Mindset Shifts

New Year, Same Me — Just With a Better Vibe

New Year, Same Me — Just With a Better Vibe
I've reached the stage of life where I don’t want ‘more’ — I want to be able to put something down without knocking over three other things. 
That's it. 
That's the dream.
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Things Everyone Is Obsessed With Right Now—And Why I’m Not

Things Everyone Is Obsessed With Right Now—And Why I’m Not
Every once in a while, something becomes so popular that it’s impossible to avoid. It’s everywhere—online, in stores, in conversations—and people genuinely love it.

And then there’s me, standing off to the side thinking… am I missing something?
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The Best Relationships Aren’t Equal… They’re Complementary

The Best Relationships Aren’t Equal… They’re Complementary
Last week I was sitting at my laptop with headphones on, editing audio for an upcoming podcast episode. If you’ve ever edited audio, you already know it’s about as glamorous as filing receipts in your pajamas — but I genuinely enjoy it. Somewhere between...
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How Needing to Pee Became My Best Strategy for Reprioritizing Life

How Needing to Pee Became My Best Strategy for Reprioritizing Life
I was in the kitchen the other day, staring down a pile of dishes, reminding myself of three emails I hadn’t answered yet, and trying to remember where I put the shopping list… when suddenly my bladder chimed in with:

“Hi... yeah... Whatever we were doing here? Cancel it. We have a new plan.”

And just like that...
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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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✨ 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.

*This blog centers the GenX experience, simply because that’s the lens I live through—but anyone looking for connection, natural wellness, grief support, or a little real-talk in this messy stage of life is more than welcome.

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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