Runs in the Family

Friends

I Tried, but I Couldn't Save My Friend From Mental Illness

Caroline Leavitt on February 6, 2026

My best friend and I would have done anything for each other. But I couldn't save her from mental illness.

My best friend and I would have done anything for each other. But I couldn't save her from mental illness.

Boundaries

How I Learned to Stop Replaying a Family Script

Caroline Leavitt on January 18, 2026

Personal Perspective: Were you (like me) a people-pleaser for a not-always kind family? Are you still replaying that pattern? For me, it was time to rewrite the script.

Personal Perspective: Were you (like me) a people-pleaser for a not-always kind family? Are you still replaying that pattern? For me, it was time to rewrite the script.

Authenticity

The Write Situation: How Writing Letters Helped Me Heal

Caroline Leavitt on December 2, 2025

Personal Perspective: Sometimes writing a letter to someone who has pained you won't change a thing, but it will change and heal you.

Personal Perspective: Sometimes writing a letter to someone who has pained you won't change a thing, but it will change and heal you.

Anxiety

How Reframing My Anxiety Made Me Less Anxious

Caroline Leavitt on October 25, 2025

Personal Perspective: I've always been anxious, but a friend's description of me showed me how to reframe my worrying to have a happier, richer life.

Personal Perspective: I've always been anxious, but a friend's description of me showed me how to reframe my worrying to have a happier, richer life.

Family Dynamics

The Estrangement Report: 6 Years Later

Caroline Leavitt on August 10, 2025

A Personal Perspective: My sister estranged me for six years now. But it's only been recently that I've realized what a gift that has been.

A Personal Perspective: My sister estranged me for six years now. But it's only been recently that I've realized what a gift that has been.

Relationships

For Me, Sharing Clothes With Loved Ones Deepens Connection

Caroline Leavitt on July 1, 2025

Personal Perspective: I've discovered that wearing another person's clothes can boost our connection, spark comfort, and bring a feeling of belonging.

Personal Perspective: I've discovered that wearing another person's clothes can boost our connection, spark comfort, and bring a feeling of belonging.

Nostalgia

How Nostalgia Jumpstarted Connections for Me

Caroline Leavitt on May 5, 2025

Personal Perspective: Lately, I've noticed Gen Z seems obsessed with the 1980s—my time. By exploring that, I realized some old things I could use to make my life now even better.

Personal Perspective: Lately, I've noticed Gen Z seems obsessed with the 1980s—my time. By exploring that, I realized some old things I could use to make my life now even better.

Shame

Sometimes, When Battling Shame, It Helps to Have an Ally

Caroline Leavitt on March 21, 2025

Yes, it can really help when you overcome shame over an invisible disability. But what helps even more, is being able to pass that gift on to someone else!

Yes, it can really help when you overcome shame over an invisible disability. But what helps even more, is being able to pass that gift on to someone else!

Shame

How I Am Getting Shame to Stop Driving My Life

Caroline Leavitt on February 14, 2025

Personal Perspective: On the outside, I was a success. But on the inside, I was battling shame for my failures.

Personal Perspective: On the outside, I was a success. But on the inside, I was battling shame for my failures.

Memory

I Blamed My Ex, but an Old Letter Told Another Story

Caroline Leavitt on December 16, 2024

Personal Perspective: How re-reading a decades-old letter from my ex made me realize my responsibility in our break-up.

Personal Perspective: How re-reading a decades-old letter from my ex made me realize my responsibility in our break-up.

Relationships

Sometimes, the People You Love Don't Want Your Help

Caroline Leavitt on September 16, 2024

A Personal Perspective: I always believed I could help my loved ones and solve their problems. Then I came to realize they didn't want me to.

A Personal Perspective: I always believed I could help my loved ones and solve their problems. Then I came to realize they didn't want me to.

Relationships

I Felt Estranged Because My Family Kept Secrets

Caroline Leavitt on August 2, 2024

Personal Perspective: My mom was one of 6 sisters who supported each other and kept each other's secrets, no matter what. I felt estranged until I met the other side of the family.

Personal Perspective: My mom was one of 6 sisters who supported each other and kept each other's secrets, no matter what. I felt estranged until I met the other side of the family.

Resilience

Success and Failure Are Not What You Think

Caroline Leavitt on May 14, 2024

Personal Perspective: I was sure I was headed for failure. Sudden, unexpected success reminded me what really matters.

Personal Perspective: I was sure I was headed for failure. Sudden, unexpected success reminded me what really matters.

Career

It's Never Too Late to Say Thank You

Caroline Leavitt on March 6, 2024

For decades, I felt terrible that I had never thanked a professor for profoundly changing my life. Then I got a chance to.

For decades, I felt terrible that I had never thanked a professor for profoundly changing my life. Then I got a chance to.

Body Image

How Piercing My Ears Helped Make Me Whole

Caroline Leavitt on January 14, 2024

My husband had thrown me out. My sister had estranged me. My mother was dead. Yet I found solace in the earrings they had all once given me.

My husband had thrown me out. My sister had estranged me. My mother was dead. Yet I found solace in the earrings they had all once given me.

Relationships

Leaving Love Letters Now for After I’m Gone

Caroline Leavitt on November 17, 2023

Personal Perspective: After my mom died, I wanted to make sure I left tangible proof of love behind for my husband and son. So I write letters.

Personal Perspective: After my mom died, I wanted to make sure I left tangible proof of love behind for my husband and son. So I write letters.

Relationships

After the Estrangement: How I Healed Even When Cut Off

Caroline Leavitt on August 16, 2023

Personal Perspective: How I discovered that estrangement from a once-beloved sibling didn't mean that I had to stop loving her.

Personal Perspective: How I discovered that estrangement from a once-beloved sibling didn't mean that I had to stop loving her.

Assertiveness

For Me, "I'll Show You" Meant "I'll Show Me."

Caroline Leavitt on June 28, 2023

I began to realize how exhausting this all was, that my victories always involved what someone else thought.

I began to realize how exhausting this all was, that my victories always involved what someone else thought.

Friends

My Friends Changed and Moved On, but I Couldn’t Let Go

Caroline Leavitt on March 28, 2023

Personal Perspective: I needed to stop trying to keep my longtime friendships the same as they used to be. But how?

Personal Perspective: I needed to stop trying to keep my longtime friendships the same as they used to be. But how?

Relationships

Organizing Paperwork: An Act of Love for My Son

Caroline Leavitt on January 6, 2023

Personal Perspective: Organizing my documents, photos, and memorabilia now feels like I gift I will be giving my son after my death.

Personal Perspective: Organizing my documents, photos, and memorabilia now feels like I gift I will be giving my son after my death.