The L Podcast

The end of the year is almost here and everyone is talking about resolutions, new goals, etc. But you can't bring new things into your life if you don't make room for them by leaving behind things that are no longer serving you. Here are the FOUR things I'm leaving in 2022 to make room for 2023! What are you leaving behind this year?

We gotta stop being full of shit and say we're going to finally do something, only to come up with excuses. For years, I always said I wanted to dye my hair a fun color: teal, turquoise, purple, and pink. Yet for 31 years I've been 50 shades of brown. Boring. Why? Because I always cared what someone might think about my "wild" hair. I didn't want to argue with my mom. I didn't want the interviewer to think I was unprofessional. I didn't want SOMEONE else to be uncomfortable about how I look. I've always put the fear and opinions of others BEFORE my own happiness. Once I stopped giving those fucks and dyed my hair anyways, I swear I unlocked a bonus level of adulthood: genuine childhood joy.

Holidays are seasons of joy but if we're being honest, it's also a season of stress. Picking the perfect gift, not burning the turkey, crowded airports and that uncle who won't shut up about politics. Holidays got me stressing all the way! And if you live with a chronic illness like my friend and guest on this episode Julia does, holidays can be pretty hard to get through. Managing a chronic illness like diabetes, which I've mentioned before, is a FULL TIME job. Diabetes doesn't take holidays or days off, so balancing how we manage our diabetes on top of holiday stress is really a skill we should be adding to our resume. In this episode we share what stresses us out the most about holidays, what self-care burnout looks like and how to manage our stress levels this holiday season. 

If you haven't, check out Julia's amazing books and work at missjflar.com. You can follow her at @missjflar on IG and twitter, as well as on FB at @RosieTheT1DWarrior. 

*Trigger Warning: talk of suicidal tendencies/ideation*

Living with mental illnesses like anxiety and depression is hard. It's not something we can just "shake off" or fix with just a bubble bath. Sometimes we need more help. Stigmas and misconceptions like being on medication means you've failed or that you'll turn into a zombie prevents people from getting the extra help they need and DESERVE. But you wanna know the truth? It's when we're OFF our meds that we don't feel like ourselves.

In this episode, my diabuddy Zina and I have a raw and transparent conversation about what life is like being on medication for our mental health, and why we encourage others to give medication a chance. 

Sometimes we need a little extra help, (and that's okay!) so here are a few resources to check out:

www.pridecounseling.com - safe support and therapy for the LGBTQ+ community

borislhensonfoundation.org - support, resources, and community for the Black community

NAMI.org - free virtual and in-person support groups and resources

Veteran's Tools - mobile apps and resources for veterans

Check out options for virtual therapy and online prescription refills:

Virtual therapy - betterhelp.com, ginger.com, amwell.com, 

Prescription Filling - forhers.com, forhims.com, brightside.com

If you don't have someone safe that you trust and need immediate help, please call or text the Suicide + Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8.

You are not alone. You are wanted in this world. 

"That doesn't look flattering on you." Ever heard that before? Most women have heard that at some point in their lives, even as early as childhood. We're constantly made aware of how much space our bodies take up, and told it's a bad thing. Have a belly? You better hide the fact that you have a pouch that holds your organs! Ridiculous. For years, I never wore certain styles or outfits because I was told that's not what people my size "should" wear. Only "skinny" people tuck their shirts in or wear fitted clothing. Guess what happened when I finally started wearing fitted clothes and tucking my shirts in? The world didn't burn down and I felt joy in wearing the clothes I WANTED. This is a zero fucks given episode, so buckle up buttercup! 

Is the age old question pushed on women as soon as we get our first period. Deciding whether or not you want to have kids isn’t as easy as picking a new ice cream flavor (butter pecan obviously), nor should it be. And even when you do decide that you want kids, the next question is WHEN? It’s tough. In this episode we talk about navigating those two hard questions and why whatever you decide is okay!

Learn more about becoming a foster parent at www.adoptuskids.org.