Daily Health Bites

  The world feels heavy right now. The US government is shutdown because the two parties can’t reach an agreement. Financial strain is becoming more personal. We’re witnessing heartbreaking images and videos—like the one I just saw of ICE tackling a woman to deport her. It all feels like too much. And honestly, it  is  a lot. So the question is real:  How do we stay calm when everything feels like it’s falling apart? Let me be clear—this isn’t about tuning it out. Pretending everything is fine isn’t peace. That’s denial. And scrolling social media hoping to find truth or comfort? That can do more harm than good, especially when misinformation or emotionally charged content floods your feed. So again, how do we stay calm? 1. Acknowledge the Reality, But Don’t Drown in It It’s okay to say,  “This hurts.” It’s okay to feel sadness, anger, or fear. Emotions are not the enemy—disconnection is. We must stay aware of what’s happening, but we can’t let it consume us. Th...

October is well underway — but for those facing a breast cancer diagnosis, the journey doesn’t pause when the month ends. Whether the person is recently diagnosed or deep into treatment, our role as friends, family, allies matters. Breast cancer affects both women   and   men; awareness alone isn’t enough. What matters most is   how we show up ,   how we stay consistent , and   how we lift others up   in practical, meaningful ways. Why This Matters A diagnosis of Breast Cancer can bring immense emotional, physical and psychological stress. The thought of a mastectomy , reconstructive surgery , or managing treatments adds layers of complexity to an already overwhelming experience. Many feel isolated, misunderstood or simply exhausted by the fight. Having someone who shows care — not just in the moment, but over time — can make a profound difference. How to Be There: Practical Support Tips Here are actionable ways to support someone living with breast cancer...

  Still Up? Let's Talk About Doomscrolling  Told you guys I’d come back and talk about it. Were you holding your breath waiting to read about it? (No? I get it.) Funny thing is—I  fell asleep scrolling ... and  woke up scrolling.  Classic, right? So here we are. It’s almost midnight in Michigan , and if you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’re in the same boat: lit up by your phone screen, brain buzzing even though your body’s begging for sleep. Thought I’d write a little something for the other night owls out there, still stuck in the scroll. If you’re lying in bed in Detroit , Grand Rapids , Ann Arbor —or out in the quiet parts of the state—it’s the same story. Our phones have taken over bedtime. Let’s talk  doomscrolling . What Even Is Doomscrolling? Doomscrolling is that spiral you fall into when you just keep scrolling through  bad news , negative headlines, social media rants, or stressful updates. One minute you're checking the weather, and the ...

So if you read my   recent letter to my younger self,  you already know — we’re in our reflection era. Life is loud. Confusing. And unpredictable. And since I’m being honest with myself lately, I figured I’d keep going and talk about something else we often ignore until it’s too late: Breast Cancer — and Why You Should Care, Even If You Think You're "Safe" This isn’t just a health blog post. It’s  October , aka  Breast Cancer Awareness Month . And yes — we wear our  pink proud  this time of year. We raise awareness, run the races, repost the stats. But the truth? Breast cancer doesn’t care what month it is. It doesn’t care if you’re busy, burnt out, or “too young.” It doesn’t even care if you don’t have a family history. Family History? Not Required Anymore We used to think breast cancer only showed up if it was already in the bloodline. A generational curse passed down. But the truth? 85% of people diagnosed with breast cancer have  no  family hi...

So… first of all: hey. I know you weren’t expecting a letter, especially not from yourself. But I figured you deserved a little heads-up about how things turned out — especially since you’ve spent so much time wondering what being an adult would actually feel like. Spoiler alert: You were right to be confused. You had a lot of questions. You weren’t sure if adulthood was supposed to make sense. You thought by the time we hit our grown-up years, life would feel clear — maybe even simple. Honestly? It doesn’t. Life has been... a lot. It swept me away from things I love — like writing. Blogging used to be my favorite way to breathe, to make sense of everything, to feel like myself. But somewhere between survival mode, endless group chats, surviving my pre-teen daughter (and my adult daughter — yes, both are their own adventures), and pushing through “just one more thing,” I stopped writing. And I’ve missed it. Deeply. So — I’m back. (I know, I’ve said that before. But this time I mean it....