Kerry Makin-Byrd, PhD

Dear Helper, In overwhelm, we can swing between racing to overcontrol everything and believing that we control nothing. Between these extremes lies a simpler truth.  There is a small space we can impact directly but much more that will always be unknowable. Undoubtedly, our actions will graze others’ futures, but

Dear Helper, During my last round of burnout, I became snappy and snarky. I'd ruminate about work while I was off the clock, detailing injustices till each of my moments are blistered and burned. I dripped in shame at each minor mistake and was annoyed when loved ones

Kia ora koutou and hello dear friends, Welcome back. After a delicious break, I'm back to work and family life, back to sweeping up crumbs, scrubbing toilets, and navigating lots of email. (Much like most of us, I bet!) I celebrated my birthday this month. As I realize

Kia ora and greetings friends, For the next year I'm sending you monthly reflection prompts to build a "good enough year." (Scroll to the bottom for pdfs and Google Doc links.) This is a year where we * savor what is beautiful in our lives, * slowly subtract

For those of us who are usually fully booked, a season that adds so much can feel… well, extra extra. Too many tasks, too many feelings, too many expectations. Even the moments that are supposed to be meaningful can start to feel like items on a long list. When my

Y'all, This email was going to be about my very first Kickstarter campaign. The Perfect Kickstarter Didn't Happen I had all the text written and the pictures selected. You'd choose whether you wanted to buy a self-guided reflection journal, a live Q &

[This Start Here excerpt was originally published on the Wellington City Libraries website.] Shout out to Josh Hillis who placed the ending of his book 'Lean & Strong' right at the beginning, a inspiring and calming choice. Also, gratitude to Ben Sedley, an expert in writing disarmingly honest

My friends, My biannual infusion is almost done. I have four minutes left before I head back to this glorious exhausting FULL OF LIFE time of year. Can I gently recommend you buy these custom bespoke handcrafted zines by https://www.nadineannehura.com/ (you know they're fancy b/

[This essay is re-published from it's original home at Jane Friedman's blog, a wealth of information for writers.] The fairy tale Once upon a time (on May 30, 2024) I sent the email that would change my life, “Dear Editor, please find attached my book