The AWE Blog

Sometimes fitting in feels like posing with the right gear—but real belonging goes deeper than appearances. When I was in elementary...

Sometimes it feels like the world is exploding around you—but you can still walk forward. Restlessness doesn’t have to stop your...

Years ago, I stood on a rooftop and looked out at what was unfinished, uncertain, and ahead. I didn’t know how hard the work of...

When the steps that once carried you closer feel washed out, it can seem like there’s no safe way forward. But just as new steps can be...

Reebs and me—proof that sometimes relationships don’t need the layers of ambiguity my blog is about. Two people made plans in the spring...

Me with Matt, Rob, and Marcus at the Papa John’s in Ocean City during Beach Week — the same crew who joined me for the week-long...

Straight outta Corry Memorial Hospital with one message for Erie Gives 2025: 'Give baby, give.' 👶💙🌈 On Tuesday, August 12, 2025 ,...

Welcome to Erie — “A Great Lake Place” with even greater potential. There’s no shortage of information anymore. You can Google trauma....

When you’re hurt but unsure how to say it—so you send a Reel instead. Reels don’t heal. Talk first. TikTok later. Short-form therapy...

Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point—like life, the climb can be tense, the drop unexpected, and the ride unforgettable. I love amusement...

Caught in the moment at the batting cage—because fun doesn’t need a reason. Enjoy what you enjoy. At Authentic Wellness & Empowerment, we...

Wearing a birthday crown gifted by my friend Sara, the school librarian—because even in the chaos, we found reasons to smile. Before I...

From wild hair to wise stares — a glimpse at my ID evolution over the years. School IDs and driver’s licenses where the only constant was...

When my RAV4 hit a deer, it didn’t just dent the car—it became the perfect metaphor for how impact can lead to change, and stress can be...

“Oh man, Curtis and I just need some eyeliner and we have the mid-2000s emo look locked down.” —Joe (in red), pictured here with Adam,...

A tool of execution turned into entertainment. That’s the paradox of healing—what once overwhelmed you might one day lose its grip, even...

Therapist by day. Bon Jovi impersonator by destiny. It’s not just lather, rinse, repeat. We rise, we shine, we reclaim joy—because...

The Jeep handles the roads. The kayaks? They take you where roads don’t go. Empowerment means knowing what kind of equipment the journey...

Christmas morning. Red pajamas. Brown carpet. A Talking ALF in hand. No filter, no branding—just joy. Before I launched a...

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it really takes to build something meaningful. Something lasting. Something honest. Authentic...