Ever feel like certain people were put in your life just to test your patience? Whether it’s a toxic boss, a drama-loving coworker, or someone who always pushes your buttons, difficult people are everywhere. But here’s the good news—you don’t have to let them steal your peace! In this episode, we’re diving into how to handle tricky personalities, set boundaries like a boss, and keep your cool no matter what chaos comes your way.

My 6-month group for women veterinarians, Living A Life You Love is opening for enrollment on March 24-28, 2025. Here's all the info https://www.juliesquires.net/group-coaching

Five years ago, the world changed in ways we never imagined. The pandemic reshaped our lives, our fears, our resilience, and our sense of what truly matters. In this episode, we reflect on what we learned, who we became, and how we moved forward. What did we fear then, and what do we fear now? How did we adapt, and what unexpected strengths did we uncover in ourselves?

Join me in this personal and collective reflection as we look back on a time that tested us, transformed us, and—hopefully—made us better. This is an episode about survival, growth, and what it means to come out the other side with a deeper understanding of ourselves and each other.

In this episode, we’re diving into the 5 Essentials for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being as outlined by the U.S. Surgeon General. These five pillars—Protection from Harm, Connection & Community, Work-Life Harmony, Mattering at Work, and Growth Opportunities—are key to creating a work environment where people don’t just survive, but truly thrive. 

Whether you’re an employee, a leader, or just someone looking for ways to feel more supported at work, this episode will give you actionable insights to build resilience, prevent burnout and compassion fatigue, and create a healthier, happier work life. 

Here's the link to my episode #81 that I did on the Languages of Appreciation. 

An inner critic, we all have one. It's that constantly negative, judgmental voice that's always doubting you. You might be surprised to learn it's actually not you. Your inner critic is a collection of thoughts you've picked up along the way. By learning how to relate to your inner critic (I call mine Roger), you might just make a friend. Check it out! 

A trigger is anything—an event, a memory, a sound, a sensation—that activates a strong emotional or physiological response. Triggers don’t always come from major trauma; they can be shaped by past experiences, chronic stress, or even patterns from childhood that taught us what is “safe” and what isn’t.

Our brains don’t differentiate between past and present threats as well as we’d like them to. A trigger can make your nervous system react as if you are in real danger, even if you are perfectly safe in the moment.

We can't eliminate all of our triggers but we can learn how to be with them. Listen to find out more. 

Grief is never just about the loss itself—it carries ripple effects that touch every part of our lives. In this episode, I'll explore secondary losses, the often-overlooked layers of grief that arise after losing a beloved pet or person. From changes in daily routines to shifts in identity and community, I will break down how these losses manifest and how to navigate them with compassion. Tune in for insights on recognizing, honoring, and healing with self-care, so you can carry both love and loss forward in a meaningful way.

If there's one thing I love, it's a great metaphor. Life has a way of knocking us on our butts sometimes. In this episode, I'm diving into what it really means to “get back on the horse” after a setback(or in my case, a real actual fall off a horse!) So dust yourself off, take a deep breath, listen in and let’s ride again!

Mel Robbin's book The Let Them Theory is quite popular right now. But did you know it's based on a poem by Cassie Phillips called "Just Let Them"? This poem gives us the power and understanding of what it means to release control over trying to control other people and instead comprehend our own worthiness that is never in the hands of others. 

It's not too late to set your course for the year! Matter of fact, you could do this at any time throughout the year, not just in the beginning. But setting intentions for the year is just like plugging in a destination in your GPS, it sets the course. 

Here are the questions:

1. What’s the one word or phrase I want to define my life in 2025, and why does it resonate with me right now? (E.g., Freedom, Growth, Boldness)
2. What part of my life feels most aligned with who I truly am, and how can I build on that in the coming year?
3. Where am I playing small, and how can I step into my full potential with courage and confidence in 2025?
4. What’s one area of my life I’ve been avoiding or neglecting, and what small, intentional action will I take to change that?
5. What wild, audacious dream excites me but also scares me, and how will I take the first step toward it this year?
6. How do I want to show up for myself daily—mentally, physically, emotionally—and what rituals or habits will support that?
7. Who inspires me, and what qualities or actions of theirs can I embody to create a life I’m proud of?
8. What’s one area of my life where I need to let go—whether it’s control, fear, resentment, or old expectations—to move forward freely?
9. What’s a risk I can take this year that could lead to incredible growth, even if the outcome isn’t guaranteed?
10. If I were to fast forward to the end of 2025, what three moments would make me say, “This was my best year yet”?

Natural death is an interesting process. The body knows how to do it but that doesn't mean it's easy to watch. With animals we often don't get to see the dying process because we often opt to relieve suffering and provide a "good death" via euthanasia. Witnessing my father in the dying process really got me to think about the contrast between how animals die and how humans do. And I started to wonder about some unintended consequences that can result when we are used to relieving suffering.  In this episode I mention the "blue pamphlet" that hospice workers reference and recommend to family members of dying patients. It's called "Gone From My Sight: The Dying Experience" and if you or someone you know has a loved one that's dying, it might be very helpful. You can get it here.