As the holidays are approaching “Family” is a tough subject for many. I often sit in silence, alone and dive deep into my thoughts and sit with my emotions. This brings me clarity and peace.

I started #growthchronicleswithjas because as I’m navigating life and facing traumas I’ve hid for years I’ve found growth and a calm I didn’t know I needed. A mental space I want to share.

Family looks different for all of us. Some have huge families, some small. Some of us have tight knit families, some estranged. Some of us are mourning loss within family as some struggle to create “life” the family you want. There’s so many variables and hard truths behind the complexities of “family”.

Being the only child has its perks as a child when I didn’t have to share or battle for attention from my parents. Now as an adult the only time it HITS me is around the holidays. I recognize that I hold on so tight to my babies because they fill a void I ignored for so long. I yearn to create a sense of togetherness and tradition so they’ll never feel how I feel.