I used to think self-care had to be elaborate to matter. A vacation. A full day off. A perfectly planned morning routine. The problem is that life doesn't always make room for those things. Some mornings I'm rushing between sessions. Some days I leave work emotionally full after carrying

As therapists, educators, parents, and community members, this should make us pause. We often ask why boys struggle to express emotion, ask for help, or trust others. But perhaps a better question is: What have we taught them about emotion? If every vulnerable moment is met with ridicule, punishmen

Oprah's legacy, like all legacies, is complex. Her contributions to media, education, philanthropy, and public discourse are undeniable. At the same time, influence and power inevitably invite critique. The existence of criticism does not erase contribution. Nor do contributions place someone b

Every week, I examine the cultural moments, public figures, television shows, and media narratives shaping how we understand ourselves and one another. Drawing from my backgrounds in therapy, journalism, communication, and aging studies, this series explores the intersection of culture, identity, t

Just a therapist trying to squeeze in lunch between sessions, documentation, and returning phone calls. Today's menu: Salad with a little pasta and whole lotta documentation on the side. Dee Bloomingmoore 🌺 #emergingcreator #AskLemon8 #mealprep #wellness

If I can't sit in it for 8 sessions straight, it's not making the rotation. 😂 I've realized that half of being a therapist is holding space for others, and the other half is finding pants that don't make you question your life choices by session three. Comfort. Confidence. Com

One of the hardest truths about growth is that it often asks us to release what once felt familiar. Sometimes we outgrow relationships, environments, expectations, and even versions of ourselves that no longer fit who we are becoming. Outgrowing something does not always mean it was unhealthy or b

There is so much pressure to "move on," "get over it," or arrive at some final version of healing. But healing rarely happens in a straight line. Some days you will feel strong and grounded. Other days old wounds may resurface, and that does not mean you are moving backward. Growth

As a therapist, I spend all day telling people to breathe, pause, regulate, hydrate, rest, and listen to their body. Then I look up and realize I have had two sips of water, a protein shake, and the audacity to wonder why I am tired. Therapist life is really me pouring into everybody else and

There was a time when I thought beauty was mostly about how you looked. Hair done, outfit together, skin acting right, and pretending water could fix everything. But as I have gotten older, healed, and grown in my faith, I have learned that beauty is also about what is happening on the inside. It

When we watch Raising Kanan, much of the conversation centers around Kanan himself. We ask what kind of man a boy becomes when survival is the curriculum and fear is one of his earliest teachers. But I often find myself wondering about the girls growing up beside him. What are they learning while

One of the hardest truths I have had to accept is that not every relationship ends because someone was toxic, cruel, or intentionally harmful. Sometimes relationships end because you changed. You learned how to say no. You stopped overexplaining. You stopped carrying responsibilities that were ne

For a long time, survival was enough. Survival taught me how to keep going when life felt heavy. It taught me endurance, resilience, and how to carry responsibilities even when I was exhausted. But healing has been teaching me something different. Healing is teaching me that life is more than ge

You may not be overwhelmed because you're weak. You may be overwhelmed because you've been carrying responsibilities that were never meant to be carried alone. Maybe you've been the strong one for everyone else. The one people call when they're struggling. The one who keeps showi

Not everything you're carrying was meant to be carried forever. Some of it is grief that has overstayed its welcome. Some of it is guilt for choices you made with the knowledge you had at the time. Some of it is resentment from wounds that were never acknowledged. Some of it is pressure to be

Honest, respectful communication creates understanding. It opens the door to healing, strengthens relationships, and builds trust. But communication isn't just about saying what you think. It's about saying it in a way that can actually be received. It's learning to speak without att

Different upbringings can make love feel confusing when no one has the words for what they're experiencing. One person grew up in a home where conflict meant yelling, criticism, or rejection. So they learned to stay quiet, withdraw, and keep the peace at all costs. The other grew up believing

You don't have to keep watering dead things just because you invested time in them. I know it's hard. Because you remember what it used to be. You remember the effort you gave. The conversations. The prayers. The years. The version of yourself that believed, "If I just try a little ha

Sometimes love is present, but emotional safety is missing. And that's a difficult truth to hold. Because we often assume that if someone loves us, we should automatically feel safe with them. But love and emotional safety are not always the same thing. You can love someone deeply and still

Maybe you're not unmotivated. Maybe you're exhausted. Maybe you're not falling behind. Maybe you've been carrying too much for too long. Maybe you're not failing. Maybe you're navigating a season that requires more from you than people can see. We live in a culture tha