Author: Kim Fluxgold

The calendar says it’s October, but today (and all weekend long!!), it feels like summer – and my mental health is incredibly grateful for the unseasonal gift.

Life has been exceptionally hectic and heavy lately, so when an appointment I had this afternoon was unexpectedly canceled, I pivoted the best way I know how; I hit the trails.

To move my body.

To breathe a little deeper. 

To let nature do what it somehow always does.

Nothing clears mental fog or quiets the noise in my head like blue skies, fresh air, sun on my skin, and that grounding stillness that insists you pause and be present. Which is exactly what I needed, and exactly what I did.

A hike doesn’t ask much from you, yet somehow, just putting one foot in front of the other creates space to steady yourself again. To feel peace return to your heart, even if only for a while. 

Today reminded me that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do isn’t to fix anything, but instead to simply step away long enough to breathe again🌞.

On the drive home through winding country roads, that peace deepened in unexpected ways. Breaking news came over the radio claiming that Hamas has agreed to release ALL the remaining hostages in Gaza. Hearing the news, emotion washed over me, already raw from yesterday’s tragic events in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, and just days away from the second anniversary of October 7th. 

As we welcome the Sabbath, may we all hold space for hope, healing, and the safe return of every soul still waiting to come home.

Shabbat Shalom 🎗

#bringthemhomenow #peace #Shabbat #mentalhealth #nature #wellbeing #prayers #Reset #feelslikesummer #grateful #hope #healing #summerofrich

Lately, I’ve felt like I’m in survival mode.

After an emotionally draining week last week, I found myself met with an even more difficult one this past week. Just when I think I’ve caught my breath and that it couldn’t get worse, something else hit, knocking me down even more. 

I’m running on fumes at this point. 

Unraveling. 

I don’t even know what I need right now, besides perhaps a really good cry!

I’m exhausted. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, too. 

This past week has been met with a flood of emotions: sadness, chaos, overwhelm, triggers of past trauma, frustration, anger, uncertainty, anxiety, heartache, loss, and deep grief. There were many moving parts to all these emotions, which I won’t get into here. 

It’s been one wave after another, and I’ve had no choice but to keep swimming through them, even though the current feels so strong.

Yet, in the middle of all the darkness, moments of light still managed to shine through. Celebrating Rachel’s birthday yesterday, surrounded by the people I love most, reminded me that even in all the heaviness, joy can still find its way in. I’m holding onto it, trying not to break further.

With Yom Kippur approaching in the coming days, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to bring all this heaviness, uncertainty, and chaos into a day meant for forgiveness, hope, and renewal. It feels incredibly hard, even near impossible at the moment, to open my heart to forgiveness, hope, and renewal after the week I’ve had.

But maybe that’s the real point of Yom Kippur. 

It’s not about being whole or having it all figured out. It’s about showing up as I am, exhausted, overwhelmed, grieving, and bringing that honestly into this space.

Yom Kippur invites me to pause, to reflect, and to return. Not just to the rituals but to myself. To acknowledge what I’ve been carrying, what’s broken, what needs healing; without needing to fix it all right now.

This past week has been heavy. But even in the pain, those joyful moments reminded me that joy still exists, even in the middle of the chaos.

Maybe renewal isn’t about starting over. Maybe it’s about making space—to breathe, to feel, to forgive; even just a little.

So I’m coming into this Yom Kippur as I am—soft hearted, tired, and honest. I’m bringing what I have left in me, hoping that it’s enough.

*The video attached is from another moment of joy this week, which only happened minutes ago.

Let’s go Blue Jays!

#heaviness #healing #yomkippur #renewal #forgiveness #hope #mentalhealth #wellbeing #momentsofjoy #survivalmode #youareenough #emotionallydrained #unraveling #exhausted #letsgobluejays #heartache #grief #uncertainty

Watching you grow into the beautiful, strong, and ridiculously talented young woman you are today has been one of life’s greatest privileges… and adventures!


That fire, that sass, that unstoppable drive—it’s what makes you you. 

No matter how old you get, you’ll always be our baby girl – the one who completed our family and filled our hearts in ways we never imagined possible. And let’s be honest… the one who also loves to keep us on our toes! 😉


Your dad and I are beyond proud of you. May the year ahead bring you endless laughter and joy, unforgettable adventures, and all the magic your heart desires. 


Celebrate today – and every day like the Queen you are!

We love you to the moon and back, forever and a day. 💖 


#happybirthday #23 #babygirl #celebrate #loveyoutothemoonandback #laughter #love #adventure #queenofthecastle 

I’m so damned overwhelmed. And beyond exhausted. 

The week that just passed felt long and heavy, and the week ahead already feels the same. With the start of the Jewish holidays tomorrow night and two significant specialist appointments on my calendar, which are all weighing heavily on me, it’s no wonder I’m feeling especially anxious and scared. There are so many unknowns on the horizon, and it’s all too easy for me to slip into that familiar cycle of doom and self-criticism.

But I heard a quote from a recent Mel Robbins’ podcast, and her words landed softly in my heart as I try and navigate through all the unrelenting noise in my head.

“I need to give myself more credit for how hard I’m trying.” ~ Mel Robbins 

Today, on “World Gratitude Day”, I am grateful for her words which have reminded me just how much I need to resist the urge to criticize myself for all the things I think I’m falling short on, and, as she so gently puts it, to “triple down” on all the things I’m doing right.

On Friday afternoon while having one of my regular check-ins with my psychiatrist, and after a really emotionally draining week, I found myself spiraling into a familiar pattern, obsessing over everything I’m not doing, everything I can’t do, and everything my inner-critic insists I’ll never be able to do (nothing both he and my therapist aren’t used to by now). When I finally paused to take a breath, he asked me a question: 

“Tell me something you’re winning at right now?”

I think I surprised him, but I definitely surprised myself more (my therapist would’ve been proud 🙃). I didn’t just give him a short, one word response of “NOTHING”, I instead gave him a full paragraph answer, as though I was writing an essay, listing off several recent accomplishments that my heart knew were worthy of mention. 

As the Jewish New Year, 5786 begins tomorrow evening, I’m making a promise to myself to keep this affirmation close to my heart. And repeat it often. 

Go ahead and try it for yourself:

“I need to give myself more credit for how hard I’m trying.”  

Too often, we fixate on what we think we’re not doing well enough. But what if, instead, we gave ourselves credit for everything we are doing right? What if we chose to “triple down” on our efforts, our resilience, and our ability to keep showing up?

Maybe this new year can be a season of giving myself more credit, of celebrating the wins, of finding forgiveness within, and of recognizing the strength it takes to simply show up, even when it’s hard.

An “A” for effort. Effort counts, and that’s worth holding on to.

May 5786 be a year of new beginnings, inner peace and peace around the world, meaningful connections, and ease in our struggles. May we all find space to rest, to breathe, to forgive ourselves, and to feel proud of the strength it takes to keep going — even when no one else sees it.

Wishing all those celebrating a happy, healthy, sweet New Year.

#shanatova #sweetnewyear #forgiveness #mentalhealth #peace #affirmations #aforeffort #anxious #innercritic #fallingshort #accomplishments #resilience #youareenough #youareworthy  #celebratethewins #worldgratitudeday @melrobbins 

You continue to amaze me with your heart, your strength, and your incredible beauty, both inside and out.

You keep us laughing, you keep us on our toes, and you’ve filled these last 26 years with so much love and light.

Your dad and I are both endlessly proud of the woman you’ve become (even if you’ll forever claim the “forgotten middle child” title 😉).

Wishing you a year filled with joy, laughter, adventure, and all the happiness you deserve.

Love you to the moon and back, forever and a day 💖

#happybirthday #hannahbanana #hannahmontana #twentysix #birthdaygirl #middlechild  #loveyoutothemoonandback #foreverandaday

The world feels like it’s gone to shit —chaotic, heavy, and overwhelming. But out here on the trails, in nature, the chaos, heaviness, and overwhelm softens.


Nature offers a quiet kind of peace, a reminder that stillness does exist even when the world feels like it’s unraveling. 


And in that stillness, I can breathe.

These are the moments that ground me and the ones that remind me to keep going. 


#summerofrich #hiking #earlroweconservation #mentalhealth #chaos #stillness #overwhelm #nature #trails #breathe #youareenough 

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and today, September 10th, is World Suicide Prevention Day.  

I know firsthand what it feels like to live with thoughts of suicide, daily — the weight of them, the way they creep in and make you feel small, hopeless, and unworthy. I also know what it feels like to be a survivor. That’s why today, I find myself needing to take a pause to reflect on my own journey.

Each year, an estimated 720,000 people die by suicide worldwide. Behind every number is a real person, a real story, a real struggle, and a life that really matters.

This year’s theme, as set by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. A focus being placed on accessibility, translating resources into more languages so that support can truly reach and engage communities around the world.

Changing the narrative on suicide means encouraging open conversations everywhere, offering kindness and support to those who may be struggling, raising awareness, ending stigma, and spreading the message that every life has value. Too often, those who are hurting feel silenced by fear or judgment. The silence is heavy, and carrying it alone can feel unbearable.

We may never fully understand someone else’s battles, but we always have the power to show compassion, to reach out, to listen, to remind each other that no one has to walk this road alone, and that it’s okay to not be okay 💛.

Today, and always, I am holding space for those who are fighting suicidal thoughts, for those who have lost a friend or loved one to suicide, for those who have survived a suicide attempt, for those who love someone who is suicidal, for those who feel alone, and for those who are too afraid to ask for help. 

Please remember that reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. 

Not every day feels good, but together, we can help one another find some good in every day. 

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text 9.8.8.

#September #suicidepreventionawarenessmonth #worldsuicidepreventionday #mentalhealth #youareenough #youmatter #survivor #itsoktonotbeok #strength #endthestigmatogether #startaconversation #988 #reflection #selfcareawarenessmonth #changingthenarrativeonsuicide 

September is “National Self-Care Awareness Month”. It’s a gentle reminder to slow down, breathe, and make space for what truly nourishes my spirit.

Earlier today, I headed out on the trails to practice my favourite form of self-care; hiking. It’s where I get to let go of the noise in my head and reconnect with myself in a way nothing else can 🥾✨.

Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s essential. It’s the foundation that allows us to show up with strength, presence, and love for the people around us.

How will you be practicing self-care this month? 💙 What does self-care look like for you right now?

#September #selfcareawarenessmonth #selfcareisnotselfish #mentalhealth #wellbeing #rest #healthyboundaries #practiceselfcare #pause #breathe #grounding #youareenough #summerofrich 

I drifted off to sleep last night, tears in my eyes. Feeling vulnerable. Afraid. Anxious. Sad. Alone. 


I couldn’t shake my intrusive thoughts. You know, the ones that creep into your head and wreak havoc. Disrupt your sleep. Remind you that you are worthless. Not enough. 


I woke up this morning, feeling the same. But on my way to work I stopped to grab a drink and upon reading these words on the back of a stranger’s t-shirt standing in front of me, overcome with emotion, I felt a sudden shift in my heart.


Reading the words, “To the person behind me. You are amazing. Beautiful and enough. Remember that.” 💙

In that moment, it was as if the universe had whispered exactly what I needed to hear. A gentle reminder that even in my darkest moments, I am enough.

Sometimes, hope finds us in the most unexpected places—like on the back of a stranger’s t-shirt in line at Tim Hortons. 💙

#youareenough #agentlereminder #mentalhealth #intrusivethoughts #depression #anxiety #vulnerable #hope #depressionlies

“No more pencils. No more books. No more teachers’ dirty looks!”

Can you believe it’s September already??

For many, September symbolizes new beginnings, a renewed focus, setting fresh intentions, and adjusting to change. 

But this September feels different for me. 

Tomorrow marks the start of a new school year, here in Ontario, that is, and today, I find myself sitting with a mix of emotions. 

This is the first September in nearly 25 years, where none of our kids will be heading off to class. From preschool to post-grad, we’ve lived through over two decades of first-day jitters, anxiety, excitement, new backpacks, endless school supply runs, and jam-packed schedules.

Today feels bittersweet. 

There is pride in seeing how far all 3 of my kids have come and joy in watching them flourish as they step full force ahead into building their careers. There is relief in no longer having to navigate assignment deadlines or manage chaotic schedules. There is also a deep sense of nostalgia in my heart today because back-to-school season always seemed to set the tone for the coming year – a fresh beginning filling the air.

Perhaps today is a gentle reminder that with every ending comes the possibility for something new.

As we move into this next chapter, I am carrying gratitude for the memories, pride in the journey, and a curiosity for what lies ahead, not only for my children, but for me, too.

Who knows? Maybe this year, the fresh start belongs to me.

As we step into September, what new beginnings are you embracing?

#mentalhealthcheckin #nomoreteachers #September #nostalgia #bittersweet #proudmama #mentalhealth #labourday #whatliesahead #freshstarts #renewedfocus #intentions #emotions #nextchapter #gratitude #memories #youareenough