Everyone uses AI these days – even if they don’t realize it. To some degree, it’s baked into everything, including our search bars.
I remember having to get up to change the channel on the TV… and adjusting the tin foil on the antenna.
Now the TV tells me what I should watch – and gets cranky when it has to fight the invisible airwaves of WiFi to gain priority over my kids playing Roblox on their tablets.
Some people love it. Some people hate it. Just like anything else.
It can absolutely feed into antisocial behavior – why ask people for advice when a bot is fast, available, and (sometimes) more helpful?
(Still… go talk to your people. Even the mildly useless ones. This is your sign to schedule a coffee date.)
It can make you lazy if you let it. But so could TV, and we survived that era (sort of).
There are real concerns about deepfakes, cybersecurity, and where all of this could lead long-term.
But… like anything powerful, it cuts both ways.
Where AI Actually Helps
It can save a lot of time and money. Especially for creators – having an “assistant” that helps you think, organize, and refine ideas is huge.
It can support creativity. When I was learning leatherworking, I asked it a million questions after doing my own research and experimentation. It didn’t just tell me what I was doing wrong, it helped me understand why on a deeper level.
It can act as a support tool for mental health – not a replacement for therapy, but something to help you process between sessions. No burnout, no bias, just space to think.
It’s already being used in professional settings – medical, legal, and beyond. Ideally with actual human oversight (please let there be oversight).
And honestly? It can just… explain things better sometimes. More patience, more clarity.
Used well, it’s not a crutch – it’s leverage.
The AI Tools I Actually Use
ChatGPT – Yep. I get the criticisms, and they’re fair. But I don’t pay for it, I don’t overshare, and it works well for what I need. So I use it.
Claude – I’ve been experimenting with it more lately. Different feel, interesting responses. Still exploring.
Rosebud – A reflection app powered by AI. I’ve used it on and off for over a year. It’s helpful but it gets repetitive, so I started building my own version elsewhere.
Perplexity – My go-to for quick, concise answers. Especially more current or factual stuff.
Gemini – Hard to avoid if you use Google. I mostly like it for image generation – it fits my style better than most.
NotebookLM – Very interested in this one. The ability to “talk to” your own information is incredibly useful, especially for things like manuals or research.
Copilot – It’s fine. I mostly use it for image generation options at this point.
How I Actually Use AI (Day-to-Day)
AI enhances what I do – it doesn’t replace it.
It isn’t something to rely on – it’s something to work with.
For me, it’s a tool. And tools are only as good as the person using them.
Learning
At one point, I had ChatGPT help me build a combined philosophy & psychology curriculum. We set parameters, and it mapped out topics, readings, and writing prompts. Honestly, it was a lot of fun.
Homeschooling
I don’t rely on it heavily, but it’s great for brainstorming unit studies and lesson ideas tailored to my kids’ interests and ages.
Reflection
I mentioned experimenting beyond Rosebud – building my own reflection systems using different bots. Still early, but promising. Might turn it into a post (or even an app… someday, maybe 😆).
Blogging
This is where it really shines for me.
I keep a Notion database full of topic ideas, and those pages can get messy fast. When they do, I’ll drop everything into ChatGPT and have it ask me clarifying questions, then organize it into a clean outline (using my actual notes & ideas) that I can actually work with.
After writing, I’ll have it review for clarity, grammar, and flow – not to rewrite, just to point things out.
Then I use it for titles, SEO ideas, social captions, and image brainstorming.
That’s it.
I ignore anything I disagree with. It knows that.
And it saves me hours of overthinking.
Your Move
AI isn’t going anywhere.
So the real question is –
are you going to let it make you passive…
or are you going to use it to become sharper, faster, and more intentional?
Your move.
What do you actually use AI for? I’d love to hear where you stand.
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To finish up my “health” related posts this month, I thought I’d share some stories from my time working in an Emergency Department a decade or so ago.
I started working at a local hospital in (I think) 2009 as a housekeeper (or “Environmental Services”, to make it sound more professional). Did that for two years before they changed management and I got pissed off & quit (more like threw my badge at them, told them to shove it, reminded them that I busted my ass for that place, and continued to bitch the whole way out the door. I’m not even exaggerating in the slightest.)
I went back a couple years later, with the intention of finding something better to do within the realm of healthcare. After an additional year of grinding my teeth in “Environmental Services”, I transferred to the Emergency Department as a “Patient Care Assistant” (which is basically a nursing assistant with no formal education & barely any training).
I hated it.
That’s a lie.
I resented the fact that I was supposed to spend 2 months training with a preceptor, but I only got 2 weeks (which amounts to a whopping 4 days on 12 hour shifts). Nobody gave a fuck – I talked to supervisors, managers, the union… no help. The company’s motto at the time was “Taking care of you is what we do”, yet they didn’t even take care of their own.
I also resented the fact that 97% of my coworkers were jaded, bitter, and lacking basic human compassion & decency. And lazy. Very fucking lazy – on other floors of the hospital, a PCA’s job is routine, set, and responsive to the assigned patients’ & nurses’ requests; in the ER, you do whatever you can, whenever you can, for whoever you can, and you do it with a sense of urgency. Well, that’s how I perceived it.
I digress.
I actually loved that job. I just never felt like I knew what I was doing (even though I did) because I was cheated out of adequate training, and I hated my bitch ass coworkers.
I loved the perpetual chaos, especially from working overnights. All 40 rooms were full, with at least 10 people in the waiting room at all times, for the first 6-8 hours of each shift. It was beautiful fucking chaos!
I loved constantly checking the board to see what I should do next. Part of my personality is “What’s the problem? What do we have to do to make it at least 1% better? Let’s do that…now!” Worked great in the ER, and with a lot of situations in life! Get shit moving & resolved ASAP so we can all move on with our lives.
And I loved briefly meeting & being able to help such a huge variety of people. That’s why I liked working in gas stations too – “What do you want? Here you go, get out of my store”, with the occasional deep conversation about religion and psychology and every other random thing you can think of. Working on other floors, a PCA would typically have the same patients until they were discharged; I didn’t want that. I love a quick turnover.
Despite the somewhat brief interactions, I learned from & loved a little bit of a lot of people. I found that I excel at making the uncomfortable as comfortable as possible, with humor & compassion – that’s the art behind the science of healthcare.
The ER isn’t just medicine – it’s humanity under pressure.
Here’s some stories…
The Bloody Nose Nun
I hate blood. It’s just not something that belongs outside of the body, in my opinion. Yeah, I know – probably not a good idea to work in an ER then. Shuddup 😉
One of my very first patients as a PCA in the ER was a nun. She said she was just sitting in her chair after dinner, knitting a blanket & watching TV, when her nose started bleeding. So, assuming the air was dry & it would resolve itself, she shoved a tissue up her nostrils & kept on knitting. After an hour, it just kept getting worse. So she paid us a visit. My job was to hold a bath towel against her nose for about 15 minutes until a doctor could come shove tampons up her face (that’s pretty literally the only thing you can do, so long as it isn’t a surgery-requiring hemorrhage).
I’m good for 5-10 minutes, but…I got to a point where I was gonna pass out & need to be admitted. That’s how much she was bleeding. Talking about hazing the newbie!
The ALS Wife
I was asked to go into a room and hold the older gentleman’s hand while he was intubated, to try to keep him calm. So I did.
While they were preparing to intubate, I overheard the doctors say that he had ALS. If you’ve been paying attention around here, ALS runs in my family.
When they were all done, they told me I could leave.
But I seemed to be the only one even noticing his devastated wife sitting there alone. So, I sat down with her.
I told her my name, my role at the hospital, mentioned that ALS runs in my family so I can relate in a small way to what she’s gone through as a caregiver, and offered any help I could – “if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask, especially me. A blanket, someone to listen, a hug, a dozen donuts? I got you!” She thanked me, & I continued about my day.
When they transfer anyone who’s been intubated to another part of the hospital, an entire team needs to accompany the patient in case they code (stop breathing) on the way. I was asked to be part of the team while he was transferred to the ICU.
When we got to the ICU entrance, I was told to go back to the ER. His wife was asked to wait in the waiting room (in case there was a problem while getting him situated in his new death bed). I couldn’t leave her standing there helpless & alone, so I asked if she wanted a hug. She grabbed onto me & wouldn’t let go, which was fine. I held her while she cried, and I gently told her she should use this time with him to reminisce about the good times they had, remind him that she’ll be ok so that he can have some peace, and be grateful for the opportunity to tell him how much she loves him & say good bye. I reminded her that she will be ok, even though grief is an asshole, and to be patient with herself, & seek support wherever & whenever she needs it. When they let her in to the ICU, I wished her well & headed back to the ER.
Now, I’m not sharing this story to pat myself on the back or anything like that at all. I’m sharing this story as an example of how life sometimes throws people at you who you can genuinely help in some way, and its best to take the opportunity to be a decent human. That story still breaks my heart, but I’m glad I might have given her some warmth in that cold hospital.
That’s when I realized that sometimes your job isn’t to fix anything. It’s just to be a human in the room.
The Enema Guy
Yeah, part of my job was “soap suds enemas”. Gross. I’d hide if I saw that on the board & couldn’t find anything else to do. I’m not even joking.
Well, one time I couldn’t hide, so I went into the room.
The gentleman was probably in his 50’s. Kinda handsome.
I told him my name, my role at the hospital, and…he interrupted me.
“You’re not doing this, are you?!?” he said.
“I was asked to, yeah. Is that ok?” I replied.
He looked even more uncomfortable than a guy needing an enema should.
“Is it because I’m a pretty young lady?” (Not to toot my own horn, but I was in my late 20’s.)
“Yeah, pretty much!” he laughed.
I laughed too. “I understand, but trust me, you’d rather I do this than anyone else in this department – I’m way more intuitive & gentle than most of my coworkers here tonight. Seriously. I’ll make this as quick & painless as possible, ok?”
He grumbled & hesitantly agreed.
I’ll spare the details, but I truly did everything I could to make it as quick, painless, & as least humiliating as possible for him. Including bringing a commode into his room & closing the curtain (which most of my coworkers didn’t have the decency to do).
I saw him as he was being discharged & on his way out the door, so I said I was glad he was feeling better. He thanked me (a lot!) & said he hoped he never sees me again, either in the hospital or in public 😂
The Fatal MVA
So, a guy died in a car accident. Totally not his fault, either. He was in his mid to late 30’s, had a wife and 2 young sons.
The EMTs brought him to the hospital so his family could come & identify the body.
My job was to clean him up from the shoulders up so that his family wouldn’t be even more traumatized when they saw him.
He was bloody. And dead AF. How sad.
As I gently & lovingly scrubbed every dried speck of blood off his face, neck, & out of his hair, it was like I could feel his spirit lingering, going “what the fuck?!?” I quietly talked to him so that my coworkers wouldn’t think I’d snapped – apologized for his situation, told him his family will be ok & he’ll always be remembered & all that stuff.
After his family left, I was asked to be part of the team to transfer him to the morgue. So I did. We said a prayer for his spirit before we shoved his ass in the cooler, which was surprising out of my coworkers (not all of them were completely burnt out and disconnected!)
The Cellulitis Kid
A call came through the intercom. A young man was asking for a blanket. So I brought him a blanket.
He was kinda cute, but totally not my type – tall, football player type. We got into conversation, with him explaining that he was being admitted to another floor overnight pending surgery for the absolutely brutal cellulitis that had developed on his arm from an infection he’d gotten. As I left, he asked for my number. I politely declined, mentioning that he was too young for me besides the fact that I was engaged.
Still I made sure I brought him up to his room myself 😆 And then grabbed him some donuts for after his surgery with a little “get well” note before I left work for the day.
A couple months later, a young man came in via ambulance with “the worst shoulder dislocation anyone’s ever seen”. Nobody knew what to do, so they loaded him up with morphine while they figured it out.
I was busy with a million other things, so I only noticed the situation, not the person.
While standing at the nurses station, on the other side of the ER from his room, I heard someone yell my name with their outdoor voice, and then he yelled “I LOVE YOU!!!”
Oh my god it was so funny – all the bitchy nurses were stink eye-ing me so hard, I just laughed my ass off.
So I went into his room, tried to get him to calm down a little so I could get back to the 30+ other people I could actually help, and he chilled after that. He was flying though, LOL. I don’t even remember how they got his shoulder back into the socket…I think he needed surgery…again.
The Pitcher
About 2:00 in the morning, I was doing stuff. As I walked by one of the rooms, I heard someone say to me ”what are you doing?!? Get in here!”
All the female employees in the unit were in one room.
I didn’t know what was going on, so I stepped in & inquired.
“That drunk asshole in 3 took a swing at Kim!”
“…..and? He’s drunk. Swing back.”
“You’re crazy!”
I stepped out of the room to look around the department & see if I could find him. My favorite coworker, Nurse Donny, was trying to trap him with another male nurse & a security guard so they could restrain him because he was running amok.
Don came over & told me to get in the room. I laughed.
“I could flash him – I bet he’d be so caught off guard he’d stop dead in his tracks!”
“You’re killin’ me” Donny laughed.
“I’ve been in enough mosh pits, this dumb drunk fuck don’t scare me. Where is he? I’ll help you corner him!”
Just then the security guard got a hold of him, and then the cops showed up.
I was disappointed. I had some stress I needed to release 😂
Heroin Jesus
Early Easter morning (about 4am), a young man about 17 years old overdosed on heroin with his friends. They threw him in their car & rushed him to our ER. He died en route.
ER staff threw him in the trauma room. My job was to hold a leg down. 3 doses of Narcan later, that little shit came back like a bat out of hell. I’ve never seen anything like it – absolutely wild.
They stabilized him & moved him to a regular ER room. My job was to keep him awake & breathing to try to get his oxygen reading back to a safe level so that he wouldn’t have to be intubated before being transferred to the children’s hospital.
So I slapped him for a couple hours. Told him he’s lucky to be alive, so he better not fuck up like that ever again. Told him repeatedly he better do something good with his life from then on. And called him Heroin Jesus cuz he died & came back on Easter Sunday.
He didn’t need to be intubated.
Other Heroin Guy
We didn’t have too many drug problems come to our hospital, surprisingly.
One guy got to me though.
He was a “regular” – he was in our ER at least monthly because he’d devastated his body with drugs for so long, he was on his way out of this life. And he knew it. And he regretted it. Deeply.
When I could, I’d sit & talk with him because he really needed someone to talk to. He’d given up on himself a long time ago. No matter how hard he tried, how many times he’d been to rehab, how strongly he knew better – his addiction was just too strong. And, eventually, it won.
Very sad. He seemed like a good, caring, smart person when he had some clarity. Quite the shame.
“Crazy” Thyroid Lady
(This one really got to me too.)
I kept noticing room 14 needed an EKG done. Every time I had the chance, I’d go to do it, but there would already be somebody in there with an EKG machine. This happened about 4 times before I finally said to my coworkers, “hasn’t anyone done the EKG for 14 yet?!?”
“That bitch is crazy. She won’t let anybody do it!”
So, I grabbed an EKG machine & headed on in. I tend to be good with the “crazies”.
I introduced myself, told her my role in the department, & told her what I was going to do. I could tell she was frazzled as fuck. I told her she didn’t need to tell me anything that was going on, especially since I’m not a medical professional, but that I’m listening if she wanted to talk.
She told me she had a thyroid issue. When her thyroid is throwing her hormones off, she acts “a little weird”. She was acting a little weird, so her friend insisted she come to the ER & get her hormone levels checked. Now that she was in the ER, her anxiety had skyrocketed and she was having flashbacks to when she’d been sexually assaulted many years prior, but didn’t know why that was coming to her then. She said it was violent.
Obviously (to me), it was coming to her because all these strange men (doctors) were grabbing (although somewhat gently) at her throat to check the size of her thyroid. Plus, she was in a hospital gown, and PCAs were violating her personal space trying to hook her up to monitors and EKG machines. It only makes sense.
So, I was extra gentle with her. Got her to calm down and think her way through her current situation. I promised to do whatever I could to ensure only female staff assisted her, wherever possible (though we didn’t have any female doctors on staff that night). She thanked me, & relaxed quite a bit in comparison.
I brought the EKG read out to her assigned doctor, and then went to the head nurse to let everyone know she really needed female staff to help her as much as possible; I even offered to be the sole PCA to help with whatever she needed.
“WHY?!?” One of the cunt nurses overheard me & butted in.
The head nurse just stared at me like he was wondering why too, so I told them she was experiencing PTSD symptoms and needed fewer males around her.
“Well, I’ve been raped before – get over it!” the cunt blurted out loud enough for half the department to hear. (Obviously, she wasn’t “over it”, so why would she expect someone else to be?!?)
“What the fuck is wrong with you?!?” I asked as I walked away to help another patient. She blabbered on about how her husband assaulted her once, and I just couldn’t even. I had to walk away before I slapped her.
That’s the kind of shit that bothered me – not the blood, the overdoses, the disgusting cellulitis or enemas… The atrocious behavior & perspectives of certain (too many) coworkers. It fucking killed me to be around people like that. Now, I have a fucked up sense of humor, & I have my limits, but… I kinda feel like you should still have some sense of basic human decency to work with patients, especially in an emergency care setting. Fuck.
When it was time for “14” to be admitted to the floor, I noticed a male PCA grabbed her cart before I got the chance. I stopped him (not just because he was a man, but also because he was the kind of person who…I would literally rather die than let him help me). We actually got into an argument, because I insisted I take her up to the floor – He got pissy & I won. She thanked me.
The Actual Crazy Lady
About 5am, nurse Jason asked if anyone could “take the crazy lady in 28 up to the floor”.
It was very unusual for him to call anyone crazy, so I wanted to see just how crazy she was.
She was pretty crazy. I felt bad for her. And her husband.
A few years prior, I had a woman come into my gas station bitching up a storm about the fact that her credit card was being declined at the pump. The problem was her card. She disagreed. After screaming at & berating me for a solid couple minutes, her husband came in & told her to go wait in the car. He proceeded to apologize for her behavior, explain that she has an unknown medical problem that she’s being evaluated for, & then vented about how she was never like that, he doesn’t know what happened, he’s overwhelmed with taking care of her, & he hopes the doctors can help her get back to the sweet woman she used to be.
And here we are again, in the ER. I think her husband actually recognized me, but couldn’t remember from where (gas station is a far cry from ER I guess).
Bless his sweet soul, he was still taking care of her. And he was completely depleted; I could tell.
Assuming from meds, she was practically catatonic. Unresponsive. Still physically able to get up & get in a wheelchair…eventually. Which she then purposely “had an accident” in once we got up to the floor. I told her husband I would get a nurse to help me clean up her & the wheelchair, and he insisted he take care of her because there’s no way she’d let anyone else do it. So he did his thing, & I did mine. I offered some kind words & anything he wanted for free from the donut shop downstairs, but he declined. In retrospect, I probably should’ve brought him a sandwich or some tea anyway.
“Live your life so you have stories to tell” is something I’ve always believed.
But working in the ER taught me something deeper:
You don’t just collect stories —
you become part of other people’s stories, often at their worst moments.
So if you take anything from this:
Be kind. Be patient. Be human — especially when it’s inconvenient.
You never know what someone else is carrying.
What’s a moment in your life that stuck with you — for better or worse? Remember – Always Tell Your Story
I’ve really been struggling with what to write on here lately. My brain has been clouded with a bit of a shitstorm, & I’ve needed some time to see if the chaos settles.
It’s been months. I’m lucky I had a backlog of posts to ride on, but that well is just about dry. So… now what?!
Brainstorming
If you’re in a similar boat, let’s ask ourselves some questions :
Thinking : What’s been on your mind lately? What have you been thinking about a lot?
Feeling : How have you been feeling? That could be channeled into a “topic” post or a “how to deal with” article.
Knowing : What do you know in your soul during this chapter of your life? Or…what have you been learning about recently that you could share with others?
Ramble
Just roll with it. That’s what I’m doing right now, LOL! Roll with it until you hit the bottom — or better yet, a breakthrough. Set a timer if you want. Clean it up tomorrow, or next week. Just get something going.
Ask AI
Just about everyone does it these days. AI bots like ChatGPT & Claude are great at not only cleaning up fragmented thoughts, but even at prompting you to expand on your ideas. It’s not cheating if you don’t copy & paste AI-generated content.
Share
The most important part. Even if it sucks, even if you’re scared. Everyone’s got an audience & a community, and sharing helps us all find each other.
Writer’s block sucks, but you’re not alone — and you don’t have to be perfect to be heard. So hit publish, and let it out. Your people will get it.
🔥 Drop your favorite writer’s block hacks in the comments. Or just tell me what you’ve been avoiding writing. Let’s unblock together.
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Lately, I just want to crawl under a pile of pillows & blankets & disappear. After pushing through an intense amount of drama for over two years…I’m exhausted! I feel like a bounce house with a hole in it – no matter how much air I put in, it just won’t fill up.
To add to the stress, my past trauma has been slapping me in the face recently too. Because, as everyone who’s dealt with any sort of trauma knows (which is everyone, eventually) – healing is cyclical. You never fully heal, you cycle through periods of it being in your face, then growing through the pain, then carrying on with your life, and back around over the course of years. The goal is just to not let it consume your life.
(This is my warning for my posts this month – I am super behind, because I’m really struggling to find my own peace right now. It is what it is.)
Truth is, I didn’t fail at self-care (& neither are you if you’re feeling a similar way). We’re all human – occasionally stressed, foggy, & worn out from life’s latest plot twist. This article definitely isn’t about toxic positivity; it’s about looking for tools that work.
Suffering is like whack a mole – “Every time you knock down one kind of pain, another one pops up. And the faster you whack them, the faster they come back.” “Everything is fucked. It always has been and always will be… it’s time we stop running from that and, instead, embrace it.” (Mark Manson, Everything is Fucked)
Name Your Nemesis
In my experience, depression and anxiety are two sides of the same coin – while one may be “face up”, the other is still…there.
Sadness / Apathy = depression = fixation on the past
Fear = anxiety = fixation on the future
Different beasts require different weapons…
Choose Your Battle : Acceptance or Rebellion
Write it out : What’s bothering you? Could it be trying to tell you something useful? Can you control any aspect of it? If yes, what can you do to improve the situation? If no, how can you work to accept the situation without letting it consume you?
10 Rebel Approved Rituals to Recharge Your Soul
Midnight hikes. An endorphin boost from the peace & quiet of solitude. Plus, everything looks different at night. (Just please be safe!)
Messy art sessions. No rules, no judgment. The messier the better!
Silent 24-hour retreat. Stare down & battle your inner monologue.
Cold plunge shock. Jolt your nervous system awake.
Face down pillow burial. Embrace the collapse…& then rise from the ashes.
Journal as a witness. Be an active observer of your life
Identity cigarette moment. Reclaim a bit of yourself…mindfully. (Not a health tip, just some raw honesty. – I quit smoking 6 years ago. But I’ve had a pack of Camels for over 3 years now lol – & I only smoke maybe once or twice a year. It was such a strong part of my identity, so I enjoy indulging once in a while. And the “7th grade body buzz” is a trip too LOL iykyk)
Stoic love swap. Replace anger or fear with acts or thoughts of love.
Micro hobby project. Crochet, blogging, coding, whatever. Bonus points if you can make some money off it.
X detox. Get off your phone / distract yourself from picking fights on X (why are you even on X anymore? Nevermind, I’m not here to judge lol)
Self-Acceptance and Self Love Reminders
Core creed : Do whatever you want in life, just don’t hurt anyone (including yourself)
Happiness formula (Rita Mae Brown) : someone to love + something to do + something to look forward to
When your brain literally won’t cooperate, focus on the basics – exercise, sleep, journaling, learning, & progress. Progress isn’t linear, & simplicity always wins.
Build Your Own “Emotional First Aid Kit”
Mix & match from the suggestions above – see what works for you at different times & for different situations. Keep track of tried & true ideas in your journal for future reference.
The Ever-Unfinished Experiment
Self improvement & personal growth isn’t a chore – it’s your rebellion.
💬 What’s in your personal emotional first aid kit?
I’d love to hear what weird, wild, or wonderful tools help you climb out of the fog. Drop a comment below, share this with a friend who needs it, or subscribe if you haven’t yet — more rebel resources are on the way.
What are you good at? (Or willing to get good at.)
What could make money or even support you financially?
What does the world (or your world) need more of?
Don’t aim for a perfect life plan – aim for a starting point that feels aligned. What do you want to try?
From Vibe to Vision (The Idea to Reality Map)
Step 1 : The Idea. Jot it down, doodle it, whatever – Turn the abstract into something.
Step 2 : The Pre-Screen. Ask yourself :
How will this benefit me?
Who else would benefit?
What sparked this idea?
What’s the best case scenario?
How bad do I want this? (1-10)
If it’s a 7+, GO FOR IT! If not, ditch it guilt-free.
Step 3 : Brainstorm & break down into actionable planning tiers :
Monthly : big research, tools, skills; break it down into the smallest steps possible
Weekly : pick 2-3 small actions from monthly tasks
Daily : 10-20 minutes of movement = momentum
Use the “5 Whys” to Crush Fear & Find Truth
According to Ryder Carroll in “The Bullet Journal Method”, designers at Toyota have been using the following exercise for decades to get to the root of problems.
Identify a problem. Answer why it’s a problem. Answer why that’s a problem. And so on.
For example :
Problem – I’m afraid to start.
Why? Because I might fail.
Why? Because I haven’t practiced.
Why? Because I haven’t started.
Why? …oh.
This method forces clarity. It hurts in all the best ways.
Channel Your Inner Cato (Or Whoever You Admire)
Cato didn’t wait for applause. He practiced discomfort, led by example, and acted.
Who do you admire, who’s doing what you want to do?
What are they doing, and how can you do that in your own unique ways?
What would they do? (They’d just fucking do the things.)
Build in Public, Brand Organically
There’s no need to look polished right out the gate – all brands evolve. Share the mess, and let people watch you grow – we should all inspire each other, don’t you think?
I’ve done it twice!
I thought being a reseller would be fun (& it was at first). So I did a little research, got the supplies I needed, & spent a few years selling stuff online. I learned that it wasn’t nearly as hard as I’d built it up to be in my head once I was actually doing it. In time, it became almost effortless!
zen BLITZ started as a jewelry shop online. Why? I have no idea LOL! I had fun making stuff, & hubby told me to try selling it. I hated it, but I never gave up my brand. And here we are now, doing the things I enjoy (writing & creating digital products) & growing by the day!
Use the 20 Minute Rule to Make Big Decisions Easy
I read a fun newsletter from Ali Abdaal, where he expanded on an idea from Tim Ferriss.
Create a hypothesis. “I think I might want to…”
Run a “minimum viable experiment”. Write a post. Launch a landing page. Try it for 20 minutes a day for 2 weeks.
Learn fast. Adjust faster. Don’t bet your life – just test the water.
The Only Thing You Need : Action
Perfection is procrastination in a fancier outfit. Take one weird, ugly, probably wrong step. Then another. And another. Momentum leads to mastery.
If it sucks, GOOD! That means you’re making progress.
You’re Required to Start Small & Weird
Forget polished. If you’re excited, you’re already ready. Just start.
You can be a professional witch, digital punk, homeschooler entrepreneur, or whatever wild idea you’ve got.
Burn your idea of “the right way” and build a new one.
You don’t need to be sure. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to begin.
🔥 Got a wild idea simmering? Leave a comment, share your dream, or DM me what you’re finally starting.
Here’s my rally cry to my fellow weirdos, skeptics, overthinkers, & black sheep dreamers who want more out of life but refuse to vision board it with a fake smile & a $6 latte. The word “manifesting” itself might sound like glitter & girlbossing – but fuck all that.
This isn’t about fake positivity & mood boards, or waiting on the universe like it’s Uber Eats. True manifestation is about clarity, commitment, & creation, not crystals & vibes. It’s about owning what you want, & doing the work to get it.
You don’t need rituals directed to the spirits of the universe or a woke third eye – just a decision & a direction. All manifestation really means is putting your energy toward something specific instead of letting it leak everywhere.
It’s clarity & consistent action. That’s it. You don’t even have to believe in yourself to begin, you just have to start. Confidence is the result, not the starting requirement.
Daydream With Purpose
The “misfit” version of manifestation isn’t about pretending things are already perfect, it’s about getting honest about what you want. Let yourself imagine your wild, weird, perfect life shit – that’s your target.
Ask yourself:
What do I keep fantasizing about?
What kind of day do I want to wake up to?
If no one were watching, what would I create?
The Misfit Manifestation Method
Here’s the no-frills, anti-fairy-dust game plan :
Step 1 : Choose ONE thing. Don’t try to manifest everything – start with one goal. Money? Energy? Space to create? You’ll gain momentum once you start.
Step 2 : Make a rough plan. It doesn’t need to be a 90-day strategic breakdown. Just…what can you do today? What needs to happen this week? Even a messy plan beats waiting for the planets to align in your favor.
Step 3 : Do the stuff. Show up. Make the call. Post the thing. Build the system. Learn the tool. Action builds belief, not the other way around.
Step 4 : Adjust, don’t quit. If it’s not working, then whatever. Tweak it. Pivot. Realign. Your goals are supposed to evolve. Just don’t ghost yourself when it gets uncomfortable.
Why “Believing in Yourself” is Overrated
It’s normal to lack confidence when you start anything – how else can you learn?
Action builds confidence. Every time you show up, you grow. Stronger regret comes from what you didn’t do, not from trying & shifting course as needed.
Rebel Energy & Relentless Faith
You’re not here to live a quiet, tiny life full of half-finished dreams. And you don’t need perfect clarity or inner peace to begin – you need grit, vision, & the willingness to try.
Daydream. Focus. Act. Adjust. Repeat.
Manifest like a misfit & create the weird, wild life you were made for.
You don’t need a vision board. You need a spine, a soul, & a reason.
If this fired you up, share it with a fellow misfit who’s tired of waiting for signs and ready to make moves. Let’s manifest like we mean it — no glitter required.
🖤 Want more no-fluff self-help for rebels? Subscribe to my newsletter and never miss a hit of clarity. Next week we’ll take this to the next level!!
While structure is great, so is knowing when to burn it down for a day or two.
I was reminded by Ali Abdaal’s “Holiday Paradox” video that our sense of time flies by when every day looks the same because our brains switch into autopilot.
But when you experience something new, your brain takes more mental “snapshots”, making time feel longer, fuller, richer.
“Life is long if you know how to use it.” – Seneca
Give Your Brain a Jolt (On Purpose)
Schedule regular adventures, & treat them like an appointment you’ll get arrested for if you miss.
You don’t have to get too crazy or too rigid about it – it could be a random Tuesday hike, working from a grocery store cafe, or even a spontaneous dance party in the kitchen.
The point is to get weird on purpose. Let your brain break the pattern. Novelty naturally makes you more creative, resilient, & present.
So skip the lesson plan, leave the dishes, & toss your planner out the window (metaphorically).
These days are to recalibrate your spirit, & remind you that you’re not a robot.
Right next to my kitchen sink 😆
Flexibility is Strength
While routines can help us thrive, adaptability keeps us alive.
Don’t let your days blur into one big beige loop. Add some neon. Smash a routine or two. And if you try it this week — I wanna hear about it! Let’s swap weird ideas in the comments.
✨If this post sparked something, hit like, share it with your people, and subscribe to zen BLITZ (my weekly newsletter) for more unconventional ways to stay human.✨
It seems like everyone’s always chasing happiness, as though it’s the ultimate goal of life. Romanticizing happiness like that, however, can really just set us up for failure, especially when we feel like we’re just struggling to survive.
Here’s a little truth bomb for thought, from Mark Manson – “Comfort with your core misery is a form of happiness.” I suppose accepting, understanding, and approaching with compassion your underlying (angst, sadness, or whatever) is the key to freedom from its control.
Even Stoic philosopher king Marcus Aurelius was dealt a super shitty hand throughout his life, yet he showed up for it. Every. Damn. Day.
How to Deal When It All Feels Pointless
“We continue to rise because it’s the only way forward.” – Ryan Holiday
Start with the basics (especially if you’re at rock bottom) :
Eat something that didn’t come out of a crinkly wrapper. Your mind, just like your body, needs actual nutrients to feel good.
Move your ass, even if it’s just a casual stroll.
Sleep, hydrate, repeat.
2. Don’t numb out. You’ll only cause yourself more problems.
No drugs. No binges. No “maybe if I just…” decisions.
That one night stand? Definitely not the solution!
Therapy & medication are tools, not weaknesses. If your brain is sick, help it heal – no one worth a shit is judging you.
What to Do Instead of Spiraling
Journal. And get ugly about it. Be honest, even if it’s petty & especially if it’s dark. Then flip the script – What would you say to someone you love if they were feeling the way you do?
Lean on your people, even if it feels awkward or vulnerable. Any decent human will want to lift another up.
Do one tiny thing to look forward to. A creative project, a cheap vacation, plan a local hike, or learn something weird on YouTube.
Volunteer. Sometimes, giving a shit about someone else helps us give a shit about ourselves again.
Quick sad story – My mom died at home of complications from ALS four days after my 15th birthday. (Worst. Birthday. Ever.) I remember sitting on the couch in front of her while my aunt called the coroner & distant family members in the other room, and my father did shots & smoked cigarettes with my uncle outside. I asked myself, “now what do I do? How do I grieve? How do I move forward from this?” And then I realized I was left alone with the empty shell of my mom. And I screamed in agony, feeling like I didn’t matter.
This just magnified my tendency to shut down and disappear when I’m in pain. As an adult, I try hard to consciously choose not to revert to that – I try to make sure I reach out to others just to say “hi, how are ya?!?” (even though I feel like no one does that in turn).
A little reminder (for myself, & you)…
If you ever feel like no one gives a fuck – you’re not alone, or broken, or anything like that. That pain has a root. But isolation isn’t really going to make anything better. Reach out anyway – you’ll never know if some light will reach back otherwise.
Selective Apathy : A Survival Skill in a Loud World
“Let the chaos settle, & clarity will follow”
From there, we need to focus on caring deeply about things that matter to us, & not at all about things that drain us. Mindfulness is a matter of noticing where your energy goes unattended, & rerouting it with intention.
According to the Dalai Lama (& a million philosophers before him), the only constant in life is change. Suffering occurs as a natural response when we are resistant to change. When we are capable, we need to let go – accept it, so we can address it & turn it around by finding any possible meanings & lessons hidden beneath the pain.
You Don’t Have to Be Happy to Live Well
You’re not broken because you’re not blissed out. You’re still here. Still trying. And that definitely matters. You are not alone, and the world is better with you in it. Feel & live loud, even if it gets a bit ugly at times. The golden rule in life, in my opinion, is to do whatever you want so long as you don’t hurt anyone, including yourself.
If you’re in the thick of it right now — I see you. Keep doing the next right thing, even if it’s tiny. Leave a comment, message me, or just save this for later. You’re not alone in the mess.
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The Wake Up Call : Why I’m Even Talking About This
A couple of weeks ago, I went and got my annual lab work done for my PCP. Unexpectedly, I got a call from one of the nurses letting me know my cholesterol levels are a bit elevated—she said, ”Heart healthy diet & exercise, and follow-up lipid panel in six months.” And that’s literally it. That was the whole conversation.
My father had cardiovascular issues, and as his primary caregiver I already knew how to approach a “heart healthy diet” and whatnot. If I didn’t, I’d be freaking out. (Which is one of many reasons why I loathe the current state of the American “healthcare” system, but that’s a rant for another day. Don’t be afraid to ask questions — your health team works for you.) So, the information in this post is based on past and current research. While I do have some healthcare education and experience, I am not a doctorand this article is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice. I just want to share what I’ve learned and how I’m approaching this situation.
Bite Sized Explanation – LDL vs non-HDL Cholesterol
Both of these were noted as “high” in my lab report, which means my overall cholesterol levels are considered elevated.
LDL cholesterol refers to one specific type of lipoprotein, while non-HDL cholesterol refers to “all potentially harmful cholesterol particles in the blood”.
In other words, LDL is like the reckless driver and non-HDL is a full report of all the troublemakers in the area. HDL is the good guy.
I’m choosing empowerment over panic – I’ve been wanting to improve my physical health game, and this is just a nudge to level up!
Cholesterol Isn’t Evil, But You Might Be Eating Like An Asshole
(I know I’ve been!)
The real villains are saturated and trans fats (not cholesterol itself), so check your nutrition labels accordingly. Everything in moderation.
Simple dietary swaps won’t ruin your life –
Instead of butter & cream > use olive oil or avocado
Instead of fatty meats & processed snacks > go for leaner proteins (chicken, salmon, legumes) & whole foods (fresh fruits & veggies)
Instead of hard cheeses > try softer, less processed options (like feta)
Instead of having coffee with your creamer (lol) > sip on black coffee (you’ll get the same kick!)
Foods that actively help :
Soluble fiber (oats, beans, fruits) sweeps away cholesterol like a janitor listening to the Dead Kennedys
Foods fortified with plant sterols & stanols. (What the hell are those you ask? Me too!) Apparently these naturally occurring plant chemicals reduce absorption of dietary cholesterol in the body, but they’re found in such small amounts in the plants themselves that some food manufacturers will fortify certain (often high caloric) foods with them. They can also be found in supplements. (Just drink some OJ, eat some nuts & seeds, and…don’t eat like an asshole?)
Move Like You Mean It
Exercise isn’t just for getting shredded – it raises HDL (good) cholesterol and improves heart health.
You don’t need a gym membership – walking, dancing, lifting your kid 600 times a day all count. The key is to find some movement that doesn’t bore you to death – skateboarding, hiking, karate – whatever keeps you coming back!
I’m pretty fond of Juice & Toya on YouTube – they use fun music, different routines & moves in each video, and there’s plenty to choose from!
Vices & Fixes : Smoking, Vaping, & Stress
Smoking is an HDL killer – so quitting gives your good cholesterol a boost! And studies have shown that vaping isn’t a loophole (damn.) – it has similar effects as smoking. Both stress out your liver (which regulates cholesterol), cause inflammation, & expose your body to more toxins than you already do just by being alive. So stop it (I’m yelling at myself here.)
Psychological stress & cholesterol are BFFs too (& not in a good way). Practice stoicism or selective apathy, meditate, or just scream into the void – find a way to decompress.
Genetics : Are You Screwed At Birth?!?
Yes, but no. Genetics do play a role (40-60% of HDL levels are inherited). Your lifestyle is more important though – you can outmaneuver your DNA.
Your Body, Your Rules : The (Punk Rock) Experiment
Instead of blindly following health advice, track what actually works for you. On Notion, I keep a daily health log that includes dietary goals, exercise tracking, a food log, & room for reflection.
Start small, & reduce your misery :
Swap one bad habit at a time
Experiment with food, movement, & stress management
Get labwork redone periodically & see what helps
Own Your Health Without Losing Your Edge
Lowering cholesterol doesn’t mean selling out – you can take control without becoming a health obsessed robot. It’s more about balance than restriction. Don’t eat like a jerk, move your ass, & chill the fuck out. Just like any other goal or habit – plan some stuff, test it out, keep track, reflect, & pivot as needed. Find what works, & screw the rest.
✊ If this fired you up in a good way, give it a share, hit “like,” and don’t forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter zen BLITZ — where punk meets practical and we figure out this whole health/life thing without losing our edge.
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