This is a super simple, (read: very rough recording), where I spend time talking about how reframing has been such an important mental tool for me, and how it has changed the way that I see gray and rainy days (most of the time😅).

I was recently in Spain, and LOVED it. I currently have a 20 day streak in Duolingo to get ready for the next time I go. During the trip, a whimsical artist from Tarragona told me a beautiful story, and this one line really stood out for me, "We had never done it before, because we didn't know it was possible."

That line has been floating around my brain since then. Mostly because, the thought of being able to make a living learning about the nervous system to better support myself, and share that with others, is a dream.

Every day that I wake up, and craft more of my "perfect day", I am reminded how lucky I am to do work that excites and challenges me, that I am passionate about, and that feels like it could make a difference.

So for now, I will leave you with this very live recording from that day in Tarragona. Along with a promise to keep learning, and to continue to "come alive".

If you are interested in commissioning a personalized "perfect day" recording, you can find all the info on my Ko-fi page.

FYI, this is a DIY slow space. No fancy production, just raw, filled with care, and very me. If you’re here, it means you value these quiet spaces too. Thank you for that💖.

If you can, ⁠⁠⁠support me on Ko-fi⁠⁠⁠ , or ⁠⁠⁠commission something personal⁠⁠⁠. Your support allows for me to do what I love (I am literally living the dream 😍) . Thank you, thank you, thank you!

There is a lot of info on the internet around the importance of the stimulation of the vagus nerve, specifically around humming and singing (here is a video that I enjoyed from
Dr. Pradip Jamnadas, MD (this is my ChatGPT fact check ).

So, this is me channeling my inner 6 year old, and singing my heart out. I remember singing it in tandem with movie, always hoping that it was true. My life is definitely feeling like my hearts dream of late.

Let me know your "sing loud" song, I've thrown a few on my faves on a playlist, and would love (read: mostly intersted, a little afraid, and DEEPLY curious) to hear yours!

FYI, this is a DIY slow space. No fancy production, just raw, filled with care, and very me. If you’re here, it means you value these quiet spaces too. Thank you for that💖.

If you can, ⁠support me on Ko-fi⁠ , or ⁠commission something personal⁠. Your support allows for me to do what I love (I am literally living the dream 😍) and gives sliding-scale access for listeners who can’t afford to donate.

This episode is the short(ish) version of a much longer story, a vulnerable accounting of why this podcast exists, and what I’m hoping will come out of it.

Spoiler alert, it's… world peace. Just kidding. What I’m really hoping is that by sharing my life, aka A Cautionary Tale, I’ll feel a little less alone in my particular brand of eccentric—and maybe you will too.

Because here’s the thing: across Canada more than 1 in 10 people aged 15 and older say they always or often feel lonely [Statistics Canada]. Among young women aged 15 to 24, that number climbs to almost 1 in 4. That’s not just a number, that’s the quiet hum a lot of us are carrying around.

And loneliness isn’t just a feeling—it shows up in the body. It’s been linked to higher risks of premature death, on par with smoking or obesity [Wikipedia]. During the pandemic, older Canadians who reported being lonely also reported far worse mental health than those who weren’t, no matter if they lived alone or not [PMC].

So this little corner of the internet is me saying: I see you. I’m making something out of my stories, my quirks, my cautions, because connection matters. It’s messy and imperfect, but it’s also funny, tender, and sometimes a little bit ridiculous. Just like being human.

FYI, this is a DIY slow space. No fancy production, just raw, filled with care, and very me. If you’re here, it means you value these quiet spaces too. Thank you for that💖.

If you can, ⁠⁠support me on Ko-fi⁠⁠ , or ⁠⁠commission something personal⁠⁠. Your support allows for me to do what I love (I am literally living the dream 😍) . Thank you, thank you, thank you!

TL;DR: Poem | Reflection. Crisis supports & ShelterSafe link in notes. Minimal edit; offered live and with care.

This episode is a poem I wrote in 2021. It’s short — under three minutes — and then I say a few things about what I hear in the poem now: someone trying to figure things out, sometimes getting it wrong, sometimes figuring it out a bit better.

Nothing groundbreaking, just a poem and a human voice you can fold into your pocket.

Trigger note: this episode includes mentions of my personal experience in an abusive relationship. If anything here raises alarm bells for you, please pause and reach out for help — you don’t have to do this alone.

If you need local help in Canada (or Toronto): call 9-1-1 in an emergency. For shelter/find-help tools and local services, ShelterSafe helps you find shelters and supports across Canada. ShelterSafeAssaulted Women’s Helpline (Ontario) offers 24/7 confidential support: GTA 416-863-0511 or toll-free 1-866-863-0511. https://www.awhl.orgVictim Services Toronto can help with immediate crisis response and referrals. victimservicestoronto.com

I believe in creating moments that make the world a little kinder. If you’d like to support that dream, you can do that through Ko-fi, where you can hear more, or commission something personal.

Today, more than 86% of the world’s population can read and write, a huge step forward. Yet at least 754 million adults still cannot—and two‑thirds of them are women. We’re making progress, and there’s still work to do. That mix of hope + effort is exactly why I share these practices.

I recorded this the morning I heard about a recent death by suicide connected to a close friend. I didn’t know the woman, but I have been her.

That’s what this episode is about: the strange intimacy of grief and how tiny practices help me stay with it. This is about company, not spectacle.

What’s inside:

• ​ A short, honest piece of my story: why I make these practices and what suicidal thinking looked like for me. Skip this section if talk of suicide is a no go for you💖.

• ​4:37 - A simple grounding practice I regularly use + a gratitude micro-exercise (not fake sunshine)

Why a gratitude practice?

Research shows structured gratitude exercises (think “counting blessings” or short gratitude meditations) reliably nudge mood, lower anxiety/depression symptoms, and help attention shift toward what’s nourishing. PubMedPMC

There’s also neuroscience that links gratitude and related practices to activity in brain regions tied to reward, value, and connection — basically, practicing gratitude helps your brain notice and value connection more often. PMCFrontiers

A few things to be very clear about, one, this is not therapy and not a crisis intervention. It’s a short, companion practice recorded as an MVP. Minimally edited, offered now because “now” matters.

If you feel like you might harm yourself, call emergency services (9-1-1) immediately. For anyone in Canada, call or text 9-8-8 for 24/7 suicide crisis support. Canada.ca 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline

For Toronto local support, Distress Centres of Greater Toronto are available at 416-408-4357 (408-HELP). Distress Centres Of Greater Toronto

If this helped (or didn’t) — please tell me. A short rating, a DM, or a line on Ko-fi helps shape the next episode and keeps this work ethical and human.

If you can, support me on Ko-fi , or commission something personal. Your support allows for me to do what I love, and gives sliding-scale access for listeners who can’t afford to donate.

Thanks for being here. I’ll keep making these small practices, as messy and human as they are. — Dani Eve (therapised, messy, stubbornly hopeful)

Quick research reads (short list in notes): Emmons & McCullough (counting blessings experiment); systematic reviews/meta-analyses of gratitude interventions (see 2023 review); accessible neuroscience summaries on gratitude and reward network changes. PubMedPMC+1PMC+1