Tag: blogging

N is for Nesting, Nuance, and Next

by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation


If there is one thing this season is teaching me, it’s that life rarely moves in a clean, straight line. Most days, it feels like holding three completely different realities in my hands at once: the physical space I’m trying to create, the uncertain middle ground of my health, and the big, bright future I refuse to let go of.
Right now, three words are keeping me grounded: Nesting, Nuance, and Next.
Nesting
I’ve been quietly prepping a new office space in our guest bedroom—a little corner that is entirely mine, designated for focus, business, and creation. But for now, that room sits waiting. I’m waiting, too—specifically on the doctor’s green light to resume more strenuous activity. It’s a test of patience to see a space ready for you while your body demands that you sit still a little longer.
Nuance
Then there is the nuance of it all. Navigating endless doctor appointments, blood tests, heavy bleeding, low iron, and fatigue isn’t just exhausting; it forces you to face real questions about long-term health and your heart. There isn’t always a quick fix or a simple explanation. Learning to live in the nuance means acknowledging that I am tired and frustrated while still trusting that healing takes time.
Next
Despite the physical pause, my mind is moving forward. Next is where my hope lives. It’s planning for a good outcome, taking concrete steps to launch my insurance business, structuring the LLC for my publishing company, and holding fast to every single goal on my horizon. My body might need rest, but my purpose isn’t on hold.
Here’s to resting in the middle, trusting the process, and building for what comes next.

The Letter L: Lessons, Layers, and the Beauty of Letting Go

by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation


Today marks a fresh page in the notebook. If you caught my post Saturday August 1,  on A New Beginning, you know we are stepping into this season with fresh intention, a clean slate, and a willingness to embrace where we are right now.
As we keep moving through our alphabetical journey, we’ve arrived at L. And honestly? It couldn’t have come at a better time. Life isn’t linear—it’s full of turns, unexpected shifts, and quiet victories. Today, we’re unpacking three “L” words that help us make sense of the journey and keep us grounded as we build what’s next.
1. Lessons (The Gold in the Grit)
Every season leaves behind a trail of wisdom—if we’re willing to look for it. The hard days, the messy kitchen tables, the pivots in our plans, and the unexpected delays aren’t waste; they are curriculum.
When we look back on where we’ve been, the goal isn’t to linger on what went wrong, but to gather up the lessons. What did that challenging week teach you about your boundaries? What did that creative block teach you about rest? When you view every outcome as information rather than failure, suddenly nothing is lost. Everything becomes fuel for where you’re going next.
Takeaway: Don’t regret the detours. Write down the lesson, keep the wisdom, and drop the weight.
2. Layers (Embracing Your Multitudes)
None of us are just one thing. You aren’t just defined by your day job, your family role, your creative side projects, or your past. You are a collection of layers built over time.
Sometimes we feel pulled in a dozen directions because we carry so many different passions and responsibilities. But here’s the beauty of layers: they give you depth. The patience you practice in one area of your life feeds into your creative work. The organizational systems you build for your home give you the freedom to dream bigger. Embrace all the different titles and talents you carry—they don’t make you scattered; they make you whole.
Takeaway: You don’t have to fit into a single box. Give yourself permission to honor every layer of who you are today.
3. Letting Go (Making Room for the New)
You can’t start a new chapter if you’re still holding onto the clutter of the last one. Whether it’s physical space, old expectations, or the pressure to have everything figured out by Monday morning, letting go is the ultimate act of trust.
As we launch into this new season, take a look around your desk, your calendar, and your mind. What are you holding onto simply out of habit? What mental tabs can you close today? When you clear out what isn’t serving your current season, you create the quiet space needed for new ideas, new energy, and new peace to settle in.
Takeaway: Hands that are full of old clutter can’t reach for new blessings. Open your hands and let it go.
Bringing It Home Today
As you move through this weekend, take a quiet moment over your morning coffee or evening wind-down to ask yourself:
What lesson am I carrying forward into this new start?
What layer of myself have I been neglecting lately?
What space do I need to clear out to make room for what’s next?
Here’s to living intentionally, learning as we go, and giving ourselves grace for the journey.

K is for Kitchen, Keepsakes, and Kinetic Energy

by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation



We are stepping back into our alphabet journey today, landing right on the letter K. After celebrating the roots and wings of my songwriting last week, it’s time to bring our focus back to the immediate spaces we inhabit—especially when we are managing our capacity.
When you’re navigating health challenges, perimenopause, or the heavy weight of a shifting season, the physical world around you can start to feel like a demanding boss. That’s why we need to talk about three words that change how we interact with our immediate environment: Kitchen, Keepsakes, and Kinetic Energy.
Kitchen (The Command Center): They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but let’s be honest—it’s the operations hub. Between meal prep, groceries, and feeding a crowd, it takes a lot of mental labor to keep it running. True efficiency here isn’t about color-coded containers; it’s about creating an intuitive flow that cuts down on decision fatigue. When your kitchen has a smart system, it works for you, saving your precious energy when you need it most.
Keepsakes (The Anchors): A home shouldn’t just be functional; it needs to hold your soul. Keepsakes are the tangible pieces of our history—the hand-stitched quilts, the old notebooks, the reminders of loved ones lost that line our shelves. Tending to our keepsakes isn’t about dusting clutter; it’s about honoring the roots that hold us steady. When the world outside feels chaotic or our bodies force us to pause, these pieces remind us of who we are.
Kinetic Energy (The Flow of Action): Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. When you have a “full steam ahead” personality, you want to use your energy in massive bursts—deep-cleaning the whole house or tackling huge projects all at once. But when you are healing, you have to learn to manage your kinetic energy in small, intentional drops. It’s the five-minute counter sweep, or the slow preparation of a single meal. It’s letting the energy flow gently, rather than burning it all out in a single match-strike.
True “mother-sense” is knowing how to balance the management of our physical spaces with the reality of our physical strength. We don’t need to conquer the whole house today. We just need to create a gentle flow that supports us right where we are.
This week, look at your command center. How can you shift the energy in your kitchen or spend a quiet moment with a keepsake to bring a little more peace to your Monday?

J is for Journey, Joy, and Justification

by Mothersense, posted in This Life

J



We are stepping back into our alphabet journey today, landing right on the letter J. After a weekend of practicing the “Friday Freedom Exhale”—where we gave ourselves permission to do everything or absolutely nothing—stepping back into Monday can feel a bit jarring.
When you’re navigating health challenges or the erratic shifts of midlife, the pressure to “get back to it” on a Monday morning is heavy. That’s why we need to talk about three words that change how we approach our progress: Journey, Joy, and Justification.
Journey: When you have a “full steam ahead” personality, you are naturally obsessed with the destination. You want the completed project, the perfectly organized space, or the day when your health finally feels 100% predictable again. But life doesn’t happen at the finish line; it happens entirely in the messy middle. Embracing the journey means accepting that healing, organizing, and growing are slow, looping paths—not a straight line.
Joy: We often treat joy like a reward we get after we finish the hard work. “I’ll enjoy myself when the house is perfect, or when I feel better.” But true “mother-sense” tells us that we have to find pockets of joy right in the middle of the unfinished business. It’s finding joy in a hot cup of coffee even if the living room is a mess, or enjoying a quiet moment on the porch even if your body is forcing you to sit out the next round.
Justification: This is the most important one for today. You do not need to justify your existence by your productivity. You do not need to justify taking a step back, taking a nap, or putting a big project on hold. Your worth isn’t tied to how much steam you are running on. You are allowed to take up space, rest, and heal without offering an explanation or an apology to anyone—including yourself.
This week, let’s stop treating our lives like a race to be won. Let’s focus on the journey we are actually on, look for the quiet joy hidden in the pauses, and completely drop the need to justify our rest.
Take it one slow mile at a time this week.

G is for Grief, Grace, and Gratitude…

by Mothersense, posted in Mental Health Recovery, Reclamation



When I started mapping out this alphabet series, I had a neat, tidy plan. But life doesn’t always care about our editorial calendars. Lately, my health has thrown up some major roadblocks, forcing me into a position where I’ve had to literally pause.
For someone who loves to run full steam ahead with big plans, hitting the brakes like this is incredibly frustrating. It requires a massive step back to get myself in order, to heal, and to rest. But as I sit in this forced quiet, I’m realizing that the letter G isn’t just one simple concept. It’s a delicate, powerful trifecta: Grief, Grace, and Gratitude.
Grief: Hitting the pause button doesn’t stop the grief we carry; if anything, the quiet makes it louder. And it’s not just grief over a paused schedule. It’s the kind that shows up every single day in ways you don’t expect—the sudden, sharp reminder of loved ones lost, or the quiet ache of mourning the life you thought you would be living now that you’re 50. It’s a heavy thing to carry when your physical body is already tired.
Grace: This is where I am forced to practice what I preach. Grace means giving myself permission to take a step back from my full-steam-ahead plans without viewing it as a failure. It’s letting go of the guilt of the unfinished checklist and understanding that getting myself in order isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Gratitude: Even in the midst of physical frustration, unexpected grief, and shifted expectations, gratitude doesn’t stop. It coexists right alongside the pain. I am deeply thankful for the quiet, the safety to rest, and the love that surrounds me. Gratitude doesn’t cancel out the hardship, but it gives me a solid place to anchor my soul while I heal.
If you are currently facing a forced pause—whether you’re navigating health challenges, wrestling with the realities of a milestone age, or just trying to catch your breath—know that you don’t have to choose just one emotion. You can hold space for the grief of what was and what might have been, extend yourself the grace to rest right where you are, and still find the gratitude to keep your heart open.
The plans will still be there when we are ready to run again. For today, the pause is exactly where we need to be.