From collapse to traction—field notes for the climb back.
Sometimes the “healthy choice” doesn’t feel healthy at all—at least not on Day One. You know this moment: you try to do the right thing, you change one variable, and your body answers back like you pulled the wrong wire. Hello, my friends on Standing on the Ledge. Welcome back. How are you today? How … Continue reading When Cutting Back Backfires
Some days, the storm outside is the easy part. You know the feeling: hands steady, eyes forward, doing what you need to do to get home safe—slowing down because arriving matters more than proving you can push through. Hello, my friends on Standing on the Ledge. If you’re new here, welcome aboard. If you’ve been … Continue reading You Can’t Live in a Hot Tub
Sometimes the argument isn’t about what happened. It’s about who controls the frame. Hello, Ledge Walkers. You’ve seen this move in the wild: you raise a real issue, you name a real impact, and suddenly the conversation swerves into, “How dare you say it like that.” And look—tone does matter. Words can cut like a … Continue reading It’s Not What Happened—It’s How You Said It
Phase 4 isn’t about winning arguments — it’s about building a repair standard that holds up under stress. Hey there, my fellow Ledge Walkers. You know the moment. You name the harm — calmly, clearly — and the conversation swerves into tone-policing, intent-defending, and word-splitting. Suddenly it’s not “What happened?” It’s “How dare you say … Continue reading Accountability Builds Trust
Stability isn’t the finish line—it’s the platform you build from. You know that feeling: the day is finally moving in the right direction… and your brain still keeps one ear tuned for the next impact. You’re clearing the driveway, watching the weather soften, trying to stay ahead of the slush—and at the same time you’re … Continue reading The Plan That Keeps You on Solid Ground
If the world has taught you that promises break, you don’t “fail” the marshmallow test—you adapt.1 You know the feeling I’m talking about: you’ve waited for the callback that never came, the payment that never landed, the apology that never showed up, the “tomorrow” that kept moving. So when someone says, “Just wait—there’ll be more … Continue reading The Marshmallow Test Was Never Just Willpower
Phase 4 isn’t about a brand-new life—it’s about fixing the leaks in the one you’ve still got. You know the moment: you’re trying to get your footing, you’re telling yourself “I’ve got this”, and then a tiny alert shows up and your stomach drops—bank text, overdue notice, one more unexpected hit. You also know the … Continue reading The Overdraft Text
Moments—if you’re reading this, you didn’t come here for “motivation.” You came here because something cracked, and you needed a handhold that didn’t lie to you. You needed words that didn’t perform, didn’t preach, didn’t sell you a fantasy—just a clean place to stand while the world felt unstable. And maybe you didn’t walk in … Continue reading The 60-Day Turn
Stability doesn’t arrive all at once—you build it in quiet, repeatable moves. You’re heading into a long weekend that’s supposed to feel warm on the calendar, even if winter still has its boots on your porch. And if you’re anything like me, part of you wants rest… while another part is running the mental spreadsheet: … Continue reading A Long Weekend on the Ledge: Stability, Bills, and Small Wins
Before you rebuild, you need traction. Last night was my second night on the new job, and some of it is finally starting to sink in. It’s going to take a while, but it feels good to have work again. And in the “real life doesn’t pause” department: I came home to evidence the propane … Continue reading Footing First Then Forward
Standing on the Ledge 