A couple weeks ago,, we talked a bit about social media and its impacts on young people . This week, I want to delve into another unexpected but more common effects of time spent online. This is perhaps different than what you might expect: teens are self-diagnosing themselves with various mental health disorders. Unfortunately, this is often a result of watching probably less accurate and not reliable sources such as TikTok or Reddit, and highlights how finding informatio

Friends,  First, I want you all to know how much you mean to me, and how much I appreciate you and your welcoming me into your Inbox every week, sharing thoughts and links and what-have-you.  I so appreciate this path we're exploring together. I love spending time putting these newsletters together, sharing info, sending it out with the hope that something inside it inspires you. Maybe not towards action, but towards a conversation or contemplation or the beginnings of an id

Yeah, it can be hard to appreciate what is actually just a collection of skin and bones and hair. Just. Except that that collection is yours and there is no other like it. I rather like your collection. Let's see if we can help you appreciate it too, for what all it gives you. A Suit or a Suitcase You ask what I'll miss about this life. Everything but the cruelty, I think. But you want one specific thing, so here -- I'll miss my body. I'll miss its companionship, how it

A friend of mine, Dr Fae, is offering space in her support groups for the coming spring. Email Dr Fae for more info. www.drfae.com/groups How do I know Dr Fae? She's joined The Big Purple Blob for a few episodes including Responding to Conflict: https://thebigpurpleblob.libsyn.com/68-responding-to-conflict-at-work-and-at-home Mental Health Struggles in FS: https://thebigpurpleblob.libsyn.com/93-mental-health-struggles-in-the-foreign-service-life Raising LGBTQ+ kids in the

Teens and tech and all the things It’s hard to know, isn’t it, just how big of a social experiment we are setting up our teenagers for with this whole social media + smartphones + constant digital immersion situation, amiright?  Is this the time bomb sensationalists are declaring it to be?  Is it a passing fad?  If only we could know. It would be amazing to have a clear-cut answer to the question of plummeting mental health and teenagers.  The water is murky, at best, and hon

There was a farmer, and he lived in great harmony with his neighbors in a village not far from a beautiful mountainous area. One day while working in his fields, a farmer noticed that his old horse was sick. Rather than keeping him to work the rest of his days, he let the horse go free into the mountains. His neighbors came by and said, "We're so sorry that your horse is gone, you must be very worried that you don't have your horse to help you reap the crops. It will likel

It's been a while, but we finally have another 4 Women Talking conversation.  We start off talking about clothing and expectations for women, talk about beauty ideals and unrealistic viewpoints and land on supporting other women and embracing positive conversations, especially with our kiddos to help them embrace realistic and positive self- and world-views.   Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/2304981/episodes/18552387-4-women-talking-women-beauty-expectations-and

So.  How is that New Year's resolution coming along?  I have to tell you, I am not a fan of the new year overhaul.  How often do we look back, say, mid-year and see what we didn't finish, what habits we didn't break, or the person we failed to become, only to have to face the prospect of fixing ourselves yet again come January?   Here's the thing I don't really like about resolutions: they are all-or-nothing.  You either succeed in change or you fail, very binary.  Heavily re

We know what a riptide is, right? A riptide is a strong ocean current that flows directly away from the shore. It is one of the...

Looking to make some changes, add some healthier habits, shifting the balance of your activities more towards “well” rather than just maintaining.  Often, especially this time of year, people start seriously considering or moving towards adding new habits, or changing behavior.  Well, listen, changing behavior is hard, my friend.  In all cases of success, there has to be a lot of determination, will, and the ability to resist temptation.  Effective change CAN happen, but it c

May you too find the peace that comes from self-awareness, serenity and introspection, and being content with what has — or has not — passed. At peace ~ Amado Nervo Very close to my sunset, I bless you, life,  because you never gave me false hope,  nor unjust work, nor undeserved pain; because I see at the end of my rough path  that I was the architect of my own destiny; That if I extracted honey or gall from things,  it was because I put gall or tasty honey into them:  when

One of the best things we can do for our relationships -- parental, sibling, marital, friendship -- is to feed them.  What, exactly does 'food' for a relationship look like?  A couple of suggestions.   Laugh together. A new study out showed that the relationships that endure are those wherein those involved laugh together.  Not just at funny shows, or books, but through genuine interest and joy found together.   Do things you are both/all interested in.  Yes, this means you

Here's what I know to be true: 1. Drink enough water. 2. Sleep as much as you can. 3. Eat leafy greens instead of things you can’t pronounce. 4. Move your body around as much as you can, preferably in nature. 5. Find some sort of faith in a force bigger than yourself. 6. Spend time with friends. Love your family. 7. Don’t work all the time. 8. Look for the best medical care you can manage. 9. Don’t monitor these things too obsessively, or you’re liable to go nuts. 10.  Stress

Please see below for episodes posted in the last few weeks.   194- SOBRIETY in the Foreign Service Life In our episode today, Emily shares her personal journey to sobriety, including her struggles with alcohol and the various resources and support systems she has utilized and continues to utilize throughout her recovery. She discusses her experiences as a sober Foreign Service employee, addressing challenges with medical clearance, navigating social situations, and building a

First in a series of podcasts about Foreign Service Kids and Applying to College.  We'll talk about what colleges are looking for, what kids should be looking for, finances, different types of schools, and more.  We welcome comments and questions!   Podcast # 1 -- What colleges are looking for in applications, and how parents can support their FS kids through the process? A chat with Hannah Engel-Rebitzer, an independent Educational Consultant with Peak College Consulting, a

Ah, yes, perfection. Who doesn't love the idea? Here's the thing: perfection -- the idea of it, seeking it, achieving it -- is actually o ne of the most toxic ideas that grips our minds. We expect it, we crave it, we wish to see it in our lives and relationships, but reality and the idea of perfection are in a constant state of friction. Reality is ever-changing. It is transformation combined with unpredictability. Perfection is the opposite. It is an attempt to control an

Join Susie Brown and Sex Education Expert Scotney Young talk sex ed: global sex education standard disparities, age appropriate sex/gender education, helping parents with difficult (and awkward!) discussions with their tweens/teens, empowering teens for gender equality, & what you can do to support child safety. Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2304981/episodes/18223385-sex-education-your-tween-teen-and-you Scotney Young: https://www.instagram.com/rootsandboundaries?ig

Do you feel as though you and your teen are from different planets, speaking different languages and your responses rarely if ever align?  Ever wonder why you can be ever-so-efficient and your child is oh-so-not?  Listen, it isn't you, and also there is nothing wrong with your teenager.  Most likely their bizarre-to-you response — or lack there of — is due to the completely normal and expected developmental processes of their executive function (read: brain development).   Le

My mornings begin the same. Get up, fix myself some coffee, gaze out the window at the birds at my feeders, watch the sun rise. Here, I know the rain will never fall, but other places I have lived, this has been an option. This is followed by quietly talking with my spouse, my kitties. All of these things root and center me so that no matter what chaos comes that day, it began in beauty. To step out of my house and be greeted by the smell of trees and flowers in bloom. My go

You did your best. You told your truth. You have your version of enough. You understand wealth -- freedom, people, purpose -- is more important than money. Slow down and let the extraordinary things emerge from the ordinary. To live content with small means. To seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion. To be worthy not respectable, and wealthy not rich. To study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes, an