Vanessa MayJun 23, 20213 minMermaids on Land: A Visit to CassadagaI’ve lived in the Central Florida area for more than 30 years and ever since I was in high school I remember people talking about...
Vanessa MayMay 19, 20212 minEnough is Enough with Sexual ViolenceI am sitting on the back porch. It is an unusual mid-May afternoon in Florida. It is windy and cooler. My friends think the pandemic has...
Vanessa MayMay 12, 20212 minPaying Attention To How Others Make You FeelAbout a year ago, I met up with a friend I had not seen in almost a decade. We grabbed a drink and some appetizers at a chilled wine bar....
Vanessa MayApr 28, 20213 minPeople Pleasing Checklist - What's Your Rating?I am a big Taylor Swift fan. When her Miss Americana movie came out in 2020, I was ready. I didn’t expect to watch such an intimate...
Vanessa MayApr 15, 20214 min7 Steps On How To Find Your PurposeWhen I was about 9 years old, I started designing dresses after school. I started bringing them to class and showing my classmates. One...
Vanessa MayMar 24, 20212 minWhen Expectations Rob Your HappinessOne of the hardest questions Buddha asked is, what makes you the happiest? Oftentimes the things that make us the happiest are the things...
Vanessa MayMar 11, 20213 minIs It Good Advice? Or Someone Controlling You?I am pretty good at my job. I have many years of experience and I make decisions based on knowledge, data and instinct. I was in a...
Vanessa MayFeb 17, 20213 minPeople Reflect What They Feel InsideI had just gotten home from a long business trip. It had been weeks of being on the go. Multiple cities and different continents. The...
Vanessa MayFeb 2, 20213 minReaching Out When It's Been a WhileI met up with my friend and confided to him about a tough situation I was dealing with. I share with him my plans and he clearly...
Vanessa MayJan 20, 20213 minWhen The Voices Scream, Quiet Your MindIt’s early. The house is quiet and I am getting a head start on the day. Like always there is so much to do and there seems to be so...
Vanessa MayJan 5, 20212 minSelf-Criticism Is Toxic And Will Rob Your Mental StrengthHere I was, signing divorce papers again. It wasn’t my first rodeo, but the stakes were higher. I was trying to be brave and on the...
Vanessa MayDec 23, 20203 minStop Giving Your Time Away - It's The One Thing You Can't BuyI was chatting with a friend about dating. He thinks I should open some online profiles to see what kinds of guys I meet. Online dating...
Vanessa MayDec 8, 20203 minWe Attract The Love We Think We DeserveI like to find interesting quotes on Pinterest, and one night I found, “we accept the love we think we deserve.” I had gone through a...
Vanessa MayDec 1, 20203 minThe Strength in Asking for HelpI lay on the sidewalk not knowing if I could move. Lilo was startled, her leash tangled between both our legs. I could hear the cars...
Vanessa MayNov 24, 20203 minWhen Shared Custody Leaves You Alone For The HolidaysI wake up at 5am and start getting my hiking gear ready. I take a deep breath knowing I am pushing myself to the limit today - both...
Vanessa MayNov 11, 20202 minSunsets are proof that endings can be beautifulThe airline attendant made the last call to board the flight out of NY Laguardia to Orlando. I was heading home after three days in the...
Vanessa MayNov 7, 20203 minI went to bed feeling grateful my daughter had white skinFour years ago I went to bed feeling grateful my daughter had white skin and that she looked like the poster image of an “All American”...
Vanessa MayOct 29, 20203 minEvery Action Ripples Across The UniverseOne of my favorite stories is The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein. I cry every time I read it to my daughter and I once gifted it to my...
Vanessa MayOct 11, 20203 minTeaching My Daughter About FeminismOne of my daughter's favorite shirts is a pink t-shirt with "Feminist Like Mom" printed on the front. I always want to empower her, I...
Vanessa MaySep 19, 20202 minComparison Will Leave You In FearI was sneaking in a spin workout between work and afternoon activities with my daughter. I sat sweating and thinking about topics for my...