A French Escape from Life’s Uncertainties

Posted March 18, 2025

I’m sitting on a weathered stone bench in the garden of this ridiculously charming cottage, watching the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the countryside. Five days in Gascony in exactly what my soul needed. I didn’t realize how tightly I’d been clenching my jaw until I got off the plane in France. Not just metaphorically—I mean, literally grinding my molars like they owed me money. You know that dull ache you get in your temples when your body’s been on high alert for decades? That was me, standing in Bordeaux airport in the southwest of France, clutching a tote bag full of granola bars, travel-sized Advil, and a heart full of hope.

Three glasses of wine on the plane might be helping too. 🍷

It’s been two years since the divorce was finalized. Two years of rebuilding what I jokingly call my “second act,” though sometimes it feels more like my fifth or sixth. The kids keep telling me I’m handling everything “like a boss,” but they don’t see me at 3 AM scrolling through news headlines, wondering if my little pet portrait business will survive another economic rollercoaster. They don’t hear me rehearsing what to say to clients who need to “think about it” when I quote my prices—prices that barely cover my supplies and time.

Lately, every morning felt like waking up in a dystopian novel: “Housing prices rise dramatically,” “Climate collapse imminent,” “New study says coffee is (still) killing us.” And I hadn’t even made it out of bed yet.

Don’t get me wrong—this isn’t my first time living through political and economic messiness. I remember the ’70s gas lines, the ’80s inflation, the whole “recession” rollercoaster. But this? This feels different. Louder. Meaner. Faster.

And somehow, I was still expected to eat nutritious meals, hit my 10,000 steps, and respond to every Slack message like I hadn’t just read a headline about the banking system potentially collapsing. Again.

How I Ended Up in France (A Happy Accident)

First things first—I’m not independently wealthy. This retreat was a splurge that my practical midwestern mother would have scolded me for. But after watching my retirement account do the cha-cha slide for months, I figured the money might as well go toward sanity preservation.

When my daughter Lauren said, “Mom, you haven’t taken a real vacation since before COVID,” I realized she was right. I’d been painting other people’s beloved pets non-stop, living vicariously through their joy while neglecting my own. So here I am, thanks to an affordable package deal, a stack of unused credit card points, and my daughter’s persistent “you deserve this” cheerleading.

“Just book it, Mom,” she said over FaceTime. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Global economic collapse while I’m sipping wine in another country?” I replied.

She rolled her eyes out loud in that way only adult children can. “

The Pet Portrait Business

Let me tell you about my little enterprise—”Pawtraits by Patty.” (Yes, I know the name is corny. My ex-husband thought so too, right before he left me for his Pilates instructor. But customers remember it, so there’s that.)

I started painting pets during lockdown, when everyone and their mother suddenly adopted pandemic puppies and kittens. My first commission was my neighbour’s goldendoodle, Waffle. I captured that goofy, tongue-lolling smile perfectly, if I do say so myself. When she cried after unwrapping it, I knew I might be onto something.

Five years later, I’ve painted over 300 pets. Dogs, cats, rabbits, parrots, one surprisingly expressive bearded dragon, and a hedgehog named Sir Prickles who was absolutely the diva his name suggested. Each painting takes me about 15-20 hours, depending on complexity. I work from photos, asking owners to send their favourite shots that capture their pet’s personality.

Last month, I painted a memorial portrait of a 15-year-old retriever named Buddy. His owner sent me a letter afterwards that had me sobbing in my studio:

“When I look at your painting, I don’t just see Buddy—I see the thousands of walks we took together, the way he guarded my children, how he knew when I was sad before I did. You didn’t just paint his face; you captured his soul.”

Yeah. That’s why I do this, economic uncertainty be damned.

When the World Feels Wobbly

Speaking of uncertainty… good lord, has anyone else felt like they’re living in a reality show the past few years? One where the producers keep throwing in plot twists just to see if we’ll crack?

The economy news gives me whiplash. Monday: “RECOVERY STRONG!” Tuesday: “RECESSION FEARS LOOM!” Wednesday: “EXPERTS DIVIDED!” Thursday: “NEW CRISIS EMERGES!” Friday: “FORGET EVERYTHING WE SAID MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY!”

My small business feels those ripples immediately. When people get nervous about money, custom pet portraits aren’t exactly top priority. January and February were so slow I seriously considered getting a “real job” again. The thought of returning to corporate accounting after 5 years of freedom made me break out in hives, but there were moments I wondered if I’d have a choice.

Then March hit, and suddenly I had a 6-week waiting list. No rhyme or reason. Just the mysterious ebb and flow of people deciding they need artwork of their furry companions.

My son Jake says I should raise my prices. “Mom, you’re underselling yourself,” he insists every time we talk. Maybe he’s right. But in this economy? It feels risky. Plus, I love that my portraits are accessible to normal people, not just the wealthy who didn’t feel the pinch of inflation.

Political Animals

Can we talk politics without everyone getting their hackles up? Probably not, which is why I’ve mostly stopped trying.

The election aftermath has been… strange. Regardless of how you voted (and I’m not sharing which way I went), the tension is exhausting. Half my clients probably disagree with my views, and I with theirs, but we find common ground in loving animals. That’s something, isn’t it?

My ex was extremely political—the kind who’d argue with strangers online for hours. After we split, I realised how much of his anxiety had become mine. How his doomsday predictions had coloured my world much darker than it needed to be.

Don’t get me wrong—there’s plenty to worry about. But I’m trying to focus on what I can control. My business. My happiness. How many baguettes I can reasonably consume while I’m in France. (Current count: seven in four days. Send help.)

French Lessons

The retreat organizer, Margaretha, is a fifty-something French woman who exudes the kind of confidence I’m still working hard toward. Yesterday, she caught me obsessively checking my phone for news and client emails.

“This,” she said, plucking the phone from my hands, “is not why you came to France.”

She was right, of course. I didn’t travel 4,000 miles just to stare at the same screen I stare at back home.

“The world will still be there when you return,” she said. “All its problems too. But right now, you are here.”

Then she taught me a French phrase I’ve been repeating like a mantra: “Profite de l’instant présent.” Enjoy the present moment.

So I’m trying. I’ve spent mornings sketching the countryside, afternoons exploring villages with buildings older than my entire country, and evenings sharing wine and stories with the other retreat-goers—a surprising mix of ages and backgrounds, all seeking some version of what I’m seeking.

There’s Harriet, a retired nurse from Edinburgh with the most delightful laugh. James, a widower from Australia who’s learning to cook after 43 years of marriage to a woman who never let him in “her kitchen.” Sophia, only 32 but wise beyond her years, taking a break from her tech job in Berlin.

Yesterday we all visited a local animal sanctuary, which felt like the universe giving me a personalised gift. I spent hours sketching the rescued donkeys and goats, promising the caretaker I’d send finished portraits when I returned home.

Slow Days, Slow Thoughts

Early one morning, I sat outside with my coffee and just… stared. Not at my phone. Not at a screen. Just at the mist rising off the meadow in front of me, backlit by a truly breathtaking sunrise. I listened to birds I couldn’t name, watched a snail make its unbothered way across a garden path, and realised I hadn’t rushed in two full days.

Later that morning we went to the local fresh food market in Eauze. No big itinerary, no time pressure. Just a lazy stroll through cobbled streets, picking up goat cheese wrapped in leaves, peaches that smelled like sunshine, and a baguette that made me question why I ever bothered with low-carb diets.

There was a man at the market playing accordion, and a little girl dancing barefoot next to him while her grandfather clapped along. I actually got teary-eyed. I don’t know if it was the music or the cheese fumes, but it hit me—this is what I’ve been missing. The small stuff.

The stuff that doesn’t go viral.

The News Will Wait

I haven’t checked the news since I got here. Not because I don’t care—trust me, I do—but because I physically couldn’t absorb one more opinion about what we should be doing or fearing or fixing. It’s like trying to patch a leaky boat with a thimble.

Not knowing everything all the time is… perfectly acceptable. I used to think being informed meant being perpetually plugged in. Turns out, it’s okay to not be tuned in 24/7. You don’t become a bad citizen by taking a break.

You become a bad citizen when you’re too burnt out to care anymore.

What’s Coming Back With Me

The retreat’s winding down, and I’m already bracing myself for my return.

But I’m different now. Not transformed or reborn—let’s not get dramatic. Just… recalibrated.

Here’s what I’m taking back:

• A slower morning: No screens until my second cup of coffee and the cat feels appreciated enough to allow it.
• A little less guilt: I’m allowed to not care about everything, all the time. Especially if it’s outside my control.
• The refusal to hustle for my worth: I’m enough even if I don’t optimise every d*** second.

I still don’t have answers. I still worry. I still get overwhelmed when I think too hard about what kind of world my kids are inheriting. But I also know I’m not alone. And I don’t have to white-knuckle it through the chaos pretending everything’s fine when it’s not.

Going Home to Myself

I’ve got two more days here before real life resumes. Part of me wants to check the news, prepare myself for whatever financial or political chaos awaits. The rest of me wants to stay in this bubble where my biggest concern is whether to have cheese BEFORE or AFTER dinner (the French are very particular about this, apparently).

I’ve taken on board that the uncertainty will still be there when I return. The only thing I can change is how I carry it.

Before the divorce, before my business, I defined security as something external—a stable marriage, a steady paycheck, a predictable world. All illusions, as it turns out.

Real security comes from knowing you can adapt. From building resilience through countless small recoveries. From creating joy even when the world seems intent on cancelling it.

My pet portraits aren’t just about capturing beloved animals—they’re about preserving moments of pure, uncomplicated love. That’s something that retains its value regardless of inflation rates or election outcomes.

So I’m going back with a plan:

1. Raise my prices—just 15%. Jake was right. (Don’t tell him I said that.)
2. Launch that online course teaching others to paint their own pets. I’ve been putting it off for a year.
3. Schedule “France Moments” every day—twenty minutes to sit outside with my coffee and just be present, no matter what.
4. Remember that economic cycles come and go, politicians rise and fall, but dog kisses and cat purrs remain consistently valuable.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by it all too, consider this your permission slip to step away—even if just mentally—and find your equivalent of a garden bench in a French garden. The world will wait.

And if you need me, I’ll be in my studio, painting pets and practising profiting from the present moment.

Until next time, Patty 🎨🐾

P.S. Anyone know how to say “I need help. I’m addicted to baguettes” in French? Asking for a friend…

Survivor’s Guide

Life transitions are not linear but nonlinear, and highly individualised. They involve both external changes and internal psychological adjustments. Effective navigation often requires resilience, adaptability, social support, and reflective practices to integrate new identities or roles successfully.

Currently, the most frequently used staging is William Bridges’ Transition Model. This model focuses on the psychological process of transition rather than the external change itself. It identifies three stages:

• The New Beginning: Marks the integration of new roles, identities, or habits, accompanied by a sense of renewal and purpose
• Ending, Losing, Letting Go: Involves processing the loss of the old identity or situation.
• The Neutral Zone: A period of uncertainty and exploration, where individuals feel “in-between.”

Personal experience has taught me that the process is a bit more complicated (and often more repetitive) than Willian Bridges’ model. Below you’ll find my own version, the 10 Stages of Life Transitions, with anecdotal illustrations.

If you’ve ever gone through a major life change yourself, you know that transitions are messier than a toddler with a spaghetti dinner. They’re chaotic, unpredictable, and about as linear as a pollen-drunk honeybee’s flight path.

The truth is, that meaningful life transitions drag us through not three, but ten distinct stages of emotional turmoil, personal growth, and occasional public embarrassment. Understanding these stages won’t necessarily make your next big change any easier, but it might give you the comfort of knowing that your particular brand of transition-induced madness is, in fact, perfectly normal.

So grab your emotional support beverage of choice and let’s dive into the ten terrifying (yet terribly common) stages of life transitions that nobody warns you about but everyone experiences.

Stage 1: Frozen Immobility

The Deer in Headlights Phase: When Your Brain Goes on Vacation Without You

Ah, immobilization. That delightful moment when change crashes into your life like a toddler into a carefully arranged display of crystal glassware. Your brain short-circuits, your body freezes, and suddenly you’re about as functional as a chocolate teapot.

Take my friend Marcus, for instance. Marcus was a mid-level manager at a tech company when his boss called him in for what he assumed would be a routine meeting. Instead, he was offered a promotion to head an entirely new division—complete with a substantial raise, a corner office, and five times the responsibility.

A dream come true, right? Well, according to Marcus, his immediate response was to stare blankly at his boss for so long that she eventually asked if he needed medical attention. When he finally managed to speak, all he could muster was, “But where would I park?”

Not “Thank you.” Not “What would my responsibilities be?” Just deep concern about parking logistics. The human brain is a marvel.

After accepting the promotion (and sorting out his parking situation), Marcus spent the next three days in a state of such complete paralysis that he accomplished exactly nothing at work. He sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen, occasionally typing random letters into documents just to appear busy, while his mind raced through every conceivable way he could fail spectacularly in his new role.

This immobilization stage is our brain’s way of processing shock. It’s the cognitive equivalent of your computer showing the spinning wheel of death—technically still on, but not processing any new information. And while it feels uniquely humiliating when it happens to you, rest assured that even the most composed individuals have their moments of deer-in-headlights panic when faced with significant change.

The good news? This stage typically doesn’t last long. The bad news? What comes next isn’t much better.

Read the rest of the article

How to Think Clearly When Your Brain Feels Foggy

#LifeQuakeSurvivalGuide

Why your brain is tired—and how to fix it.

Let’s be honest: in a world where even deciding whether to stockpile pasta feels like a sensible life choice, our brains are screaming for mercy. Between major decisions—like switching careers or moving across the country—and everyday dilemmas, like choosing between penne and fusilli (or whether to even buy pasta at all), it’s no wonder our mental energy is running on fumes.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re standing at the crossroads of uncertainty, paralysed by the sheer number of options (and more importantly, the potential consequences of making the wrong one), you’re not alone. Decision fatigue is as real as that moment when you realise you’ve just spent 20 minutes scrolling through endless online shopping options for something you don’t really need. And trust me, in these unpredictable times, our minds need a break.

In this article, we’re going to explore why our decision-making machinery gets so tired and, more importantly, how to fix it with some brain-friendly strategies. So, kick off those shoes, pour yourself a cup of something delicious, and let’s dive into a conversation about reclaiming your mental clarity.

The Brain on Overdrive: Why Decision Fatigue Happens

Imagine your brain as a smartphone with a battery that’s just a little too small. Every decision you make—whether it’s choosing what to wear, what to eat, or what life-altering career move to take—drains a bit of that battery. Over time, the battery dwindles until it’s barely holding a charge.

Decision fatigue is the mental exhaustion that results from making too many decisions. It’s why by the end of a long day, you might find yourself ordering takeout without a second thought or skipping that gym session because the idea of choosing a workout feels overwhelming. When your decision-making capacity is maxed out, even trivial choices seem monumental.

And let’s be real—these days, our lives are a never-ending buffet of decisions. Every headline, every notification, every “urgent” email demands that precious energy. Our brains aren’t wired to handle an endless stream of choices, and that’s where decision fatigue rears its tired head.

The High Stakes of Everyday Choices

It’s easy to think of decision fatigue as only affecting the big-ticket choices. But even the small, seemingly inconsequential decisions add up. When you’re deciding whether to spend your last few minutes of free time watching one more episode or reading that book, or even choosing which pasta shape to stock up on during a supply run, every single decision takes a toll.

These daily decisions may seem trivial in isolation, but collectively, they contribute to a constant state of mental overload. And when uncertainty looms large—like during a global crisis or an economic downturn—every choice feels even more loaded with potential consequences.

Strategies to Recharge Your Decision-Making Battery

So, how can you protect your brain from turning into a fried, overworked mess? Here are some practical, brain-friendly strategies to help you think clearly when everything feels unclear.

1. Simplify Your Options

One of the easiest ways to combat decision fatigue is to reduce the number of choices you have to make. Marie Kondo your decision-making process. Here’s how:

• Streamline your wardrobe. Stick to a capsule collection so that every morning you’re not staring blankly at an overflowing closet.
• Plan your meals. Create a weekly menu instead of deciding on the fly. It not only saves mental energy but might also improve your nutrition.
• Automate recurring decisions. Use apps or routines for daily tasks like scheduling, budgeting, or even setting reminders for when it’s time to relax.

When you limit your options, you free up valuable brainpower for the decisions that truly matter.

2. Prioritise and Delegate

Not all decisions are created equal. Some have a profound impact on your life, while others—like what socks to wear—can be delegated or even outsourced (hello, sock subscription services!).

Focus your energy on the big, high-impact decisions and allow yourself to let go of the minor ones. In your personal and professional life, learn to delegate tasks when possible. Whether it’s asking a trusted friend for advice or using decision-making frameworks like “the Eisenhower Box” to prioritise tasks, remember that you don’t have to shoulder every burden alone.

3. Establish Routines

Routines are the secret sauce for preserving mental energy. When your daily life is structured, many decisions become automatic, allowing your brain to rest and recharge. Consider building routines around:

• Morning rituals. A set routine for waking up, having breakfast, and planning your day can reduce the morning rush and decision overload.
• Evening wind-downs. Creating a calming bedtime routine helps you transition from a busy day to a restful night, ensuring you wake up refreshed and ready to make decisions again.
• Work habits. Batch similar tasks together and take regular breaks. The Pomodoro Technique, for example, encourages short bursts of focused work followed by a break, which can help sustain your mental stamina.

4. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness isn’t just for meditation gurus or yoga enthusiasts—it’s a powerful tool for managing decision fatigue. By practising mindfulness, you can learn to observe your thoughts without getting caught up in them, reducing anxiety and overthinking.

Try incorporating short mindfulness breaks into your day. Even a few minutes of deep breathing or a mindful walk can help clear your mind and restore a sense of balance. Remember, sometimes the best decision is to take a step back, breathe deeply, and give yourself permission to pause.

5. Set Clear Boundaries with Information

In today’s digital age, we’re bombarded with information 24/7. It’s no wonder our brains feel like they’re running on empty! One way to combat decision fatigue is to set boundaries around the information you consume.

• Schedule news time. Instead of constantly refreshing your news feed, designate specific times of the day to catch up on current events.
• Limit notifications. Turn off non-essential alerts on your phone and computer. Your brain doesn’t need to know every time someone “likes” your post.
• Curate your sources. Stick to a few reliable sources instead of trying to keep up with every headline from every corner of the internet.

By controlling the flow of information, you can prevent your mind from becoming overwhelmed and ensure that your decisions are based on what truly matters, not on fleeting trends or sensationalism.

Embracing Imperfection in Decision-Making

Let’s be real—no one makes perfect decisions all the time. Even the most successful, seemingly decisive people have had their share of missteps and regrets. The trick is not to strive for perfection but to embrace imperfection and learn from it.

Allow yourself to make mistakes without the burden of perfectionism. When faced with uncertainty, remind yourself that every decision, even a less-than-perfect one, is an opportunity to learn and grow. Each choice builds resilience, and over time, you’ll find that your ability to navigate uncertainty improves.

It’s also important to go easy on yourself. If you’ve had a day where every decision felt like a Herculean task, that’s okay. Recognize that your brain, like any machine, has limits—and sometimes, the best choice is to simply rest and recharge.

Decision Fatigue: A Self-Care Wake-Up Call

In these unpredictable times, taking care of your mental well-being isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Decision fatigue is not a sign of weakness; it’s a signal that you need to pause, simplify, and nurture yourself.

Remember to practice self-care in all its forms. Whether it’s a quiet moment with a good book, a long walk in nature, or even a well-deserved nap, these acts of self-kindness recharge your mental battery and prepare you for the decisions ahead.

A Final Thought: The Art of Letting Go

When everything feels unclear and your mind is overwhelmed with choices, sometimes the smartest move is to let go of the need to decide immediately. Trust that clarity will come with time. The art of decision-making isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about trusting yourself to navigate the uncertainty with courage, wisdom, and a little bit of humour.

In a world that’s constantly changing, learn to celebrate small wins and give yourself permission to rest. Each step you take, no matter how tiny, moves you closer to a clearer, calmer state of mind. And remember: you’re not alone in this journey.

So, next time you find yourself staring blankly at a shelf of pasta varieties or wrestling with a life-altering decision, take a deep breath, simplify your options, and step back. Your brain deserves a break—and so do you.

In these chaotic times, nurturing your mental energy is one of the bravest, most necessary acts of self-care you can offer yourself. With a few strategic adjustments and a mindset geared toward simplicity, you can overcome decision fatigue and reclaim your clarity. After all, sometimes the best decision is to give your brain a much-needed vacation.

Stay curious, stay kind to yourself, and keep moving forward—one thoughtful decision at a time. And if you need any support or inspiration, consider enrolling in my How to Survive a Life Quake online course, with or without coaching.

Sustain Your Support System

#LifeQuakeSurvivalGuide

Because no one should try to navigate chaos without snacks and someone who gets your memes.

If there’s one thing the last few years have taught us, it’s that life is unpredictable.

Political unrest? Check.
Economic uncertainty? Present.
Existential crises sprinkled like confetti on an already unstable cake? Oh yes.

But amid all this mountainous mess, there’s one thing that makes the whole chaotic show more bearable: good, salt-of-the-earth people.

Not perfect people. Not necessarily people who can solve your problems or who agree with you on every single thing. But the kind of people who make your heart melt. The kind of people who don’t flinch when you ugly cry or spiral into a rant about the price of avocados and the meaning of life.
In short? Your people.

So let’s talk about that—how to find, nurture, and fiercely protect your support system when the world feels like it’s being held together by duct tape and vibes.

Your Inner Circle: An Easily-Accessible Emergency Kit

Forget stockpiling canned beans (unless you like that sort of thing). Your most important emergency supply is your relationships.

Whether you’re facing job uncertainty, going through a major life transition, or simply trying to stay sane while the world tilts precariously, the quality of the people around you is a better predictor of your resilience than any productivity hack, vision board, or fancy supplement.

And yet—how often do we neglect our friendships when life gets “busy”?
Or worse, cling to ones that drain us because we’ve had them forever, even though the vibe now resembles an awkward family reunion with someone you barely remember?

Here’s the truth:
In turbulent times, it’s not just who you are that matters. It’s who you’re with.

How to Spot the Ones to Invest In (Hint: They Bring Perspective)

Let’s talk about the unsung heroes of hard times:

• The friend who doesn’t just ask, “How are you?” but then actually listens.
• The one who shows up with food, tissues, and sarcasm when your world implodes.
• The one who will call you out lovingly when you start catastrophising or forgetting who the hell you are.

These are your inner circle people.
And if you’ve got even one of them, you’re wealthier than most.

Here’s how to identify them:

• You feel seen, not judged.
• They energise you, not deplete you.
• You can be messy, contradictory, and mid-crisis, and they don’t try to fix you—they just sit beside you in the muck.

This isn’t about assembling a perfect social circle. It’s about cultivating real connections in a world full of curated performances.

Cultivate Your Circle (Because Relationships Need Watering, Not Just WiFi)

Even the best friendships need a bit of effort to stay strong—especially when stress is high and everyone’s emotional bandwidth is about the size of a novelty cocktail umbrella.

So, how do we stay connected when everyone’s tired, overwhelmed, and wondering if they left their sanity in their other handbag?

A few ideas:

1. Reach Out Imperfectly

Don’t wait until you have the perfect window of time or the right words. Send the weird voice note. Text “thinking of you” even if it’s 2am. Imperfect connection is better than radio silence.

2. Ask Better Questions

Instead of the classic “how are you?” try:

• “What’s been heavy for you this week?”
• “What’s been surprisingly good lately?”
• “What’s the weirdest thing that happened to you today?”

Trust me, you’ll learn a lot more.

3. Be Brave Enough to Be Vulnerable

Say when you’re struggling. Ask for help (I know, I know). Share the ugly truth. Vulnerability is what deepens trust and builds bonds that last longer than a political cycle.

Making New Friends as an Adult (aka The Real Hunger Games)

Making friends as an adult is a bit like dating, but with more social awkwardness and fewer apps.

Still, it’s possible. In fact, it’s essential. If you’ve outgrown some old relationships or find yourself craving more aligned connections, don’t panic—it’s not too late.

Here’s where to start:

• Follow your interests. Join a book club, a pottery class, a hiking group, or a weird niche event involving fermented food. Your people are where your passions live.
• Be the first to make a move. Say hi. Invite someone for coffee. Compliment their shoes. Will you feel awkward? Absolutely. Do it anyway.
• Don’t expect instant intimacy. Deep friendship takes time, repetition, and shared experiences. Let it unfold slowly. Don’t force it—just show up.

And remember: just like with dating, you might not click with everyone—and that’s okay. Don’t take it personally. Just keep walking until you find your tribe.

When to Let Go (with Love and Boundaries)

Let’s address the uncomfortable truth: some friendships aren’t meant to come with us through every season.

You might have relationships that:

• Drain you emotionally.
• Belittle your growth.
• Make you feel smaller when you’re trying to rise.

You don’t need to make dramatic exits or write long breakup monologues (unless you want to). But you can gently loosen your grip on people who no longer align with where you’re going.

Letting go doesn’t mean you’re ungrateful. It means you’re honouring the truth of who you are now—and the space you need to become who you’re becoming.

Support Systems for the Big Shifts

Here’s the thing: friendships aren’t just there for brunch and birthday cards.
They’re part of the scaffolding that holds you together when life throws its most dramatic plot twists.

Whether you’re navigating a divorce, an empty nest, a career upheaval, or a massive what-am-I-doing-with-my-life wobble—your support system can be your life raft.

And if you’re smack in the middle of a Life Quake (those seismic shake-ups that level life as you knew it)—you don’t have to stumble through it solo.

That’s exactly why I created How to Survive a Life Quake—an online course designed to help you find your footing, process the chaos, and build a more meaningful, purpose-driven life on the other side.

It’s practical.
It’s comforting.
It’s a little bit cheeky.
(And no one makes you meditate in a cave unless that’s your thing.)

You’ll get tools to move through transition with more grace, strength, and clarity—and a lot less spiralling.

If that sounds like something your future self would thank you for, check it out.

Friendship Isn’t a Luxury. It’s Essential for Survival.

In seasons of upheaval, it’s easy to focus on what we’re losing—control, certainty, routines, jobs, identities.

But friendship reminds us of what’s still steady. Still real. Still possible.

Your people remind you:

• That you’re not alone.
• That you’re not crazy (or at least, you’re crazy in good company).
• That life, even in chaos, can still be full of laughter, connection, and meaning.

Final Word: Who’s in Your Corner?

You don’t have to do life alone.
Especially not now.
Especially not while everything’s shifting, stretching, and occasionally unraveling.

So check in with your circle.
Reach out.
Say the thing.
Make the plan.
Open the door.

And if you’re still building your village—keep going.
Your people are looking for you too.

On the Blog:

• Camino Chronicles Day 4
• The Camino Chronicles: Day 3
• The Camino Chronicles: Day 2
• A Stage Four Diagnosis
• The Camino Chronicles: A 7-Day Storytelling Series