Hey everyone! Join me live on June 8th at 2pm EST for a Q and A session. Bring your burning questions - what do you want to know? Types of questions I'll be ready to answer: 1. Emotions - how to recognize them and to "label them" 2. Questions about righteous vs. selfish emotional responses 3. Let's talk communication! All questions about how to say ____________ assertively and safely - I'm here for it. 4. Anything around self-regulation and anger resolution. I'm looking forward to this first live! Will you be joining us?

I haven't posted much this week because I have been away doing hard things and first things. It is my first time traveling alone with my brother. My first time to Jamaica where I have not stayed in my parents' home. This hasn't been a trip for fun, but we are finding fun where we can. Mixing a business meeting with Devon House ice cream, hitting the pool instead of going to the beach. Laughing over foolishness and making others laugh too. Eating honestly Jamaican food every night and searching for the perfect beef patty (Devon House for the win). Yesterday was my late mom's birthday. And we were in her and my dad's house doing hard things. I told my brother that this thing we're doing for dad is a "great sadness", but I am also profoundly grateful that we are able to stand in his place to make decisions on his behalf. I'm grateful for the many lessons I have learned on this trip, and thankful for the gifts we've been given while here, even if we didn't get to do all the things we wanted to. The point of this post? Treasure your loved ones when they are with you. Live responsibly. Trust the right people. Make things easy when you can - for yourself and others. Be a blessing whenever you can, wherever you can. Life is too short - so live to the fullest. I will be back next week and I look forward to sharing more insights with you! #musings #gratitude

Hi there Blueprint members! I am currently in Jamaica with my brother on a trip that I did not want to take. Let me explain. My mother passed away in 2007 and I traveled home for her interrment. We had already done a memorial service in Canada and I didn't want to do it again. But, she was being buried in Portland and her Jamaican family and friends (and my dad) wanted a service here. Just as we were supposed to proceed into the church, I realized the finality of what was happening and suffered a severe panic attack. Pulling myself together was facilitated by a childhood friend, not my dad or my siblings. They were too entrenched in their own grief to even register what was happening to me. On reflection, I wonder if they even processed my distress because to them, I am "the strong one" of the family. Maybe you can relate to that label. You hold it together for everyone, all the time. But when you reach your breaking point, everyone stands rooted in shock, and no one comes to your rescue - at least no one that you would expect. So, why did I not want to come here? My brother and I are here to take care of our father's business. When I left after my mom's funeral, I truly felt no desire to return here. Too much sadness, you know? But my dad's health is declining and he has affairs that need to be settled here. It falls to us to settle them on his behalf. It is our first time traveling together, just the two of us. We are both concerned about the outcomes of this trip, but we are here to support each other. That is making it easier. We are also trying to eke out moments of joy where we can... eating Jamaican food, buying fresh fruit from a local street vendor, and searching out opportunities to relax and be refreshed. And just maybe, if we are lucky, some of the pain from my last visit here will be healed. Being the strong one, the dependable one, the dutiful one comes with a cost. This group exists in part to help replenish what gets spent in those moments of being strong for others. You don't have to fake anything in this group. You can come with your vulnerabilities, and share your truth in a safe space. You don't have to save anybody here. Just come and get the support you need. If you are looking for something specific and you can't find it here, let us know. I have a wealth of resources and if I don't know an answer, I will try to find it for you.

I had the privilege of babysitting my grandkids last week, and it was hard for my hubby and me mostly because we're older now and have less energy than we used to. Despite the fact that it was hard, we powered through - why? Because our babies were counting on us to keep them sheltered, safe, fed, protected and loved. That was our job until their parents came home. So, we did the hard things - staying up to comfort crying toddlers; changed out the menu fifteen hundred times until we landed on something they would eat; child-proofed rooms; watched silly videos; and did loads of crafts that involved slime and sparkles. The other thing we did with intention that week was try to instill in their little 5 and 2-year-old minds that they too, can do hard things. Missing your parents is hard. Going to bed in an unfamiliar room is hard. Trying new foods is hard. Doing that thing on the playground is hard. But it is do-able. Everything is figure-out-able. Just because it's hard doesn't make it impossible. As we reminded our little loves that they can do hard things, it was a great reminder for us, too. So, let this be a reminder to you, as you start exploring this community and as I add new resources for you. You can also do hard things. - starting a new practice can be hard - creating shifts in your behaviour can be hard - showing vulnerability in your relationships can be hard - setting boundaries can be hard - being consistently consistent can be hard But you can do hard things. Choose your hard, and let's go get it. Have you started the Emotional Mastery Challenge yet? Make a commitment to start on Monday - do it for five days, and share your experience in the community posts! Can't wait to hear from you? What's one hard thing you did this week?