Thoughts on a new year, our brains, and some links you might love
January 2025
Wow, that was a fast transition into a new year. Things got a little bit away from me there for a second.
But NEVER fear, I’m here now.
Here’s what is in store in this newsletter:
🤔 A thought I’m processing [on making the most of a new year]
💕 A thought I’m loving [on our brains]
🗳️ A poll [on ]
🔗 Some link love
📆 A full recap & links to this past month’s posts
🤔 A thought I’m processing [on making the most of a new year]
Welp, this past year sped by me with such lightning speed it has me very committed to intention and presence this year, and connecting with my life.
I was reflecting this past week and noticed that - I’m really proud of the life I’m building over here.
I remember being 35 and thinking it was too late to go back to school. Since then, I’ve gone back to school twice, and gotten two different Masters Degrees (Mental Health with a focus on Cultural Psychology, and the Psychology of Coercive Control).
Five years ago, I had no concept of coercive control in spiritual contexts, I’m now a research associate at the University of Salford, and I’m truly obsessed with my area of research and the discoveries we are making. (Side note, I’m hoping to share a lot more of that research this year as it gets solidified.) I think the work I’m doing could really be impactful and helpful to a lot of people.*)
The point is - it’s not too late. To go back to school, to try out a new career, to move to a new city, to change the course of your life.
Life reveals how powerless we are in so many ways. Twists and turns, pain and loss, other people’s choices, death and chronic illness: there are so many things you cannot control.
But there are SO MANY THINGS YOU CAN control. There are so many areas where you and I have been given agency, filled with dreams, and equipped with the creative capacity to shift the trajectory of our lives and the world around us.
Here’s to making a choice this year that takes you closer to the life you want to live. 🥂
🤔 A thought I’m loving [on brains]
At the end of the year, NPR shared a list of things we learned about our brains this year (link below in link love). Some of my favorites are below. They are favorites for obvious reasons: I’ve been saying these things already!!
1. Writing by hand beats typing for learning and memory - I mean. Have I not been saying this for years?! Mrs. Omohundro (my junior English teacher) told me her theory on this when I was 16, and I’ve never forgotten it. Well, Mrs. Omohundro - you were right.
2. Talking to your "parts" can help you deal with stress, and maybe change your life. Uh. Hello. If you’ve talked to me in the last year, you’ve heard me talk about Internal Family Systems and how helpful it has been in my life. I’m telling you. Look for an IFS therapist, listen to some podcasts, or do Spiritual Growth stuff with me in the spring and get into this!
3. Scientists are learning how the brain removes waste and what that means for Alzheimer's, headaches, depression, and more. Spoiler: it’s sleep. Sleep is the answer. For basically everything.
🗳️ A poll on [what kind of content you want]
Once upon a time, I dreamed that I would write and create content and resources for people that mixed spiritual and emotional health. But then, I found out the skill set needed for starting a small business and the skill set of creating content that mixes spiritual and emotional health - turns out are not the same skill set.
And one of the problems is that my ideas and interests are too broad! I’m into personality and communication (certified in Process Communication Model), I’m into IFS (obviously) and discovering our truest selves, I’m into helping people connect with God, I’m into helping people recover from being forced to do things in the name of God, I’m into chronic illness content and sharing how our bodies are so amazing.
Too many different topics!! No audience cares about all these things (except me.)
Question - why are you getting this in your inbox? Did you just forget to unsubscribe? Do you just want to support me as a human? Help me help you.
🔗Some link love
Some winter bingo (things to do in this season)
A song that resonated last year
📆 What you missed last year
Below are some links to thoughts I’ve shared this past year! (Please note that some of my messier thoughts and musings are behind a paywall. You can read more about why I do that here, and feel free to upgrade your subscription to access them.)
An article I wrote after much thought and work: A letter to my Long Covid body
Post on cultures of coercive control: When things converge
Post on our ‘powering-through culture: Powering Through
Podcast episode: 🎧 1.17 - "But, they didn't mean to"
*If you are wondering how you can support my research, this substack is kind of it. My newsletter subscriptions are not yet an income that could support any part of my life, but I wondered if they could become that. And if that could allow me to do more research and writing? Honestly - if you have ideas/thoughts n how I could get closer to that, I’d love to hear them. Or you can subscribe and help support my research that way!