Curating Life: Healing, Growing, and Finding What Works

Note to Self: Don’t Live Inside Your Head

Note to Self: Don’t Live Inside Your Head
The other day I was folding my laundry, music playing in the background — just one of those quiet, ordinary moments where life is calm enough that your thoughts get a little space.

Then a song came on. A song from a time that still feels warm when it first brushes past me — until the warmth reminds me those moments aren’t here anymore.

For a second, it felt like I was back in it — that easy, familiar happiness.
And then… that quiet catch in my chest.
That reminder of what’s gone, and the way even the sweetest memories can carry an ache now...
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The Time to Make Up Your Mind About People — Is Never

The Time to Make Up Your Mind About People — Is Never
There’s a line from an old movie that’s been hanging out in my head lately:

The time to make up your mind about people, is never.” — Philip Barry



It’s from The Philadelphia Story — the play Philip Barry wrote for Katharine Hepburn before she starred in the film version. Her character says it right before her second wedding, basically hinting that life — and people — don’t always follow the script we’ve written for them.

And honestly? That line feels just as true in real life as it does in a black-and-white movie.

Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is hold off on deciding who someone is — because people are constantly in motion, whether we see it or not.
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Speaking Life: The Power of Words to Heal Others—and Yourself

Speaking Life: The Power of Words to Heal Others—and Yourself
Ever catch yourself saying something and instantly thinking, “Well… that came out wrong”? Yeah, me too. Sometimes my words skip the quality-control checkpoint before leaving my mouth.

Lately I’ve been realizing just how much power our words actually have. They can calm a storm or stir one up. They can build someone up—or quietly chip away at them. And listen up, because this part is important: it’s not just about what we say to other people. It’s about what we say to ourselves, too.

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How Joy (and Even Laughter) Might Strengthen More Than Just Your Spirit

How Joy (and Even Laughter) Might Strengthen More Than Just Your Spirit
You ever notice how someone’s good mood just seems to lift the room? Or how, when a loved one is stressed, you somehow feel it too — even from a distance? As a mom (and Nana), I've felt it more times than I can count.

Well, there’s science to back that up. And it’s absolutely fascinating...
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Why Surrendering Control Might Be the Best Sleep Aid You Haven’t Tried Yet

Why Surrendering Control Might Be the Best Sleep Aid You Haven’t Tried Yet
You know those nights when your brain just refuses to clock out? You’re exhausted, eyes heavy, but your mind’s wide awake running staff meetings about everything from tomorrow’s to-do list to that thing you said in 2014.

I’ve started realizing that sometimes, the problem isn’t just the caffeine, or the screens, or even stress. It’s control.

Falling asleep is an act of surrender. You can’t plan it, force it, or power through it. You have to let go. And for those of us who like to feel on top of things (hi, fellow control enthusiasts), that can be harder than it sounds.
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✨ My blog exists because I know what it feels like to keep everything jumbled in your head — like a messy pile of clothes you can’t sort through.

 Writing it all down brings clarity, calm, and sometimes even healing answers I didn’t know I was looking for.


Honestly, that’s why I keep showing up to write — it helps me make sense of things. 

 Even if you have no intentions of ever publishing your work, I highly recommend writing stuff down. It doesn't have to be a literary masterpiece or even full, grammatically correct sentences... just dump those random thoughts onto paper... you'll see what I mean.

Hi! I'm AJ Flanagan.

 
Hey there — I’m AJ.

I’m an empty-nester and a widow who had a wake-up call about the hidden toxins in everyday products most of us grew up using. Our parents didn’t know. We didn’t know either. But once you start paying attention, it’s hard to ignore.

Life shifted in 2018 when my husband, Eric, was diagnosed with leukemia — and again in 2023 when we faced a second cancer diagnosis. Supporting him through treatment changed how we looked at just about everything, including how we cared for our home, our bodies, and our day-to-day routines.
We didn’t aim for perfection or extremes. We focused on simple, meaningful changes — reducing toxic load in our home, choosing better ingredients, prioritizing nourishing food, and building calmer rhythms into daily life. Tools like aromatherapy, music, meditation, and intentional rest became part of how we coped and stayed grounded.

Caring for Eric deepened my commitment to living well — not as a trend, but as a way of showing up with intention and grace, even in the hard seasons.

Now I share our story, the lessons we learned, the small changes that made a big difference, and how I'm moving forward. My hope is to make wellness feel more approachable, less overwhelming, and rooted in real life — especially for anyone who wants healthier options without pressure or perfection.

If you’re here to find what actually works for you, you’re in the right place.

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