Shaley Speaks
Bio
Wife. Mom. Creator.
Politics. Life. Motherhood. Fiction. Music.
I love it all. I hope you do, too.
Stories (47)
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Reduce Stress During Social Distancing
With the well-known COVID-19 pandemic, it’s no secret that many individuals are experiencing higher than usual stress and anxiety levels. This is a strange time for all of us, and not knowing what’s to come can lead to feelings of hopelessness and increased stress. For some, their usual coping mechanisms have been temporarily taken away due to the widespread social distancing orders: traveling, visiting friends or family, even going to the bar for a couple drinks. Finding new ways to cope with this uncertainty can be a grueling process, but self-care is a top priority in times like this. Let’s take a look at a few different coping mechanisms that can be done from the comfort of one’s home, or six feet away from others.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in Longevity
Justin Bieber Saved My Life
We all know him. Some of us love him, some of us hate him. I’ve actually been in both of these categories. For the first several years of his career, I couldn’t stand Justin Bieber. In my opinion, he was overrated, disrespectful, and he hadn’t even gone through puberty yet. All of his songs were about relationships and love, which I found ironic since he had never held a healthy relationship at that point in his life. It was 2009, he was 15 years old, a year younger than me.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in Beat
Life with an Invisible Illness
Seven months ago, I was diagnosed with a life-changing illness. No one can tell just by looking at me. No one can tell simply by talking to me. The only way another human being would know about my disorder is if I say it out loud. Unfortunately, this disorder is extremely misunderstood, wrongfully diagnosed, and often overlooked. For years, it was considered a mental illness due to the lack of diagnostic proof available. Many people still believe this, including some doctors. I was lucky enough to be under the care of a physician that took my symptoms seriously. He listened to my concerns and addressed each one to the best of his ability -- his name is Dr. Matthew B. Presson.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in Psyche
Blazers Got a Blessing in Disguise
It’s been a rough month for sports lovers around the globe, including those of us that are fans of the United States NBA. Many major sports associations have suspended or canceled their seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is unknown how long these breaks will last. As a Portland Trail Blazer fan, I’ve been struggling to come to terms with this season suspension; however, this team had been struggling all season long with a grueling list of injuries and unbalanced team chemistry as a result. While doing my best to be optimistic, I realized that this hiatus could truly be a blessing in disguise for the Blazers.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in Unbalanced
Purpose
What is it like to feel lost and alone and completely hopeless? How does it feel when you no longer know what your purpose is in life? Well, I can tell you. It feels like you're invisible, like nothing you do is noticed, even when it seems like you're giving it everything you've got and more.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in Psyche
Mom Groups Suck
I recently experienced a very unpleasant confrontation after I joined a mom group on Facebook. I had joined four or five different groups in hopes of finding some new rad moms to connect with. Cool, right? Well, I found one called Stay At Home Mamas and thought, “awesome, this is perfect.” HA! How wrong I was…
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in Families
We've Been Trumped
The political aspect of the US took a turn after the 2016 presidential election when Donald Trump was announced the winner, and we are still talking about it. Whether that turn has, is, and will be good or bad continues to be debated. Instead of the views being split between the usual Republican and Democratic parties, it seems to have shifted into Trump supporters and anti-Trump supporters. The majority of Trump's supporters are Republican, but not necessarily all of them, as not all liberals have chosen to be anti-supporters. So what is it about President Trump that Americans do or don't approve of?
By Shaley Speaks7 years ago in The Swamp
This Is Motherhood
Being a mom isn't easy. It's not always smiles and hugs and "I love yous." It's filled with tears, snot, poopy diapers, and by some point, most moms have even heard "I hate you" a time or two. So, why do we do it? Why do we become mothers? Is it for the attention we draw when we're at the grocery store with a screaming toddler? Or the sleepless nights with a colicky infant? Maybe it was an accident. Not all mothers planned to be mothers, but here we are. Regardless of the events leading up to it, planned or accidental, rich or poor, being a mother is not easy.
By Shaley Speaks7 years ago in Families
Country Duo Dan + Shay Is Killin' It
2018 has been a busy and successful year for country duo Dan + Shay. They released a self-titled album in June via Warner Bros. Records, appeared on stage nearly 100 times, received many award nominations, and still made time for their families.
By Shaley Speaks7 years ago in Beat
6 Things People Don't Think About When It Comes to Depression
According to the World Health Organization, over 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression at some point in their lives. For those of us that have experienced, are currently experiencing, or will experience depression, it’s nice to feel validated by someone other than a therapist. So, here are six things that people don’t think about that feels good to hear.
By Shaley Speaks7 years ago in Psyche
