#helpfulmess
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barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Today's moment of wonder.
#helpfulmess #reflections #MomentsOfWonder
July 14, 2025 at 12:36 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
You don’t have to help everyone all the time to be worthy.
#helpfulmess #catHelp #YouAreWorthy #boundaries #KnowYourself
Open electric drill box on the floor, no drill but battery charger, battery and screws in the box, brown and black Maine coon cat sitting in the lid side, looking up with big eyes.
February 4, 2026 at 4:35 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Conversation starter with yourself
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/feel-...
#helpfulmess #FeelYourFeelings #KeepMovingForward #RestAndRecharge
Feel Your Feelings
I don’t know how rockstars or campaigning politicians do what they do. Being “on the road” is not for me. I have been doing a lot of day and weekend trips lately, for various reasons, and it drains me...
barbaraleighauthor.com
September 22, 2026 at 9:28 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Relationships are between people and people aren’t always healthy. You are worthy of having a beautiful relationship. Be open to discovering and healing the broken parts of yourself to get there.
#helpfulmess #relationships #YouAreWorthy #YouAreEnough #YouAreLoveable #HealYourselfFirst
Indoor cat looking out patio door, outdoor cat on the step outside looking in
December 17, 2025 at 4:52 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
You deserve a break
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/vacat...
#helpfulmess #vacation #ChicagoSkyline #wildflowers #YouDeserveABreak #refresh
Vacation
When you go on vacation, do you have a problem switching gears? Are you still in power-through-and-accomplish-things mode several days in? Do you have a problem taking vacations at all? It can be hard...
barbaraleighauthor.com
August 4, 2026 at 3:58 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
This is Daisy when I go over the allowed number of brushstrokes, by one. Purr, purr, purr, THE FACE. If you don’t stop at THE FACE, you get THE TEETH. The boundary is drawn, the consequences are communicated clearly, my responsibility is to stop.
#helpfulmess #boundaries #MadCat #communication
Cat face with ears back, clearly not happy
August 6, 2025 at 5:45 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
When you look around at your relationships, are you comfortable enough to curl up in the sun? Bad relationships can make you feel like you always have to be “on.” Reclaim your power and relax.
#helpfulmess #CatNapGoals #takecareofyourself #reclaimyourpower
Cat curled up, sleeping in the sun on a windowsill
January 16, 2025 at 2:09 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
When you’re caught in the transition between before and after, take the time to grieve. Allow yourself to feel. Give your body a chance to release it. When you allow yourself to release the before, you open yourself to welcome (or better fight) the after. #helpfulmess
cat stretched across two chairs with belly in midair
February 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
It’s the love you feel that makes home real
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/who%E...
#helpfulmess #home #love #TheFamilyYouChoose #CallHome #cats
Who’s Got Your Back?
When your life takes a turn for the worse, who’s there for you? When you go home, what does that mean to you? Home doesn’t have to mean where you grew up or the people you grew up with, though it cert...
barbaraleighauthor.com
June 18, 2026 at 12:44 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
How do you figure out who to trust?
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/is-it...
#helpfulmess #trust #truth #shame #SlowDown #FeelingStupid #flags #BeHonest
Is it True?
How do you trust without feeling stupid?
barbaraleighauthor.com
June 10, 2026 at 3:23 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Do you feel the need to defend every choice?
When has anyone ever asked? Think of the amount of time and energy it wastes. What did you miss while preparing your defense? Did you stop listening to the person you were with? Did you miss out on a pretty flower or an interesting bug? #helpfulmess
Pink Zinnea
November 16, 2024 at 9:56 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Life in chaos? Your former life may look like compost, but take the nutrients from it, take the things that feed you, and grow. It turns out, you are most beautiful at your most delicate. The secret is, it takes all your strength to get there. You are worth it.
#Helpfulmess #YouGotThis #Create
plant with little green leaves and tiny purple flowers growing on concrete
February 21, 2025 at 10:01 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Forgiving a cat for sleeping on your clean laundry is easier than accepting people with all their failings. Why? Take your pet patience along for your holiday gatherings this year!
#helpfulmess #bepositive #familydrama
cat on laundry in basket
December 19, 2024 at 1:28 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Are you thankful Thanksgiving is over? Do holidays give you hives? We put lots of pressure on ourselves in the maze of holiday expectations. Being helpful doesn’t mean letting yourself feel terrible for the sake of tradition.
#helpfulmess #juststop #youareenough #holidayhives #loveyourself
December 5, 2024 at 4:09 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
When the cold gets overwhelming, try a bit of hot chocolate. By that I mean, something that will warm you enough to look beyond this moment and realize you won’t be cold forever.
#helpfulmess #coldday #overwhelm #staywarm #hope #joy #embraceyourtruth
teapot and mug on stovetop
January 23, 2025 at 1:06 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Recognize your longing
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/nosta...
#helpfulmess #nostalgia #violet #longing #desire #YouAreWorthy
Nostalgia
There’s something special about spring flowers. When I see violets like this, I think of spring in my childhood. Violets grew along the road on the hillsides where there was plenty of sun, where topso...
barbaraleighauthor.com
May 12, 2026 at 9:52 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Nature shows us who we are
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/tornado
#helpfulmess #nature #tornado #community #kindness #NoFear
Tornado!
Destruction is real. Whether you live in an area that gets tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, droughts, or blizzards, nature can change your life. But nature can also bring us together. In the ...
barbaraleighauthor.com
August 19, 2026 at 7:03 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Be a leaf. Even if you feel like you've been ground up for mulch, know you can still contribute. Look for ways to create in your changed life. Find opportunities for growth. #helpfulmess #smartgirlsfigureitout
Fall leaves on the ground
November 16, 2024 at 9:14 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
When told to visualize your happy place, I go with visualizing a calm space where I can picture feeling love, laughter, and contentment. Basically, it looks like this cat living his best life.
#helpfulmess #happyCat #LiveYourBestLife #Relax
Orange cat asleep, sprawled on wood deck boards in the sun, totally relaxed and smiling
August 28, 2025 at 3:33 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
Make your presence known
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/night...
#helpfulmess #BeThere #Connect #deer #raccoon #friends
Night Visitors
I love this photo, partly because it looks like a painting, partly because how cool is it to see multiple wild animals so close? It’s fuzzy because it was dark outside; my phone compensated for the li...
barbaraleighauthor.com
April 21, 2026 at 3:02 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
It’s your box
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/menta...
#helpfulmess #rocks #MentalLoad #LetItGo #ShareTheLoad
Mental Load
I think the phrase “mental load” sounds funny. I get that it means the heaviness of just getting through the day in your own brain. The picture in my head that goes with “mental load” is my brain carr...
barbaraleighauthor.com
July 14, 2026 at 9:42 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
What do you do when WHAM! something unexpected is up in your face? Something quietly growing like this mushroom troop, unnoticed, or a sudden and life-changing event. What is your go-to reaction?🫣🤐😡😭😂🤔
#helpfulmess #mushrooms #howdoureact
mushrooms growing on a tree stump
December 12, 2024 at 1:04 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
When Rudolph is learning to fly, he puts everything he has into it because of a giant boost of self-confidence (She says I'm cuuuuute!!"). What would your boost look like? What makes you feel like flying? What is standing in your way?
#helpfulmess #Icanfly #Reprioritize #Cutekitty
November 28, 2024 at 12:46 AM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
No pretending
barbaraleighauthor.com/blog/f/be-wh...
#helpfulmess #BeWhoYouAre #BeBrave #NoHiding #CatInDaffodils #YouAreWorthIt
Be Who You Are
Do you get into relationships where your person never really focuses on you? They are with you, but they don’t really see you? Where you feel you have to hide Who You Are in order for them to like you...
barbaraleighauthor.com
April 29, 2026 at 5:26 PM
barbaraleighauthor.bsky.social
I tried moving this snapping turtle off the road but it wouldn’t budge. And then it went. Learning where that boundary between “being responsible for” and “lending a hand” falls is really important for your own sanity. You can only control you.
#helpfulmess #letThem #youControlYou #turtles
large snapping turtle on road surface
June 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM