When therapists say “sit with your feelings” what they mean is… stop trying to fix, change or escape from them long enough to actually understand and learn from them. Your emotions aren’t the enemy. But ignoring them can make you feel that way.

After years of not standing up for ourselves, calling everything a boundary feels protective. But real boundaries are about managing your own behavior, not controlling others. Telling someone what they can and can’t do isn’t a boundary— it’s a demand.

Something I’ve been thinking about as a therapist— using therapy jargon in everyday conversations can feel safer than saying “I’m hurt.” But having honest, vulnerable conversations with people leads to better relationships every time.

It’s understandable to want to label everyone who hurt you a “narcissist.” It validates the pain they caused you. But arm chair diagnosing everyone who hurts you makes it harder to identify real narcissistic abuse. Sometimes people are just selfish or emotionally immature.

If you are questioning having kids or not, know this— You will change. No matter what path you choose. It’s not if it’s when. There will happiness and hardship in both lives. The question isn’t what decision is right. It’s which life you want to live.

The overuse of the word “trauma” makes sense— many of us had our pain dismissed for so long that finding a powerful word feels like finally being seen. But calling everything trauma doesn’t validate our pain long term. It just blurs the line between painful experiences and actual trauma responses.

Prediction: “mad woman” is going to be my top streamed song of 2025.

I’ve been rewatching Parks & Rec lately since I needed some Leslie Knope energy in my life and I must say the overlap between Leslie Knope v. Bobby Newport is eerily reminiscent of what just happened…