A woman with long, wavy hair wearing large sunglasses and a black top, standing outdoors with a wooden background.

Hi, I’m Carie. I write daily posts about navigating these times.

The joy of nothing special
Carie Behounek Carie Behounek

The joy of nothing special

I remember being in my early 20s and walking an octogenarian to her car. She moved so slowly. I tried to be patient. But I was annoyed, in a hurry, ready to move on with my day. And just steps before we made it to her car, she looked up and noticed a tree. I was frustrated. But I listened to her marvel, and I also looked up. For the first time that I remember, I slowed down enough to notice something beautiful during an ordinary day.

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Three good things
Musings Carie Behounek Musings Carie Behounek

Three good things

Try to spend a little time each day reflecting with intention on “good things” that happened in your day because of actions you took and see what happens.

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That Time in 2018 When I Started Crying and Didn’t Stop
Essays Carie Behounek Essays Carie Behounek

That Time in 2018 When I Started Crying and Didn’t Stop

Once upon a time, I was sick. I hurt. And I believed that pain was my lot in life. To cope, I started using mind/body therapies. I started changing my thoughts. I started feeling my feelings and releasing all that didn’t serve.

Today, I live pain-free. This post shares a little of the science as to why I no longer hurt — at least from a “chronic” perspective. I have been complaining about a back ache for three days that resulted from walking a few miles on Saturday in cute but flat sneakers. But that’s my bad. My middleaged body is strong but it ain’t playing about wearing supportive shoes. ;)

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Things I know about Now
Carie Behounek Carie Behounek

Things I know about Now

Wow, this post really meandered. It made me ask myself if I spend more time talking about mindfulness than I do being mindful. I know what my ego wants to say. Which makes me think that it’s a question I better keep top of mind.

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Validation
Essays Carie Behounek Essays Carie Behounek

Validation

Yesterday, I touched into a small part of me that still worried that I’d made something up. That maybe I was just crazy to believe. I didn’t go into the day hoping for validation. Or even knowing that I was seeking it. But it’s what I got.

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This and that can be true
Essays Carie Behounek Essays Carie Behounek

This and that can be true

Most days I’m confident. Over-confident, some might say. But I also have days like today, where everything I thought about myself was disasterous. It was a perfect day to allow my big feelings to flow, and I gratefully had the time and space to do so. It was also a day that I should not — NOT — judge my entire body of work.

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Words I highlighted today
Musings Carie Behounek Musings Carie Behounek

Words I highlighted today

It’s rough out there. But if you’re here and reading this — I have zero doubt that you’re here for a reason, you’re here with a purpose, and you were built for these times.

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On surrender
Essays Carie Behounek Essays Carie Behounek

On surrender

Today I reflected on a way I learned to create new patterns in my life as it relates to anxiety, sharing a simple practice I started 10+ years ago. I also included some links as to what science says about this God Box practice. And, read to the end, because once again the universe humbled me today, giving me a situation that’s largely out of my control. Simple practices, but dang it — never easy.

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Choices
Musings Carie Behounek Musings Carie Behounek

Choices

2025 showed us, again, just how much the world needs our best selves to show up. The world is counting on us to do so. We express our best selves when we find harmony in our own experiences. When we are constantly acting out life from an extreme stress response, we create more chaos. 

Some thoughts on ways we might choose to show up, a little differently.

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MiddleAgedLadyShit is a spiritual account
Carie Behounek Carie Behounek

MiddleAgedLadyShit is a spiritual account

The world needs us to be our most authentic selves. To stop playing small. To stand up for truth. And the best way we can do this is to know—deeply know—our own hearts. To get out of our victim mindsets and bravely create a new paradigm for our beautiful earth.

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