Runs in the Family

Resilience

Success and Failure Are Not What You Think

Caroline Leavitt on May 14, 2024

Personal Perspective: I was sure I was headed for failure. Sudden, unexpected success reminded me what really matters.

Personal Perspective: I was sure I was headed for failure. Sudden, unexpected success reminded me what really matters.

Career

It's Never Too Late to Say Thank You

Caroline Leavitt on March 6, 2024

For decades, I felt terrible that I had never thanked a professor for profoundly changing my life. Then I got a chance to.

For decades, I felt terrible that I had never thanked a professor for profoundly changing my life. Then I got a chance to.

Body Image

How Piercing My Ears Helped Make Me Whole

Caroline Leavitt on January 14, 2024

My husband had thrown me out. My sister had estranged me. My mother was dead. Yet I found solace in the earrings they had all once given me.

My husband had thrown me out. My sister had estranged me. My mother was dead. Yet I found solace in the earrings they had all once given me.

Relationships

Leaving Love Letters Now for After I’m Gone

Caroline Leavitt on November 17, 2023

Personal Perspective: After my mom died, I wanted to make sure I left tangible proof of love behind for my husband and son. So I write letters.

Personal Perspective: After my mom died, I wanted to make sure I left tangible proof of love behind for my husband and son. So I write letters.

Relationships

After the Estrangement: How I Healed Even When Cut Off

Caroline Leavitt on August 16, 2023

Personal Perspective: How I discovered that estrangement from a once-beloved sibling didn't mean that I had to stop loving her.

Personal Perspective: How I discovered that estrangement from a once-beloved sibling didn't mean that I had to stop loving her.

Assertiveness

For Me, "I'll Show You" Meant "I'll Show Me."

Caroline Leavitt on June 28, 2023

I began to realize how exhausting this all was, that my victories always involved what someone else thought.

I began to realize how exhausting this all was, that my victories always involved what someone else thought.

Friends

My Friends Changed and Moved On, but I Couldn’t Let Go

Caroline Leavitt on March 28, 2023

Personal Perspective: I needed to stop trying to keep my longtime friendships the same as they used to be. But how?

Personal Perspective: I needed to stop trying to keep my longtime friendships the same as they used to be. But how?

Relationships

Organizing Paperwork: An Act of Love for My Son

Caroline Leavitt on January 6, 2023

Personal Perspective: Organizing my documents, photos, and memorabilia now feels like I gift I will be giving my son after my death.

Personal Perspective: Organizing my documents, photos, and memorabilia now feels like I gift I will be giving my son after my death.

Memory

How Feelings Can Change Our Memories

Caroline Leavitt on October 12, 2022

Personal Perspective: How I realized that my emotions colored the way I remembered things.

Personal Perspective: How I realized that my emotions colored the way I remembered things.

Attention

Long Covid and My Mother

Caroline Leavitt on September 14, 2022

Personal Perspective: My mother and sister loved the drama of illness. I chose to ignore it, but that had a cost.

Personal Perspective: My mother and sister loved the drama of illness. I chose to ignore it, but that had a cost.

Bullying

I Contacted Two High School Bullies to Get Closure

Caroline Leavitt on July 5, 2022

I couldn't forget the damage two high school bullies caused me. So I wrote them to understand why they'd bullied me.

I couldn't forget the damage two high school bullies caused me. So I wrote them to understand why they'd bullied me.

Aging

At Life’s End, My Family Showed Me a New Way to Live

Caroline Leavitt on April 18, 2022

In their last days at independent living, both my mom and mother-in-law showed me a different, happier perspective on aging.

In their last days at independent living, both my mom and mother-in-law showed me a different, happier perspective on aging.

Embarrassment

To Rid Myself of Shame About a Disability, I Had To Tell People About It

Caroline Leavitt on March 8, 2022

Personal Perspective: An invisible disability, hearing loss, made me ashamed of who I was. Then, I started to change the story.

Personal Perspective: An invisible disability, hearing loss, made me ashamed of who I was. Then, I started to change the story.

Attention

My Hair Has Its Own Psychology: A Personal Journey

Caroline Leavitt on January 18, 2022

My personal revelations about the psychology of my hair.

My personal revelations about the psychology of my hair.

Anxiety

Going to Bad Therapists Actually Led Me to a Great One

Caroline Leavitt on November 8, 2021

A Personal Perspective: My journey from bad therapists to a great one.

A Personal Perspective: My journey from bad therapists to a great one.

Fear

Do You Need Faith to Be Free from Fear of Death?

Caroline Leavitt on September 13, 2021

Is a fear of death darkening your love of life? Maybe it's time to embrace some mystery.

Is a fear of death darkening your love of life? Maybe it's time to embrace some mystery.

Forgiveness

I Apologize for Over-Apologizing

Caroline Leavitt on July 28, 2021

If you find yourself over-apologizing, it might just be a matter of self-confidence.

If you find yourself over-apologizing, it might just be a matter of self-confidence.

Jealousy

Jealousy and Envy Go Deeper Than You Think

Caroline Leavitt on July 8, 2021

Don't let envy and jealousy dim your inner sparkle because honestly, you are absolutely enough.

Don't let envy and jealousy dim your inner sparkle because honestly, you are absolutely enough.

Anxiety

Does Anxiety Impact Body Dysmorphia? Absolutely

Caroline Leavitt on June 23, 2021

If you can calm your anxiety, your sense of yourself will calm, too.

If you can calm your anxiety, your sense of yourself will calm, too.

Law and Crime

The Folly and Exhaustion of "Everyone Has to Like Me"

Caroline Leavitt on May 30, 2021

Why do people seek approval from others when it is exhausting and limits our capacity to accept ourselves?

Why do people seek approval from others when it is exhausting and limits our capacity to accept ourselves?