Protein coffee!!! I'm loving it and how it makes me feel in the morning.

Perimenopause + old negative thought patterns =Bleh! My friend who is about to open her own yoga studio texted the following to a group chat today: "I feel myself starting to want to shut down, my mind wants something familiar - to quit, to keep things the status quo - but there is this thing in me that wants to expand and be seen. I appreciate you seeing me and reflecting back what is in me now rather than the distorted old version of me I still sometimes see in my mind." I didn't know the "old" you, but I see the new you, and you are worthy and deserving of everything your heart desires. You got this!

I agree that we should be talking about our mental health more, especially with our kids. The sooner they have the tools to address anxiety, depression, OCD, etc., the better. As a Gen Xer, we were taught to suck it up and push through which was an unfortunate mindset passed down to our parents, and then to us. The friendships I value the most as an adult are the ones in which we talk openly about our mental health.

@Chelle Holland I had my first panic attack in 2005 while driving to work on the 101. While I don't think it was driving that caused the panic attack, I associated driving on the freeway with panic attacks. Fast forward to 2011, and I had completely stopped driving on the freeway. It limited my life in so many ways and I truly couldn't envision myself ever driving on the freeway again. In early 2023, I started working with a therapist who specializes in anxiety and OCD (racing thoughts anyone?), and by August 2023, I was making my first attempt at the freeway again. Now, I'll drive anywhere. I drove my family up to Sequoia last year, all around Oregon this summer, etc. It's life changing for many reasons: I conquered a phobia; I let go of and pushed past limiting beliefs; I felt/feel a sense of freedom, like a teenager right after getting their driver's license; I TRUST myself.

The PAUSE is always the hardest part!