I awoke this morning without the help of my alarm. The sun was shining and for a moment I was in sweet bliss, so rested and renewed. As I emerged into consciousness, reality settled back over me like a veil: pandemic; isolation; social distancing; state of emergency; market crash; unemployment skyrockets; uncertain future. We’re in […]
Colleen Cook, Thrive Correspondent
Posted inWellness
Resources for families stuck at home during social distancing
The moment when Gov. DeWine shut down Ohio schools for three weeks in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, I felt a melange of emotions. I was proud of our state’s proactive response, fearful about the seriousness of the situation and concerned about the impact of the closure on not only the economy […]
Posted inWellness
Navigating childcare as a working mom
I was around five months pregnant with my first daughter when it hit me like a ton of bricks: all this time, if I wanted to continue to have a career, I would need to figure out childcare. And, figuring out childcare would mean that I wouldn’t be the one home with my baby, with […]
Posted inWellness
Building new friendships as an adult
Growing up, your friends are built-in. Your peers are automatically in community with you, doing the same things and facing similar challenges more or less. It can be easy in a sense to find your friends when you’re growing up because you have a lot of leisure time you can invest into relationships, built-in proximity […]
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Ask Coco: Can’t we all use a little advice?
No one has it all figured out. No matter our station in life, when faced with problems, big or small, it can sometimes be hard to figure out what to do. I turn to trusted friends, family members, mentors and experts for advice on big and small things regularly. For example, just last week I […]
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Giving our kids the freedom to create
My first grader Eloise needed to make a Valentine’s box this weekend for her party at school. This is the first year that we’ve been responsible for making a box for the Valentine’s party at home. Eloise loves to craft and create, and our house is littered with kid-appropriate craft supplies that are in constant […]
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How I wish I’d managed my postpartum anxiety
I was back to work following a seven week maternity leave after my second daughter was born. The entire maternity leave, I was antsy, eager to get back to it. Yet, I always struggled to leave the baby that first week. Luckily, I had a boss that encouraged me to bring her along that first […]
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Lessons on discipline from detox
For years, the Enneagram has been an insightful personality tool for me in developing a deeper knowledge of myself and deeper grace for others. One of the insights of the Enneagram is the way it highlights a “deadly sin” that impacts each personality style. For me, as an Enneagram 7, that sin is gluttony. Gluttony, […]
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When life disrupts our plans
One of the most pivotal moments of my life happened in second grade. Our class sang “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” as our music teacher, Mr. Wilson, walked through the room, listening to each of us and tapping individuals on the shoulder to go to the front of the room. Those lucky few selected would […]
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Celebrating with others in our longing
It was a particularly hot June, and I was two days away from my due date. I was overheated, swollen, uncomfortable, exhausted and desperate for this baby to make her exit from my womb. Then I heard the news: My friend who was due nearly three weeks after me had delivered her baby that morning. […]