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Thoughtful musings on journaling, self-care, and the art of being you.


My Anxiety Origin Story: How Grief Triggered My First Panic Attack and 20+ Years of Living with Anxiety
Hey friend, I don't usually share my anxiety origin story. Not because it's a secret, but because it's one of those stories that still makes my chest tight when I think about it too long. But I've realized that sharing our origin stories—the moments that changed us—helps other people feel less alone in theirs. So here we go. It all started back in 2003 with the death of my grandfather. Up to that point, I had never lost anyone close to me. This was the first. And it hurt. No
Monique
4 days ago10 min read


How to Practice Self Love: 10 Rituals That Work
Hey friend, I’ve been pondering on something and wanted to share with you. It’s about self care. I don’t know about you, but I feel like everyone's out here making it seem like this big ole, grand, Instagram/TikTok-worthy thing. Complete with expensive face masks, exotic bubble baths, and perfectly curated morning routines . And don't get me wrong, those things are nice to see and serve as inspiration. But who is really, genuinely waking up at 5 am, making homemade protein
Monique
Oct 287 min read


Menopause Isn’t a Secret: My Story, My Lessons, and the Power of Sharing
Hey there, beautiful! So... I want to share something with you. It feels so weird to say but I am sick of this topic being taboo because it's natural and its NOT our fault! We deserve to talk about it openly, prepare each other, and make sure the next generation of women isn’t left wondering what is happening to their bodies. So here goes....... I'm in perimenopause. And baby - it's been a RIDE. For the longest time, I felt so alone in what I was experiencing and I bet ot
Monique
Oct 116 min read


Comfort Foods & Self-Care: Why We Crave Cozy When Autumn Arrives
I don’t know about you but Fall is - by far - my favorite season. Ahhh, the crisp air, beautiful colorful foliage, cozy hoodies and APPLES! No…not just apples CARAMEL APPLES (with nuts, duh!). During this time of the year, all of the comfy, feel good vibes come rushing in but so does something else, CRAVINGS! Like clockwork, my cravings for hearty, delicious comfort foods sets in. I’m talking Grandma’s rice pudding, a nice steaming bowl of gumbo or that cheesy gooey mac &
Monique
Oct 53 min read


How to Start a Daily Journaling Habit That Actually Sticks
Struggling to maintain a daily journaling habit? Most people abandon their journals within 3 weeks. The secret isn't writing more—it's starting small and building a sustainable routine. Discover proven strategies to create a journaling ritual that actually sticks, find your perfect writing time, and give yourself permission to be imperfect. Whether you're a beginner or tried before, these simple steps help build a meaningful habit that grows with you.
Monique
Sep 284 min read


Journaling for Stress Relief: Finding Calm in Chaos
Discover how journaling can help you relieve stress and find inner calm. Learn simple journaling techniques and prompts to release worry, restore balance, and build resilience in everyday life.
Monique
Sep 213 min read


Writing Your Resilience Story: How Journaling Helps You See How Far You’ve Come
Life isn’t always easy. We all face challenges and setbacks, sometimes so severe that we feel like we’re standing still while the world zooms around us. Those moments are really tough but here’s the thing: we have the capacity to withstand and recover quickly from these difficult moments. It’s called resilience. Resilience isn’t about never falling, it’s about how we rise after we do. It’s not always easy to see, especially when you’re in it. Thank God (or whomever you wo
Monique
Sep 173 min read


Growth Demands Change: How to Embrace Transformation with Mindfulness and Self-Compassion
Growth is one of the most beautiful—and at times, most uncomfortable—parts of life. We all want to evolve, to become better versions of ourselves, to chase after dreams and live with purpose. But here’s the truth we often resist: growth demands change. Change asks us to release old patterns, step into unfamiliar territory, and sometimes let go of what feels safe. It isn’t easy, but it’s necessary. Just as a seed must break open before it can become a flower, we, too, must all
Monique
Sep 112 min read


The Practice of Choosing Happiness
Everyone wants to be happy. It’s something we all seem to be waiting for - the fairytale partner, the amazing job, that goal number on the scale, the day when every single minute works out as picture perfect as our imagination showed us it could be. But perhaps we got it all wrong. Circumstances aren’t the only ways to garner or guarantee happiness, happiness is something we can choose. We just have to practice, everyday. Challenges will always arise. Things will not alway
Monique
Aug 292 min read


7 Calming Affirmations for When Anxiety Is Kicking Your Butt
Hey beautiful! Let's talk about anxiety (I sang that sentence in my Salt-n-Pepa voice from the "Let's Talk About Sex" song -- IYKYK!). ok, back to my thoughts....Anxiety. It shows up in so many ways - occasional stress that pops up, overwhelming feelings that come out of nowhere, or anxiety triggered by hormonal changes (hello, perimenopause!). However it shows up for you, it's real, and omg, it's exhausting. Maybe it's that 3am wake-up with your heart racing for no reason.
Monique
Apr 287 min read


Why You Should Write Love Letters to Yourself (No, Really)
Candid discussion about the importance of writing love letters to yourself as a form of self care and self love and to quiet negative self talk
Monique
Feb 176 min read


The Power of Goal Setting: How to Set Goals that Stick with a SMART Twist
Hey there, goal-getters! It’s that time of the year again - the time we prepare to usher in the new year. The time we leave the past behind and prepare for what's to come. And what do we all feel compelled to do??? That's right - SET SOME GOALS! We all think about goal setting, but sometimes we get stuck in the minutia of it all. If that’s you, let's discuss! Whether you're dreaming of writing that first novel, meditating daily, losing weight/starting better habits or cr
Monique
Oct 23, 20244 min read


Sunday Night Rituals: Reset, Recharge, and Realign for the Week Ahead
The quiet hum of Sunday night carries a certain magic—it’s a bridge between rest and action, offering a moment to hit the reset button before the chaos of Monday creeps in. But....most of us feel a wee sense of dread looking at the week ahead "where did the weekend go? It was Friday, I blinked my eyes and here comes Monday". We've all felt that feeling - Goodbye weekend, you were SO good to me! So, creating meaningful rituals can help bring a sense of balance...and snuff
Monique
Oct 13, 20243 min read


Chakras + Affirmations = Your New Self-Love Superpower
Discover the complete guide to chakra affirmations for all 7 energy centers. Learn what each chakra does and get powerful affirmations to balance them: Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, Crown). Includes beginner-friendly explanations and free chakra affirmations worksheet. Perfect for meditation and daily affirmation practice.
Monique
Oct 3, 20245 min read


10 Journaling Ideas When You're Staring at a Blank Page
Hey beautiful! I am such a fan of journaling, having done so for most of my life but I realize, for as helpful as it can be, it doesn't come so naturally to some people. I can imagine the scene: you've got your journal open, pen in hand, and... nothing. Brain completely blank. Or, maybe you enjoy journaling but you're tired of writing the same thing every day and need some fresh ideas. Trust me, I've been there. Staring at that empty page like it's gonna write itself. (Spo
Monique
Oct 2, 20247 min read


Why Music Is My Therapy (And Probably Yours Too)
When I tell you that I'm obsessed with music... Like, I'm OBSESSED! It's not even funny how much I love it. I'm talking about the kind of love where the right song comes on and suddenly everything just... makes sense. Where music isn't background noise - it's therapy. Mariah Carey is my queen (we'll get to that). Prince makes my soul happy. And do not get me started on Brandy, Michael Jackson, and Jay-Z. Honestly, my "top musical talents" could go on for days, but those are m
Monique
Oct 1, 20244 min read

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