Thriving with Unique Minds

13/08/2026

🌧️ Rainy Days & Fibromyalgia 💚

The rain may sound peaceful, but my body doesn’t always agree.

Today is a fibromyalgia flare-up kind of day. The aching, stiffness, fatigue, and heaviness can make even simple things feel like a lot.

So today, I’m listening to my body instead of fighting it.

💚 Rest is productive.
💚 Slowing down is not giving up.
💚 Some days, taking care of myself is the accomplishment.

If the weather has your body hurting today too, be gentle with yourself. We don’t have to push through every single thing.

Thriving with Unique Minds 💚

01/08/2026

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbgJcAllgwt/?img_index=2&igsh=Z3ljZzc5d29uMTh3

RSD and breadcrumbing do not mix.

01/08/2026

28/07/2026

Letter to the Daughter Becoming Her Mother

No one talks about the loneliness of caregiving.

They tell you it is an act of love.

And it is.

But they rarely mention the quiet heartbreak that comes with it.

The endless appointments.

The worrying.

The watching.

The pretending you are stronger than you feel because someone else needs you to be.

Some days I feel invisible.

The jokes are on me.

The assumptions are made about me.

The opinions are offered freely by people who have never carried this weight.

They see the outcome.

They do not see the sacrifice.

They do not see the nights spent listening for movement.

The plans canceled.

The exhaustion hidden behind a smile.

The fear that follows me into sleep.

The fear of losing her.

The fear of losing myself before I do.

This is the grief that arrives before the goodbye.

Anticipatory grief.

A heart breaking in slow motion.

And yet…

There is joy here too.

Unexpected joy.

The kind that sneaks in through the smallest moments.

The first time she laughed so hard she cried.

The day she did something on her own that she had not done in years.

The mornings when she feels strong.

The stories she tells for the hundredth time.

The familiar sound of her voice calling my name.

The privilege of still hearing it.

Caregiving has taught me that gratitude is not found after the storm.

It is found in the middle of it.

It is found in warm coffee.

In shared meals.

In ordinary Tuesdays.

In one more conversation.

One more hug.

One more chance to say, “I love you.”

I do not know how many pages remain in this chapter.

None of us do.

But I am learning that love is not measured by how tightly we hold on.

Love is measured by how fully we show up.

And today, she is here.

Today, I am here.

Today, that is enough.

And for that,

I am grateful.

28/07/2026

I had TWO women come out within the first few months of us being married. Neither of them was aware their relationship was over. One girl said he lived with her and was seeing him at the family gatherings I was not invited to.

I am grateful for the things I have learned about myself and others.

27/07/2026

Facebook memories reminded me why I deleted everyone who was ever invited into my home from my friends lists. I was “crazy” because I was not supposed to be honest or tell the truth about what was happening to me.

What goes on in my house, stays in my house is how many women lose their lives.

27/07/2026

25/07/2026

My ex did not pay child support to his first wife. He told me it was because she didn’t ask for it. He brags about being a good father but threw my non child support paying ex in my face often. He lost his job shortly after we were married but found his way. He started from the bottom and made a name for himself.

Before I left he told me he didn’t believe in “mental health” and I didn’t do anything for 15 years and was not entitled to any support. He changed all of his life insurance policies to his son. He got an attitude when he was made aware of divorced spouse benefits. I walked away with what I came to the marriage with, furniture and my disability benefits. He boasts about making almost $100k and his retirement. I started over from scratch and I love my job and where I am at the moment. I live paycheck to paycheck. I live moment to moment. I dance whenever I feel like it.

I am grateful for it all. I don’t know how much longer I would have gone without a diagnosis of ADHD/ASD/RSD/CPTSD

25/07/2026

First Love. Second Love. Third Love. ❤️

Your first love teaches you what it feels like to open your heart.

Your second love teaches you what you should never have to sacrifice to keep someone.

Your third love teaches you that real love doesn’t require you to abandon yourself.

It feels like emotional safety.
It feels like peace.
It feels like being accepted instead of constantly being judged.
It feels like consistency instead of confusion.
It feels like respect, even during disagreements.

The greatest love story isn’t finding someone else—it’s becoming someone who no longer mistakes chaos for connection.

Never settle for a love that costs you your peace.

25/07/2026

📢 Helping Keep Our Community Safe & Connected!

Have you heard about the Blue Envelope Program? This free, voluntary initiative is designed to improve communication and safety between law enforcement and drivers with autism spectrum disorder or other communication challenges during traffic stops.🚙

How it works:

Immediate Signal: Handing the blue envelope to an officer instantly alerts them to potential communication differences or sensory triggers.

All-in-One Storage: The envelope safely holds a driver's license, registration, and insurance card.

On-the-Spot Guidance: The envelope features helpful tips for the driver on one side and actionable communication strategies for the officer on the other.

Envelopes are completely free and available at Illinois DMV facilities and participating local police departments. Let's work together to make our roads safer and more inclusive for everyone! 💙