Smudged: Welcome Blog Post

Welcome to Smudged! (Do you know what I love about non-academic writing? I can use exclamation marks freely and with reckless abandon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, okay…I’ll stop now.) Overall, this is a blog about mental health, wellness, and navigating the world in which we live. It is largely written with college and graduate students in mind but can really apply to anyone.

This introduction is to share a bit about who I am, how and what I write about, and why I think I have something of value to share with you. Granted, you may disagree. I won’t be offended. Actually, I won’t know because there is no comment section. That is partly about my own mental well-being and social media, which I will address in a later blog. I can guarantee that this will not be everyone’s cup of tea. I love tea. I will even write about tea. Coffee?? Um, no. Smells great, but beyond that, just…no. This blog may be appealing to the tea drinkers and drive the coffee drinkers straight to the espresso machine. That’s okay. It is not intended to appeal to everyone. How could it? You are a unique human being. Your needs and interests will not be shared by everyone else. One therapist will never be the right fit for every client because different approaches, styles, and personalities appeal to different people. So, if this blog is too… (choose your descriptor) for you, that’s okay. If it makes you think “This is just the kind of weird thing my friend/sibling/coworker would like!”, please pass it along!

I suppose the first thing you should know is that I am a real doctor. The previous paragraph may have given rise to doubts about that but it’s true (and I have the student loans to back it up). Ten years of graduate study and clinical training and far too many exams, presentations, and papers formatted in APA style have earned me the title: Doctor of Psychology. Sometimes I think it just means I’m tired. I start with that because how I write about serious topics may often seem irreverent or humorous or tangential (see previous paragraph) though I am ultimately illustrating a point. That’s just my personality. I will also warn you now: I make frequent references to and take inspiration from my favorite things. (These include but are not limited to Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Marvel, Bob Ross, Mister Rogers, Frog and Toad, Rory McIlroy/golf, winter, Star Wars, The Mandalorian, Star Trek, Miss Marple, Sherlock, Calvin and Hobbes, Panic! at the Disco, Big Bang Theory, Frasier, Brene’ Brown, cats, and Taylor Swift. So much Taylor Swift.) These things will come into my writing like they come into my therapy. The advantage I have in writing a blog is that I get to incorporate my favorite things to make a point. In therapy, of course, I focus more on your favorite things. The stories and songs that resonate with us through tears or laughter or bursts of energy or feelings of calm all say a lot about us and can be very useful when incorporated into therapy or your own self-reflection.

In this blog, I will write about meaningful things and mental health but I’m also going to refer to fun things because this is not clinical writing or another dissertation (*shudder*). I will share things that I hope you find illuminating, healing, inspiring, challenging, and hopeful. Whether it’s helping you embrace your own humanity, leading you towards a kinder relationship with yourself or helping to answer questions that swirl around and keep you awake at night, this blog is intended to share some of what I do and what I’ve learned as a therapist and human being living in this world.

There is going to be a lot that I hope you will take with you and utilize. I want you to feel like you’re living the best version of your life that you can in that moment. Some days

the best version may be putting on pants that are not pajama bottoms. Go ahead, ask me what kind of pants I’m currently wearing. I completed a Master’s Degree and a Doctorate

wearing pajama pants at least 50% of the time so there is no judgment from me on your wardrobe choices.

What matters is not trying to be perfect but what is the best you can do for yourself on a given day? I’m not big on perfection. In fact, I’ll probably write quite a bit about how perfection is a crappy goal. I also use rather colorful language, so if your sensibilities will revolt at the occasional F-bomb, you can decide if you want to read on or not. Although I use a lot of humor in therapy and in my writing, it is not an indication that I underestimate how incredibly difficult, traumatic, and painful life can and may be for you. Humor and laughter are two of my most powerful coping tools so naturally, they work their way into my writing and my therapy style. I’m also a fan of common sense, moderation, and allowing yourself to aim for being “good enough.” I’ll also share some of my own foibles and self-effacing disclosures in my other blog, “Shrinkwrapped.” You can find reading recommendations (as all the college and graduate students recoil at the mention of MORE reading…) based on different topics, needs, and areas of interest in “Tracy’s Book Nook.” NO peer reviewed journal articles, I promise.

Okay. You’ve been Smudged! I hope you visit often for a different perspective, a giggle/laugh/snort (all are welcome), some validation, encouragement, hope, helpful tools, or just some support from a doctor and her furry co-therapists.

Thanks for reading. You've been Smudged!

-Tracy

Please note: the information in these blogs is not intended to be used to diagnose yourself or someone you know and especially not someone you’re currently mad at... These blogs are intended for general psychoeducation and entertainment. The information is not intended to replace the medical or psychiatric advice you would receive when working with a mental health professional. It is always okay to ask for help! I encourage you to do so if you’re struggling or just need some extra care and support. If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call 988 or text “Help” to 741741, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room. There are many people ready and eager to help you.