I came across an article the other week that made me stop. Since I started writing openly five years ago, I've found a lot of incredible advice online on how to deal with grief. The advice I read in this article — taken from a Reddit thread — was spot on and beautifully put. I knew you'd understand & appreciate it too.

Your inner child is that innermost part of you, the "original" you, that still sees and responds to the world as an innocent child does. It doesn't really matter if you're familiar with this term or not, though — this is an open letter to my inner child that might be everything you didn't even know you needed to hear.

Thinking about death doesn't need to be something we live our lives avoiding. There's a great fear of dying, but if we talk about it, and listen, we'd hear the truth: that "mostly it is loss which teaches us about the worth of things." It's why I find solace in these quotes about death and dying, and hope you will too.

There are a million ways to pray, many roads we could take that would lead to the same place. There's one thing I feel to be true about it: no matter how you pray or what you pray for, prayer is a lot like love. Above all else, I hope this poem inspires how you love. In the end, it's all about how we've loved, isn't it?

I never thought I'd say "I don't drink," but this past Sunday marked six months since I've had a sip of alcohol. The most surprising part of it all? I'm happier sober. And I don't say that lightly. I've dealt with depression most of my life. But after my brother committed suicide, I made it a priority to take care of myself.

It's been 9 years since my brother's suicide. Life since then has been... everything. Heavy and light. Lackluster and full of wisdom. Somehow, still beautiful. I wanted to share some things I've given up and some things I'm still doing to take care of myself. May my self-help laundry list shed some light on your own.

May we have the courage to greet each new beginning (and each decision) with an open heart. Whether you need to start over or keep going, I hope this prayer inspires you to keep hope alive, to trust in love one more time, and to take care of yourself along the way. The best changes start on the inside, with you.

Often called the most beloved poet in America, Mary Oliver was the first name I had in mind when I decided to read more poetry this year. Her deep sense of wonder, natural imagery, and simple language pulled me in; the solace I found in her words kept me there.

It could be a word. The way someone phrases what you could never put words to. A memory. Something you see in the sky, in the street, in someone's eyes. And just that one thing, in that moment, can spark change in your heart. It could mean the difference between who you've been, and who you're becoming. It could mean hope instead of fear, joy where there was pain—light in the darkness. It could mean everything.

When someone you love dies, you know how hard it is to grow through that. No matter how long it's been. If you're intent on making beauty out of the pain they left behind, but you still can't help thinking how good it'd feel to trade everything away, for just a minute more with them, here's a poem for that.