A teacher I had once told me to walk down the street and smile at anyone I see and think “I love you” as I walked by them. 

When she first told me to do this, I could only giggle. I thought, “Tell strangers I love them? How awkward.” But then I found myself walking through the city trying this out. I’m not going to lie, I felt extremely uncomfortable and totally silly the first few times I tried this practice, but as I kept moving forward with it I started to actually find a love in my heart for all the people I passed on the street.

These past few months have been some of the most difficult many of us have ever experienced. From escalating racial tensions, a divisive presidential election, and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic, modern-day living seemed to morph into a crisis of apocalyptic proportions from the moment we crossed into the year 2020. 

I turn 31 this week. That’s right, I’m officially going to be an official “30-something” of the world. And you know what I want for my birthday this year? For us all to spread a little kindness.

It happens every few months or so for me. The noise simply gets too loud as distractions pop up around every corner - notifications enter the conversation unannounced, instagram posts beg for attention like a needy ex on New Year’s Eve while emails crowd my inbox before I’ve even poured my morning coffee.

You’ve seen all the memes and videos describing 2020— you know the ones, the “what I thought 2020 would look like” summed up in a photo on the left… “what it actually looks like” perfectly portrayed on the right.

When people ask me how I got into the profession of public speaking and blogging, I tell them that my childhood sort of set me up for it. My father raised me on motivational speakers like Tony Robbins and Jim Rohn who preached about following your dreams and reaching your goals.

2020 was going to be my year! I had travel plans; I was turning 30; I got a promotion; and I started a new romantic relationship over the holidays. My current boyfriend and I met online years ago, dated for a few months, called it quits, and then stayed friendly over the next few years.

Did you know that there are FREE resources for mental health available to you? As someone who [tries] to see a therapist regularly, but sometimes can’t afford it, I’ve always relied on the free offerings out there for mental health.

I’ve gone back and forth on how to write this blog post. About a month and a half later and I’m still in shock that my senior year of college was abruptly taken away from me. Yes, I know this sounds like such a small thing in the context of what’s going on around the world...but it’s big for me!

Let me start off by saying that my head has been SO dizzy lately with all that is going on in the world— my anxiety has been high and my sleep has been not-so-great. And if you are reading this, I’m sure you’ve felt the same at some point over the last 144 days, I mean 17 (right, 17?) days of quarantine.

I am turning 30 next week. Birthdays are important to me (you’re either a Birthday Person, or Not-a-Birthday Person. I’m definitely the former). To celebrate this important milestone, I planned a huge birthday party with 60 people coming in from all over the country to celebrate.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxiety-ridden, and full of questions, know that you’re not alone. As an extrovert who lives solo, I know how isolating life can feel right now with social distancing.

I’ve often said that addiction is the worst disease. As a daughter of a mother who battled substance use disorder and a father currently battling Parkinson’s Disease, I do not say that lightly.

Well, well, well, if it isn’t February - the month of Super Bowl Sunday, The Oscars, and yes, most importantly, love. My first memory of Valentine’s Day was when I was 7 and my Dad surprised my Mom with…

“I don’t know exactly what I want, but I do know it’s not this.” I heard a twenty something woman say this the other day in conversation. She was stuck in the hustle of corporate America and felt immensely unhappy and unfulfilled with her work.

A few years ago, I lost someone dear to me to cancer. Emotionally paralyzed by my grief, I tried to reconnect with anything that even slightly resembled the joy I once knew.

This week is the last week of the decade. On New Years Eve we say goodbye to both 2019 and the last 10 years, and we say hello to the 2020’s.

I’ve found that a person falls into either two categories: You’re either the one who starts playing holiday music before Thanksgiving or you’re the person who wishes to hide under their covers for 3 months while…

REAL TALK— The holidays can bring up A LOT of anxiety for people. You go to a family gathering and end up surrounded by different personalities and a whole lot of opinions. Not to mention that one family member who…

The holidays can be challenging, whether you come from an idyllic family, a dysfunctional one, or have no family at all. I am a very strong believer in the notion that we create our own family.