What if we allowed our summer to be lax? We chose to hang out around the house and show ourselves some self-compassion. When the summer starts to come to an end and the school year creeps closer, how do we say goodbye to summer and hello to reality?

The excitement of summer may have begun to wear off, and everyone may be getting on each other's nerves.

As parents, we tend to be too hard on ourselves. We look online and see the stories that others wish to portray. We look at our neighbors and secretly wish we had what they have or do some of the things that they do.

The stress of summer starts to seep in during March and April when I'm trying to figure out what summer camps my kids will attend. I agonize over where we will go for vacation.

Boundaries are a powerful tool in our self-care toolbox. Boundaries can set our own limits. Boundaries can set others’ limits concerning ourselves. Boundaries clearly mark what is ours to care for and boundaries clearly mark what is someone else’s area to care for. Boundaries give us space to live and move and breathe. Boundaries can protect us.

Loneliness is one of the most powerful emotions in the human experience. It is also common to our human experience. And, one of the most misunderstood and painful.

Throughout our lives, our brains are bombarded with constant sensory input and messages and we do our best to categorize them in meaningful ways.

You have never really questioned the voice that tells you that you constantly need to up your game, to do more, be more, have more. You have told yourself that you just have high standards and are "goal-oriented".

Those surface area emotions, joy, peace, happiness, and contentment have now become deep rooted emotions because I’ve made it to the other side. Instead of being fearful and stricken with worry, I can now rest in the peace (serenity) of accepting things I can’t change.

Trying to maintain the persona of one who is brave, but on the inside the fear and worry are chipping away at your core can be tough

I call it RELATIONAL FEAR, because with it comes collateral damage. Not only was I gripped by it (fear), but its effects were felt by those with whom I was in relationship with

People who don’t deal with fear, don’t realize how debilitating it is. If you want to torture somebody, make them afraid. I’ve done quite a bit of work with clients suffering from fear, worry, anxiety…whatever you want to call that thought gripping thing that makes it almost impossible to function at times.