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By Victoria (Tori) Martinez At the beginning of each new year, I choose a word to carry me through the year. This year I chose a word that felt both tender and terrifying: LOVE. Not the easy kind that is wrapped in romance and pretty affirmations. The kind that asks you to sit with yourself, to reflect in the quiet moments, to push through the hard moments, and notice how you’ve chosen to love and be loved. Somewhere between cold snowy mornings with a cup of tea and the cozy

By Victoria (Tori) Martinez Dear Gentle Reader, What if you don't need to find more balance in your life. What if instead you need more clarity. Let go of the idea that “Life is a balancing act.” No, my dear, it is not. Living life according to this idea is only going to bring stress, worry, and bad health. Instead, embrace the idea that life is about prioritizing what’s most important. Sitting in my comfy chair, wrapped in my fuzzy blanket, with a cup of tea in hand, I refle

Slow morning in my home office, tea, candles, and a good book By Victoria (Tori) Martinez   Eyes open to gooey haze, morning thoughts wade through a foggy brain. Who knew a whole night’s sleep would bring no rest… These first few lines from a recent poem I wrote connect me to the idea of slow living, being mindful of how my body needs to move, especially in the mornings. How we start our day can predict how our entire day will go. Chronic Illness didn’t just change my routine

By Victoria (Tori) Martinez I am the eldest daughter. I spent most of my life caring for others and holding things together. Maybe you can relate, maybe you know what it's like to always be the strong one. Now that I'm sick, I feel like I'm being taken care of for the first time in my life. Just let that sink in for a minute. Life as an eldest daughter can make changing roles difficult. It hasn’t been easy for me to admit my body isn’t as strong as it used to be, that my acti