“How are you? No really, how are you?” I remember a little over a year ago that simple question, asked in an unexpected moment, brought me to tears. Maybe because I wasn’t ready to admit the answer: I was not okay. A year ago I was deeply struggling. I was at war […]
I have been writing and re-writing this post, hoping to gain the courage to publish it, but I wasn’t ready to be honest. Recently I’ve been working with my therapist on some of my deepest hurts and consequences of trauma, and I believe that helped me with this particular post. Let’s talk about trust, more […]
The past 15 months has been a challenging time for the world as a whole. A divisive presidential election, a global pandemic, and the mourning of loved ones, as well as the life we knew; vanished in what seems an instant. Mental and emotional crises are at an all-time high, but for some, resources are at […]
Societal influence is a common theme and factor often discussed here on my blog, but today I want to talk about something a little different: influence. Now, when you think of influence, what comes to mind? Is it the ability to sway an opinion one way or another? Is it the innate power you have within […]
I want to preface this post by saying that this will be an important write-up, but it may not be an easy read. There will be a slight mention of PTSD, triggers, as well as symptoms. If you are a survivor of medical trauma I want you to take a few minutes out of your […]
Today is the final letter in my open letter series, and it is the most intimate and vulnerable of the lot. I have published letters to: myself, my sibling, and my body; but today I will post an open letter to my family. I hope in my honesty and accountability I can release some of […]
My dear, dear brother, I started writing this letter almost 21 years ago; well, as soon as I figured out I did not in fact want to give you away at the hospital. You are a man now, and one of the the very best this world has ever seen. You are intelligent. You are […]
I have heard it said the best way to understand someone is to walk a mile in their shoes; but what if that was not possible? Over the years I have been asked “If you could wake up without Cerebral Palsy or Hydrocephalus would you want that?” Yikes, talk about a difficult question. While […]
Life is all about balance. Where there is darkness so too is light. Amidst a conclusion lies a new beginning. With success came obstacles that had to be overcome. Upon reflection, the question I have posed frequently when I journal is “How can I find the balance between being realistic, whilst also embracing positivity?” Can […]
Happy Friday everyone! I hope each of you had a good, productive, and safe week. This week was eye-opening for a few reasons; though each of those had to do with either enlightenment or understanding. During my counseling session, my therapist commented that I had not expressed my feelings about my current recovery. She listened patiently […]
Hi Ash, It’s me. Ashlee too, from the future. No, I wish I was some cool science-fiction trick. I’m you, in 2020. The older you, hopefully, smarter and more self-assured. We are 28 now, and I have a few things I want to tell you. I hope that in hearing these words you can begin […]
Dear body, It’s me. Your owner. I’ve been thinking a lot about you these last two months. I cannot remember the last time I checked in with you or gave you praise, so these words are dedicated to you. Let’s talk about the last 66 days. You’ve endured two surgeries, two weeks of complete bed […]
