Love Through Music

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I’m posting my second of four LOVE blogs during February of 2025 on Valentine’s Day. How exciting?!

I’ve been trying to figure out what title to give this blog. I don’t have one as I’m writing these words. It’s inspired by one I wrote back in 2022. I wrote “10 Songs for Mental Health Support.” This one is similar. I could likely use the same title and make it a part two. However, I’m looking at this one a little differently.

I have a list of 14 songs. They’re all songs that have impacted my mental health in some way. They’re all songs I’ve heard while listening to my favorite radio station, K-Love. They’re all songs from Christian artists.

I initially thought about naming this blog God’s Love or God’s Love Through Music. I’ve thought about naming it Love Through Music. I’ve thought about keeping Mental Health in the title and adding Love somehow.

You’ll obviously know what I named it before you reach this sentence. I’m including my thought process about the title because it feels important.

I have mentioned in sprinkles here and there, through my blog, that I believe in God. However, I know people can feel some type of way when God or religion is mentioned. I don’t want this blog to feel polarizing. I’m not writing it to sway anyone to believe what I believe. I want to stay far away from the Christian’s who are deep into racist beliefs, bigotry, spreading hate, fear mongering, etc.

I want people to read this blog to potentially find songs that may help their mental health and ultimately realize how truly loved they are. Sure, I’m pointing out how this specific love comes from God, but I’m also trying to get across the point that no matter how dark your life gets, you’re worthy of love. God’s love, of course, but also self love. You deserve to love yourself for every unique and wonderful detail about you. Maybe you won’t ever believe there’s a God out there that loves you, but I hope you can learn to love yourself.

So, with all that being said, I’ll drop the list of songs/artists and then explain why they have impacted me. If you want to listen to them first and then check back in, that would be fun!

  1. “Flowers” – Samantha Ebert
  2. “First Things First” – Consumed By Fire
  3. “You” – Apollo LTD
  4. “Move” – Mercy Me
  5. “Be Alright” – Evan Craft
  6. “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” – Danny Gokey
  7. “Good Day” – Forrest Frank
  8. “Church” – Cochran & Co.
  9. “I Will Carry You” – Ellie Holcomb
  10. “The Truth” – Megan Woods
  11. “When I Fall” – Katy Nichole
  12. “Together” – For King and Country
  13. “He Sees You” – Terrian
  14. “Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald

If you listened first, then welcome back! If you kept reading and might listen later, here is a bit about why these songs have impacted me.

  1. “Flowers” – Samantha Ebert
    • If you don’t want to read all of the songs and my justification for choosing them, at least read this one. It’s one that I heard only a few days ago for the first time. It spoke to me, not even just for the beautiful singing, but for the deep message. I cannot even begin to tell how many times I have cried out to God in a “desperate prayer.” I never understood why I went through all the struggles I did from 19-31. I’m not claiming my life is perfect now at 32, but I am saying I’ve been praying a lot more “grateful prayers” than anything else. This song shows that no matter what you’re experiencing in life, God has a plan for you. He loves you. He may not be able to explain it in words, but hopefully one day you will see it. I cannot promise that life will get better. There are so many examples of life not getting better. I can say though that you are loved and no matter how hard life gets, God loves you, and so many other people love you. You deserve love in the”valleys” so when you’re looking down from the mountain one day, all you see are “Flowers.”
  2. “First Things First” – Consumed By Fire
    • This song hit me in a different way than some of the others on the list. It made me think about where my love lies. I have a desire to make a difference in this world and to impact the mental health conversation in a positive way. I also have a desire to publish a book that potentially sells a million or more copies. I don’t necessarily want to be famous, but being “famous” gives me more of an opportunity to help others. I hope that I don’t ever find myself worried about the “riches and fame and all they could ever buy.” I want my focus to be on God’s love and helping people not only feel my love for them, but more importantly, God’s love.
  3. “You” – Apollo LTD
    • Okay, maybe this one should be number one? I didn’t really list these in any specific order and I’m doing a relisten of most as I write this to ensure I get the message across. One of the lyrics is “It can be a hard, hard thing just being alive.” I told most of my clients through CPS and I tell my clients at my current job that being a human is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. It truly is so incredibly hard living on some days. I would recommend looking up the chorus to this song. It speaks to how truly loved you are just for being alive and being yourself. You were chosen to be here just as you are. You don’t have to prove your worth to anyone. God’s not giving up on you and you shouldn’t give up on yourself either! You deserve to love yourself, just as you are.
  4. “Move” – MercyMe
    • This one is a little more upbeat and one you can grove a bit too but still packs a hefty message. It’s similar to the song “Brighter Days” by Blessing Offor that was included in my mental health songs list. Basically, it mentions there will be brighter days. It encourages us to keep moving forward and look for the light. Again, I cannot make promises that everything will work out how you want, but there are days that have more light than others. God wants us to know that He’s the light and to trust in Him to make it shine for you. He wants you to feel joy even though it’s not promised every day. He loves you even in the darkness.
  5. “Be Alright” – Evan Craft
    • I love the English and Spanish blend in this song. It’s truly magical. If you know the classic children’s song that says, “He’s got the whole world in His hands,” then you will appreciate this grown-up version. It acknowledges how often we feel like our worlds are falling apart. We beg for them to get put back together. The message is basically that He’s got us in His hands. How comforting is that? Even if pieces feel like they’re falling, you’re not slipping through God’s hands. He’s got you. He loves you. You deserve to love yourself, to pick up your pieces, and keep moving forward.
  6. “Tell Your Heart to Beat Again” – Danny Gokey
    • Every time I hear the lyric “tell your heart to beat again,” I get emotional. I cannot tell you how many days I felt like an empty shell. I couldn’t feel anything. It reminds you that regardless of the choices you’ve made in the past, you can let those go, and “tell your heart to beat again.” You are not your past. God has carried you through the darkness and He will continue to be there for you in your time of need. You’ve successfully made it through 100% of your hardest days. You deserve to love yourself and find love in living life.
  7. “Good Day” – Forrest Frank
    • If this isn’t a song to get your day going, then I don’t know what is. This song is such a bop. “I know He’s got my back,” is a helpful reminder as to why we should happily sing that we’re going to have a good day. I always feel happier after this song. I highly recommend listening to it every morning to get you motivated to keep pushing through, even if things look bleak. God loves you and He’s got your back.
  8. “Church” – Cochran & Co.
    • When I first heard this song, I didn’t know how to feel. After the fourth or fifth time I found myself singing along and really feeling like it was a song I needed to hear. For so long I avoided church because the people I’ve met through my times going, have tended to not be great people. My friends (now family) in Texas introduced me to a church that pretty much saved my life. I don’t know what I would have done had I not started going there regularly the last year or so living there. I needed that time to really recognize that God had my back, and even if I only felt one hour of true peace a week, it could sustain me. I rarely talked to anyone there because I was there just to listen and have a moment to myself. Now, I was blessed to meet a friend who would introduce me to my partner and lead me to attending the most beautiful church. I’ve never felt so loved by a church in my life. It’s amazing to find so many beautiful people that love God, love themselves, and love others so deeply. I’m eternally grateful to be around so much love in a church. It may take a while, but keep searching. Find a church that truly embraces God’s love and are true examples of God’s love in human form.
  9. “I Will Carry You” – Ellie Holcomb
    • I think another fairly well-known Christian symbolism is the footprints in the sand. It speaks to God carrying us when we need him. There are so many reasons to feel anxious, depressed, and so many other emotions, but at all points in the day, God is willing to carry you. He loves you, no matter what state you’re in. I truly appreciate the lyric that states God is not ashamed of you. This is another one that reminds us, no matter what we have done, God loves us. “You are not the sum of your mistakes.” You are so much more than the decisions you have made in this life. You are not valued by what you can give to others, you are truly valued simply for existing.
  10. “The Truth” – Megan Woods
    • This one speaks to how many lies we tell ourselves. How many times have you told yourself that you’re ugly, that you’re not smart enough, that you’re not worthy of joy. “He looks at me and wouldn’t change a thing.” God sees you and wouldn’t change a thing! How amazing is that to hear? To know that someone can love you just as you are. “I don’t belong to the lies; I belong to you.” These lies you’ve been telling yourself can’t keep holding on to you. Let them go and know that you are SO LOVED! You are beautiful! You are intelligent! You are worthy of so much joy!
  11. “When I Fall” – Katy Nichole
    • Goodness, I could paste a huge amount of the lyrics here. The beginning of the song is about feeling like you have nothing left to give. You’ve found yourself so down you can’t imagine continuing to fight to stay alive. “I’ve prayed all the prayers I have to pray.” Seriously. I questioned quite a bit for a while whether God truly cared. How many more prayers could I pray? Why wasn’t anything changing? You can’t really see anything good when you’re drowning in so much bad. I don’t know the plans God has for you. I’ve already mentioned not being able to promise that things will end up how you hope, but there are good days. There is joy. God is there to catch you when you fall.
  12. “Together” – For King and Country
    • This song ends with “Together we are dangerous. Together with our differences. Together we are bolder, braver, stronger.” This song tags along with number #11 and maybe even #8. We are not meant to be alone. Community is so important. If we fall, yes, God is there to catch us, but your community should be there to catch you as well. I feel the ending lyrics speak to the power of diversity. Our differences, our unique abilities, our unique selves make us a powerful team. Valuing all the unique things humans have to offer is so important. We are stronger together. What you may lack, someone can pick up the slack in. It’s beautiful. Find your people. They are out there. It may take a while but keep searching! You are worthy of not just God’s love, but of the love that the right people are able to show.
  13. “He Sees You” – Terrian
    • I love the similar messaging in a large amount of the songs. This one doesn’t provide any additional themes that I haven’t mentioned, but gosh, it’s a beautiful song. Sometimes, a different beat and a different voice can make you see things differently. Maybe one of the previous songs wasn’t how you needed to receive the message. Try this one. God sees you. You are not your past. Bring your fears, worries, tears, etc. to God and let him help you. God LOVES you.
  14. “Desperate” – Jamie MacDonald
    • This is another I heard for the first time fairly recently. It’s another similar concept, probably most similar to what I wrote under #11. Sometimes you’ll be desperate. Life is going to be hard. Life is going to test us. People are going to make us angry and hurt us even when it makes no sense. For some, the main source of hope that they can find is in God. It’s okay to cry out and ask for help. He hears you. He loves you.

Y’all. I thought I had 15 songs when I started writing this blog. I had 15 pictures of songs that I’ve been accumulating since 2023 in the event that I wanted to make a similar song blog. I realized that one of the pictures was just a random song that I liked and not one that was related to this topic. I was feeling weird about having 14 and my mom immediately pointed out that 14 is literally perfect. Today is February 14, 2025. I wanted to post this blog on Valentine’s Day, and it is perfect to have 14 songs on the 14th! I didn’t even know how many songs I had accumulated until I started writing. I love when God sends us little moments of joy.

I hope you’ll take time to listen to at least one of these songs. I know it may be hard for some of you considering it’s so based on the God I believe in. However, please remember, regardless of your belief, the end message is still the same. You are worthy of love. You don’t have to prove your worth to anyone. If we don’t love ourselves, we can lose hope. We’re not always going to have the support we deserve around, so we need to have love in our hearts for ourselves.

Regardless of what your Valentine’s Day plans are, you deserve to feel love today. I love you all! Be kind to yourself. Being a human is hard. You’re doing great!

Commercialized Love

I’m singing in my head right now. I’m stoked about my plan for blogs in February of 2025. This is the first idea for a set of blog concepts I plan to publish in February.

Every Friday I plan to publish a blog related to LOVE! How exciting, right? I refer to February as “the love month” because of Valentine’s Day and because why not? What better way to celebrate “the love month” than to publish love related blogs!

I haven’t written them all out in their entirety yet, but I have brainstormed and the concept ideas are ready to go.

So, to start out this set of four LOVE blogs in February, I plan to discuss commercialized love.

I imagine most people have heard the main complaints related to Valentine’s Day.

“It’s too commercialized.”

“You shouldn’t only show your partner love on Valentine’s Day, it should happen every day.”

“You shouldn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day because society says you have to.”

Everyone is allowed to have their opinion. I’m not here to make you feel any type of way if these are things you say.

I’m simply going to look at these statements from the perspective of how I’ve experienced Valentine’s Day.

Every year, as a kid, I would wake up to a small stuffed animal and a box of conversation hearts. My mom would sneak in our rooms at night and leave them somewhere in the room for my brother and I to find.

Later on in the day there would be a knock on our home door. My grandpa would be standing there with two red roses, to give my mom and I. They were either fake or made of chocolate. I can see my sweet grandpa’s face so vividly from those memories.

When I was 14, I had my first real boyfriend. I remember celebrating my first Valentine’s Day as someone’s girlfriend. I was so giddy because my mom and grandpa had always made the day special. I don’t remember what I got him, but I remember exactly what he got me. It was literally the cutest thing. I can’t remember the order he gave me the gifts, but I loved all three of them. One was a dragon statue. One was a giraffe statue with two giraffes. The last one was a heart locket/necklace.

How precious that a 14-year-old could be so perceptive. I loved dragons, I even had a pair of green dragon shoes around that time. Giraffes have been my favorite animal for as long as I can remember. I’m obsessed with lockets, but I don’t know if that started before or after I was gifted my first one at 14.

I still have the giraffe statue and the locket. I’m not sure what happened to my dragon statue, but the memory of it is perfectly preserved in my brain.

I didn’t celebrate a Valentine’s Day again until I met my ex-husband at 18. Guess who was the one I first heard those three statements above from? Yep.

That man did not believe in celebrating Valentine’s Day. How disappointing for someone that loved the concept.

I tried to understand his perspective, but it disappointed me every time that we didn’t do anything to celebrate together. I had to move on with my disappointment quickly because his birthday was the day after Valentine’s Day, so the focus shifted to him. The last Valentine’s Day before we separated he had a realization that it didn’t matter as much how he felt about the day, and he should try to make it special since I enjoyed the day. It wasn’t enough to repair all the issues we had, not that this had anything to do with why we split.

I had one other relationship that overlapped Valentine’s Day between that one and now, but good golly, I’ve been able to block that one out so amazingly. I have zero memories of anything we may or may not have done to celebrate the day.

After my son was born, I continued on with the tradition my mom created for me. He loves his bear from his first Valentine’s Day more than any of his stuffies.

When this is published, we’ll be a week away from my first Valentine’s Day as a girlfriend in around eight years. My gifts for my partner are on standby. The gifts for our kiddos are purchased. I’ve been informed that I get to sit by and be adorable while secret Valentine’s Day surprises are in the works.

This brings me back to those three statements.

Sure, you could argue that the commercialization of Valentine’s Day adds so much pressure to a person. I’ve written about peer pressure, and holidays are some of the biggest reasons people feel pressure because they compare themselves to others.

No, you don’t need to celebrate Valentine’s Day simply because society told you so. If you don’t want to, then don’t. If you don’t have the money, don’t go into debt because of society pressure.

I’ll never be able to justify someone saying you shouldn’t only show someone love on Valentine’s Day. Who started that train of thought? In what world would Valentine’s Day be the only day someone shows love to the people they love? If you’re doing that, you definitely need to reevaluate your choices.

Christmas and Easter shouldn’t be the only days people acknowledge God/Jesus. For Americans, the Fourth of July likely isn’t the only day you feel patriotic. It’s the same concept. Having a commercialized day to celebrate love doesn’t negate your responsibility to show your partner love on the daily.

My grandpa wouldn’t dream of my grandma not having flowers sitting across from her to look at. My mom loved making our favorite food or taking us out for ice cream as a fun treat randomly. As my partner and I continue to grow our love for each other, we are taking active efforts to learn what each other need to feel appreciated and loved.

I’m constantly popping up with random things in my mailbox that made me think of my partner because I tend to show love by giving gifts. The reality is, that sweet man doesn’t really need surprises as much as he needs me to sit next to him and scroll through funny videos together or to be there to cheer him on while he catches another fish at the lake.

Basically, what this blog boils down to is, you need to do what works for you and the person you want to show love to.

If y’all truly don’t want to have anything to do with the commercialized aspect of the day, then that’s cool! Just make sure you or your partner aren’t just saying it to appease the other.

If you want to avoid the heart shaped, heart patterned, red, and pink extravagance that is Valentine’s Day, try something creative that works for you and your partner.

If you’re single, treat yo self!

If you’re a parent, surprise your kids in some way.

If a friend or group of friends is available, make it a fun friend day!

I asked on my socials for people to comment what they like to do for Valentine’s Day if they are trying to avoid the commercialization. A few people commented.

My sister-in-law and brother turn Valentine’s Day into a second Thanksgiving. They adore Thanksgiving and aren’t into the typical Valentine’s Day types of celebrations. So, how fun is it to bring back the foods that you generally don’t eat often, if at all, outside of on Thanksgiving.

One of my Texas friends mentioned really not enjoying gift holidays unless it involved her getting Lego’s. She’s literally the coolest person, and I love the idea of seeing her so happy after getting a cute Lego set.

A Kentucky friend suggested watching the stars with your partner. I’ve also loved the idea of getting a blanket and going somewhere peaceful and admiring the beauty of the night sky!

Here are a few other ideas that I think would be fun:

For couples:

  1. Go to the library or book store and you each pick out a book for the other person.
  2. Play card games/board games. They have ones specifically for couples that could be neat to check out.
  3. Research unique things about your city and see if there are any places you could explore and capture fun moments in pictures.
  4. Try a creative activity where you make something for each other. I enjoy the trend where couples try to paint the other. A pottery class would be neat. Trying out a new outlet that yall haven’t done before could be fun. I tried crocheting again the other day. That could be a unique challenge for most!
  5. Try a physical activity. I’ve been wanting to break out my roller blades for a minute. Roller blading/skating is a fun idea! I know a lot of places are still cold in February. So, maybe find a hotel with an indoor pool and go check that out!

For single people:

  1. Give yourself a budget and then go to your favorite store and buy only things you want.
  2. Go spend hours in your local library/ bookstore. No one is there to tell you they’re bored, so it’s perfect!
  3. Grab some friends and go to one of those paint/drinking places if your town has one. If it doesn’t, go grab some painting supplies, some drink choices, and make your own!
  4. Go to your local animal shelter and volunteer or check in on the animals. Maybe consider fostering animals!
  5. Take yourself to the movies. This used to make me so uncomfortable, but one year my church, in Texas, offered a parents night out, and I went to see a movie by myself, and I loved it. I didn’t have to share any snacks or take anyone to the bathroom. It was so nice. Give it a shot!

For the kids:

  1. Maybe consider having a “Yes Day” if you haven’t already designated another day for that. Kids tend to hear no a lot, so letting them feel a sense of freedom can be empowering for them. It can even just be a yes evening or yes hour. Whatever works for you and your family.
  2. Let your kiddos pick what to have for dinner and cook it if it’s developmentally appropriate! A family cooking activity can be lots of fun.
  3. Start a tradition of making a craft/activity related to the day. Maybe have everyone write down 5 things they love about themselves and their family members and spend a while sharing.
  4. Let the kiddos build a fort in the living room or another room large enough for everyone to have a sleepover in for the night. Spending quality time together is huge for children to feel loved, and it doesn’t cost a thing to hang out at home in close proximity!
  5. Make Valentine’s Day themed desserts. I don’t know any kid that doesn’t like making and eating sweets.

Just have fun!

Ignore the pressure and do what works for you! It doesn’t matter if you spend money or not. Continue to show your loved ones love all year, but don’t be scared to have a little fun by jumping in with the commercialization aspects sometimes. It’s totally okay to follow trends. You’re not lame because you bought a silly stuffed animal or enjoy heart shaped candy. It’s okay to enjoy the things that are over done in media and are gimmicky. If anyone judges you, they need to do some internal reflection and mind their business.

I hope y’all have an amazing Valentine’s Day regardless of what you do! Keep your eyes out for the next few LOVE blogs or go read them now if you’re reading this far into the future!

You are worthy of love. You are loved by so many even if you don’t realize it! Take care of yourself! Being a human is hard.

ADHD, Maybe?

I have numerous reasons why I started writing this blog.

  1. I wanted to work on Bucket List item number 54. (Write a blog a week at least one year.)
  2. I wanted to talk about this new app I’m using.
  3. I wanted to talk about my sort of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis.
  4. My son has his special education review soon, and I’m feeling anxious.
  5. I’m trying to write more in general and not have red as my bullet journal color today.

Let me walk you through my brain for a moment.

There’s 4ish weeks in January. Technically, four blogs published during January should count towards Bucket List item number 54, right? Sure, technically, the dates published don’t really line up with one a week, but it’s pretty close. Which technicality should apply here? It’s my Bucket List, so I’m going to say January is a win for Bucket List item number 54. We’ll see how the rest of the year goes. I’m hopeful!

Okay, next stop.

I’ve been using this new app called Finch. When you start the app you get an egg. The egg hatches, and you have your very own pet bird. You give it a name and are tasked with raising up the little cutie.

My birds name is Sweetie. Sweetie has pink everything. She’s super cool.

The way to help your bird grow is by completing tasks that you set for yourself. Each day you complete a certain number of tasks, you earn enough energy to send your bird on an adventure.

Yes, this app sure knew how to suck me in with that word. Adventure Awaits is my family motto.

Let’s keep moving.

When your bird returns from their adventure they typically have learned something new or discovered something new. Also, the more tasks you complete, the faster your bird will return from the adventures.

Here are the tasks I’ve added:

  1. Take a stretch/walk break. (8)
    • This is only for week days when I am working. I have it set as a goal to complete 8 times a day. It doesn’t have to be a certain amount of time. It’s basically just to make sure I’m moving around.
  2. Drink water. (8)
    • I sometimes need reminders to drink water. I was doing better last year but slacked off a bit towards the end of the year. I have it set to 8 as a cup of water is 8 ounces and I think the recommended daily water intake amount is around 64 ounces.
  3. Wash my face. (2)
    • I wish I was better at remembering to wash my face in the morning. Sometimes I’m so in a rush, I just brush my teeth and hair and run out the door. I almost always get the end of day face washing because I always wash my face in the shower.
  4. Post daily journaling challenge. (1)
    • If you’re following my author Instagram page, you’ll know I’m in a 150-Day journaling challenge with my best friend. I’m posting it on Instagram to help keep me accountable and remember to do the challenge!
  5. Post emotions update. (1)
    • This is part of my bullet journaling journey. I’ve been actively tracking my emotions since August of 2024. I’ve been posting it on my author Instagram, also as a way to help keep me accountable!
  6. Spend time with mom. (1)
    • Sorry, mom! I know it’s probably weird to need a reminder to spend time with your mom, but I get distracted. I’m in a semi newer relationship, and his face is just so pretty, and he brings me immense joy. I end up focusing a lot of my attention and energy, that I don’t use for work and being a mom, on my partner and end up neglecting my mom. I’m trying to be better about ensuring she knows I love her!
  7. Write for at least 16 minutes. (1)
    • Writing is part of my bullet journal goals. I hate seeing so much red on the page. I want to at least see orange.
  8. Read for at least 16 minutes. (1)
    • Reading is also part of my bullet journal goals. I need to see anything but red!
  9. Write/edit GTS. (1)
    • I’m literally posting this blog on the website, authorarielpierce.com… You would think working on my novel would be a top priority. My brain just doesn’t cooperate most days.

Are you still following me? I promise all of these things are linked.

There’s more cool things in the app, but you’ll have to check it out for yourself! It’s not totally the point of this blog, anyways. The app does cost money if you want to have access to all the things, just so you know.

On to the next.

So, how does one sort of have ADHD?

Well, I went to a psychiatrist back in 2023/2024. I mentioned some of my concerns. I completed a questionnaire related to ADHD. The psychiatrist said “Based on your responses, it does appear that ADHD would make sense,” and then never mentioned it again.

I don’t know. I guess she focused more on me saying something along the lines of, “It’s not that I want to die. I just think it would be easier than living.”

I didn’t really find anything helpful related to my experience with going to a psychiatrist, but they were nice at least, so that’s something.

I don’t say that to discourage anyone from seeking psychiatric care. It’s a beautiful service. I just don’t think I had the right medications, and I definitely didn’t have the support system I truly needed.

Anyways.

My son has a special education review coming up. I’ve written briefly about his difficulties during Kindergarten. He was diagnosed with ADHD during that school year. After moving to his new school, they reported very few concerns similar to that of his previous two schools. So, they wanted to do a full review again and meet again once completed. He’s definitely not having as many issues, but the ADHD symptoms are clearly evident based on calls and messages I’ve received.

I hear a lot about ADHD being hereditary. The Finch app was literally advertised as being helpful for those with ADHD, and I’m obsessed with it. My psychiatrist mentioned what they mentioned…

So, while I’m writing to help achieve my daily writing goal, I’m also writing with the intent to process some things.

I’ve attempted to read books related to ADHD but struggle to focus on them because they’re kinda boring and a little depressing.

I’ve sought out advice from medical providers and mental health providers to help address my son’s needs with little help.

I feel like I’m stumbling through my own creative brain, scrolling TikTok for advice from people with ADHD, and really just winging it trying to figure out how to support my son and possibly myself with this diagnosis.

Mental Health can be so confusing. Y’all don’t read my content with the expectation that you’re going to get all the answers to your mental health questions. I hope you read with the thought that someone out there is real and shares their journey with the intent that someone may be helped.

I’m going to keep doing my own research on ADHD. I may consider looking back into receiving a formal diagnosis. I will continue to advocate for my son’s needs at school and help him come up with creative ways to manage his symptoms like I try to do mine.

If anyone reading this has any suggestions on books, research, or other content to look into related to ADHD, please comment on this blog, comment on my Instagram, or send me an email to authorarielpierce@gmail.com!

Thank you for going along with my brain. Seriously, check out Finch. It’s cute and it does seem helpful. If you’re interested, I may do an update later on if it’s been truly helpful for me or not!

I appreciate anyone who read to the end! You’re an amazing human, and I hope you love yourself the way you deserve to be loved! Being a human is hard, but you’re doing great!

Bedtime Stories, Part 2

I went looking through my notes app for a note I had written a while back and couldn’t find what I was looking for easily. I realized I had a backlog of bedtime stories Henry and I have created together. I enjoyed my first bedtime stories blog and felt like sharing some more with y’all.

We haven’t been super consistent as life has been busy the last few months, but I write them down when we do have time to create a story together.

If you read the first blog, you’ll remember that we aren’t going for quality substance or to win a prize for writing here. It’s simply a fun activity for my son and I. I want him to have something to look back on when he’s older to remember all the fun little moments we had together.

It’s also an interesting way to find out things he likes, things that are bothering him, or to get caught up with the friends he has at school.

There are definitely days we struggle to come up with a story; some days we don’t even try. However, sometimes we tag team them, bounce ideas off each other, and come up with some cute stuff.

I’m going to stick with ten again. Anymore than that seems excessive! I’ll probably keep this going until Henry doesn’t want to tell stories any more. Please enjoy stories 11-20!

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11. Story by Henry and Ariel

One day in dolphin cove the dolphin named Candy was getting ready for a big race. It was the final championship title race. The prize was a years worth of fish. She wanted to win so she could share the fish with her family and friends. She had been working very hard in all the races up to today. There were 14 other dolphin in the finals. Each dolphin had to swim to the island of chimpmunks and then swim back to dolphin cove. It was 20 miles away. The race started and candy took off at top speed. She was immediately in the lead. Suddenly a big submarine passed by, and she couldn’t see how to get around it. She turned around and saw that the other racers were about to catch up. Candy decided to swim as fast as she could to the surface and jump over the submarine. She thought she wasn’t going to make it, but she did with enough space to get passed the obstacle. The other dolphins decided to go the long way around and that gave her a huge lead. She made it to chipmunk island and squeaked a hello to the chipmunks. She raced back to dolphin cove and she was the winner! Candy’s family and friends cheered so loud. She loved the fish prize and won the race every year for the next 20 years. The end.

12. Story by Henry

Once upon a time there was a seahorse named Cami. He got invited to a party with his friend shark and all his other friends were there. There was a turtle named Shelly, a jellyfish named Electrocutie, a stingray called Finner, and a whale named Whaleburn. At the party, he had a lot of fun. There were 3 bully sharks there who were mean to them. They destroyed the party and wanted to eat everyone but the whale. They split in different directions, but Whaleburn came and whacked them out of the ocean and saved everyone. Cami ended up having fun again. Later, Shelly the turtle gave everyone a million million hundred dollars so everyone could buy whatever they wanted and candy. The end.

13. Story by Ariel (Henry asked for me to tell a story about a booger…)

There once was a little booger. He lived in the best nose around. Ever since he grew on the inside of the nose he wanted to be picked out by the mysteriours hand. All the other bigger boogers were chosen before him. He was sad because he never thought he would get picked like his friends. He wanted to know what kind of adventures were out there for little boogers like him. One day the nose suddenly had a big earthquake and he flew out of the nose. He was suddenly floating around the world. He was so excited to explore. The end.

14. Story by Henry (Henry really struggled with a kid bullying him in Kindergarten, he still talks about this kid and how mean he was to Henry. Pretty sure that’s what inspired this story.)

Once upon a time there was a kid cake named Sprinkles. He had a lot of fun at school. It was a cake school. Then a bully named Crush Cake bullied everybody and he took everybodies sprinkles off. Crush was in the same class as Sprinkles. Sprinkles was playing by himself and staying far away from Crush because Crush is rude. Whenever it was lunch time crush took Sprinkles’ lunch and he had to have school lunch. Sprinkles wanted to stop crush. He couldn’t because his parents came to pick him up. The next day he figured out a way to stop him. Crush ran to him and bullied him. They fought and Crush was down. Sprinkles saved the school and got an award. He’s in first grade now. The end.

15. Story by Henry and Ariel

Olly the octopus was out swimming and searching for seashells. She found a really cute purple shell and put it in her bag. When she looked up again Cruncher the shark swam by. The odd thing was that he was spinning in circles as if he had no control of his body. Olly heard Cruncher saying something but it was hard to hear over the sound of all the bubbles being made from crunchers spins. Olly swam closer and yelled “do you need help? Cruncher managed to yell back “zappy the magician jellyfish put a spell on me and I can’t stop spinning.” Olly continued following Cruncher and asked if there was anything she could do to reverse the spell. Cruncher said he would need to be caught in a cage and taken back to Zappy. Olly searched for a cage big enough for Cruncher and managed to convince Splasher the whale to carry it while she directed her to where cruncher was. Olly and Splasher took Cruncher back to Zappy.. Zappy congratulated Cruncher on passing the test. Zappy told them all that it was about friendship and Cruncher needed to realize he had good friends to help out in times of trouble. The end.

16. Story by Henry

At avengers tower Ironman, Hulk, Falcon and Captain America were there. This weird superhero showed up and had claws on his hand, and his name was Wolverine. They wanted to see if he was a bad guy, but he kept running away. So they kept chasing him and chasing him and chasing him but he kept getting away. They fought Wolverine but he was too tough. They asked if he was a bad guy but he said no. He said he was on a mission. He needed to battle all the bad guys in the universe. All the Avengers superheroes came to battle and fought the bad guys. They were beating them but they got back up. They were too tough for no reason. Wolverine analyzed why they were so tough. They figured out how to beat them. They all worked together and beat them. Wolverine left to go back to his lair and lived happily ever after. The end.

17. Story by Henry (WTF, Henry? Haha!)

Five little ducks were in the pond with their mom. They went over a mountain. One duck was lost. A second one was lost. They didn’t know where they went. They went over a hill again. Two ducks went missing. One more duck went missing. Mom cried. The end.

18. Story by Ariel

Once upon a time there was a prince named Henry. Henry was the nicest prince in all the lands. Henry was always kind to the people that came to see him. Animals also loved visiting him. One day he was out in the swimming pool when a deer came up and started to drink out of the pool. Henry warned him to stop drinking because it wasn’t safe for deer. The deer looked up and said thank you and ran away. Henry was shocked. He had never heard an animal talk before. He thought maybe he was hearing things. Suddenly a bird flys by and he could hear him singing a song. He got out of the pool and went walking. He saw a squirrel and the squirrel yelled at him “look where you’re walking, you almost ran over me.” Henry immediately apologized and the squirrel told him it was okay. Henry walked around for a while and all kinds of animals kept talking to him. He went to find his mom, the queen. She told him a family secret that all the family could talk to animals and he was finally old enough to gain that magical gift. The end.

19. Story by Henry

There once was a turtle named Sunny. He likes relaxing in the water. He likes lying there like a soft lily pad. He likes hanging out with his friends. He likes the feeling of sun on his shell. He went out to play with his friends. They talked about stuff that happened at school. Their teachers name is Ms. Blossom. They talked about how yummy the food was at school. Tomorrow they’re going to have pumpkin pie, oranges, strawberries ice cream, salad, gold fish, peanut butter and jelly, a cheese stick, apples and bananas. He went back to sleep and he woke up for school and they had lunch. He was so excited to eat his food. He wanted to eat fast because it’s so yummy, but he ate it slowly. He went to class with Ms. Blossom. There was a new student named Kylin, and he was so friendly. They talked about some stuff. They became friends. They went out to recess and had fun. It was snack time and they had a snack. Then it was math time. Then there was another snack time. Then they went home. The end.

20. Story by Henry and Ariel

There once was a dinosaur who lived by a volcano. Every day the volcano would shoot out a little smoke, rocks, and a little lava. The dinosaur named Braton loved watching the volcano. He thought it was so cool. One day the volcano didn’t erupt. The next day it didn’t erupt either. After a whole week he was starting to feel sad. He thought the volcano erupting was so fascinating. He decided to take a closer look. His friends saw him getting closer to the volcano and warned him to stay away. He didn’t listen and went closer anyways. When he got to the top he looked inside and saw that the volcano was empty. He sat there and said how sad he was. He then heard a voice. He asked who was there. The voice said it was the volcano. The volcano told him he didn’t think anyone liked his shows so he stopped performing. He said he always thought people were scared of him. The little Dino told him how cool his shows were and thanked him for doing that every day. The volcano was so happy and said he would keep doing the shows. The end.

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I hope at least one story brought a smile to your face! I highly recommend doing this activity with your kiddo before bed! Henry and I call it “Cuddle Time.” We cuddle in bed, tell stories, thumb wrestle, talk about whatever it is that comes to mind, and goof off a little so he feels happy right before he falls asleep.

Parenting is a wild adventure! Do whatever it is that works for you and your kiddos! You’re doing great!

AABC – December 2024

The Adventure Awaits Book Club December 2024 book choice was One Day in December by Josie Silver.

Y’all may be tired of me choosing love stories, but I can’t help myself. I’ll try to persuade future Ariel to branch out more! I would love to see comments on this blog, emails, or comments on my author Instagram with any suggestions of books we should check out!

I’m going to pull the description of the book off Amazon. I believe the back of the book says something similar if not word for word, but I don’t have the book with me as I write this.

The book is exactly what the description says it is. I knew what to expect because I am a lover of love stories. It’s not that I didn’t love it… I think it matches perfectly with the drama needed for an entertaining story. I think I’m basing it on my own perception of love.

Why does love have to be so hard? Why do some of us have to go through so much trauma and pain to get to a “happy ending?” Why do we stay with people longer than we should simply because we don’t want to hurt that person?

All I could think about during this book is “Why?”

Why didn’t Laurie tell Sarah sooner?

Why did Laurie and Jack have that moment and then Jack not end his relationship?

Why did Laurie not tell Sarah about the moment?

Why did Laurie settle for Oscar?

Why do Laurie and Jack feel so strongly for each other?

I’ll come back to my thoughts on these why questions. I want to comment on love at first sight. It’s a cute concept. You see someone and you’re like, “Yep, I’m going to marry that person.” I get it. The first time I saw my partner, when we happened to coincidentally be at a store at the same time after texting for a day, I think I became dumb for the first time in my life. I didn’t expect him to be so beautiful. I literally remember zero of what I said in that moment. Of course my situation is a little different since we had texted briefly and the general “love at first sight” concept is two complete strangers. Regardless, I get how one could try to argue the concept. There’s something about that moment of dumbness, or whatever someone might refer to that moment as, that sticks with you as a pivotal moment, especially if a relationship does move forward with that person.

Regarding the characters in this book, I didn’t fully understand their connection. Sure, there was the first moment they saw each other, but they didn’t have what comes after that.

I don’t love my partner because he has a beautiful face and drool worthy eyes. I love him because of how his face lights up when he throws a fishing pole into a body of water. I love him because he has multiple different levels of laughter and his family are generally the ones to bring him to his most intense and arguably most beautiful laughter level. I love him because his brain comes up with the most hilariously creative ideas and he generally solves every problem he encounters with unique solutions. I could keep going, but it’s not necessary to make my point.

Laurie and Jack didn’t really have any significant moments. There weren’t any moments that I felt were big enough to have a list of reasons why they felt so deeply for each other. You don’t really get to see them build the deep connection that one would think about when referring to a “joyous, heartwarming, and immensely moving love story.”

I’m overthinking this and it’s really not that serious, but I just want people to find true connections. Laurie clung to this idea of Jack for so long and a few weak moments led to the idea that he was meant for her. The same goes for Jack. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, but I really just don’t understand why not.

Laurie settles for another person despite having feelings for Jack and again, why? Why do we do that? Why do humans settle for someone that they feel less desire for than someone else? I’ve written on how loneliness sucks, but so does longing for someone and regretting saying how you truly feel.

Again, I know the plot line needed to be what it was to meet the needs of readers everywhere, but hopefully we’re not settling for love stories like this one in real life.

The ending might be super cute, but it’s not cute enough to be worth the literal 10 years of suffering they endured just to make it to that ending.

I know everything happens in its own time. I know not every relationship is easy to navigate. Some people may not be ready for a relationship that they may be ready for after years pass. But, like… don’t pretend you don’t have feelings for someone just because it’s easier. Don’t settle for someone else because you’re lonely and might get over the feelings eventually.

Also, don’t lie to your best friend about her new boyfriend being someone you “love.” Geez. Communicate people. I know it sucks hurting people, but it’s probably better to get it out early rather than traumatize your friends later when the truth finally comes out. This probably doesn’t happen often, but it seems like good advice.

I don’t really enjoy cheating storylines and this book had one. It’s not the worst, but it’s bad enough because of how long these characters had these feelings and pretended they didn’t to both of their partners.

I think one thing I learned from this book is related to grief. If you lost your parent, or someone close to you, who would you want to talk to about it? If you’re in a relationship and the first person you think of (outside of the other parent, siblings, and/or close relatives) isn’t your partner, there might be a problem. Grief really shows who is there for you in life, and I think that’s important to pay attention to in relationships.

In my previous marriage, I lost a childhood friend, and my husband blew it off like it meant nothing. That created a major hole in our relationship that never filled. I never spoke with him like I should have about it though. It’s interesting to see what you ignore and tolerate once you’re out of a relationship. I shouldn’t have been scared to talk to my husband about something that bothered me.

I know my AABC blogs tend to verge into areas outside of a simple book review but that’s what I love about books. They help you speak on topics that are difficult. They help you imagine a world different than your own. They help you consider perspectives that you might not otherwise.

I think the book is cute enough. I enjoyed the best friend relationship, but I was bummed that a huge lie lasted so long through most of it. Like I mentioned, the ending is cute but not real life cute! I would recommend the book for the ease of reading at least!

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The Adventure Awaits Book Club January 2025 book choice is The Secret Zoo by Bryan Chick!

Bucket List and Bullet Journaling

I may be posting this bucket list update for my own personal tracking record more than anything. My original bucket list post had 51 items, and I’ve added a few more in bucket list update posts since then.

I added two items that I completed before they were on the list but I have always wanted to do. I added five items to my list in 2024. I am adding three more to my list in 2025.

The list now has 61 items! How exciting!

Let’s do a little review of how crossing off items is going!

I posted my original bucket list blog in January of 2023. That year I managed to cross off numbers 18, 35, 39, and 52.

In 2024, I managed to cross off numbers 22, 37, 47, and 58.

Eight.

EIGHT!

I know some of my items are goofy and don’t take too much work to accomplish, but I honestly did not expect to have crossed off eight items in two years.

Let me share with you some beautiful things I’ve learned about having a bucket list.

  1. You get to watch your progress as you strive to work towards one’s that will inherently take more time. Number 9 and number 21 on my list are ones I made efforts towards during 2024. I completed a second full journal and wrote in quite a few others. I am on a 728 day streak on Duolingo, and I hope to continue striving to learn Spanish!
  2. You realize that some items create numerous options for adventure. Number 47 on my list led to two occasions, in 2024, in which I was able to get a picture with a “World’s Largest” item. While I can technically cross off this item and be done with it, I would much prefer trying to find other “World’s Largest” adventure opportunities!
  3. You discover that some items can be crossed off in a way you didn’t expect. I saw a community event posted on Facebook one day noting “Ice Skating.” I knew I had to be there. The rink was smaller than I expected and wasn’t the “ice” I imagined in my head when I thought about ice skating. I still had a blast doing this version of ice skating. I even got to see an old friend from college! I still plan to seek out ice skating in a legit skating rink one day.
  4. You have the opportunity to see all the blessings in your life. I’ve crossed off items while spending time with my best friends. I’ve been invited to activities unexpectedly by friends that helped me cross off these items. I have a partner that has been there with me on a few bucket list adventures. My life is truly becoming something I never pictured when I made this list two years ago. I thank God daily for it all!
  5. You have the chance to inspire others to seek adventure. I’ve had so many people, since I started posting about mine, comment about their own bucket list. I’ve been present when some people have crossed off their bucket list items. I think most importantly, I hope to inspire the children in my family to always seek adventure and joy. I know some of these items are not necessarily adventure based, but it’s still good for people to do things that are important to them!

You may be asking why I mentioned bullet journaling in the blog title. Well, let me tell you! It’s all because of bucket list item number two. “Publish a book.” I want to be a published author. I have been working on five consistent bullet journal pages for about four months now. They’re all annual trackers and a little before 2025 began I created a new annual tracker page. The first one in my bullet journal is tracking the amount of time I spend writing. However, I’ve noticed I tend to write by creating blogs or journaling. I often neglect writing towards a goal of being published. While I write down book concepts in my notes app every now and then, the main idea I have right now is a novel I’ve mentioned quite a bit before.

In 2025, one of my resolutions is to write more on my novel. This has been a resolution/goal of mine for years, and until I have a completed book in my hand, it won’t be going away. So, I created an annual “Writing – GTS” tracking page in my bullet journal. I’m hopeful this will help motivate me to continue pushing towards my dream.

This is a good time to add in a reminder. Your value is not dependent on what you accomplish in your life or what you cross off a bucket list. You’re valuable as a person simply because you exist. You are loved simply for who you are, not what you may be able to offer someone. Don’t ever forget that! I love you, beautiful humans!

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I will likely add more each year, but here is my current bucket list:

  1. Pet a giraffe.  
  2. Publish a book.  
  3. Voice a character in an animated movie.  
  4. Visit Giraffe Manor in Kenya.  
  5. Meet Michael B. Jordan (If you haven’t read my Michael B, Jordan blog, please do. Maybe the extra views will get the word out to him! Haha!). 
  6. Go to Disney World with friends. 
  7. Walk on the side of a road when a car drives through a puddle and get splashed by it.  
  8. Buy a new flute.  
  9. Fill at least 100 journals with my thoughts.  
  10. Visit the Australia zoo.  
  11. Own a pink Volkswagen Beetle. 
  12. Complete one of those man vs. food challenges. I’d request mine involve breakfast food.  
  13. Ride in a helicopter.  
  14. Attempt to snowboard.  
  15. Meet Tom Hanks since he shares the same birthday as me and that seems like a good enough reason. 
  16. Go horseback riding.  
  17. Swim with sharks.  
  18. Go on a cruise.  
  19. Finish the crochet blanket I started in high school. 
  20. Have a room in my home dedicated to my reading and writing aspirations.  
  21. Become fluent in Spanish. 
  22. Kiss someone in the rain.
  23. Visit Times Square on New Year’s Eve.  
  24. Visit the Grand Canyon.  
  25. Ride a double-decker bus and get off it like Amanda Bynes did in What a Girl Wants.  
  26. Go on an extravagantly planned date that my date planned.  
  27. Meet Hilary Duff since someone told me I looked like her once and getting a selfie with her would be legit. 
  28. Star in a mermaid inspired photo shoot.
  29. Take a picture with the person playing Ariel at Disneyland or Disney World.  
  30. Visit Mount Rushmore. 
  31. Go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and pick out my own wand.  
  32. Design a pair of shoes.  
  33. Attempt to surf.  
  34. Have a home with a huge kitchen island. 
  35. Own a robot vacuum.  
  36. Be a bridesmaid or maid of honor.  
  37. Ride in a hot air balloon.
  38. Get a tattoo on my arm and have my mom not be mad at me.  
  39. Ride on a train. 
  40. Impact the universal mental health conversation in a huge way.  
  41. Work with an organization/cleaning company in some way.
  42. Have a picture with all eight of my siblings present.  
  43. Go on safari.  
  44. Ride an elephant and camel. 
  45. Receive a love letter from someone I also love (No creepy letters, please).  
  46. Go on a segway tour.  
  47. Visit places that have “The World’s Largest…” miscellaneous item.  
  48. Go on a zipline.
  49. Play a game of paintball.  
  50. Make a font out of my handwriting. 
  51. Take a pottery class.  
  52. Get on a Jumbotron.
  53. Catch a foul ball or a home run ball at a baseball game.
  54. Write a blog a week at least one year.
  55. Be on a game show.
  56. Indoor skydive.
  57. See the aurora borealis.
  58. Go ice skating.
  59. Complete birthday paintings every year for my kids until they’re 18 or ask me to stop.
  60. Get to a point with my health where I don’t think constantly about losing weight.
  61. Be debt free.

Reflections and Resolutions

I’m publishing this on the last day of 2024.

I wrote the blog “It’s 2024!” on the second day of 2024 with some resolutions I hoped to accomplish this year.

On the second day of 2024, my life was pretty much exactly as it had been for the previous six-ish years. I had the same job, it was my son and I in an apartment in Texas, I wanted to become a published author, and I was clinging to the world thanks to my weekly, Thursday at 2:00 PM, therapy appointment.

On February 26, 2024, I learned my son had been kicked out of his second afterschool daycare in four months. I’m not going to go into the details, but my baby struggled at school and in daycare during his kindergarten school year.

On February 27, 2024, I submitted a two week notice to my job and planned to move back to my hometown in Kentucky.

It seems like a rash decision, but there was something in me that knew I would not be able to manage my son trying a third afterschool daycare. My mom offered to watch my son instead of him going to a daycare, and that comforted me to no end.

After some strategic financial planning, I managed to remain in Texas until my son finished out the school year. We headed out on our road trip to Kentucky the day after his Kindergarten graduation ceremony in May of 2024.

I’ve written about this move in a few blogs this year. I’ve written about how this move has pretty much eliminated my feelings of depression. I won’t go into too much more detail about this.

My intention with this blog is to speak on resolutions. I made some New Year resolutions when I posted my “It’s 2024!” blog. Let’s review:

  1. Fill in journals with my thoughts.
  2. Continue writing my novel.
  3. Go to the gym at least once a week.
  4. Eat more vegetables.
  5. Support my son’s needs at school.
  6. Try to start up my book club again.
  7. Try to convince my mom to move to Texas.
  8. Drink the daily recommended amount of water.

It seems like a hefty list because often people try to focus on one resolution each year.

None of them were crazy monumental. I mentioned the change my year took in February because it impacted my resolutions.

Let’s review this as well:

  1. I wrote in my January and February designated journals quite a bit. However, after February, I didn’t pick up a journal again until August. The life change really took some air out of me. Thankfully, I started to feel less depressed after being around my mom, and I started writing again. I filled an entire journal in five months which was only my second ever completed journal. So, while this resolution was stalled for a bit, I did manage to accomplish this resolution eventually!
  2. I truly wish I could say that I made significant progress towards my novel. I have edited previous chapters and improved the quality, but I slacked on new content this year. I’m still working on finding my energy for writing after it being stunted for so long due to my decade long struggle with, basically, not wanting to be alive.
  3. I actually started going to the gym again during January and February. I cannot tell you how many times it happened, but it definitely wasn’t very many, unfortunately. I became a ghost of a person from March until May and rarely left my home. I hated having to go in person to cancel the gym membership. That really needs to stop being a rule.
  4. Habits formed when you are depressed really have a way of lingering. I really have so much more desire to improve my health, but im stuck in unhealthy habits. I have eaten more vegetables than in previous years but not nearly enough as what I intended when I wrote this resolution.
  5. I knocked this one out of the park! Despite struggling with my mental health, I knew I couldn’t let my son down. He received an ADHD diagnosis and qualified for special education support in school. He continued to struggle in Kindergarten. When he began 1st grade at his new school in Kentucky, the problems were noticeably less present! He still struggles with impulse control, but he is not having as many incidents as he did previously! It’s been a relief to see him doing so much better.
  6. Again, I barely existed during the beginning of the year. Thankfully, I managed to start posting in my book club Facebook group again in August. I chose five random books since, and it’s been nice to read more. While the group doesn’t meet on video or in person at the moment, we still interact some through Facebook comments. That’s a positive step I’m grateful for!
  7. Well, I’m pretty sure y’all can guess what happened with this resolution. Haha! I did try to convince her in January and February. Thankfully, she didn’t agree! I’m going to give God the credit on this one. He knew I needed to move back home much more than I needed my mom to move to Texas.
  8. I’d say I accomplished this about half of the year. Not consistently but enough to feel semi accomplished! I definitely wasn’t hydrated between March and May. Since coming home, my hydration has improved significantly!

I’m quite proud of what I accomplished this year despite what I thought would be a setback in my life.

It’s so easy to focus on resolutions and whether or not you accomplished them. Goals are important but so is living in the moment and enjoying the random everyday things that life brings!

Here is a list of some of my favorite memories from this year:

  1. Spending time with three of my siblings and mom in January despite it being because our grandfather passed.
  2. Celebrating my son’s sixth birthday with friends.
  3. Being able to take a kiddo that I spent six years getting to watch grow up out for lunch in honor of their 21st birthday.
  4. Being able to continue being a support for one of my kiddos currently experiencing the foster care system in Texas.
  5. A goodbye gathering with friends at my old apartment’s pool.
  6. The road trip with one of my best friends from Texas to Kentucky.
  7. Spending time with my mom and son before I found a new job.
  8. Starting a new job with a community mental health clinic.
  9. Spending time with my best friends from high school and our babies.
  10. Meeting so many awesome coworkers at my new job.
  11. Being introduced to my partner by one of my awesome coworkers/now friend.
  12. Being invited to a wonderful church that my son and I now attend regularly.
  13. Writing/publishing blogs, reading, journaling, being more active on my author instagram page, and editing my novel.
  14. Being able to embrace the “adventure awaits” spirit with my partner.
  15. Meeting and spending time with my partner’s amazing family.
  16. Watching my son start to play basketball with a team.
  17. Spending time with my brother, sister-in-law, and niece before they moved.
  18. Celebrating the holidays with my family, partner’s family, and church family.
  19. Getting to see my son interact with his siblings and experience one positive coparenting moment this year.
  20. Eating lots of delicious food.

I never thought my life would look like it does when the year began. I was excited to be back around my family, but I was scared things would still feel bad. My mental health is in the best state it has been since I was 18. I get to spend time with my mom and son every day, and it’s such a privilege. I have a partner that, while it’s still a newer relationship, has shown me love that I have not experienced before.

I no longer rely on an hour with my therapist each week to get me through life, and I feel actual joy in living!

So, while 2024, brought me some pain and changes, it most importantly brought me to feel joy and love regularly!

This blog holds lots of reflection on this past year. I want to take time to dream about the future. I want to create some resolutions!

  1. Write more new content for my novel.
  2. Make healthier food choices regularly.
  3. Get outside more.
  4. Keep working towards my bullet journal goals.
  5. Personal resolution I won’t detail.

Like I’ve said in my past blog posts related to New Year resolutions, you’re no less worthy of a person regardless of what you accomplish! I see posts often in December stating something along the lines of, “People will be sharing a lot about what they accomplished during the year. It’s okay if all you did this year was survive.”

Seriously, being a human is so hard. Be proud if all you do is survive. Hopefully one day you’ll be able to build more positive coping skills and build a positive support system to help you get through this life with a little joy!

I’ve been sharing my experience with bullet journaling and how I’m tracking some goals. Follow me on my author Instagram page for this content and more! Search “authorarielpierce” or go to my “Get in Touch” page on my website for the link!

I hope to continue publishing blogs throughout 2025. Follow along on my instagram as well to see when new blogs are posted! I can’t predict what life may throw at me in the coming year, but I’m hopeful for some exciting adventures to share with y’all through my social media and website!

I love all you beautiful humans! Happy 2025 to you all!

I’m Not Wearing Any Clothes

If you watched Inside Out 2, then you are familiar with watching anxiety take over a person’s body. It’s a pretty decent look into what happens when someone struggles with anxiety.

Most everyone has experienced the feeling of anxiety. Most everyone has experienced those feelings before some type of important event, or when you’re worried about something serious in your life or the life of someone you care about.

The problem with anxiety becomes when it’s literally impacting your functioning.

I started journaling today because I was feeling anxious. If you’ve read any of my content or seen my social media content, it’s clear that I journal when I’m anxious. I didn’t really know why I felt anxious when I started the page, but I felt it.

Another reason I started writing is because I had one of my typical anxiety dreams. When I’m feeling anxious, I tend to have this dream about going somewhere important, and I’m not wearing any clothes.

I’m not the type of person that is confident in their body and would be found happily strolling around in the nude. Also, you can’t really do that in most places, so it wouldn’t matter how I felt about my body.

Anyways, I hate having this dream. It makes my skin crawl, and I feel nauseous for a bit when I’m able to rip myself out of the dream.

I know it’s a silly theme that has played out in different entertainment mediums over the years. I don’t know why my brain feels like this annoying form of torture is something that I need to experience.

The only positive thing about this dream is that I then know that something is off with me, and I can try to pinpoint what it is that might be making me feel the way that I am.

I’m not certain it’s important for anyone reading this to know what is bothering me, I mostly want to comment on anxiety as a concept. Anxiety literally consumes me some days. I struggle to breathe. My hands can’t keep still and try to find any means of keeping them busy, usually resulting in me picking at my fingers or flipping my bracelets over and over. My brain will form every irrational thought it can come up with.

A lot of the things that contribute to my anxiety are based on the life I lived in Texas the last 11 years.

Coming up with meals makes me want to cry.

The fitted sheet popping off a corner makes me to want to run away.

I know there are more random things that seem so trivial, but these are the two that are coming to my head right now that I’ll work with to get my point across.

Coming up with at least two meals a day to feed me and my child was a nightmare for me in Texas. I came home every day from an insanely stressful job, and the last thing I wanted to do was figure out what to feed us. Cooking took too long and too much energy. Healthy choices always sounded terrible, but necessary, which contributed to a battle in my head.

The fitted sheet thing is like having your belt loop get stuck on something or dropping your keys when you’re at your wits end, and you feel like you’re about to lose it any second. The sheet thing happened to me so many times when I felt like everything was terrible, and I would lay there and cry and end up ignoring it for days.

Trivial things become mountains. I feel like I stress my mom out constantly with these random trivial things. I know she worries about me when I try to explain that something that seems small isn’t something I can do at a given moment.

I’m currently having to learn how to manage my anxiety while in a relationship. My partner has learned me very quickly. It’s annoying that I can’t hide it as well as I think I can… It’s really not annoying at all. I love his perceptive abilities and the fact that he actually cares when he asks what is going on with me.

I don’t want to seem crazy when my brain is coming up with irritating thoughts so saying nothing is wrong or I’m okay are my go to responses.

He knows when those answers are false and reminds me that it’s hard to be there for me if I’m not being honest. I’ve tried to be better about telling him what is going on or at least saying I’m not fully sure. We’ve been able to talk things out and generally, if I didn’t already know, I figure out what is going on.

Having a kind and caring mother and partner has helped ease a lot of my anxieties, but if you’re like I was for so many years, you may be alone dealing with anxiety.

I wish I had all the answers. I haven’t totally figured things out, and what I have, I didn’t figure out on my own. I sought out therapy. I journaled. I called my mom every day. I tried to do things that brought me joy.

The issue of my past is that I was also struggling with depression. I think sometimes my anxiety is related to fearing that something might drag me back down into the darkness I felt for so long. I’ve been feeling so much joy, and I don’t want to lose it.

As I’ve been writing, I’ve decided maybe it is important to bear as much as I can.

As I’m writing this, I’m cognizant of the fact that tomorrow is my grandpa’s birthday. Last year on his birthday, I saw him in a bad state and that image will never be able to leave my brain. He passed six days later.

My brother moved to another state about a week ago. I know I lived in another state for 11 years and rarely saw him, but after moving back to our home state, I loved knowing how close he was even though the visits were still not super common.

My son continues to struggle with some concerning behaviors, while not as severe as in the past, still bring me anxiety. Anxiety tries to convince me that I was/am a terrible mother.

Being in a newer relationship also brings with it anxiety. It’s not in the sense that he’s doing anything of concern, but now anything that bothers him, bothers me. I want to fix everything for him and I know I can’t always do that for a number of reasons.

I’m fairly new at my job as I’m still in my six month probation period. I worry that I’m not doing enough or that I won’t be able to help people the way they deserve.

My child’s other parent makes me feel a little insane at times. It’s even more frustrating when you feel like things were moving in a positive direction and then they do something to kick your feet out from under you.

A kiddo I care about in Texas is dealing with so much trauma and the failures of a system, and I feel like I’m not doing enough. I wish I had more means to support them the way they deserve.

I’m also constantly thinking about how to be the most impactful with my words. I fear I’m not talented enough or that I’ll never reach a larger audience. Will I ever finish my novel?

I didn’t intend to make this a journal entry for me processing my anxiety. I mostly wanted to put it out there that anxiety is frustrating. I wanted to open a conversation about how to manage it and maybe help someone realize they’re not the only one dealing with this issue.

Whether anxiety presents in your dreams, is a physical sensation in your body, or occupies your brain without hiding, it’s something you shouldn’t ignore.

Write about it. Talk about it. Don’t hide it. While the thoughts may be irrational, and you generally know that, they’re still your thoughts, and talking about them is your best bet.

If someone makes you feel bad for how your brain functions, that is a them problem. You can try to talk to them about it and work to figure out how you can move towards healthy conversations in the future. You can also evaluate their role in your life and if they are able to help you move towards healthy choices and happiness.

Try to take time to think about positive aspects of your life. In the time between when I started writing this blog and now, someone at my office bought everyone coffee (I got hot chocolate), my mom checked in with me on how I’m doing, and my partner texted with a plan for dinner. The physical sensation I was feeling, related to anxiety, is mostly gone now. It’s amazing what writing, having a healthy support system, and focusing on the positive aspects of life can do for you!

If you’re reading this, you’re an amazing human. Remind someone, who may not read this, that they’re an amazing human! You would be surprised at how a little kindness can change someone’s entire day. Be kind to yourself as well.

I love all you beautiful humans!

AABC – November 2024

Adorable. Beautiful. Charming. Delightful. Excellent. Flirty. Genius. Hot. Impactful. Joyful.

Okay, I’ll stop. I’m thinking too hard on a cute word that starts with K.

Before I continue, I want to put it out there that my blog, website, and social media page are all LGBTQ+ friendly. I will continue to choose books and post content fully supporting all gender identities, sexual orientations, and love between consenting adults.

The book chosen for the Adventure Awaits Book Club for November 2024, was Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston.

If I had the time, I would sit here and come up with a whole alphabet of positive words to describe this book. I started this one immediately after finishing the AABC October 2024 book choice. The former was not my cup of tea. The latter, though, is everything I want in a book.

I love love. I will watch movie after movie of cheesy love stories. I will spend hours gushing in my journals about my love for my partner. I will gleefully choose any and all books related to people falling in love.

I don’t want to sit here and say that the book is only great because it involves love. There are many aspects about this DEBUT novel that are enjoyable.

  1. It’s a debut novel
  2. Diversity related to race and sexual orientation
  3. Political commentary
  4. Quality writing
  5. Sexual orientation exploration
  6. Sexual expression exploration
  7. Spicy scenes
  8. A quality scandal
  9. A quality sibling relationship

I point out that the novel is the author’s debut novel because, as an author, it’s my dream to have a book published and it be wildly successful. Who wouldn’t want this out of their debut? Sometimes it can take a while for the success one hopes for, but I love seeing people’s dreams work out better than they probably imagined.

If all the characters in the books you read look like you, believe like you do, and live life like you do, maybe you should do some self reflection. I say this about the people in your real life as well. People are so quick to turn to hate when something out of their norm presents itself because they don’t often see that not everyone looks, acts, or thinks like them.

The main character is biracial and is Mexican and White. The author briefly explores aspects of his Mexican heritage and how this has impacted him and his family growing up, primarily in a political context.

The two main characters, and a few minor characters, are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and there are also aspects of how their identities impacted them throughout their lives, primarily in a political context.

After living in Texas for 11 years, one can only dream that the ending of the book would happen in real life. I have so much hope for the state I grew to love, and I know that so many people there are fighting for a different political outcome in the state.

Who also doesn’t love a female president?! I hoped for that to become a reality in 2025, but I will have to continue to fight for that reality for the future. I felt that the movie focused more on the political aspect and I appreciated the main character’s work being valued more in the movie. I felt the book pointed out the “binder” a few times but never really went where I thought it would considering I watched the movie before I saw the book.

The book was written well. There isn’t much to say about that fact. It flowed easily and kept you eagerly turning each page. I don’t think I underlined a single typo (I enjoy underlining typos because I know they happen, I don’t judge!) If there was one, I obviously didn’t care, because I just wanted happiness for the two main characters.

I think I’ve already pointed out that there are LGBTQ+ characters in this book. I can understand and appreciate the author having one of the main characters experience questioning his sexual orientation. I don’t claim to be an expert, but I know many people have likely questioned their sexual orientation as they aged which is the reason for the Q in LGBTQ+. I think it’s helpful for people to understand that sexual orientation isn’t as simple as “pick one.” Sometimes you don’t really know how you feel until you meet a specific person and that’s okay!

There wasn’t a large amount of sexual expression exploration but the main character does acknowledge how he hasn’t had sex with a man before. So, yes, there are sex scenes in this book. It’s spicy but not to the point of taking anything away from the story. It honestly shows how physical attraction grows and how the more comfortable you are with someone, the more you are likely to express that physically. If you don’t like books with sexual content, this isn’t the book for you.

I appreciated the scandal in this book. If you live in this country, and likely most others, you are likely aware that LGBTQ+ individuals have to fight for their rights daily. Prominent political figures are likely used to having their personal lives scrutinized, but no one should have to have their personal business exposed like the characters in this book. Your sexuality and expression of said sexuality is no one’s business unless you feel comfortable speaking about it. I enjoyed the family support of some of the minor characters and the confidence to stand up to the less supportive characters.

The main character’s relationship with his sister was cute. It replicates how many of us would likely do anything for our siblings. It also shows how difficult it can be to be your true self, even with the people we trust the most.

I know this book has touched the lives of many based on comments I’ve read about it. I hope it gives people hope like it gave me hope. Hope for a future where a woman can be president. Hope for a future where consenting adults can love who they love without fearing for their safety. Hope for a future with political candidates who aren’t there for themselves but to genuinely help others.

I highly recommend this book!

—————

The Adventure Awaits Book Club December 2024 book choice is One Day in December by Josie Silver!

AABC – October 2024

I owe y’all a blog about my Adventure Awaits Book Club October book choice.

The book chosen for that month was You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose.

Thrillers aren’t really my go to choice for books I like to read, but I’m trying to branch out. It also seemed like a spooky enough choice since the entire month of October revolves around Halloween and all things spooky!

I started following Jeneva on TikTok a while back. Many of us have probably seen her humorous videos with her husband. Her stand alone videos have a drier humor, but she still cracks me up.

During a casual cruise around Walmart, I stopped in the book aisle. I can’t go to a store that has books and not buy a book… Anyways, I spotted a romance book (It’s a Date (Again)) written by Jeneva and read it earlier this year because it’s in a genre I tend to read.

Since I liked that book and her social media is always entertaining, I figured I’d give one of the books she’s better known for a chance.

I’ll start off by saying I don’t think the book was meant for me. My brain hides from books like You Shouldn’t Have Come Here.

A few people in my book club commented, when I made the choice, that the ending had a surprising twist. I don’t know if surprised is the word that I would use or disturbing. I guess I can be supportive of a strong female character, but goodness.

Please prepare yourself for an ending that will probably make your eyebrows shoot up, your eyes to bulge, and for you to sit there with your mouth opened questioning the sanity of people in this world.

I used to joke that people who can write books that are creepy and disturbing might need to have their homes checked for bodies. I feel like Jeneva could be added to that list of people with this book. It’s not the whole book, just the last few pages (and maybe a sprinkle in the middle).

I’m not certain if people caught on quicker than I did. What I did while reading was underline every random sentence that made me go “yeah, that’s weird/creepy/suspicious.”

I tried to figure out what this twist ending, my friends mentioned, might be. I wasn’t too off base but Jeneva’s brain is definitely capable of a little more darkness than mine!

Let me go count how many sentences I underlined.

Okay, I’m back.

75.

Technically there’s more than 75 sentences, but I grouped some parts that were more than one sentence together totaling 75 weird/creepy/suspicious parts. There were probably more, but the ones I underlined stuck out more than some.

The shift between character perspectives each chapter made you suspicious of both primary characters. There were plenty of lines that I underlined questioning the intentions of both. The minor characters also all added a level of suspiciousness that made you question the sanity of the entire town most of the story took place in.

If I had picked up this book without any knowledge of the genre or the author, I would say it is a book that will likely keep a person reading. You find yourself rooting a bit for the characters while also questioning who is going to get murdered. It’s a weird dynamic.

The fish hook part (if you’ve read it, you’ll know)… I want it permanently removed from my brain. I almost put the book down and gave up when I read it.

Overall, I wouldn’t say that I recommend the book, but I also wouldn’t say that I don’t recommend the book. Do with that what you will. *shrugs*

One of my favorite things authors do is work in their title, especially when it’s one that doesn’t work in as easy as some. Jeneva managed to get it in there twice on pages 246 and 262 in my copy. It made sense and also happened to be two of the instances where I have a yellow line underneath the words.

Mom, please never read this book. You won’t like it. Just don’t do it. Thank you for reading my blog, though! I love you!

Keep your eyes out for the November AABC blog post about Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston!