The last few weeks have been HARD. My car was stolen (more on this later), I had a rental car for a couple weeks, I moved to a new apartment, I went through the process of buying a new car, found the stolen car 5 weeks after it was stolen, and I am now in the process of feeling secure in my car once again. It has been an emotional and psychological rollercoaster that I do not recommend. Unfortunately, life tends to throw things into life that we don’t expect and we’re all forced to deal whether we like it or not. That being said, I wanted to offer some helpful suggestions for getting through the tough times with strength and grace. 1. Feel all the feelings. Confusion, shock, pain, heartbreak, anger, fury, fear, anxiety, frustration, impatience… those are just a few of the emotions I felt the first day when I realized my car was gone. I cried. A lot. My thoughts became hurt and angry; I was confused as to why someone would do this. Despite the pain and negativity I was feeling, I allowed myself to feel all of it. Trying to avoid any of it wouldn’t allow me to get to where I…
Hello, my name is Cammy and I am a recovering perfectionist. That’s a sentence I jokingly say to many if not every one of my audiences. People can relate. Women can relate. I can laugh it off, just as they do, knowing that it’s not my entire identity and that using the word “recovering” in the sentence is like throwing everyone a liferaft before getting uncomfortable with my story. There’s no chance to drown in the pain and I’m able to keep it light enough that they feel secure in their continued listening. As an audience, they’re likely stuck with me for an hour, so we might as well laugh about it together. In reality, many of the women in that audience will feel what I’m saying deeply. We are recovering perfectionists. A struggle that is entirely mental and presents itself physically in multiple different ways. A monster that is subtle at times and all-consuming at others. It’s an experience that isn’t discussed because the secret, the imperfection, is revealed when you really talk to people about what’s going on. The nasty little voice keeps a perfectionist isolated, pained, searching for some way to fill the bottomless pit of desire…
The holidays are officially behind us and we are well on our way into the new year! Happy 2019! How many of you created a new years resolution? I imagine it sounded something like this.. – Exercise more – Lose weight – Eat more healthily – Take a more active approach to health – Learn something new – Spend more time on well-being – Drink less alcohol If you can see yourself in one of these resolutions, I want to cheer you on and let you know this change is absolutely possible for you! You CAN make this change. We just need to work on a little something as you shift into this new habit. If you’re only a week into this new year and you already feel like giving up – don’t! You’ve done that too many times before and you deserve more than that. Instead of criticizing yourself for falling off track, try taking a new approach. Together, we can get you to that end goal you crave for yourself. As a coach, I’m here to support you and your goals! As a human, I know it’s not always easy to make changes. I’ve had to make changes…
Throughout the entirety of my middle and high school experience, I was terrified of boys. I did not understand them and the thought of interacting with one who was interested in me was like standing naked in the middle of the school commons. I had 0, and I mean ZERO interest in that attention. Did I have crushes on boys? Yes, but God knows I wasn’t going to do anything about it. One of my most distinct memories of these “romantic” interactions I so feared took place in middle school. One boy in particular had been interested in me for a few years. I was aware, but as I already said, I had no interest in reciprocating these feelings. He was not prepared to take no for an answer. Neither was his best friend. One day in particular, I remember his best friend repeatedly asking me to “go out” with this boy. Mind you, “going out” in middle school simply meant people would know we were “together”. His best friend repeatedly found me throughout the day and kept asking, “will you go out with him?” Each time I would respond with a strong no. In between classes, while passing…
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book. This portion, in particular, comes from a chapter on having the courage to choose yourself and healing your heart. I’ve been in the repetitive cycle when I could count on disappointment and felt at fault for everything. He is never going to suddenly change and choose you. It’s on you to choose you. I know this is a lot easier said than done, but love is not supposed to hurt. Love is not supposed to hurt. Love is not supposed to hurt. I’m still working through some of my own desire to dive into a old habits, but I’m in a much happier place now than I was when I was deeply invested in that relationship. The girl that ran the show when I was in that relationship is not who I am now. She was hurt, sad, confused, and constantly searched for some validation from him. I look back on her and have so much love for her heart. She tried so hard, gave up so much of herself to make that relationship work. She was doing the best she could. She was doing the best she could with…
One of the most common comments I receive from the young audiences I speak to is that I’m one of few people who actually tell them it’s okay to do less. Today, I decided I wanted to send the same message to you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or under immense pressure to do it all and have all the answers, I’m here to give you permission to release. Please, breathe more and slow down. You don’t have to change the world or revolutionize your life in one day. It’s not possible. That takes time. There are, however, a few things you can do today to release pressure and create more ease. These are my go-to that I would love to share with you… 1. Write yourself a permission slip This is one of my favorite activities to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Remember when you were a kid and you had to carry that permission slip home from school to get your parents signature? Yes, I’m talking about that kind of permission slip. You no longer need the permission of a parent, but we tend to be pretty stingy about giving ourselves permission. If you need to…
I kid you not – there was once a time when a toaster was my symbol of success. It sounds ridiculous now but you might be surprised to find yourself relating to this. Just a few years ago, I sat at the bridal shower of a close family member and sat in awe as she opened generous gifts to fill her home. As we watched her open her gifts, I could only see the distance between where I was and where I wanted to be. She opened beautiful salad bowls, luxurious towels, expensive pots and pans, and… a toaster. “I don’t even have a toaster!” I muttered under my breath. My mom, sitting next to me, giggled to herself and gave me a loving look. At that time, I was living in a beautiful condo with another young woman who was much farther in her evolution into womanhood than I was. At the time, I was making a shift into living by myself for the first time in my life and felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of things I didn’t have. In my perspective, a toaster was the most basic of the kitchen supplies I didn’t have. The distance…
The most creative person I know, once again, blew my mind with her imagination and, well, creativity. If you’re looking for a cute way to decorate your home, wedding, special event, or if you’re heading into a parade this summer…I have just the idea for you! I’m really fortunate to have a mom who is endlessly inspiring in her innovation, decoration and personal style. Every Christmas she has the most beautiful home and every summer she has the most adorable back yard. This year, however, she didn’t want to invest in her go-to (geraniums) just to throw them away in the fall. What did she do instead? I have two words for you: Pool. Noodles. That’s right – my mother the creative genius made 4 beautiful bouquets to decorate the pool with POOL NOODLES. Is your jaw on the floor yet? If yes, read on. I have all details on how you can make these for yourself! Well, almost all of them. The key to these is to make them your own! Cost: Afternoon in front of tv to make 1 hr per pot to put together $8/noodle 30 to begin with – used…
Allow me to drop a truth bomb from the very beginning here: No relationship will ever be worth giving up any bit of yourself. Please know that I say this from a place of deep love. If you’re feeling like you’ve silenced yourself for too long, you’ve bent yourself to fit what you think will work better, you’ve ruined friendships, or sacrificed your own happiness to stay in something that feels familiar over making a scary change…. Girl, I’ve been there. In fact, my longest relationship came from doing exactly that. I choose “security” and “happiness” over myself. Throughout the time I was in that relationship (years) there were countless nights that I cried myself to sleep. Standing in the shower trying to convince myself I wasn’t crying, it was just the shower on my face. I used to scream out at the universe to tell me why I could count on disappointment, not my person. I was lonely in a relationship. I gave everything I had, whether it was a piece of my heart or my sanity, I was quick to give it up. At the end of it, I was miserable. I was heartbroken, confused, and disappointed. Ultimately, he…
When it comes to managing my anxiety, there are a few tricks I’ve tried over the years that have become reliable tools in my toolbox. For those of you who are learning to cope with your mental health or if you’re looking to learn more, I wanted to share my strategies with you! Medication Yes. That’s right I’m taking an anti-anxiety medication every day. I know there can still be a stigma for some around taking medication. I’ve heard the comments about being on medication for the rest of my life and, frankly, that question is in direct opposition to how I approach life. Managing anxiety and growing is about taking like one day at a time. Today, it works for me. Tomorrow might be different. I don’t know what my life will look like in 5 years so I can’t answer the “rest of my life” questions. What I know today is that I am happier and emotionally stable because my brain is regulated. Exercise – 30 minutes This is a practice. My body, my brain, and my stress levels all benefit from my choice to stay active and get my heart rate up for 30 minutes 5 days…
My Top 5 Strategies for the Garbage Fire Days of Life
The last few weeks have been HARD. My car was stolen (more on this later), I had a rental car for a couple weeks, I moved to a new apartment, I went through the process of buying a new car, found the stolen car 5 weeks after it was stolen, and I am now in the process of feeling secure in my car once again. It has been an emotional and psychological rollercoaster that I do not recommend. Unfortunately, life tends to throw things into life that we don’t expect and we’re all forced to deal whether we like it or not. That being said, I wanted to offer some helpful suggestions for getting through the tough times with strength and grace. 1. Feel all the feelings. Confusion, shock, pain, heartbreak, anger, fury, fear, anxiety, frustration, impatience… those are just a few of the emotions I felt the first day when I realized my car was gone. I cried. A lot. My thoughts became hurt and angry; I was confused as to why someone would do this. Despite the pain and negativity I was feeling, I allowed myself to feel all of it. Trying to avoid any of it wouldn’t allow me to get to where I…
The Pursuit of Perfection
Hello, my name is Cammy and I am a recovering perfectionist. That’s a sentence I jokingly say to many if not every one of my audiences. People can relate. Women can relate. I can laugh it off, just as they do, knowing that it’s not my entire identity and that using the word “recovering” in the sentence is like throwing everyone a liferaft before getting uncomfortable with my story. There’s no chance to drown in the pain and I’m able to keep it light enough that they feel secure in their continued listening. As an audience, they’re likely stuck with me for an hour, so we might as well laugh about it together. In reality, many of the women in that audience will feel what I’m saying deeply. We are recovering perfectionists. A struggle that is entirely mental and presents itself physically in multiple different ways. A monster that is subtle at times and all-consuming at others. It’s an experience that isn’t discussed because the secret, the imperfection, is revealed when you really talk to people about what’s going on. The nasty little voice keeps a perfectionist isolated, pained, searching for some way to fill the bottomless pit of desire…
5 Simple Steps To Crush Your Goals!
The holidays are officially behind us and we are well on our way into the new year! Happy 2019! How many of you created a new years resolution? I imagine it sounded something like this.. – Exercise more – Lose weight – Eat more healthily – Take a more active approach to health – Learn something new – Spend more time on well-being – Drink less alcohol If you can see yourself in one of these resolutions, I want to cheer you on and let you know this change is absolutely possible for you! You CAN make this change. We just need to work on a little something as you shift into this new habit. If you’re only a week into this new year and you already feel like giving up – don’t! You’ve done that too many times before and you deserve more than that. Instead of criticizing yourself for falling off track, try taking a new approach. Together, we can get you to that end goal you crave for yourself. As a coach, I’m here to support you and your goals! As a human, I know it’s not always easy to make changes. I’ve had to make changes…
Running From The Mob
Throughout the entirety of my middle and high school experience, I was terrified of boys. I did not understand them and the thought of interacting with one who was interested in me was like standing naked in the middle of the school commons. I had 0, and I mean ZERO interest in that attention. Did I have crushes on boys? Yes, but God knows I wasn’t going to do anything about it. One of my most distinct memories of these “romantic” interactions I so feared took place in middle school. One boy in particular had been interested in me for a few years. I was aware, but as I already said, I had no interest in reciprocating these feelings. He was not prepared to take no for an answer. Neither was his best friend. One day in particular, I remember his best friend repeatedly asking me to “go out” with this boy. Mind you, “going out” in middle school simply meant people would know we were “together”. His best friend repeatedly found me throughout the day and kept asking, “will you go out with him?” Each time I would respond with a strong no. In between classes, while passing…
It’s Not Supposed To Hurt
The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book. This portion, in particular, comes from a chapter on having the courage to choose yourself and healing your heart. I’ve been in the repetitive cycle when I could count on disappointment and felt at fault for everything. He is never going to suddenly change and choose you. It’s on you to choose you. I know this is a lot easier said than done, but love is not supposed to hurt. Love is not supposed to hurt. Love is not supposed to hurt. I’m still working through some of my own desire to dive into a old habits, but I’m in a much happier place now than I was when I was deeply invested in that relationship. The girl that ran the show when I was in that relationship is not who I am now. She was hurt, sad, confused, and constantly searched for some validation from him. I look back on her and have so much love for her heart. She tried so hard, gave up so much of herself to make that relationship work. She was doing the best she could. She was doing the best she could with…
I Hereby Give You Permission To Do Less
One of the most common comments I receive from the young audiences I speak to is that I’m one of few people who actually tell them it’s okay to do less. Today, I decided I wanted to send the same message to you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or under immense pressure to do it all and have all the answers, I’m here to give you permission to release. Please, breathe more and slow down. You don’t have to change the world or revolutionize your life in one day. It’s not possible. That takes time. There are, however, a few things you can do today to release pressure and create more ease. These are my go-to that I would love to share with you… 1. Write yourself a permission slip This is one of my favorite activities to do when I’m feeling overwhelmed. Remember when you were a kid and you had to carry that permission slip home from school to get your parents signature? Yes, I’m talking about that kind of permission slip. You no longer need the permission of a parent, but we tend to be pretty stingy about giving ourselves permission. If you need to…
Toasting to Success
I kid you not – there was once a time when a toaster was my symbol of success. It sounds ridiculous now but you might be surprised to find yourself relating to this. Just a few years ago, I sat at the bridal shower of a close family member and sat in awe as she opened generous gifts to fill her home. As we watched her open her gifts, I could only see the distance between where I was and where I wanted to be. She opened beautiful salad bowls, luxurious towels, expensive pots and pans, and… a toaster. “I don’t even have a toaster!” I muttered under my breath. My mom, sitting next to me, giggled to herself and gave me a loving look. At that time, I was living in a beautiful condo with another young woman who was much farther in her evolution into womanhood than I was. At the time, I was making a shift into living by myself for the first time in my life and felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of things I didn’t have. In my perspective, a toaster was the most basic of the kitchen supplies I didn’t have. The distance…
How To: Make Your Own Noodle Blooms!
The most creative person I know, once again, blew my mind with her imagination and, well, creativity. If you’re looking for a cute way to decorate your home, wedding, special event, or if you’re heading into a parade this summer…I have just the idea for you! I’m really fortunate to have a mom who is endlessly inspiring in her innovation, decoration and personal style. Every Christmas she has the most beautiful home and every summer she has the most adorable back yard. This year, however, she didn’t want to invest in her go-to (geraniums) just to throw them away in the fall. What did she do instead? I have two words for you: Pool. Noodles. That’s right – my mother the creative genius made 4 beautiful bouquets to decorate the pool with POOL NOODLES. Is your jaw on the floor yet? If yes, read on. I have all details on how you can make these for yourself! Well, almost all of them. The key to these is to make them your own! Cost: Afternoon in front of tv to make 1 hr per pot to put together $8/noodle 30 to begin with – used…
Why I Stayed
Allow me to drop a truth bomb from the very beginning here: No relationship will ever be worth giving up any bit of yourself. Please know that I say this from a place of deep love. If you’re feeling like you’ve silenced yourself for too long, you’ve bent yourself to fit what you think will work better, you’ve ruined friendships, or sacrificed your own happiness to stay in something that feels familiar over making a scary change…. Girl, I’ve been there. In fact, my longest relationship came from doing exactly that. I choose “security” and “happiness” over myself. Throughout the time I was in that relationship (years) there were countless nights that I cried myself to sleep. Standing in the shower trying to convince myself I wasn’t crying, it was just the shower on my face. I used to scream out at the universe to tell me why I could count on disappointment, not my person. I was lonely in a relationship. I gave everything I had, whether it was a piece of my heart or my sanity, I was quick to give it up. At the end of it, I was miserable. I was heartbroken, confused, and disappointed. Ultimately, he…
My Go-To Strategies for Managing Anxiety
When it comes to managing my anxiety, there are a few tricks I’ve tried over the years that have become reliable tools in my toolbox. For those of you who are learning to cope with your mental health or if you’re looking to learn more, I wanted to share my strategies with you! Medication Yes. That’s right I’m taking an anti-anxiety medication every day. I know there can still be a stigma for some around taking medication. I’ve heard the comments about being on medication for the rest of my life and, frankly, that question is in direct opposition to how I approach life. Managing anxiety and growing is about taking like one day at a time. Today, it works for me. Tomorrow might be different. I don’t know what my life will look like in 5 years so I can’t answer the “rest of my life” questions. What I know today is that I am happier and emotionally stable because my brain is regulated. Exercise – 30 minutes This is a practice. My body, my brain, and my stress levels all benefit from my choice to stay active and get my heart rate up for 30 minutes 5 days…