What do you think of when you hear the word family? Do you think of your brothers and sisters, parents, uncles, and aunts? Or do you think of some of your closest friends, neighbors, or colleagues? For some, the word family is no longer restricted to biological ties or legal connections and instead includes the close-knit circle of friends and loved ones we bring into our lives. These people, who truly get us, stand by us, and fill spaces traditional family might not always reach are who we call “chosen family.”

If you're a Charlotte local and are maybe seeking ways to connect with your community while nurturing your mental health, this post about meditation is for you. I’ll guide you through how to dip your toes into meditation and share five great places in Charlotte where you can practice.

Life is a crazy, beautiful, brutal, and joyous journey, filled with transitions, some monumental and others so subtle they almost go unnoticed. While major life transitions—such as moving to a new city, starting a new job, or the loss of a loved one—often garner attention and support from those around us, it’s the smaller, subtler shifts that can go unnoticed, and unfortunately, unsupported.

Whether you’re experiencing highs or lows, we all seek (and need) connection. We need people who help us move, to watch our kids, to help us set up a party. We need people to turn to for advice, who we reach out to when we’re feeling hopeless, or who we know will just listen patiently. From the earliest days of humanity, having a community has been essential for survival, growth, and happiness.

As much as we may fight our emotions as human beings, they're designed to help us; to alert us when something is dangerous or pleasurable. Sometimes though, we experience emotions that seem out of control, or jarring, and leave us reeling in their wake. These situations and individuals that evoke strong emotional reactions are called triggers. And if left unmanaged can cause obstacles in our lives.

For such a deeply rewarding profession, teaching is incredibly demanding. In the last few years, teachers have grappled with how to connect with, teach, and organize classrooms during a pandemic, support the learning gaps and needs of students post-pandemic, and continue to struggle with the ever-present lack of resources, funding, and support.

Relationships can be beautiful, frustrating, joyous, traumatic, and so much more. But they can be particularly messy when one foundational part of us is lacking: self-love.

I get it! Sometimes it's not easy to voice your opinions or stand up for yourself, especially if you grapple with anxiety and/or depression. When we can't voice our desires, needs, or opinions, we feel powerless and frustrated. Learn how to self-advocate and set boundaries in this article.

Therapy really is for everyone. Read more about how counseling and therapy are essential components of holistic well-being, regardless of life's perceived magnitude of challenges.

You might have heard it a thousand times, but it's always a good reminder.

Poor sleep = poor health.

When we think of the New Year, we often think of resolutions, goals, and otherwise things we're looking forward to achieving. We also tend to take into stock what we wanted to do, or what we didn't manage to achieve last year. Maybe things like the money we didn't manage to save, or the weight we didn't lose. When we start thinking like this, we tend to take on a negative mindset and begin to criticize ourselves.

This year, let’s shift our focus away from what we didn’t accomplish and begin the New Year with a more positive outlook.

The holiday season often comes with a set of traditions and rituals that we've grown up with. You might even say these traditions are what make the holidays special.

One thing’s important though. It's essential to recognize that we can create our own holiday traditions.

As caretakers, educators, and leaders for our children, teachers play a vital role in shaping the future of our society, but they are also often faced with some of the greatest stresses.