I spent a week with one of my best friends. After talking about it for 19 years of internet friendship, Shane (Vivi) came to visit me from all the way in BC, Canada. I was mildly terrified when he asked if he could visit. ("Well, Val, I made a life decision, and it involves you." 🤣) Because it had been a long time since I had a non-family friend ( Read more... )

I'm feeling something I'm having trouble expressing. In fact, this year has been full of feelings I haven't been able to put into words. At least, not as well as I usually can. And I'm not sure exactly why this is ( Read more... )

This has been a recovery month. And I've spent A LOT of it sleeping. Catching up on missed sleep from the past few months of constant med changes. I've also been pretty depressed. My physical health journey has been strenuous to my mental health, and I don't feel ready to talk about it more than that. So, on with my monthly favorites ( Read more... )

The last month was, let's just say it, horrible for me. I had a big emotional crash, and I still haven't entirely recovered. There were days I wasn't able to enjoy anything at all. But when I did manage to enjoy something, I made sure to write about it. So, here are my favorites ( Read more... )

It's my mission this year to take better care of my physical and mental health. And it's important to consider how writing and being an author have contributed to my anxiety issues and not-so-great habits ( Read more... )

I won't pretend 2021 was anything other than what it was. Stressful, and beyond all else, busy. Too busy for my mental health. But it brought beautiful moments, too. Releasing a heart book from my soul. Two best friends (almost sisters) bringing wonderful new souls into the world. Gaining another sisterhood with my favorite cousin. Reconnecting ( Read more... )

23 years ago, I embarked on my first day of fourth grade ( Read more... )

Things feel strange right now. Like looking around at the edge of a cliff I've just slid partway down. Unsure if I should try to climb the precarious path back up, or leap into new heights, trusting invisible wings to carry me ( Read more... )

I've been going through a bad phase. Where I feel so depressed, so desperately sad, so terrified of the future that I can hardly function. This seems to happen to me about once a year, usually in the summer. So, it's nothing new, but I feel like every time it happens, I carry the weight of more pain with me. And I feel so hopeless ( Read more... )

This month has been pretty intense for me so far. A lot has happened, good and bad and complicated. And I'm just feeling a lot at once right now. My heart hurts from so many emotions and memories and regrets. But I've also sold some books, done a giveaway, and printed bookmarks ( Read more... )