Author: Katherine
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Dear sun, where’d you go?
November 3, 2024, was a terrible day for those of us who thrive in the sunshine and crumble during the depths of winter. For some of us (me), day light savings is the bane of our existence. The sun begins to set earlier, and we start to think its 11pm when really, it’s 5:30pm. On…
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I thought I was allergic to nuts but really, I’m just anxious.
I was first introduced to the gut-brain axis (GBA) during my neuroscience degree at VT. We discussed how the brain and gut both influence each other in numerous way such as release of neurotransmitters and metabolites from the gut acting on the nervous system or how mental health conditions like high stress and anxiety can…
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Life Goals
We celebrated my mom’s birthday this week and one of my favorite things about her is this silly little bit she does called “LIFE GOALS.” When we think about life goals, we often think about everything we want to accomplish in our lifetime like a successful career, building a family, or following our passions. But…
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Welcoming mess!
In high school my room was notoriously messy. Clothes covered the floor, homework was all over the place, and I could never find my car keys. Over the years I have gotten much better at keeping my space clean because it helps me keep my mind at ease. I make my bed every morning and…
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Slowing down & rushing less.
Greetings friends! I hope all is well in this new month of October. I kept writing 09/01/24 for the date at work this past week so my mind is still in September mode. I find the transition from a one-digit to a two-digit month can be tricky for the brain. For those of you who…
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Fall is here, there’s a lump in my throat, & why is it so hard to set boundaries at work?
The leaves are changing colors, and the pumpkin spice girlies (including my boyfriend) are out in full force! Except for the reduced sunlight during the fall months, this season is probably my favorite. The cool air offers a nice break from the sweltering heat of summer and makes being outside more enjoyable. There is so…
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Why I’m the #1 Fan of Journaling
Last summer during a slow, rainy day at work, I was writing in my journal when my boss asked what I was doing. I showed him two pages filled with words and explained that I was journaling. He looked directly at me and said, “Holy shit, Kat. How can you even write all that when…
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Brain Dump! Does anyone even read this?
My patient cancelled this morning and therefore I’m not making any money because I only have a somewhat-kind-of-sorta-big girl job where I get paid hourly. So here I am at the public library because I can’t go sit in a cute hipster coffee shop and leech of their free Wi-Fi and NOT BUY a $7…
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Understanding Stress: Real Symptoms and Coping Strategies
Symptoms It’s a word that a lot of us are all very familiar with, whether we’d like to admit it or not. Recent life events and entering adulthood have had me thinking a lot about the body’s response to stress and the effect it can have on our overall health and well-being. Stress manifests differently,…
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Hot Girl Summer – Self-care, self-help, fitness influencers, #whatIeatinaday, & more.
I feel like the summer always encourages the “be the best version of yourself” mentality. You want to be SLAYING in the event of any spontaneous beach trips, pool time, or days on the boat. As we reach the middle-ish of summer, I have been reflecting on summer 2023. I knew I wasn’t doing well…
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West Virginia Roots
My Pappaw passed away last summer at the age of 89. He was one of the best men I knew, and there are moments where I find myself disappointed that I didn’t get to know him during my adulthood. He was a high-school teacher for most of his life, and following his passing, my mom…
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Post-grad series: #1
It’s nearly a month post-graduation, which feels like an appropriate time to check in and assess how things are going. I feel like there is a shared acknowledgement that graduating from college is bittersweet, a little bit scary, and full of a lot of change; but I also feel like there’s not enough discussion about…
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Notes app thoughts & questions.
One of the best apps on an iPhone is the notes app. It is a safe space for to-do lists, reminders, the name of that one movie you have been meaning to watch and so much more. For me, it’s where I put all of my thoughts and questions that randomly enter my mind at…