told my coworkers this week, we all leave fingerprints on the lives we interact with. And this week, those fingerprints mean so much more. Intelligence at work The week started off with a class at work about emotional intelligence. Now, this was focused heavier in the workplace, but there were several points that I couldn’t help but reflect in my personal life too. …

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Carry your legacy through footprints of life

The year is getting closer to closing out. A few years ago, I decided to start work on myself and my mental health. This year has come with some of my greatest challenges and struggles with a few accomplishments tossed in. The weight of the world kept rushing in to try to stop me. But each day I still got out of bed. I went into work. Finished my schoolwork. And then continued to take care of my family. So many friends and family telling me about how strong I was. Yet, constantly feeling weak. What do I want to …