menopause-diary

[menopause-diary]

The Silent Toll of an Unsafe Workplace: Why Psychological Safety Matters

Ever been in a meeting where you felt like your ideas were walking into a lion’s den? Or hesitated to admit a mistake because you knew it would haunt you longer than your high school yearbook quote? Welcome to the reality of a workplace without psychological safety—where fear and silence rule, and everyone’s just trying to survive until 5 PM. What Happens When Safety Takes a Backseat Picture…

[menopause-diary]

How to Spot and Deal with Toxic Leadership in the Workplace

Let’s face it: we’ve all had that one boss who could turn a sunny day into a thunderstorm with their mere presence. Toxic leadership doesn’t just poison the workplace; it seeps into your evenings, your weekends, and maybe even your dreams (or nightmares). Addressing toxic leadership isn’t just about preserving morale—it’s about saving your sanity and, let’s be honest, your group chat from another…

[menopause-diary]

Navigating Political Differences in a Relationship: Finding Common Ground

Years ago, while working at Patagonia, I became deeply involved in politics. My political beliefs influenced not just my views but also my relationships; I often categorized people as “good” or “bad” based on their political stances. Unfortunately, this mindset cost me some long-standing friendships, as I struggled to see the nuances in people’s opinions. Over time, I realized that many people…

[menopause-diary]

Kamala, Trump, Tariffs, and the Quest for Common Ground: A Comedy of Errors in Politics

Ladies and gentlemen, grab your popcorn and settle in—it’s time for another thrilling episode of “As the Filibuster Turns.” This week’s plot twist: Kamala Harris, the Vice President who’s about as powerful as a coffee shop’s Wi-Fi password, trying to juggle promises, legislative gridlock, and the delightful chaos of American politics. Snoozanne showing her American pride 🇺🇸 Kamala Harris: The…

[menopause-diary]

Screen Scene: A Modern Family's Digital Dance

Let’s paint the scene in this modern family’s living room, a place where electronics rule and the TV is just modern art at this point. Rick, the car enthusiast and dad, is glued to his phone, where a car remodeling show plays silently in the background. He’s more engrossed with facebook marketplace for vintage car parts than the TV’s endless parade of before and afters. Occasionally, he’ll throw…

[menopause-diary]

My Life in Dogs: A Tail of Friendship and Furry Shenanigans

From the moment I arrived in this world, I was never alone. My first guardian wasn’t a human but a fiercely protective German Shepherd named Kimo. As a toddler, my playground was the neighborhood itself, and Kimo was my unwavering chaperone. I like to think of him as my furry bodyguard—no one could get within a ten-foot radius of me. Kimo’s dedication to my safety was so profound that not even my…

[menopause-diary]

Do As I Say, Not As I Do: A Humorous Take on Self-Advice Sabotage

Why is it that we’re all walking, talking self-help books for our friends & kids, but when it comes to ourselves, we can’t seem to crack open the first page? Let’s dive into the comical irony of being excellent advice gurus to others while being advice-averse in our own lives. Picture this: you’re the Yoda of your social circle—wise and insightful. Your best friend tells you about their…

[menopause-diary]

How to Walk Your Talk: Practicing What We Preach in Parenting and Personal Growth

In my previous blog (check it out here if you missed it), we explored the humorous contradiction of being excellent advice dispensers to others while often ignoring that same advice in our own lives. Here are some playful yet effective tips on how we might actually start taking our own advice and begin to bridge the gap between what we say and what we do. We’ll tackle this in two parts; first,…

[menopause-diary]

Navigating the Trials and Tribulations of Family Dynamics: My Complex Relationship with My Dad

In my previous blog I touched on how as a teenager, I acted out a lot and one time got arrested for shoplifting, which led to court-ordered counseling that both my mom and I attended. After a heated argument in one of those sessions, I walked home & picked up the phone and called my dad. “I want to come live with you!”. The next day, I was on my way to California for high school. Me and my step…

[menopause-diary]

Reflections on my Mom's Journey: From Childhood Struggles to Lasting Lessons

Growing up, my earliest memories are of the time after my parents’ divorce when I was around five-six years old. My mom and I moved in with my grandmother in a quaint house on the waterfront in Stonington, Connecticut. It was a magical place to grow up, with my own little boat to row out for crabbing, clamming, and fishing adventures. We lived in my grandmothers house that she bought with her…

[menopause-diary]

A Brush with Fate: Unearthing Forgotten Memories of Near-Death and Distant Lands

When Cheryl Strayed introduced her writing prompts during the workshop I attended, one of them read, “Write about when you almost died” I initially skipped over it, unable to recall any such moment in my life, at least not in a literal sense. However, Cheryl emphasized the importance of delving deep into our stories, urging us to write with mindfulness. She shared a quote she admired from Rick…

[menopause-diary]

Turning Curse into Blessing: Navigating Loss, Tragedy, and Unexpected Connections

Having taken a writing workshop this weekend with Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, I am inspired to tell my truth. My story. To let it all out and not worry about who will read it or what the reaction will be. Just write. The assignment, tell a story about turning a curse into a blessing. My story… So, picture this: Mother’s Day, 2004. The air was heavy with mixed emotions because, well, my mom…

[menopause-diary]

Adventures in Crafting and Entrepreneurship: A Whirlwind of Creativity and Chaos

Hello fellow crafters and entrepreneurial spirits! I’m here to share the dizzying tale of my journey from a determined young entrepreneur with a newspaper route and award-winning Christmas ornaments to an unstoppable adult with a crafting empire and a kaleidoscope of business ventures. Grab your glue guns and buckle up, because my story might just give you whiplash! Starting my art career…

[menopause-diary]

Climbing Kilimanjaro at 100 Pounds Heavier: A Journey of Rediscovery

Facing the towering slopes of Kilimanjaro, I was not just 100 pounds heavier—I was also carrying the heavy weight of self-doubt and sadness about the recent loss of my parents and grandmother. It felt like I was at the lowest point of my life, but that was about to change drastically thanks to an unexpected invitation from my cousin’s wife. She was embarking on her third trek up the mighty…

[menopause-diary]

Skydiving: The Adventure I Never Wanted but Totally Love Now

Skydiving was never, I repeat NEVER, on my bucket list. Seriously, why would I, a sworn hater of ladders, heights, and rollercoasters, ever think to jump out of a perfectly good airplane? No thank you! My very first skydive 🪂 Fast forward to two years ago. I met a guy—an AFF instructor and tandem coach—who changed everything. As my interest in stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new…

[menopause-diary]

Behind the Blog: Embracing Imperfection and the Myth of Having It All Together

Welcome to my corner of the internet—a place that some might assume is run by someone who has all their ducks in a row, their life neatly organized in perfectly labeled folders. But here’s the truth: having a blog doesn’t mean I have everything figured out. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. This blog isn’t about projecting perfection; it’s about embracing the messy, imperfect journey of growth,…

[menopause-diary]

The Art of Disappearing: Seeking Solitude in Unconventional Spaces

Sometimes, the quest for a sliver of solitude turns us into amateur escapologists, finding refuge in the least likely places. For me, this often involves a tactical retreat to the bathroom or the sudden, pressing need to run an “errand.” And yes, occasionally, I become a master of silence, blending into the background with the stealth of a ninja. Here’s the twist: I never signed up for a…