Daily Health Bites

I didn’t blog in January—and instead of rushing past that, I’m using February to reset with intention. Black History Month is the perfect time to reflect on  where we’ve been, what we’ve built, and how we grow forward . This month’s focus is  past and present growth : learning from Black trailblazers whose work still teaches us how to move today. Not just famous names—but impactful ones. Let’s start with someone influential, foundational, and still under recognized. Black History Month and the Importance of Growth Black History Month is more than remembrance—its reflection and application. Understanding the past helps us identify patterns, strategies, and lessons that still matter today. One of the most powerful lessons we can learn is how growth becomes meaningful when it extends beyond ourselves. Let’s talk about Annie Turnbo Malone. Who Was Annie Turnbo Malone? Annie Turnbo Malone  (1869–1957) was one of the  first Black female millionaires in the United States ...

I’ve been sitting with a thought lately that feels heavy and freeing at the same time. I’m almost 43, and I’ve realized I have less time ahead of me than I do behind me. That alone will make you stop and really look at your life. I heard a quote recently that hasn’t left my brain:  “ Do the thing that scares you while you still can. ”  Simple, but powerful. And honestly, it feels like it showed up right on time for me. Lately, I’ve been doing more things on my own. Not as a mom. Not as the one holding everything together. Just as Jocelin. I’m rediscovering who I am outside of my responsibilities, and it’s been both uncomfortable and exciting. I don’t have all the words for it yet, but I know something is shifting. When I think about the things that have scared me over the years, most of them weren’t silly fears. They were practical ones. Fear because I needed to make a living as a single parent. Fear because I didn’t want to disrupt the people in my circle. Fear because choosi...

I’m a mom first and foremost. And if I’m being really honest… that’s kind of the problem. Being a mom first means my kids eat, have a roof over their heads, and have clothes on their backs. It means late nights with coughs, sniffles, and those  “I just need you close”  moments. It means putting everyone else first—every single time. It also means  I put myself on the back burner . Like…  way  back. Behind the boiling pot. Possibly forgotten entirely. Somewhere between school drop-offs, grocery runs, and surviving on cold coffee, I forgot a little bit about  me . Not “me-the-mom,” but  me-the-human . And now? I’m being forced to face that. My youngest is going on a  LONG trip  with my mom and sister. I thought I’d be thrilled. Freedom! Sleep! Silence! Instead… I’m a little sad. Mostly because she was  so excited  to go. I genuinely thought her life revolved around me. Turns out…  it does not. Rude. 😂 So here I am. My mom duties...

This time of year is hard for me—and not for the reasons people usually assume. It’s not the holidays. I don’t even celebrate. It’s the cold. It’s how dark it gets so early. It’s being inside more than out, scrolling instead of connecting, and feeling like it takes extra effort just to see people I love. Everything feels heavier in the winter, and if you’ve ever struggled with seasonal blues, you probably know exactly what I mean. And if I’m being really honest, when something goes wrong—sometimes even a minor inconvenience—it can shape my entire day. One small thing can throw off my mood, and suddenly I’m spiraling, overthinking, trying to “push through” before I’ve even acknowledged how I feel. That’s the part we don’t talk about enough. No one is positive all the time. No one has perfect emotional regulation. And ignoring your feelings in the name of “staying strong” usually makes the seasonal slump feel worse. Recently, I read a quote that said:  find a way to love everything t...

I  overthink. And not in a cute, quirky way — but in a way where one minor inconvenience will have me question my whole existence. I replay scenarios with many different alternate endings you would think I was a screenwriter! I can hold the door open for someone, and if they don’t say thank you, my brain immediately clocks in for overtime: Was my hair a mess? Did I have something in my teeth? Did I smell bad? Did my face do that weird thing it does when I’m trying to be normal? Never — and I mean  never  — do I think,  “Wow, that person just didn’t have manners.” No. Obviously it’s me. Clearly this brief, silent interaction is a direct reflection of my worth as a human. Long sigh. This is what overthinking does. It takes the smallest, most insignificant moments and turns them into full-blown self-doubt spirals. And while I’d love to say I’ve mastered this, the truth is:  I’m a work in progress. I’ve been actively working on my overthinking when it comes to work,...

As the year winds down, I’ve been thinking a lot about  reflection and gratitude . This month, I want to shift gently into something lighter, grounding, and hopeful. December feels like the perfect time to slow down and look back at how far we’ve come — even in a world that seems to move faster and with less certainty than ever. Since 2020, life has been moving at a pace that feels both unexpected and relentless. One moment we were all home, sheltering in place, and now that chapter feels like a distant blur. We’ve been pushed back into the hustle and grind faster than ever. It’s rare to find a moment to sit, breathe, and truly reflect — and with everything shifting so quickly, it’s no wonder it can feel like the ground is constantly moving beneath us. And yet… even through all that uncertainty,  joy still finds a way in . This year, I’ve been choosing to notice the small, simple things that bring me gratitude — the moments easy to overlook when life gets loud. I wake up every...

Lung Cancer Awareness Month has come to a close, the fight certainly does not. For many of us, lung cancer hits close to home, and for me, it’s deeply personal. Before my brother Josh was diagnosed, I’ll be honest: most of what I understood about lung cancer screening came from the clinic where I work. I knew that low-dose CT scans (LDCT) were recommended mainly for people with a history of smoking—and that was it. I never thought about testing for people without a smoking history. I never questioned the guidelines. I never imagined how urgently we’d need those options…until Josh. His diagnosis opened my eyes, and I know many of you have experienced the same awakening. Lung cancer doesn’t discriminate. It’s showing up in younger people. It’s showing up in people who have never smoked. And yet our screening guidelines still leave far too many out. That’s why awareness can’t stop on November 30. We need year-round education, advocacy, and a push for change. Signs and Symptoms of Lung Can...

As Lung Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, I want to share something important. You may have noticed that I kept my posts to a minimum this month. That was intentional. I wanted every message to be meaningful, impactful, and worth your time. And before the month closes, there’s still one conversation we need to have— your new normal after cancer treatment . When the scans finally show positive results and your oncologist says,  “Go live your life,”  you expect relief, joy, maybe even celebration. But what they don’t tell you is how strange it feels to step outside the bubble you've lived in for months. During treatment, you played it safe. You protected your energy, your body, and your peace. You didn’t always know who to trust or where you felt safe. That bubble became routine. But now?  Now you’re free… and that freedom can feel overwhelming. So how do you find comfort in this new chapter—your new normal? 3 Ways to Find Comfort in Your New Normal After Cancer Trea...

If you’re reading this, chances are you or someone you love has just heard or had to process those two words that can flip a whole world upside down:   lung cancer. It’s not a club anyone signs up for. The meetings are emotional, the snacks are terrible, and the schedule? Completely unpredictable. But let me tell you this — the people who find themselves in this fight are some of the strongest, funniest, most determined humans out there. This post isn’t a medical manual or a list of side effects. It’s a reminder — a gentle nudge to breathe, to laugh when you can, and to keep that spark of humor alive no matter how heavy the days feel. Because sometimes, laughter really  is  the best lung exercise.   Stage 1: “Wait… What Just Happened?” The day of diagnosis hits harder than a toddler poking you in the eye— confusing, relentless, and emotional. Everything changes in a sentence. I remember my brother saying that cancer was  throwing a party in his lungs.  At f...

It’s hard to believe it’s already November — Lung Cancer Awareness Month — and almost a year since my brother, Josh, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Even writing those words still feels surreal. When we first heard the diagnosis, what I personally felt (and this is the first time I’ve ever said it out loud, outside of my own head) was that it was a death sentence. But what has unfolded since that day has been nothing short of remarkable. The months that followed were filled with countless trips from the East Coast to the West Coast — helping Josh through chemo, being a support system, and making sure he had everything he needed. There were many late-night calls, endless texts, and virtual visits to go over the information from his appointments. Josh wasn’t always retaining everything the doctors were saying, so we became his second set of ears, making sure nothing slipped through the cracks. After rounds of chemo and radiation — and now with a lifelong pill to help keep the can...

  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...