How to Love Your Body Every Day!

As a teen, and young man, I suffered from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD). I hated my physical appearance and always thought myself fat, ugly, awkward, undesirable, and Spanx-worthy. In fact, had Spanx® existed back then, I would have covered myself from head to toe like a French saucisse, so I’d Read more

Michel Bordeau

My name is Michel Bordeau, aka Area Frenchman. I am a Therapist and an Education Coach in private practice in Atlanta. Born in France, I have spent half my life in the US. I am culturally French and academically American, so you can safely assume that I know a thing or two about love (gender respectful, validating, unconditional, non-threatening) and the pleasures of life (many friends, much cheese, little w(h)ine). When I don't blog about mansplaining, teen assertiveness, guru shaming, toxic work environments and toxic people, motherhood, mindful parenting, immigrant entrepreneurs, bipolar disorder and body dysmorphic disorder, I dedicate my time speaking about the lessons I have learned as a therapist and a coach. I am the host of Le Kindness Couch on Youtube. I created this channel to demonstrate that today's therapeutic modalities are kind, validating, and solution-focused. We don't read mind or blame your mom for everything.

Do Over Dances and New Old Beginnings

She walks the same streets day after day, night after night, summer raspberry swirl sunset evenings, winter icicle frost bright and raindrop fall foliage. The seasons go red, and die brittle, broken sticks become renewed seedlings become spring. The familiar, smiling faces nod a kind hello. The knowing eyes softly Read more

Jacqueline Cioffa

A retired, international model, and celebrity makeup artist. Co-Author of Model Citi Zen, the guide. Founder of http://modelcitizenmakeup.blogspot.com/. Author of numerous prose pieces in various literary magazines. Most recently published in Little Episodes Brainstorms the anthology, among esteemed artists Sadie Frost, Melvin Burgess and Todd Swift.

An Open Letter to the Average, Above Average and Perfectly Proportioned Humans

Thank you for your beaming ear to ear grins and stifled laughs that greet me when you see me waddling by, making my way into the store. The fact that I can hear you making rude and insulting remarks after I have passed are tempered and eased by the memory Read more

Jodie Beckstine Killian

Jodie Beckstine Killian has always been a little different. Growing up in a small Wisconsin town she stood out from the rest as a person born with Hypochondroplasia. As a budding entertainer, this wasn’t a disability but a “super” ability that allowed her to get noticed, but not always in the way she hoped. Stares, discrimination and cruel comments are something she deals with daily and writes about often. She currently lives in Florida. (She doesn’t miss Wisconsin winters). She works in marketing, social media and is currently writing her first novel.

The Ideal Woman: One Man’s Perspective

What does a man look for in a woman? This is not a question answered simply.  I’m sure the answer is different for any man asked.  As a relatively recently divorced guy, I’m going to have a few opinions that would vary from those of a young guy just dipping Read more

Bert Woodson

Bert Woodson currently lives on Florida’s Gulf Coast in Cortez, with his Rhodesian Ridgeback, Colt, and Colt’s kitty Woof. (Yes, he named him.)

How Letting Go of Shame Set Me Free

All of us know it, the feeling of a sinking heart, the blush of the cheeks and the crushing blow of embarrassment. We are so ashamed. For some of us the tendrils of the debauched emotion of shame can morph into anger or depression, sometimes both. Shame has been a Read more

Julie Anderson

Julie Anderson is the Creator and Publisher of Feminine Collective. Julie was inspired to create this safe place for women to share their secrets, desires, triumphs and pain as the antithesis of what mainstream media offers women today. In her column Pursuit of Perfection, she explores the importance of rectifying the balance of inner and outer beauty through essays, poems and articles on self-esteem, shame, family, and self- acceptance.

Finding Freedom through Reinventing Myself

Just a few years ago I felt like I was dying. I felt like my life was over. Life felt like a crushing ton of bricks on my back. I was depressed. I was constantly ill with a wide variety of illnesses. I had gained more than 70 pounds on Read more

Ashlee Greer

Dr. Ashlee Greer is an intuitive life coach and former psychologist. She helps people chuck the nonsense rules they thought they had to live by to follow their true desires and passions. She helps peel back the layers of bullshit that have covered up the divine authenticity within.

FC Low Carb Challenge: Week 6 – Taking Care of YOU!

When was the last time you did something just for you? If you’re like most of us, that answer is hard to come up with. I’m not talking about getting your hair done or buying that latte when you probably shouldn’t have. I am talking about doing something that has Read more

SA Smith

SA Smith has always loved the magical life. She is the bestselling Amazon author of FOREVER, her four part young adult paranormal romance series. She is an advocate for women of all shapes and sizes. Believing that we are all enough just as we are, and needing to spread that word far and wide. Having been diagnosed with CRPS over 12 years ago, SA also uses her writing to increase social awareness of the disease. Writing is her passion. She often tells friends that writing is a journey for her. It’s like spending time with friends. "I just follow my characters along on their adventures, like a fly on the wall, and see where they take me." SA currently lives in Florida with her best friend/husband and their one son.

I Want It. I Need It. I Have to Have It.

Love songs filter through the radio. Wants and needs and desires and lusts tugging at my heart, my soul, my loins. In the darkness of the movie theater, I watch as forbidden lovers tear each other apart with their eyes. They are falling, falling, falling, all of them. In love, Read more

Lela Casey

Lela Casey grew up on magic and get-rich-schemes. She learned from a very early age that nothing is as it seems, and behind every facade lies a portal to places unknown. When not seeking out rabbit holes or chasing after her three little imps, she spends her time writing about deep thoughts and big adventures. You can find her writing on kveller.com, themid.com, brainchildmag.com, and jkidphilly.com.