Single parenting is a journey shaped by both challenge and deep, unexpected joy. I know this firsthand. My father, Joseph Brown , passed away when I was just three years old. I don’t have memories of him, but I vividly remember the funeral — the heaviness around and the sadness I didn’t yet have words for. My mother, Berthiner Brown , suddenly found herself raising seven children alone. For years she worked as a cook at an elementary school, spent long hours ironing clothes f

When women talk about health after 40, the focus is usually on weight, hormones, or energy. But there’s one important part of the body that rarely gets mentioned—yet quietly affects everyday life in a major way: the pelvic floor. This group of muscles supports your bladder, uterus, and bowel, while also playing a key role in bladder control, core strength, posture, and overall comfort. If you’ve ever experienced a little leakage when you laugh, sneeze, or exercise, you’re not

Our son frequently tells me and his dad “You are doing too much!” Well, the world feels like it’s doing the absolute most right now. Every headline is dramatic, every bill is higher, and every time you open your phone, someone is arguing about something. It’s no wonder everyone feels overwhelmed. But here’s the thing: laughter is not a luxury. It’s a survival tool. Humor has this magical ability to break tension, soften fear, and remind us that life isn’t just about enduring,

March is a special time of year. During Women's History Month , we celebrate the remarkable contributions women have made to families, communities, and society. At the same time, March is also National Nutrition Month , a reminder of the powerful role food plays in our health. These two observances share a meaningful connection. For generations, women have nourished the world. Women have planned meals, cooked for families, cared for children, supported aging parents, and ofte

For years, I was the person with a cabinet full of supplements—vitamins, powders, herbal blends, specialty formulas. I spent an embarrassing amount of money chasing “optimal health,” believing each new bottle was an investment in my future. But eight months ago, I stopped taking supplements entirely. What changed? A local physician gave a talk at a health seminar that completely reframed how I think about the supplement industry—and how little we actually know about what we’r

Flu season has a way of taking over a household before you even realize what’s happening. One person starts coughing, another feels achy, and suddenly you’re wiping down doorknobs like it’s a full‑time job. The flu—most often caused by Influenza A or Influenza B—spreads quickly through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces, which is why it can feel so relentless once it enters your home. While it’s always wise to reach out to a qualified healthcare professional if sy

“When we excuse evil because it comes wrapped in power, we become complicit. Silence is not neutrality. It is permission.” Anonymous This anonymous quote hit hard. It explains the constant shame and disappointment I now carry, not as a headline reader, but as someone who has sat in rooms where the details were not abstract. They were documented. Recorded. Verified. I was once a Child Protective Services Hearings Manager. For four years, I worked in a division that heard cases

February often shines a spotlight on heart health, especially through campaigns like American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women, reminding women to pay closer attention to a disease that often presents differently in us. But heart disease doesn’t just impact women. It remains the number one killer of both women and men. In my opinion, that truth makes heart health less of an individual responsibility and more of a shared journey. Many of us women naturally step into caregi

During the month of February, our thoughts to turn to Valentine’s Day. What a lovely holiday! It’s a holiday where love shines through and the warm, fuzzy feelings permeate from within; you feel cared for and appreciated. Those feelings and actions which show you are valued shouldn’t be confined to a specific date on the calendar.   While Valentine’s Day often shines a spotlight on romance, real love lives far beyond one day in February. Love shows up in everyday choices—the

There’s usually a moment when you realize it. Even for me—yes, me —that moment came. And I know I’ll be talking about this subject quite a bit because it’s not theoretical for me right now. It’s lived experience. The realization isn’t dramatic.It ’s quiet. A gentle awareness that you’ve been tired for a long time.Disconnected.Pushing through things your body has been asking you to slow down from. When we stop listening to our bodies, it rarely happens all at once. It’s subtle

Time has a way of sneaking up on us. One moment we’re young, dreaming, planning, believing we have all the time in the world. Then we blink—and suddenly the calendar pages tell a different story. The pages tell us the priorities of our lives. What we valued by putting adding it at a specific time and even what we valued more by deleting earlier commitments to make room for others. The stories are constantly developing as evidenced by the rapidly advancing years. They move fas

When you stop listening to your body, it speaks louder. Explore how ignoring body signals impacts health—and how to gently rebuild trust through awareness and care.

Critical thinking is the ability to pause, assess, and decide for yourself instead of reacting on autopilot. It’s asking, “Does this actually make sense for my life?.” You stop and ask the question before you say yes, share the post, follow the trend, or accept the narrative being told to you. It’s not about being suspicious of everything or thinking you’re the smartest person in the room. It’s about slowing down and being intentional. Several factors impact critical thinking