Giving with Practice
Most religions include service, charity, or acts of giving as part of their core traditions. In Judaism, there’s tzedakah. In Christianity, tithing. In Islam, zakat. Across different belief systems, there’s an emphasis on caring for others—through time, money, effort, or presence. But you don’t need to follow a religion to practice giving. For a long […]
Connection with Practice
Religious communities usually come with built-in connection. Weekly gatherings. Holiday meals. People celebrate and grieve together. That was my experience growing up Jewish. I’ve been to Seders, Shabbat dinners, and other Jewish gatherings. As an adult, I’ve also celebrated Christmas and Easter with friends’ families. There’s something really beautiful about coming together to eat, to […]
Notice with Practice
Prayer is a daily ritual for many religions. In Muslim tradition, they pause to pray five times a day. Christians and Jews traditionally say a short prayer before meals. While the words and reasons may differ, these rituals share something in common: they ask us to stop and notice—what we need, what we have, and […]
Choose Your battles with Support
I used to think every battle was worth fighting. If something didn’t feel right, I reacted. I spoke up, pushed back, made it known. I thought that was strength. I didn’t want to feel like a pushover—or let anyone think they could walk all over me. Choosing which battles were worth it didn’t seem like […]
Go Where It’s Warm with Support
I used to think that being strong meant sticking it out with people—even when it didn’t feel right. I stayed in friendships where I constantly felt like I was walking on eggshells. I kept making plans with people who seemed to criticize more than they cared. I stayed close to family members who showed me, […]
Stop Comparing with Support
When I first started going to support groups, I was a little confused. Not because anything was wrong—but because it was new. The format, the phrases, the way people spoke—it all took time to get used to. But I didn’t feel like an outsider. I heard people share stories and I related. I felt comforted […]
Listen Without Fixing with Support
One of the most powerful things I’ve experienced in support groups is how people share without interrupting or offering advice. No fixing. No jumping in. Just listening. In the groups I attend, there’s a guideline called “no crosstalk.” That means no interrupting, no giving advice, and no directly responding to someone else’s share. When someone […]
Navigate Transitions Like a Parent
One of the things parents work hard at is helping kids through transitions. From bedtime to bath time, screen time to dinner—those shifts are rarely easy. Even fun changes, like getting ready for a birthday party, can lead to resistance. Kids don’t always know how to stop one thing and start another. So parents step […]
Let Go Like a Parent
Parents start by doing everything—tying shoes, zipping jackets, holding little hands across the street. But eventually, kids have to try things on their own. Even when it’s messy. Even when it’s hard to watch. Stepping back can feel wrong, but it’s what allows them to build confidence and learn what they’re capable of. That same […]
Celebrate Small Wins Like a Parent
When you’re raising a human from scratch, everything is new. Holding a spoon, taking a step, babbling a word that almost sounds like something real—it all gets celebrated. And it should. That’s how kids learn what matters. They try, someone cheers, and their brain says: “Let’s do more of that.” Parents don’t wait for perfection. […]
