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Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is step back and breathe. After releasing episodes consistently for almost three full years, I found myself at a crossroads when Neliya – my late friend Gina's mother and someone who had become like a second mom to me – entered the hospital with sudden liver failure.

The physical and emotional toll of hospital visits, coupled with the ordinary responsibilities of life, created an extraordinary weight. Neliya's quick decline took about a week before passing peacefully surrounded by her daughter and close friends. This loss reopened the wound of losing my friend Gina years earlier. Losing Neliya meant losing another connection to Gina's memory, another keeper of stories that only she could tell.

During this episode, I share glimpses of Nelia's remarkable life as a Miss Universe runner-up in the 1950s and actress in "The King and I," alongside her marriage to artist Mario Zamparelli. For my fellow overachievers, I offer permission to occasionally set down our self-imposed obligations when life demands space for grief and processing. The podcast serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most productive thing we can do is simply pause.

Join me for this vulnerable conversation about loss, links to our past, and learning when to give ourselves grace. And stay tuned for news about my upcoming guest appearance on another podcast in early August – I can't wait to share that experience with you all. Have you ever struggled to give yourself permission to pause? I'd love to hear your stories of balancing achievement with self-care.

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Facing overwhelming challenges requires intentional self-care and perspective. This episode explores personal struggles with a broken washer, community concerns about ICE raids, and a family friend's health crisis, while offering reminders about maintaining healthy habits during difficult times.

• Broken washing machine leads to laundromat visits and unexpected complications with replacement
• Social and political concerns about ICE raids taking an emotional toll
• Close friend's mother hospitalized with liver problems, triggering grief responses
• Reminders about the importance of sleep, nutrition and hydration during overwhelming times
• Exciting news about first guest appearance on another podcast discussing leadership and emotional intelligence
• Host of that podcast is also an only child who may appear as future guest

If you like this episode, please follow the Only Child Diaries podcast on Apple Podcasts or other platforms you might listen on and consider rating Only Child Diaries and writing a review. It helps others to find us. Please share it with a friend you think might like it as well. Visit my Instagram page Only Child Diaries or Facebook Only Child Diaries Podcast.

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Amidst sensationalized headlines and political rhetoric claiming Los Angeles is "burning," I'm pulling back the curtain to reveal what's actually happening on the ground in my city. Having spent over two decades working in the heart of downtown LA, I offer perspective that goes beyond the dramatic footage you've seen on the news.

Let me take you on a journey through LA's complex geography—a sprawling county of 4,000 square miles and 88 distinct cities—to understand why what's happening matters, but also why it's not representative of daily life for most Angelenos. The protests and rallies you've seen on television are largely confined to approximately one square mile of downtown, centered around City Hall and municipal buildings. Compared to my experiences with the widespread 1992 riots following the Rodney King verdict, there are stark differences between then and now.

Beyond the protests, I open up about something deeply troubling occurring in our communities: ICE raids that are creating fear among immigrant populations who form the backbone of our economy. I share the heartbreaking story of a U.S. citizen with diabetes who was detained without access to his insulin—a moment that broke me personally as the wife of someone who depends on insulin to live. These human stories reveal the real crisis unfolding away from the cameras.

Whether you're politically liberal or conservative, this episode offers insight into the complex realities of living in modern Los Angeles during turbulent times. Join me as we seek understanding, empathy, and perhaps a moment where "nothing bad happens." Subscribe to Only Child Diaries and follow me on Instagram or Facebook to continue our conversation about navigating life's challenges together.

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Taking care of yourself is vital to both physical and mental health, yet it's often neglected during busy periods. After working 50-hour weeks for a major fundraising event, I share my experience with post-event exhaustion and the importance of intentional recovery.

• The challenges of being an overachiever/perfectionist when planning events
• How intense work periods cause basic self-care and household tasks to be neglected
• The necessity of rest and recovery after high-energy projects
• Learning from my former boss who worked herself to death (really)
• Why we need to "adult ourselves" by setting boundaries around work
• The special importance of self-care for only children and single people
• The reality that no one reaches the end of life wishing they had worked more

If you like this episode, please follow the Only Child Diaries podcast on Apple Podcasts or other platforms you might listen on and consider rating Only Child Diaries and writing a review. Visit my Instagram page Only Child Diaries or Facebook Only Child Diaries Podcast.

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Coming off a lot of work, putting on a fundraising event, this week I'm reflecting on the importance of teamwork. I'm exploring how communication, relationship-building, and humor create stronger workplace connections and better outcomes despite the challenges faced by only children.

• Working on a major fundraising event t
• Recognizing that no single person, regardless of work ethic or perfectionism, can accomplish everything alone
• Building team rapport through intentional communication and relationship development
• Using humor to break down defenses and create comfortable collaboration environments
• Adapting communication styles for different personality types
• Understanding that only children may need to develop teamwork skills more deliberately
• Feeling part of a team leads to being a happier, more productive employee

Follow the Only Child Diaries podcast on Apple Podcasts or other platforms you might listen on and consider rating Only Child Diaries and writing a review. It helps others to find us. Please share it with a friend you think might like it as well.

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Summer has officially arrived with Memorial Day weekend, bringing with it a mix of challenges and simple joys in Southern California's unpredictable weather patterns.

• Constantly postponing car washing due to intermittent rain cycles
• Questioning how people working outside the home manage to keep up with daily tasks
• Using delivery services for groceries and meals to save time
• Marveling at backyard wildlife including voracious hummingbirds, huge raccoons, and various critters
• Planning ambitious Halloween DIY projects
• Discovering the rabbit hole of DIY and home organization videos on YouTube
• Self-identifying as "organizationally disabled" when it comes to household management

Please follow the Only Child Diaries podcast on Apple Podcasts or your preferred platform, consider leaving a rating and review, and share with friends who might enjoy it. Visit our Instagram and Facebook pages at Only Child Diaries and Only Child Diaries Podcast.

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A simple compliment from a stranger about my "nice energy" sparked this heartfelt exploration of how kindness shapes our world. When someone acknowledged the very quality I'm always cultivating, it validated a philosophy I've built my adult life around: the transformative power of approaching others with compassion and positivity.

My journey toward kindness wasn't innate – it developed through life experiences. Working retail in my college years became an unexpected classroom for human connection. Facing difficult customers day after day, I discovered something profound: when I entered interactions expecting the worst, negativity inevitably followed. But when I consciously shifted my mindset to expect the best from each person, the entire dynamic transformed. Not every interaction became perfect, but the overall experience improved dramatically for everyone involved.

And then there was Princess Diana. She became a powerful influence in my evolution. Watching her genuine compassion for others showed me what it meant to prioritize kindness in a way that changes lives. After her passing, I committed to carrying forward her example in my own interactions. This doesn't mean becoming a pushover – boundaries remain essential when facing truly inappropriate behavior. But choosing kindness as our default setting creates ripples we may never fully see. The world truly is what we make it, shaped by thousands of small interactions where we each decide what energy to bring. What kind of world are you helping to create today? Join the conversation on social media and share how you strive to positively impact others in your daily life.

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Motherhood comes in many forms, and for some of us, our furry companions become the children we nurture and protect with fierce devotion. This Mother's Day weekend took an unexpected turn when my diabetic cat Bubbie began experiencing concerning episodes of vomiting that sparked an all-night adventure at the emergency veterinary clinic. Again. We're regular visitors there.

For pet parents with special needs animals, these moments carry extra weight as symptoms could signal more complicated underlying situations. The diagnostic journey involved sedating my notoriously uncooperative cat (a diplomatic way of saying he transforms into a whirlwind of claws and fangs during vet visits), resulting in inconclusive findings but supportive treatment for his inflamed GI tract.

The comedic yet exhausting finale to our 4:30 AM homecoming involved donning protective gear—yes, actual jackets and gloves—to remove persistent vet wrap from Bubbie's back leg while he expressed his feline opinions on the matter. Though my middle-aged body no longer handles sunrise bedtimes with grace, seeing Bubbie recover brings the kind of relief only fellow pet parents will truly understand. Whether you're responsible for human children or furry companions, the emotional investment, sleepless nights, and unwavering dedication reflect a form of parenthood that deserves recognition. Share your own pet parenting war stories with me on Instagram @OnlyChildDiaries—and maybe send some coffee my way while I recover from this adventure!

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