Went on a date with my hubby this week and it was a blast! We carved out some quality time: an afternoon on our day off together. And the plan was simple: get out of the house, grab some food, and simply enjoy each other. But where?!
The night before, I checked out the area around Luhv’s (our new favorite vegan spot) on google maps and noticed a green area. I zoom in and it’s a park with basketball nets and a walking path! So I came up with the idea to pump up our old basketball, bring out the longboards and see if the park was a hit before heading over to Luhv’s for lunch.
It was a beautiful, sunny Wednesday afternoon in summer. A perfect day to run some baskets, rip the longboard, chill by the water with a joint. After that we scooted over to Luhv’s for a nice ($50 yeee!) sit down meal . I even used my gut instincts to pre-select what we were gonna order and it was all a hit!
All in all, I’m so grateful to be able to slow down and embrace these date days. For us, the park was a throw in since we never did that before and really didn’t know how it’d go. But I felt optimistic and something I haven’t in a long time: excited to shoot hoops with my bestfriend.
I love you Joey D! And I love our life together (:
Let’s keep on stepping xo
PS – even if it rained, or the food sucked, etc we still would have laughed and loved and that’s truly what’s important: embracing and focusing on happiness and love no matter the circumstances.
Real growth comes from sitting down and thinking about life.
Starting from our inner world (thoughts, feelings, behavior)…
Working toward our outer world (living situation, job, hobbies, relationships, daily routine)
To start, I asked myself: what fulfills me?
SAVERS morning routine
Gardening and plant care
Cozy coffee/tea time
Yoga flows and strength training
Family walks with Joe + Champ
Sunbathing
Playing guitar
Photography (taking + editing)
Posting on Instagram and blog
Cooking, fruits and vegetables
Boho home decorating
Cleaning (I actually enjoy this!)
BBI shifts (tolerable, pays the bills)
I have a dream to live with monks in Thailand later in life. To share my stories with travelers and explore parts of me I’ve never discovered before. While I’m on the journey to get there, I’m thinking: what should I focus on?
✓ SAVERS morning routine
✓ Connection to nature (gardening, sunbathing, walks)
✓ Creative expression (guitar, photography, blog)
✓ Physical practice (yoga, strength training)
✓ Mindful living (tea time, cooking, healthy eating, upkeep temple)
✓ Sharing seeds with others (Instagram, blog – inspiring w/o pressure)
✓ Simple work that pays the bills without consuming me (BBI)
✓ Financial freedom building (real estate, investments)
I am the elder monk living her stories out in real time. It’s magical and intentional.
As I continue protecting my peace, I’m feeling way less stressed, with more focus, clarity, calmness, and happiness. Connecting more with things that bring me peace, and disconnecting from things that drain my energy.
1. Grab a notepad and create two columns: POSITIVE and NEGATIVE.
2. Go through your calendar from the last year, looking at every week.
3. For each week, jot down on the pad any people, activities or commitments that triggered peak positive or negative emotions for that month. Put them in their respective columns.
4. Once you’ve gone through the past year, look at your notepad list and ask, “What 20% of each column produced the most reliable or powerful peaks?”
5. Based on the answers, take your “positive” leaders and schedule more of them in the new year. Get them on the calendar now! Book things with friends and prepay for activities/events/commitments that you know work. It’s not real until it’s in the calendar. That’s step one. Step two is to take your “negative” leaders, put “NOT-TO-DO LIST” at the top, and put them somewhere you can see them each morning for the first few weeks of 2026. These are the people and things you *know* make you miserable, so don’t put them on your calendar out of obligation, guilt, FOMO, or other nonsense.
What I Discovered
Top positives weren’t achievements, they were rituals.
Leaving notes for Joey. Washing the car together. Partner yoga in the living room. Family walks. Slow mornings. Coffee talk time. Little moments like these are what made 2025 really good.
Top negatives came from focusing on things I can’t control.
Judging right or wrong always makes me feel shitty. Also worrying about other people’s opinions or the stories they’re telling. Suppressing instead of expressing healthy boundaries. Nit picking instead of appreciating.
Movement, cooking, cleaning. Date nights with zero agenda. Family walks. Reading, writing, decluttering, playing music, creating art. Being 100% in the moment with who is in front of me. Checking in on loved ones.
Remember: Focus on what I can control (first thought second thought). It’s okay to say no. Communicate (touch base, learn to articulate feelings into words, express boundaries in a healthy way)
Try This Today
Pull up your calendar from last year. Write down 10 moments that made you genuinely happy. And any that drained you.
Get real with yourself. Raw honesty. Plan to do more of the things that make you happy. Get rid of the things that bring you down.
This time last year, I was serving part time planning to explore other career options – maybe go all in on real estate or do something completely new like social media marketing for small businesses. I was considering it all, even going back to school.
For the past few years, my biggest hurdle was finding a job I could actually tolerate, consistent, and flexible (knowing my personality). I’m 29, real estate license, no college, serving experience, fitness training experience, marketing experience.
I looked into every possible option. Wrote them all out. I tried something new with some warehouse work – even pitched my marketing ideas. Things we’re cool, but the work hurt (packaging all day) and the pay wasn’t enough all said and done.
As time went on, I just felt a pull back to serving and I started to consider what life would be like if I went all in (open up 7 days a week availability – avg 5 nights a week). Something I didn’t consider as an option before.
Through research, I found most jobs are day jobs. Serving offers 2nd shift – 3-11pm. Perfect for me. I get my workout and lunch in, walks with my dog, and quality time with my hubby (who also serves full time, same schedule). Check.
Most jobs don’t have much flexibility. I’m the type to want to take off for 2 months and go roadtrip (did this in 2024 southeast usa) – and serving let’s me do that. We go during the slower months for a nice reset. This upcoming year we already have 6 camping trips booked, something we couldn’t do say if we had “real jobs” like union or corporate. Check.
So I eventually realized I needed to choose my job based on the lifestyle I wanted. Making great money, maxing out retirement accounts, saving up for that next rental, health insurance locked in, minimal taxes. Plus my days feel like two in one, since I get my whole day with my hubby and pup, then head into work WITH my hubby and we rock serving together (sometimes in the same section). Check, check, check, check, check, AND CHECK.
Life’s been super fun since going all in on serving. I have one focus. I’m not trying to build a business. I’m not looking for or even entertaining side work (sorry to those ignored along the way lol). I work, I leave, and I leave the work at work. Nothing to figure out. I learn from my mistakes and keep growing and improving. It’s a beautiful cycle.
As I’m writing this, it’s 12:00pm on a Tuesday in December. I’m in the back bedroom at our writing desk, with the window next to me slightly open, a nice winter chill. We just had a snowfall, the trees are lookin gorgeous. The sun is shining in. I feel safe and warm. I feel free. Our pup champ is laying on his side next to me snoring. My hubs is in the kitchen eating lunch. I’m about to take Champ out for a walk, then get ready for our shift tonight. Life is good.
If you like my story, Joe was going through a similar career journey the same time I was – read more about his story here
With all that being said, let’s just say, no this isn’t where I thought we’d be a year ago – this is so much better.
Struggling with afternoon headaches and fatigue during these hot summer days? Your body might be crying out for electrolytes!
When temperatures soar, you’re losing crucial electrolytes through sweat faster than you can replace them with water alone. This imbalance is often the real culprit behind those nagging summer headaches and energy crashes.
Here’s your game-changing solution: a quality supplement like LMNT can restore your body’s electrolyte balance in minutes!
How to use it effectively:
Mix one packet with 16-20 oz of water
Drink it first thing in the morning or when you feel a headache coming on
Keep packets in your car, gym bag, or office for easy access
Choose flavors you actually enjoy to stay consistent (I love lemonade, orange, and grapefruit!)
The result? Better hydration, fewer headaches, and sustained energy even on the hottest days. Your body will thank you for giving it what it actually needs instead of just more plain water.
I drink an LMNT pack everyday, especially during these hot summer months! No more headaches, no aches no pains!
Ultra runner Joey Diandrea is heat training for Loopy Looper 100-miler (August 2025), taking 3 LMNT packs daily with great results!
Try this today!
Grab some LMNT packets and have them ready for your next outdoor activity or when you feel that familiar summer headache starting.
* Quick note: This post isn’t sponsored by LMNT – we’re just sharing our own research and experience!
Have time and want to make a homemade electrolyte drink instead? I came up with an easy recipe here!
Humans are wired for connection. Research consistently shows that strong, supportive relationships are one of the most powerful predictors of mental health and life satisfaction.
Yet in our busy, digital world, meaningful connections often get neglected until we desperately need them.
The Mental Health Power of Connection
Quality relationships don’t just make us feel good—they literally change our brain chemistry and stress response:
Strong social connections reduce the risk of depression by 30%
Supportive relationships lower cortisol levels and blood pressure
People with strong social ties live longer & recover faster from illness
Connection activates release of oxytocin, naturally reducing anxiety
Seeds of Connection to Plant Today
1. Deep Listening
The Science: When we feel truly heard, our nervous system calms and stress hormones decrease. Active listening strengthens trust and emotional bonds.
Plant the seed: In your next conversation, put away distractions and practice the “80/20 rule”—listen 80% of the time, speak 20%. Ask follow-up questions like “How did that make you feel?” or “Tell me more about that.”
2. Vulnerability in Small Doses
The Science: Sharing authentic experiences creates psychological safety and deepens bonds. Researcher Brené Brown found that vulnerability is essential for meaningful connection.
Plant the seed: Share one genuine feeling or struggle with a trusted person this week. Start small—maybe how you felt during a challenging moment at work or a worry you’ve been carrying.
3. Consistent Check-ins
The Science: Regular, predictable contact builds secure attachment and creates a safety net for mental health challenges.
Plant the seed: Choose one person to check in with weekly. Send a simple text: “Thinking of you—how’s your week going?” Consistency matters more than lengthy conversations.
4. Protecting Your Energy
The Science: Learning to say no to draining interactions preserves your mental energy and creates space for supportive relationships to flourish.
Plant the seed: Practice saying “I need to think about that” instead of immediately saying yes to requests. This simple phrase gives you time to consider what truly serves your wellbeing.
Nurturing Different Types of Connections
Acquaintance-level: Smile at neighbors, make small talk with cashiers. These micro-connections boost mood and create a sense of community belonging.
Friend-level: Schedule regular activities, remember important events in their lives, and be consistent in your communication.
Close relationships: Practice emotional honesty, offer support during difficult times, and celebrate successes together.
When Relationships Feel Challenging
Remember that not every relationship will bloom, and that’s okay. Some connections are meant to be seasonal. Focus your energy on relationships that feel mutual, supportive, and energizing. It’s better to have three deep, meaningful connections than twenty superficial ones.
This Week’s Connection Challenge
Choose one relationship seed to plant this week:
Have one conversation where you listen more than you speak
Share something authentic with a trusted friend
Send a heartfelt message to someone you’ve been thinking about
Say no to something that will drain your mental energy
Notice how tending to your relationships affects your overall mood and stress levels.
Next week: “Creating Sanctuaries” Simple ways to transform your living space into a mental health sanctuary.
Remember, while supportive relationships are crucial for mental health, they can’t replace professional support when needed.If you’re experiencing persistent mental health symptoms, consult with a healthcare provider. See free resources here
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