Resilient Living #3
February 26, 2026
It’s been a little over a month since my last blog—the one where I talked about Alex, signs, angels, grief, gratitude, and somehow surviving another earth-shifting loss with Mike. I ended that post feeling steady, present, grounded… or as grounded as someone can be when life is still swinging.
But the truth is, February hit me with a lesson I didn’t know I needed: It’s time to take myself back.
Not in a dramatic way—not disappearing, not retreating, not isolating. But in the simplest, most radical way: Time. For. Me.
I didn’t realize how long it had been since I’ve given myself even 15 uninterrupted minutes. Not to cry, not to plan, not to work… but just to be. The last six years have been survival mode layered on top of survival mode. The loss of Alex, the loss of Mike. With several losses in between, and since. One crisis, then the next. Family needs, work needs, house needs, everyone-needs-me needs.
And like most women, most mothers, most leaders… I kept moving. Because stopping felt dangerous. Stopping felt like everything might collapse.
Until I finally did stop. Not by choice—more like life throwing down the red flag and telling me to sit my ass down somewhere before my body forced the issue.
And once I slowed down… I realized how exhausted I truly was. Time for myself isn’t luxury anymore—it’s survival on purpose.
People think “time for yourself” means spa days or vacations. No. I’m talking about:
- 10 minutes with my eyes closed and no interruptions
- A quiet drive
- Drinking my coffee while it’s still hot
- Not jumping every time my phone dings
- Giving myself mental quiet without guilt
I’m talking about coming back home to myself.
After losing Alex, after losing Mike, after years of carrying my own grief and the grief of the people I love, I’m finally learning something that should’ve clicked years ago: If I don’t protect space for myself, I don’t have anything left to give anyone else.
Creating My Own Peaceful Space (My Daily Grounding Practice) Another thing I’ve learned this month is how powerful it is to have a space—even a tiny one—dedicated only to peace. A place where my mind can rest, my breath can slow down, and my spirit can settle. A place that’s mine.
For me, that space is my back porch in a beautiful space my husband helped me create. Surrounded by nature. Fresh air. Birds. Quiet. Before that, it was a small corner of my bedroom—nothing elaborate, just a space created intentionally for me.
And here’s the truth: I’ve been learning versions of this for years. Breathwork. Letting go. Centering myself. Protecting my energy. None of that is new. What is new is that I finally became steadfast in it. I finally made it a priority. Not when I had time. Not when life slowed down. Not when things were calm—because they never are. But every single day. At least once. On the heavy days, morning and night.
Sometimes I listen to healing hertz frequencies. Sometimes I play a short guided gratitude or positivity track. Sometimes I just breathe.
But the intention is always the same: Breathe in the good. Release the bad. I’m learning how to stop—really stop—and breathe with purpose. I breathe positivity in. I breathe negativity out. I don’t let a single negative thought take space in my mind while I’m giving myself my time. If a thought tries to pull me somewhere else, I acknowledge it and let it go. Then I return to my breath.
And the most surprising, beautiful part? I crave this time now. I finally understand what being grounded feels like. It’s not a technique—it’s a sensation. It’s presence. It’s clarity. It’s choosing myself long enough to actually hear my own soul again.
This commitment—this daily choosing—is changing me. Softening me. Strengthening me. Centering me.
The world didn’t calm down—I just started choosing differently.
Life is still loud. People still need things. Things still pop up. The world didn’t magically slow down. I changed.
I started honoring the body and spirit that have carried me through more than most people will ever know. I started listening to what I needed instead of what was demanded of me. And it’s working.
And here’s the wildest part… I feel good. Really good. Not “grief-free” good. Not “everything is perfect” good. Not “life finally got easy” good. But the kind of good that comes from being in alignment. The kind that comes from breathing. From grounding. From listening. From feeling Alex and Mike close. From clarity instead of chaos. From choosing peace instead of waiting for it to show up.
Your Turn Now it’s your turn—genuinely. Do you have a space like this? If not, where could you create one? What helps you come home to yourself each day? Comment below. I read every single one.
We’re in this together—healing, learning, choosing ourselves.
Next: Who Knows but it will be good! #LiveMoreLikeAlex #ResilientLiving #SelfTimeIsSacred #444 #GriefAndGrowth #ChoosingMe #GroundedLiving