Podcasts about Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed by holiday to-dos? Today, Joyce, Ginger, Erin & Holly Wagner share faith-filled tips—boundaries, gifts, rest, gratitude—so you enjoy God's presence over presents.

Today we are talking to a hospitalist who is giving up partnership at his practice to become a full time entrepreneur. He is excited to be able to practice medicine on his own terms. He has always had an entrepreneur mindset and not long after residency he started buying real estate and ultimately ended up buying six car washes with a plan to acquire 3 more before the end of the year. He is comfortable with leveraging debt and has built an empire that has proven very lucrative. He loves that he is building a legacy that he can leave to his children. After the interview we are talking about tax loss harvesting for Finance 101. Still not sure what to do with your student loans?Overwhelmed with how to tackle that giant debt in an ever changing political climate? The experts at StudentLoanAdvice.com are here to help guide you through the best options to manage your loans – our experienced staff have consulted on over $250M in student loan debt, and the average studentloanadvice.com client has saved over $190,000 dollars. You will receive a customized student loan plan using the principles of The White Coat Investor, get answers to all of your student loan questions, gain clarity about your financial future and start down the right path toward financial freedom. Book a consult today at www.studentloanadvice.com. You can do this and The White Coat Investor can help. The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors, dentists, and other high-income professionals with their money since 2011. Our free personal finance resource covers an array of topics including how to use your retirement accounts, getting a doctor mortgage loan, how to manage your student loans, buying physician disability and malpractice insurance, asset allocation & asset location, how to invest in real estate, and so much more. We will help you learn how to manage your finances like a pro so you can stop worrying about money and start living your best life. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you! Have you achieved a Milestone? You can be on the Milestones to Millionaire Podcast too! Apply here: https://whitecoatinvestor.com/milestones  Find 1000's of written articles on the blog: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  Our YouTube channel if you prefer watching videos to learn: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Student Loan Advice for all your student loan needs: https://studentloanadvice.com  Join the community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Join the community on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Join the community on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Join the community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Learn faster with our Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Sign up for our Newsletter here: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter  00:00 MtoM Podcast #254 01:40 Hospitalist Becomes a Full-Time Entrepreneur 15:00 Advice For Others 18:54 3 Pathways to Wealth 22:23 Tax Loss Harvesting

If you've been in foster care — or you're supporting a student who was — there is real money on the table that so many eligible students miss. In today's episode, I'm breaking down 3 foster care student scholarships worth a combined $5400, all designed to support you in college or university without adding financial stress. Whether college feels financially overwhelming or you're trying to navigate money after foster care, these scholarships can make a real difference! Plus, if you want more scholarship opportunities without the stress of searching, I've got you covered. I consistently help students find $10,000–$30,000 in scholarships for college, university, grad school, law school, and more. Want to learn more?

This week's episode is a gentle holiday pep talk for anyone feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or carrying a little extra weight this Christmas season. If the pressure feels heavy and peace feels hard to come by, this episode is a soft reminder to slow down, protect your heart, and release what doesn't matter. No fixing, no forcing—just encouragement, deep breaths, and a few simple truths to help you find calm in the middle of the holiday chaos.

In today's episode, I'm joined by Hannah Wells and Sarah Smith, the practitioners behind The Mending—a virtual wellness collaborative focused on root-cause, personalized healing. Both Hannah and Sarah share their deeply personal stories of navigating years of diagnoses, symptoms, and frustration within both holistic and allopathic medicine. Their journeys led them to a quieter, more discerning approach to wellness—one rooted in listening to the body, integrating science and soul, and resisting the pressure to chase every trending protocol. If you've felt overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure where to begin in your health choices, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a grounded path forward.Work with The Mending CollaborativeConnect with Hannah + Sarah on Instagram

Lead Pastor Ben Wallis

Overwhelmed? INSIGHT TIMER's library of meditations helps you find peace. The post A CALM MIND IS A HEALTHY MIND! appeared first on sound*bytes.

A Holiday Haunting: Part 4 A unique relationship paradigm. Based on a post by zeon 67. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels. He had asked Erin what kind of food she wanted to try, and she said something new, with lots of flavor. Walking into the orange glow of the Thai restaurant and getting the scent of the food, Jack knew he had picked the right place. Erin looked so excited, her eyes darting to every plate as they got seated. "So, Siam is now Thailand?" Erin asked as soon as the waiter poured the waters and left the menus. "Yeah." Jack nodded. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask; are you okay?" "What? Why?" She lowered the menu, and her eyes widened. "Just want to make sure that you're not gonna fall asleep on me." Erin smiled and said, "I'm getting my eight hours. Can you help me with this menu?" Jack leaned over and tried his best to explain everything to Erin. He remembered her telling him that the food she used to eat in the 1880s was bland and boring. He got the idea she wanted something spicy but didn't want to scare her. He suggested Pad Thai, and picked something hotter for himself, a couple of appetizers and wine. "So, what did you do all day?" Erin asked as soon as they were alone again. "Nothing really. Replied to some emails, watched TV with my sisters, argued with my parents about politics ;  a typical holiday." "What would you be doing if you were back in Boston?" "Don't know. Maybe watch basketball, gym, go on the PlayStation, hit a couple of bars with friends." "PlayStation ;  that's the machine that you can play computer cartoons." "Close enough," Jack smiled, "What about you? How did you used to spend your free time?" "Working for the Franklins took up most of my time. I would be in that house for hours, sometimes the whole day. Any time I had to myself, I'd read or maybe go for a walk. Not really that entertaining. But now I can't wait to experience new things." "I know, I saw your list. What about today?" "Me and Lucy watched more movies. We watched some ones with a lot of action, which was terrifying. But I got through it." Jack wanted to quickly interject and ask what film that she saw, but let her carry on. "I tried to use Lucy's computer. But it was so hard and nothing worked. It looked so easier when you were using yours. I kept on forgetting about the Start button." "And I got this." Erin reached into her jacket pocket and showed Jack a red cellphone. It looked a little small compared to most modern phones and had some scratches around the sides. "I got from a store nearby and a prepaid plan. We can talk to each other now." "That's awesome," Jack said. He knew that there was something that he had forgotten to do for Erin. "Lucy helped me take a couple of selfies. I guess that's what girls like me do now. I created a Spotify account and I'm trying to find my taste in music. But I'm not joining Instagram or Facebook yet. Lucy said it's too early." "Yeah." Jack nodded, thinking if he should tell her the horror stories of social media. "Also, I know Beth is going to be trawling for your account and will immediately follow you." The food then arrived, and Erin's attention was drawn instantly to the plate set in front of her. Jack watched her, a mix of confusion and excitement at the various plates. He should probably try to explain everything. "These are the appetizers, that's pork gyozas ;  dough wrapped around a filling. Those are chicken satays ;  grilled chicken with sauce." Erin pointed to her dish and asked, "And I ordered; ?" "Pad Thai. A typical Thai dish ;  everyone should try it at least once. I got drunken noodles, there are hotter." Erin reached for a chopstick; her fingers and thumbs fumbled around the utensil. But to Jack's surprise, she got used to quickly them and tried everything in front of them. Seeing her face light up with every bite, he just grinned, like he was enjoying the food through her. "This all tastes amazing. So many spices and different flavors." "I thought food was better back in your time. Fresher, no chemicals or hormones." "Maybe. But we just boiled everything. And there was no taste." Jack carefully ate his noodles, making sure not to make a mess as he listened to Erin. She talked more about her plans; she was thinking about starting yoga. He didn't see it in Lucy's apartment but now could tell she was wearing makeup and looked even better. Her eyeliner made her green eyes pop, and she had a bold shade on her lips, making it so enticing. He needed to be alone with her. Erin caught him staring and smiled. She then said, "Me and Lucy were talking. And I think we got a story I can tell people." "Okay." "We got this idea after watching a true crime television show ;  Lucy loves those. So, I tell people I came from Ireland but I moved here when I was twelve. I lived with a very religious aunt and uncle. The Franklins. We lived away from other people and had a simple life." "So, you were in a fundamentalist sect?" "Yes. I didn't have a TV, no internet or modern music. I only interacted with the Franklins and other people in the community." "Okay. But why did you leave?" "The Franklins died." "And what happened between then and now?" Erin paused, looking like she was thinking of an answer. She took a sip of wine and said, "After I decided to leave, I travel to Boston and stay there, for some time? But; but it's too expensive and I meet Lucy and she lets me stay with her. I then meet you and; you know?" "That's perfect." After finishing their food, Jack ordered more wine and asked Erin what she thought about the meal. "I loved it." Erin said, wiping her lips with the napkin. "I always wanted to try something like this. Before I left Boston, there was this Chinese neighborhood. Just walking pass, I would be enticed by the aroma. But I could never walk into the neighborhood." He asked why but saw Erin go quiet and look nervous. It took Jack a moment before he understood, going to a Chinese block would be a major no-no for a white woman in 1890s Boston. "I lived in what is now called South End. Then it was a mix of Irish, Lebanese, Jewish, African-American, Greek. It was okay to speak with them and visit their stores. But the Chinese was a different story. I never understood why." "Do you miss Boston?" "Yes. When I arrived in the city, after weeks on that boat, I couldn't believe such a place could exist. So big, so many people. Visiting the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, getting lost in alleys exploring the city, having picnics at the Common." Looking at her, Jack thought about asking her something that he had been on his mind for a while. "Do you want to come to Boston with me?" "I would like that." They both leaned over the table and kissed, just a quick peck. But they stared in each other's eyes, a tension rapidly developing between them. Jack thought about asking about dessert, there was the Chocolate Bar a couple of blocks away, or that they go for another drink. But watching Erin, it felt she wanted to be alone with him. "Lucy told me something," Erin said in a hushed tone. "She will be working late and will be spending the night at a friend's." Jack nodded and flagged down the waiter. A human Copulation. "Lucy!" Erin called out as soon as they opened the door. Hearing no response, she turned and faced Jack. They both shared knowing smirks and quickly kissed. Erin moaned in his mouth as the kiss grew more lustful. She pressed herself against him and wrapped an arm around his neck. Erin wanted to feel closer to him. Jack loved every moment; having a gorgeous girlfriend draped over him would make any man ecstatic. Erin then took his hand and pulled it down to her ass. It was amazing how much she had changed in the last couple of days; the modest, sexually-na ve girl from the nineteenth century had disappeared. Erin moaned again as Jack cupped her ass. She broke their kiss and tilted her head towards Lucy's bedroom, Erin's green eyes sparkling as she grinned at him. Jack let her take the lead, pulling him into the bedroom. Erin slammed the door shut and quickly went to work on undressing Jack. She clumsily tried to unbutton his shirt but got nowhere and groaned. "You're wearing too many layers," Erin said, flashing him a half-smile. He pushed her back and immediately corrected his dress code. His jeans and the rest of his clothes then fell to the floor, and Jack then wrapped his arms back around her, kissing Erin's neck as he tugged on the zip. Her dress loosened, and Erin effortlessly slipped out of it, revealing her perky tits clad in a black bra. He didn't do it on purpose, but Jack moaned at the sight of her. How could he not? Erin stood in front of him wearing a black lace bra that just covered her bust, revealing a hint of her areolas. Below, she wore a matching lace thong. Super fucking sexy. Looking up, Erin had this smug smile on her face; she knew the effect she was having on Jack. She swayed her hips as she moved to him; Jack stayed slack-jawed as Erin pushed on the bed and straddled him. She lowered her head, and they resumed fervently kissing, writhing together. Jack reached around and unclasped her bra. Erin shimmied her body and slipped her hands out, tossing her bra away. Jack instantly grasped her free tits, enjoying the feeling of the soft flesh in his palm. Their lips still locked, he gently squeezed them, his thumb teasing her sensitive nipples. Erin responded by moaning into his mouth, egging him on. Jack pinched and pulled her erect bud, eliciting more moans from Erin. It got too much for her, and Erin pulled back. "Jack, I; I need you; inside me," she said, breathless. She rolled off him and got on all fours. There was something perverse in being fucked like an animal; Erin really wanted to feel that way again. She shuddered as she felt Jack's lips brush down her back as he carefully pulled down her panties, biting her lip and burning in anticipation. He slipped his hand between her thighs and found a very wet pussy. Erin trembled at his touch and moaned again. She begged for more and was ecstatic at having her cunt be invaded by Jack's finger. He then slid another one in, pushing them into her pussy. She gritted her teeth and hummed. Jack pulled his hand back, disappointing his panting girlfriend. His fingers oozed with her slick juices; shit, she's horny. He pressed his tip on the wet folds of her pussy and waited for a moan. Erin shook her head and whimpered as he thrust his cock in one slow push. "Oh yes;" Erin whispered, rolling her back and letting out another moan. Shuddering, her cunt muscles welcomed his cock, tightening around the shaft. Erin felt his hands on her ass, squeezing her cheeks as Jack slowly fucked, in long, gentle movements. It was just like being in the Franklin's bed, Erin going through the same electric sensations and loving every second of it. Erin threw her ass back, demanding his cock faster and harder. " more, more, more," she whimpered, matching his rhythm. Hearing her moans, Jack pumped his cock harder, watching his girlfriend's ass shake with every thrust. She pleaded for more and faster Jack went, pounding his cock. He loved how loud she was being. It was such an intensely erotic feeling, having a gorgeous woman cry for your cock. It urged him on, and the bedroom echoed with the sounds of their flesh slapping. Erin slammed her head on the pillow, stifling her cries as her body tightened, edging closer. She pressed down on the mattress and lifted her chest up, arching her back. Her right hand went for her left tit, clamping her fingertips around her erect nipple. While she pinched and pulled, her left hand slipped between her legs and found her engorged clit. "Oh; CHRIST!" She screamed. Erin dropped her mouth wide open, her limbs twitching as she hurtled to an incredible and intense climax. She inhaled sharply, gritted her teeth, close, so very close. Jack stopped and went still. He wrapped his arms around her waist and slammed his cock in slow, hard thrusts. It was too much for her. Erin shrieked, and her whole body shuddered; her fingers gripped the sheets, and her eyes rolled back into her skull, riding out an earth-shattering orgasm. "Oh; that felt good," Erin whispered, coming in down. Jack fell back, hitting the headboard. That was something. His still-hard cock slid out of Erin's drenched cunt. His throbbing shaft dripped with her slick juices. Taking a couple of deep breaths, his eyes focused on Erin and he used every ounce of willpower not to cum. She had this small, content smile on her face that looked so cute and yet very sexy. She grinned back at him, knowing what he was thinking. Her eyes drifted down to his glistening cock, and her smile went wider. She instantly regained her composure, getting on her back. Their eyes met again, and Erin wiped the sweat from her forehead before cupping her tits. Biting her lip, she pinched her nipples and spread her legs, eager for his cock, "Please." Jack quickly responded, shuffling forward with his cock in his hand. He leaned over her, feeling the heat from Erin's post-orgasmic glow. His throbbing tip brushed up against the soaked openings of her pussy. He rested his hands by her waist; she felt warm and slowly pushed his cock back in. Erin groaned and exhaled, her body vibrating, enjoying the incredibly fulfilling sensation of having Jack's cock back inside her. Intense heat rippled out from her cunt; her pussy muscles kneaded his pulsing shaft. Erin looked up at him, her eyes filled with lust and love. "Oh, yes;" Erin moaned as Jack bottomed out. She then wrapped her hand around his neck, pulling him down; Erin needed to kiss him again. The mouths instantly parted, and their tongues met again. Moaning into his mouth while twirling her tongue, Erin hooked her legs around Jack's waist, pulling him closer. She let out an animalistic grunt like she had been penetrated by another inch of cock. Erin or Jack, or both, broke their embrace and locked eyes. Watching each other's faces contort while they rhythmically fucked each other senseless. "Oh, God!" Erin screamed, getting closer and closer. She fucked him right back, meeting every vigorous thrust by throwing her hips forward, slamming her pussy at his cock. Jack pushed her up and lowered his head, nestling his face in the crook of Erin's neck. He slowly kissed down her soft white flesh, reaching her tits. He enthusiastically sucked on her nipple while slipping his cock out, waited a moment, then rammed it back into her drenched pussy. His free hand eagerly groped her other tit. "Oh, Jack!" It was getting too much for Erin. She tightened her grip around Jack's waist and went stiff. She fucked him hard, hyperventilating and shaking. Erin hissed and cried his name out as she rode through another orgasm. She frantically thrust her hips, trying to extend her climax and begged Jack for more. He replied by pressing his teeth down her nipple, and that was it. Her pussy spasmed around his raging cock and she let out a long cry. "Yes; yes; Oh Lord; Jesus Christ!" She yelled. As Erin went limp in his arms, Jack could feel the familiar tingling sensation coming from his balls. He tried to put it off, still plunging his cock furiously. Both of them moaned and gasped for air, covered in sweat, wanting more. But Jack couldn't take it anymore; he threw his head back, roared as he shot a torrid of cum into her. His body jerked uncontrollably from the needed orgasmic release, each movement causing another shot of jizz. Erin sighed and moaned, feeling Jack's cock explode deep inside her, making her tremble in ecstasy. Another rope of his jizz filled her womb, followed by another. As Jack collapsed on top of her, his brain mushed in a post-climax daze, Erin held him tightly. She had a broad grin, smugly satisfied that her pussy was filled by her lover's cum. Quietly moaning, feeling the hot cum seep down her thighs, Erin leaned forward. Her tits pressed against Jack's chest as she kissed him. Recovering from the intensity of their orgasm, they passionately kissed before breaking, pressing their foreheads together. Their eyes were closed, and they slowly breathed. "I love you," they said in unison, before exchanging more kisses. Erin smiled back at Jack. Her hands trembled, and sweat flooded her face. It was happening again. She remembered her breathing exercises, focusing on five things in the room. It didn't work, and Erin sunk through the mattress, her hands phasing past Jack's body. His mouth dropped as he watched her go. She hit the floor of the room, thankful that she didn't go any further. Jack immediately jumped off the bed and checked underneath, finding her sprawled out on the carpet. "Are you okay?" Erin stared at the underneath of Lucy's bed and just whimpered, "; no." New Years Eve. Jack tried to pay attention to the conversation; he knew it was important. It was about Erin's condition and what they should do next. But when he saw Erin walkout, wearing a black lace dress, Jack struggled to pay attention to Lucy and her friend. Erin just looked too sexy. She caught him staring, and Erin responded with a smirk. "Circe; Circe; Circe!" Lucy yelled, "We already got the dirt." Jack quickly turned back to Lucy and her phone. She had been Facetiming with a witch, who supposedly knew what was happening to Erin. They hadn't completed the resurrection ritual properly. Lucy's witch friend said they had done around ninety percent of it. The remaining ten percent involved Jedidiah Franklin's grave dirt and New Year's Eve. "Shut up, bitch!" Circe shouted at Lucy. Glancing back at Erin, she and Jack exchanged another look. This didn't sound like it was going well. Lucy and Circe had spent around twenty minutes just name-calling, bringing up boyfriends they had shared and generally being dismissive at each other. What he understood was that Circe wanted them to do another ritual, while Lucy wanted to do something different. Anything, it didn't matter. "What is it with you witches and wizards? Sex magic all the time. Sprained your ankle ;  sex magic. Car won't start ;  sex magic. Have to go to small claims court ;  sex magic. Don't you have a book of spells?" "Aw the poor medium is stuck. God, you're so basic. You just repeat what spirits say, like a parrot with tits." "Shut up, Claire, you giant poser!" Lucy yelled. The raven-haired witch went quiet and completely still. Lucy even called out her name to check if the call had frozen. Jack got the sense that Lucy had crossed some line and should apologize. Seeing Circe's bulging eyes, he figured the apology should be sooner than later. But the call ended, and he let it go. "What do we do next?" Erin asked. "We still go out. It's New Year's Eve." Lucy said, her phone then buzzed, and she read the message. "It's Circe. She says that as Jedidiah Franklin was the one who killed you, he needs to be punished. We have to burn the dirt, evoke Frigga, you two get freaking with some mistletoe above the bed. When the dirt turns white ;  we're good. Then she called me; the c-word. She called me a cunt" Erin looked embarrassed on her behalf, looking at her feet and said, "Oh." Lucy shrugged it off. "I will make it up to her later." She stood up and checked the time; it was getting close to eight, they had some time to kill. "Jack, you call a cab. Me and Erin will get ready." Erin followed the blonde in her bedroom, taking careful steps as she hadn't gotten used to wearing heels. In the bedroom, a silver bucket sat next to the window with a tub filled with dirt lying next to it. Erin had joined Jack this time, driving to a graveyard near the coast. Lucy gave them instructions while working, listening to her transparently flirt with a customer for tips while they waited to be told what to do next. Lucy opened a drawer and pulled out two sticks of white chalk. Handing Erin one, she bent down and drew a circle around the bed. "You okay with another sex ritual?" Erin chuckled and said, "It's getting repetitive." She placed the grave dirt in the bucket and set it down in front of the bed, drawing a circle around it. "Will you be there ;  watching?" "I have to." Lucy laughed. "Do we have to do it today? I was looking forward to celebrating the New Year." "It has to be a special day like New Year's Day or say, February 1. Then there's the Spring Equinox, Midsummer, Halloween, the Winter Solstice. You want to wait until February to make sure you never walk through a door?" "Of course, no." Erin replied, "I want to move on with my life and forget about protective circles, sex magic, the Franklins." Wiping the chalk from her hands, Erin checked herself out in the mirror. The dress showed off a lot of her bare skin, and she didn't know what to feel about it. Seeing Jack's face, Erin knew she looked hot and loved the feeling. But then there were Mrs. Franklin's words, telling her that she looked like a Catholic succubus. At least her legs were covered; it was too cold to go without tights. Lucy then joined her by the mirror. She wore a more revealing outfit, a silver sequined V-neck dress, her large tits up for display. Seeing her like that, Erin could only imagine the reaction in the nineteenth century. This was the new normal now, and she had to get used to it. Lucy raised her phone up and took some photos, saying, "We look hot." Erin laughed and then did the same. They took a couple of photos of their reflections, then some selfies. It was kind of pointless, and no one was going to see it, but checking out the photos, Erin really liked how she looked. "You said we had to do it tonight. Should we still go out?" "Yeah." Lucy smirked, putting away her phone. She said, "One, whenever we do it, it has to happen at the witching hour ;  that's like at three in the morning. Two, it's your first New Year's Eve, you gotta celebrate it." Jack then knocked on the door and said, "The cab is coming in ten minutes." Approaching Normalcy. Erin liked how it felt having Jack's arm wrapped around, comforting. They were in a bar, a busy bar, sitting alone and waiting for Lucy. There were many people around her, and it took Erin some time to get used to being in a crowd. It wasn't like she was frightened or agoraphobic. She just got anxious about saying the wrong thing, letting people know that she didn't belong in this time. Then was the whole becoming incorporeal whenever she became nervous. Finishing a glass of wine helped Erin from phasing through the chair. The alcohol also helped her make small talk. A girl in the restroom had asked about her dress, wanting to know where she got it from. They talked for a bit more, and Erin returned to Jack, full of confidence. "Hey guys." Lucy sat down in front of them and placed a white plastic bag on the table. "I got the mistletoe for Frigga. I need a drink." Jack ordered another beer and two glasses of ros for them. "So, what is the plan for tonight?" Erin asked. "Drink here then go to a couple of bars and see what happens." Lucy then glanced at Jack, who shrugged a 'that sounds good' response. "What did you do all day?" "Nothing," Jack said, "Just emailed my boss and about me moving back to Boston." "Cool. Did Erin tell you what she did today?" Jack shook his head and turned to his girlfriend. "I went grocery shopping by myself." "That's really great," Jack said. "Once this thing goes away and I'm not afraid of passing through a bed, there's things that I want to do. I already got a plan." "Like what?" Lucy leaned in, finishing her wine. "First, I need a job, something that I can do and that's not far from Jack's apartment. And I'm looking at GED courses. Then a community college course." Lucy grinned and said, "That's fucking cool. We need some tequila to celebrate." Jack and Lucy showed Erin how to take a shot of tequila. She let out a long moan as the burn of the alcohol shocked her throat and quickly bit into the lime slice. They slowed down their drinking, Jack saying that they shouldn't be wasted for the ritual. Lucy agreed, worrying out loud that she could mess up and make Erin a ghost again. They talked for a while, trying to predict what would happen in the new year, before going to another bar. Then quickly another one, eventually ending up at the Cord & Rifle. It was more of a high-end hipster bar, which annoyed Jack and Lucy, and she worked there. The bartenders wore white shirts, suspenders and each had handlebar mustaches, looking like Civil War surgeons. This just confused Erin, wondering why people were pretending to be like that. "It's just; the trend," Jack said, sighing. Erin glanced at Lucy, and she was rolling her eyes but also nodding. They ordered more drinks, and Erin moved away from wine, trying what the bartenders said were authentic cocktails from her time. They were lying to her. Her eyes flickered to other patrons; they were all ordering expensive drinks, taking photos, deleting them, then retaking them. Their lips were stretched out in the smile, but their eyes stayed unmoved. This is what modern life is? Expensive drinks and pretending to be happy. She and Lucy were then in the bathroom, touching up their makeup. Erin turned her and asked, "Is New Year's Eve supposed to be; like this?" "Are you asking if New Year's Eve always this mediocre?" Lucy said, smirking. "Yeah. It's always a massive let-down. You got this pressure to have this epic night, everything is expensive, then there's that bullshit about getting a kiss at midnight." "A midnight kiss?" "It's some bullshit. Something that Hollywood and Hallmark love. I think it's real tradition behind it, probably something farming related. But now it's been romanticized to insane levels. If someone doesn't kiss you when the clock strikes twelve, then life is over." "Really?" "Stupid, isn't it?" Lucy sighed, "At least you got Jack." "You are not interested in meeting someone?" Erin asked, "There were some men that were checking you out?" She narrowed her eyes as she spoke, wondering if she used the right word. "I wasn't feeling it." Lucy shrugged. "Too many desperate creeps and fake-ass nice guys. You know that tavern-like bar we quickly left because of the vibe? Some girl tried to hit on me in the bathroom. It's been a while since I've been with a girl;" They then went quiet and stared at each other. A group of ladies woke them up, and they quickly left the bathroom. They had never discussed the kiss at the s ance, and Erin didn't know how she could ever bring it up organically. She couldn't make sense of it herself; why did she kiss her? It wasn't like she had this attraction to Lucy. Erin just rationalized that the s ance messed with her emotions, and that was it. Jack was waiting for them at the booth. He stopped them before they could sit. "Some guy was looking for Lucy. Lloyd?" "Lloyd? Oh, snap. Where is he?" "Outside. Said near the 7-Eleven." "We should get out of here." "Why?" Erin asked. "He's got the final stuff we need to for tonight." Lucy replied. "Oh," Jack smiled and handed them their jackets. They got outside and walked to the meeting point. He turned to Erin and said, "We're meeting Lucy's weed dealer." "Weed?" Erin asked. Lucy jumped in before Jack could open his mouth, saying, "It's marijuana, cannabis. You probably heard it as hash. We need it for the ritual." "Oh. Do you normally partake?" Nodding her head, Lucy smiled and said, "Yeah. It makes things less boring. Also, marijuana has been used in so many sacred and spooky things." "I do as well." Jack felt Erin give him a quick look, knowing that she was about to ask him the same thing. "Weed is legal in Boston. I smoke it time to time. Shame we don't have any dispensaries." "Same," Lucy quickly jumped in. "They say we might get dispensaries in Portland by summer." Erin stayed quiet, giving them both a long stare. "Are we supposed to just burn it?" She eventually asked, "Or we do smoke it?" "Both," Lucy replied. Erin remembered hash from when she first arrived in America, that weird feeling block of greenish-brown that her father would take as medicine. There was also a time when she was given cannabis fluid for an illness. The idea that people now took cannabis for fun interested her. "I would like to try some." Erin said, nodding her head. Both Lucy and Jack looked at each other, silently conversing before turning back to Erin, asking if she was sure. They mention PSAs, peer pressure and not wanting to force her into something she might not be ready for. Erin replied with a blank look, nodding her head but not really listening. "Before I was a char-girl, I worked in a factory. The fumes from the vats would give me migraines. Do you know what the druggist gave me?" Erin asked, slowly smiling. Both Jack and Lucy shook their heads. "Heroin," Erin said, "They used to give that to fussy babies as well. Also, the man who owned the house before you, Jack. I once saw him inhale white powder and act loony. I feel marijuana is safer." Lucy shrugged and walked away. She was back with a baggie filled with dark brown herbs a minute later. "All set?" Jack asked. "Yeah. Lloyd was pretty nervous and wanted to know who you guys are." "What did you say?" "Just a couple I had a quasi-threesome with." Erin was still blushing by the time they got to the final bar. It had more of an old-school look about it, reminding her of Ireland and the taverns where she would be sent to fetch her father. They got in just before the countdown. While everyone started counting down and looking at the screens, Erin lost her cocktail. The glass phased through her hand and smashed against the floor. Was it nerves? That the ritual wasn't going to work, or she could say to herself that she was excited, looking forward to the new year. While everyone celebrated, Erin ignored the lost drink and grabbed Jack, kissing him hard. If this wasn't going to work, she would at least have some fun. She quickly ended their embrace and then lunged at Lucy, giving the medium a long hug. After tonight, she needed to do something for Lucy, something to show her appreciation. Lucy broke their hug and smirked back at her. "Let's get out of here. Time for you to be human." More Dark Arts. Jack thanked that the burning pot was giving him a gentle high, otherwise he would be embarrassed. He, like Erin, sat in his underwear on Lucy's bed. A sprig of mistletoe was taped to the headboard behind them while white candles circled the bed. They watched Lucy burn some incense sticks while reading out of the grimoire. But every once in a while, Jack would catch the medium look up from the book and steal glances, her eyes focusing on the bulge between his legs. Erin did the same but acting a lot more obvious than Lucy. It was this weird horny circle. Jack tried to stay unaroused, which was getting more difficult with every passing second. Erin and her lacy bra would draw him in, and his cock throbbed with every look. "Are you okay?" Jack asked. Erin grinned and said, "Yeah." Looking at her, it was clear that she was getting a buzz from the pot. It was also affecting him, that or whatever Lucy was burning. He felt warm and eager. Jack needed to move, jump off this bed and do something. He looked at Lucy; she was still reading the grimoire and glancing up at them. Was she checking Erin out? Her attention had moved away from his bulge, focusing on Erin's heaving chest and her tits. Jack closed his eyes and shook his head; all the pot and incense made him think he was in a porno. Lucy then slammed the book shut and stood in front of them. Still wearing her sequin dress, she said, "It's time." "What do you want us to do?" Erin asked. "Yeah, you're the director." Jack added, smirking. "You guys start fucking. I will chant Frigga's name while you do it." Jack turned back to Erin; her green eyes told him she was ready. He pulled her close to him and kissed her passionately. Their lips parted, and they both moaned, also gasping for air. Erin grinned back at him, making Jack chuckle at the ridiculousness of the situation. He placed his hand on each side of Erin's face and pressed his lips back on hers. Jack thrusted his tongue into her mouth, suppressing a groan as he felt her hand cup his bulge. There was a moan ;  it may have come from Lucy as Erin freed Jack's cock. He couldn't explain it, but his cock was a stiff and hard as it ever had been. Maybe the stuff that Lucy had burned is what they make Viagra out of? Jack could feel his tip oozing copious amounts of precum and coating Erin's fingers. She broke from their kiss and looked down in amazement, drooling at the sight of his pulsating member. Erin desperately needed that cock inside her. She grabbed Jack and roughly pulled him down onto the mattress. He looked shocked at her sudden assertiveness. But before he could say a word, Erin sat between his legs and took his cock deep into her mouth. Both he and Lucy moaned their approval as Erin swirled her tongue along the underside of Jack's shaft. "Oh Frigga; Oh Frigga; Oh Frigga; oh fuck," Lucy said. She paced around the room, burning a bundle of sage while invoking a Norse goddess. She lost her focus as she saw Erin strip off her bra and bob her head on a massive cock. This was insane. Jack was stunned by Erin's drive and how badly she wanted his cock. Her naked tits bounced against his crotch, and Jack had to feel them again. Taking her perky tits in his hands, Erin moaned on his cock while Lucy had stopped speaking and just stared at them. Erin shuddered and then pulled her head from Jack's cock. She could have more fun blowing him, but right now, they needed to have sex. Erin looked up at him, replying with a big, content smile. She then stood up on the bed and wriggled out of her panties, giving Jack and Lucy a little show. She rested her left leg on the other side of his crotch and slowly sank. Erin grabbed his slick, throbbing cock and pressed against her pussy. "Jack; this is so wicked," she said with a big smile. She let out a long, deep exhale as she bent her knees and became impaled on Jack's cock. Erin's body involuntary shook as her eyes rolled back. Something was different this time, there was this raw, lewd feeling, but Erin wasn't complaining as Jack's cock pulsed against the walls of her pussy. She remained still, her eyelids down, and she breathed rapidly. Seeing Erin and Jack acting like there were in a porno, Lucy had forgotten what she was supposed to do. She stared at her friend's body or, more accurately, ogled Erin's nakedness. She looked hot. So did Jack. She didn't want to think about that now; that would be later when Lucy was alone with her vibrator. She stood in front of the silver bucket and lit a match. "Oh Frigga. Please take fortune on Erin and punish the man who wronged her," she said, looking up. Lucy flicked the match into the dirt, it burned into a bright white flame and went back to enjoy the show. Erin rested her palms on Jack's chest and slammed herself up and down on his cock. She had thrown her head back; her eyes were closed, and she hummed to herself as she forcefully rode Jack. Her tits bounced to Lucy's and Jack's delight, eager to be touched. Those herbs that Claire picked had really fucked with her head; she knew she was never this bi-like. Erin then arched her back and squeezed her tits, pulling on her erect nipples. "Oh Lord; yes!" Erin cried, nearly sending herself off to her first orgasm of the night. Seeing her moan and cry for more was an incredible sight for Jack. It was love. Seeing his girlfriend ride his cock with such passion was unbelievable. He wrapped his arms around her firm ass and raised his hips. He saw Erin appreciate the slight change, his cock thrusting deeper into her slick pussy. She was getting close; he could sense it. But then Erin slowed down, and Jack had to yawn. Turning his head, Lucy was down, sleeping on the floor. He felt weak, and his eyes were heavy. Erin collapsed on top of him ;  in a deep sleep like before. Jack shook his head, thinking that it would help. He then prodded Erin and yelled her name, but nothing. He couldn't fight it anymore and slowly drifted asleep. The Attic, Again. Jack's eyes opened, and he knew something was different. This isn't Lucy's bedroom. Sitting up, he knew where he had been transported to, the attic. It wasn't was like the other week when he woke up in 1897 and watched Erin die. There was nothing in the attic this time, no lanterns, steamer trunks or the presence of anyone, just exposed brick and worn floorboards. Something had happened. Sitting up, he noticed that he had been on Lucy's bed. Looking to his side, Erin lay in a deep sleep. Weirdly enough, she was wearing the same black lace dress. To his left, he heard snoring. Turning his head, Lucy slept, also wearing the same dress she had on from earlier. Seeing her was surprising; Jack expected it would be just him and Erin transported back in time. That's what would make sense. He reached over to his right, gently rubbing Erin's arm. "Erin? Erin?" Nothing. Jack then turned to Lucy and called out her name. Again, nothing. Getting up, Jack walked around the attic. There had to be something they needed to do. Or something they did wrong. He raised his hand up; there was something different. There was a dry heat coming from somewhere in the room. Jack tried to ignore it, focusing on the door. He pushed it a couple of times, it didn't move. He slammed his shoulder against it; the door didn't budge; there's no give. "Ah; ," a female voice moaned. Jack rushed back to the bed, seeing Erin stirring. She slowly opened her eyes and said, "Jack?" Erin then sat up, turning her head, taking in the change. "No." "It's okay. It's not like it was before. Something is different," Jack said. He then pointed to Lucy, who was still asleep, "She's also here." "Lucy," Erin said, her eyes widening. She jumped to her feet and moved to the blonde medium. She shook Lucy, yelling her name. "Fuck; leave me alone. Shit." Lucy groaned, pushing away Erin. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. With one eye open, she scanned their surroundings. "Where the fuck are we?" "The attic," Jack said. "It's weird. There's a door but it's not opening. And, I don't hear anyone." "No Franklins?" Erin asked, wrapping her arms around herself. Jack extended out his hand and gently rubbed Erin's shoulder. "No. We're alone." He slipped off his blazer; it was getting too hot, and then sat back on the bed. He glanced at Lucy, waiting for her to think of something. She stood up and paced in front of the bed. "Okay. Remind me again. What happened last time? Was it the same?" Jack shook his head, "No. Not like this. I was watching the Franklins and Erin going through their day. It was like when Scrooge goes back to the past. They couldn't hear me or see me. But I could go anywhere. Not just this attic." "Same for me. I just woke up," Erin said, "And I thought everything went back to how it was. But then I saw myself; as a maid. Then Jack." "Okay, let me think." Lucy said, still pacing. Watching the blonde walk back and forth, Jack rolled his eyes and undid the top button of his shirt. He looked down at his feet, realizing he was tapping his foot. There was something about this attic; it was making him feel hot and restless. Erin joined him on the bed, and Jack quickly got distracted by her. She just looked so sexy; he was desperate to continue what they were doing back in Lucy's apartment. Looking at Erin, Jack noticed that she had the same problem. Beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. Her fingers drummed against the mattress and her legs jiggled. Lucy rushed back to them, her skin glossy and her face flush. "I think Frigga wanted something else. Like you have to be here for the final bit." "Yeah okay. But why did the spirits or Frigga or whatever drag you here as well?" Jack asked. Lucy shrugged, "I'm part of this." "How?" Erin said, slowly playing with her hair. "I mean you did use my body to have sex. And remember when we first summoned you? You kissed me." Jack glanced at Erin; her face was crimson. Turning back to Lucy, "Do you think the kiss had effect something." "No. I think whatever force, being, god, kept Erin in your home and then made her corporeal for real; they must think I am part of it. That's why I was taken here as well." Lucy said. Jack let out a long sigh and then said, "I'm so glad that I called you instead of that Starry guy from Dover." "His real name is Stan and he's a big piece of shit," Lucy said, rolling her eyes. She turned to Erin, asking, "I need to know more about the kiss. Why did you do it?" Erin stayed quiet. She stared at her feet but eventually looked up. "I just felt so overwhelmed when I found myself back in Jack's room." "Overwhelmed?" Lucy repeated. "Yes. Becoming a body again, there were so many emotions. Confusion, love, jealousy, lust." "But you kissed me, right?" Lucy asked, arching an eyebrow. "Nothing forced you to?" Erin buried her head in the hand, going red again. She took a deep breath and said, "No. It was me. I don't know why. I was angry at you but also, I was thankful. Possessing you ;  twice! A feeling lingered." She paused and then added, "I felt you liked it." Hearing this, Jack covered his mouth, muffling a moan. "Hell yeah, I did," Lucy said, "It was like you're reading my mind ;  you probably did. Haven't been kissed like that in ages. No offence Jack." "None taken," Jack said, just whispering. "Maybe that's why I'm here. Let me think," Lucy said again, her tone breathless and weak. She then sat back on the bed, next to Jack. They went quiet. The only sound that filled the room was the creaking of the bed as all three fidgeted. Lucy tightly gripped the sheets, forcing herself to stay still. Erin instead rested her head on Jack's shoulder, running her hand over his chest. He responded by slowly stroking her thigh. The sound of fidgeting disappeared, replaced with heavy breathing. "You should fuck already," Lucy shouted. She looked at them, her face flush and with deep desperation in her eyes. "You sure?" Jack asked. "It will please Frigga," the medium quickly said, "Like you complete the final ritual in the room where Erin died. So, you should do it now. I will just watch. And you should fuck." Jack looked back at Erin; she had this mischievous grin that told him yes. He kissed her, driving his tongue into her mouth, pulling her in. She moaned, her eyes shut, and she trembled as Jack pulled on the dress zipper. She went limped, letting him quickly undress her. Christ, she wanted him. Pulling the straps down, Jack smirked and marveled at his girlfriend's lingerie-clothed body. She wore that sexy lace bra again, and she looked amazing. Immediately, his hands were on her tits, squeezing them through the thin fabric. Erin then swatted his hands away and reached behind, unhooking her bra. He thought he heard Lucy moan, but Jack ignored it. He leaned his head down and gently kissed Erin's tits, his hands caressing her pale flesh. He ran his tongue around her sensitive nipples, teasing her with a quick flick. Erin pushed down on his head as Jack sucked on her tits, moaning and throwing her head back, waiting for more. Jack ignored her and pushed Erin back. He kissed down her body, loving how soft her skin felt on his lips. He stopped when he felt the hairs of her pussy. Pulling her panties down, Erin hadn't shaved anything yet; thin rust-colored strands surrounded her lips. He lowered his head and poked the dewy folds of her pussy with his tongue. Erin cried and covered her mouth. After that night with the s ance, Erin craved the sensation of his tongue driving her pussy wild. She then felt an arm wrapped around her from behind; Lucy. She was hugging Erin; the blonde medium's hands were dangerously closed to her tits. This felt wrong, completely against the teachings of the Church, but Erin didn't care. Over the sounds of Erin's moans, Jack moved his tongue to her clit. Just by giving the engorged bud a couple flicks, Erin cried and shuddered. He stopped and looked up, she was breathing heavily, and her lips were trembling. Also, she and Lucy were in this embrace that looked hot. Jack dropped his head back and kissed her clit as he slid two fingers deep into her wet folds. Erin's eyes bulged. She gasped for air. "More; please more;" Erin cried; she didn't want Jack's attack to stop. Lucy's eyes widened as she carefully watched every movement Jack made with his tongue. A deep heat quickly enveloped her. Her hand dropped from Erin's side and onto her own thigh. The couple was too wrapped up in themselves; they wouldn't notice her, right? Also, they were about to fuck in front of her, she would be well in her right to play with herself. But then Erin shuddered, and Lucy focused her energy on keeping the former spirit steady. "Oh Lord yes," Erin screamed. Her thighs clamped around Jack's head, and she bucked her hips. She let another intense cry and then went rigid. Erin shuddered on the bed as the coming orgasm thundered through her body. Sweet juices dripped from her pussy, and Jack hungrily ran his tongue over her folds, loving the taste. Erin soon stopped trembling and released her grip around his neck, letting Jack up. Erin wiped the drops of sweat on her forehead and then looked at Jack, "I need; you. Please." Jack smirked and slowly started to strip. She didn't want to relax, take a breath or stop sweating. As he fiddled with the buttons, he felt two hands on him. Turning to his right, Lucy stood next to him. She gave him an intense stare, and his mind flicked back to when they were on the sofa together. Erin didn't seem to notice or maybe didn't even care. She had a big smile on her face, giving Jack the thought that if he kissed Lucy, Erin wouldn't mind. Lucy nodded at him and gave him a small smile. She battered his hands away and quickly stripped Jack of his shirt. She ran her hand down his chest, accidentally or not. Jack helped her out by slipping out of his shoes while Lucy played with his buckle. She pulled his jeans down and looked at his bulge, then back up at him. Jack wondered if she was going to touch it or not. But instead, Lucy yanked down his boxer-briefs, joining Erin in moaning at the sight of his erection springing free. She mumbled something at him. Jack heard it as showtime, and Lucy pushed forward on the bed and back into Erin's arms. She pulled him down on top of her and into a long, passionate kiss, their tongues twisting together. Erin spread her legs as Jack centered the tip to her opening. Again, he felt another hand, this time around his shaft. His eyes were close and remained that way, not wanting to know if it was Erin or Lucy who was guiding his cock. It was hotter that way. They all moaned as Jack sank his cock deep into Erin's wonderful pussy. He heard his girlfriend whimper as he was entirely buried in her cunt. She then shocked Jack by raising her hips and wrapping her legs around his waist, constricting him. Something felt different. As Erin's pussy caressed and massaged his shaft, she felt tighter, wetter and a lot hotter. Erin looked up at him, her eyes half open and her lips pursed. She felt the muscles of her pussy ripple around his shaft. Jack hadn't moved, letting his thick cock pulsate in her cunt as she whimpered. Erin needed it; there was an aura around her, desperate and very energetic. She then loosened her grip around his waist and nodded her head, trembling at the first slow thrusts. "yes, yes, yes," she moaned. While they fucked, Lucy laid next to them. She needed to be naked. Pulling on the thin straps of her dress, Lucy stripped down to her underwear. She saw both Jack and Erin turn to her as she exposed her large tits. She gave them a wink and slid a hand underneath her panties, feeling her slick pussy. Having two attractive people fucking right in front of her was making her wet with lust. "Yeah;" Lucy said, rubbing her pussy lips with the palm of her hand. Jack held on to Erin, pinning her arms back and thrust his cock harder. He grunted while she whimpered at every stroke. Erin then threw herself at him, slamming her crotch on his piston-like cock. He then released her hands and went for Erin's shaking perky tits. With his fingers wrapped around her nipples, Jack stabbed his cock in long, sharp thrusts as he pinched "Yes! Yes! Oh Lord; Jesus Christ!" Erin cried. She could feel herself getting stiff and very hot. Her moans were overlapped by Lucy's. She turned her head and saw her friend staring at her, biting her lip and trying not to come. Her panties were gone, and she had two fingers stuck deep in her pussy while also playing with her clit. They were at the same stage. Their eyes stayed glued to one another's as Erin started to shudder. Jack held onto her waist, frantically driving his cock deep into her dripping pussy. Erin alternated from either gasping for air or groaning. Lucy was the same. Her eyes lowered to the blonde's lips, and Erin's mind threw back to when the s ance and how she needed to kiss her. Trembling, Erin pressed her lips against Lucy's full pink lips. The blonde medium moaned and immediately opened her mouth, slipping her tongue past Erin's parted lips. She and Lucy had their eyes closed as they got more into it, and quickly, their soft moans turned to muffled cries, both cumming immediately. "Ah!" Erin and Lucy screamed at each other, the sound dampened by their glued together mouths. Erin broke away from the medium and turned back to Jack. Her pussy spasmed over his pounding cock, while bucking her hips as she thrashed, prolonging her climax. Watching her, Lucy cupped her own tits, tugging her nipples with her free hand while ramming her fingers hard and deep in her cunt. She shuddered then jerked forward, letting a long shriek and writhed on the bed. Coming down, they laid on the mattress, drenched in sweat and panting. Erin looked at Lucy, ignoring her boyfriend and the fact he was plowing his throbbing cock in and out of her pussy. Lucy smiled back, and they kissed again. Their tongues outstretched and twisted together. Jack couldn't hold back anymore. All lesbian action is incredibly erotic, but when it involves someone who you love, it's out of this world, and he came immediately. He tried to warn her, but just a satisfied groan left his lips. Jack then shuddered at each pulse of his cock, his cum filling his gorgeous girlfriend. She wrapped her legs back around him and worked the muscles of her pussy, wanting more cum. His cock stopped twitching, and Jack went weak, struggling to stay upright and not collapse on top of her. He crashed back on his ass and arched his back, looking to the ceiling. The pounding of his heart had gone, replaced by a gentle beat. The same restless came over him. Looking at Erin, seeing his cum leak out of her cunt, he was desperate for another round. Lucy crawled in front of him, gripped his slick cock and said, "Let me clean you up." Her tongue probed his tip, lapping up the cocktail of his cum and Erin's pussy juices. Before Jack could react, Lucy opened her mouth and swallowed his head. She bobbed her head, resurrecting his cock back to life. Making eye contact with Erin, she just smiled; it was okay. Jack looked back down, running his hand through Lucy's hair. The blonde slid her lips up and down his shaft, mouth-fucking Jack with intense, otherworldly pressure. Lucy then ran her tongue up and down his shaft, licking the entire length. Jack stared at Erin, his eyes bulging as the medium drove his cock down her throat, his tip pushing further and deeper. She hummed in delight before releasing her grip, her teeth scraping against his sensitive skin as Lucy pulled her head back. Jack then watched her and Erin exchange looks, Lucy letting her mouth drop and biting her bottom lip. Her eyes widened, and Erin just responded with a nod and a small smile. Lucy gave his cock one last kiss and then crawled up the mattress. She laid on her back, her knees bent and thighs spread open, displaying her shaved crotch and delectable pussy. "You need to fuck her," Erin said, kneeling by Lucy, her face blank. Nodding his head, Jack shuffled forward and rested his hands on Lucy's knees. His cock was painfully hard, pointing directly to the blonde's dripping pussy. With complete ease, Jack slid his cock deep into her. She felt so tight. Just like Erin, Lucy's pussy felt snugger around his cock, also blazing hot and slippery with juices. Jack moved his hips, long deep thrusts while he grunted. He grabbed her legs, holding them together as he pounded Lucy's cunt. "Fuck; Jack; you cock feels so good," Lucy sighed. She moaned again and bit her lip, then rolled her head side to side. Erin was on her knees, in a trance, while she watched them. Lucy could see her friend's pussy, wet and needed to be kissed. They had kissed before; this is just a natural progression. Lucy reached up and pulled Erin's hand away from massaging her tits. "Get on top of me," she said in a whisper. Erin trembled at her touch, and Lucy needed to repeat herself before she understood what to do. She nodded her head and swung her legs over Lucy's head. She looked to the sky, ignoring Jack and lowered her crotch down. She shook and yelped, a very high pitch cry as her pussy touched Lucy's already parted lips and her extended tongue. It wasn't that wrong to have another woman feel her. Lowering her head, Erin made eye contact with her boyfriend and said, "Jack; she's licking my pussy!" She writhed and grounded her crotch on Lucy's mouth. The blonde kissed her throbbing lips, making her twitch with delight. Erin then felt Lucy grab onto her thighs and push her powerful tongue deep inside her pussy, her juices coating the medium's face. Erin moaned again; this felt different from Jack eating her out, a lot more wicked. Her hands reached, and she lewdly pinched on her erect nipples, moaning with a jolt of pain. Jack still held onto Lucy's legs, furiously pumping his cock as he watched Erin go crazy with lust. His eyes stayed glued on Erin, watching her squirm and whimper. He imagined what Lucy was doing to his girlfriend, exploring Erin's dripping pussy with her tongue, moaning at the taste of her hot, sweet juices. It overwhelmed Jack, and he slammed fuck the medium. Erin couldn't take it anymore. As Lucy thrust her tongue deep inside Erin's pussy, she felt something brush against her sensitive clit. That was it for Erin. She arched her back and then spasmed, wailing a scream of pure ecstasy. She could hear Lucy moan, maybe begging for more. Erin grinded her cunt against Lucy's rolling tongue, riding out her climax until she finally stopped, collapsing against the headboard. With Erin off her, Lucy gasped for air. Her face was wet with slick pussy cum. She made eyes with Jack, who had let go of her legs and was just staring back at her with a piercing look. He dropped down and licked his girlfriend's juices off her. Lucy felt his hands on her large tits, kneading them as he pounded her cunt. He then planted his lips on her neck, kissing up to Lucy's ear lobe. She shuddered as she felt Jack's breath ag

Who isn't overwhelmed these days? The world is overloading each of us with negative events, or telling us what to do differently in our lives, people preaching, complaining, arguing online... plus the demands and pressures of work, our families, our lives. It's too much.I want to invite us to remember the power we have over our lives. That we can control much of our lives, even when it feels we cannot. We can be still. We can practice quiet moments and find a strength and light inside. We can choose to create healthy boundaries and keep ourselves in a more balanced state.Today, especially during the holidays and New Year, can you make this choice for yourself? Can you let yourself soak in the quiet and find the soothing rhythm of your heartbeat, the stirring energy of the wind, and the grounded presence of your own nature?I'll meet you there.In love and spirit,LeahThanks for listening! Follow leah on IG, FB & TK @leahthemodernsage for more!

As the year turns inward and the longest night arrives, Yule invites us to slow down, rest, and honor the quiet magic of winter. In this cozy Wheel of the Year episode of Big Crystal Energy, host Ashleigh Bodell guides you through the ancient roots and modern meaning of Yule, the Winter Solstice, and the sacred return of the light. Blending folklore, personal stories, and gentle ritual wisdom, Ashleigh explores how Yule asks us to embrace stillness, tend to our inner worlds, and move through the season with intention -rather than overwhelm.You'll learn about the origins of beloved traditions like the Yule log and evergreen tree, crystal correspondences for grounding and reflection, and simple ways to celebrate Yule through ritual, simmer pots, ancestor honoring, and self-care. Along the way, Ashleigh shares heartfelt family moments and reminders that rest itself is a form of magic.Whether you're crystal-curious, spiritually inclined, or simply craving a slower holiday season, this episode is an invitation to pause, breathe, and welcome the light back - one quiet moment at a time.Key moments: 03:17 Winchester Mystery House Holiday Visit08:01 Yule and Wheel Overview10:49 "Overwhelmed and Missing the Point"15:06 "Reclaiming Yule's Quiet Magic"18:04 "Heightened Intuition and Reflection"22:11 "Origins of the Christmas Tree"26:03 "Embracing the Cozy Dark Season"28:41 "Intentional Simmer Pot Tutorial"33:59 "Balancing Self-Care Across Life"37:44 "Embracing the Season's Slowness"39:09 "Inner Fire and Light Returns"Meet Ashleigh Bodell  - your guide to the mystical and the magical on the Big Crystal Energy Podcast.By day, she's a dedicated orthopedic physician assistant, but by night, she dives deep into the metaphysical, exploring crystals, energy work, and the unseen forces that shape our world. From childhood fascinations with witches and faeries to a transformative rediscovery of crystals, Ashleigh's journey bridges science and spirituality, the practical and the mystical. A mom, a wife, and a seeker, she brings a relatable, no-fluff approach to exploring the “spooky and kooky” side of life. Through Big Crystal Energy, she creates a space where the magical and the mundane coexist - because we don't have to choose between our careers, families, and the call of the unknown.Tune in as she uncovers wisdom from crystal healers, spiritual coaches, and magic makers, inviting you to embrace your own big crystal energy.Connect Ashleigh : https://www.instagram.com/bigcrystalenergypodcast/https://www.instagram.com/mystical.mama.ashSend me any questions or comments you may have and I will answer them on upcoming podcast episodes!! Looking forward to hearing from you!Please message me with any questions or comments. bigcrystalenergypodcast @gmail.com

This episode is a replay from The Existential Stoic library. Enjoy! Do you find yourself rushing from one thing to the next? Do you feel stressed, overworked, exhausted? Are you afraid that if you slow down, you'll love momentum? In this episode, Danny and Randy discuss how to slow down.Subscribe to ESP's YouTube Channel! Thanks for listening!  Do you have a question you want answered in a future episode? If so, send your question to: existentialstoic@protonmail.com

What if the reason you haven't started writing your novel has nothing to do with how much you know?“I'm not ready yet” is one of the most common things I hear from writers. And on the surface, it makes sense. You want to feel prepared before starting something as big as writing a novel.But not feeling ready usually has very little to do with knowledge. More often, the root cause is a lack of clarity. In this bonus episode, I'm sharing stories from three writers who spent months, and even years, stuck at the starting line because they didn't know how to move from idea to writing. You'll hear about Tiara, who loved writing short stories but froze when she tried to write a novel. Jennifer, who dreamed about her YA fantasy for years but felt she needed more credentials before she could begin. And Sheila, a doctor and teacher who had read the books, taken the courses, and still couldn't put it all together.None of them suddenly became more qualified. What changed was their process.In this episode, you'll learn:[04:00] How a short story writer overcame her fear of full-length novel projects by shifting her mindset around perfectionism and learning to trust a step-by-step approach.[06:15] Why one aspiring author spent years frozen at chapter one and how a simple scene-by-scene roadmap helped her go from stuck to a complete first draft in just 90 days.[08:30] How one writer learned to use genre to map out her story's key scenes—and why this finally made everything click for her after bouncing between over-planning and under-planning for years.If you've been telling yourself you're not ready, this episode will help you rethink that.And if you want a clear, step-by-step path to help you finally start and finish your novel, you can get on the waitlist for the next round of Notes to Novel. Doors open January 22.Your story doesn't need more prep work. It needs one clear direction. And I'll help you do that.

Overwhelmed and Guilty? Faithful Motherhood Isn't Perfect Are you a working mom who feels like you're constantly falling short? Like biblical motherhood is some Pinterest-perfect ideal you'll never reach? You're not alone—and you're not failing. In this episode, we talk about what faithful motherhood really looks like in the midst of work, family, and daily overwhelm. We'll explore why so many moms feel guilt and pressure, how the culture of “perfect motherhood” can distort God's truth, and most importantly, how you can experience freedom, grace, and real faithfulness in the life you actually live. You'll walk away with: A clear reminder that biblical motherhood isn't about perfection. Encouragement to release guilt and comparison. Practical ways to invite God into your busy, messy, real life. Scripture and reflection to anchor your faith in the everyday moments. Scriptures discussed: Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord. Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Proverbs 31:25 – She is clothed with strength and dignity. This episode is perfect for working Christian moms who want to embrace their motherhood journey without pressure, guilt, or comparison—learning to walk faithfully in the life God has given them.

▶︎▶︎Preorder my new book ‘The Connection Code': https://beehive.drmelissasonners.com/the-connection-code We're living in a time where information is everywhere, yet so many women still feel overwhelmed and stuck in survival mode. Modern self-care often adds more pressure, more rules, and more to-do's, leaving the nervous system even more dysregulated than before.In my recent stage talk for the International Hyperbarics Association, I shared why healing doesn't come from doing more, chasing protocols, or perfect routines. It begins with nervous system regulation, connection, and learning how to shift out of chronic fight-or-flight and back into safety, presence, and intuition — using simple, realistic tools that actually fit into daily life.What You'll Learn:Why chronic stress, digital overload, and constant stimulation keep the nervous system stuck in fight-or-flightHow nervous system dysregulation shows up as anxiety, burnout, brain fog, hormonal imbalance, and emotional overwhelmThe difference between living in beta brainwaves versus accessing alpha and theta for healing and clarityWhy self-care needs a rebrand — and why traditional self-care often misses the nervous system entirelyWhat “regulation reps” are and how short, consistent moments of regulation rewire the nervous systemHow micro moments of connection improve mood, focus, resilience, and emotional regulationWhy play, joy, and oxytocin are powerful tools for hormone balance and nervous system healthHow to move from living in your head back into your heart — without adding more to your plateResources:Preorder my new book ‘The Connection Code': https://beehive.drmelissasonners.com/the-connection-code My Red Light faves, with special codes and discounts: https://www.drmelissasonners.com/red-light-guide Be Inspired Mama Journal: https://amzn.to/4afbs3s Want a free and meaningful way to support the show? Give us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts (you can even leave a review on Apple too!). And if you're tuning in on YouTube, don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe. Your support helps more mamas discover this space and we're so grateful you're here.

At this time of year parts of us carry overwhelming and exhaustion. Let this gentle meditation bring compassion and presence to these parts.

André, The Impulsive Thinker™, shares practical insights on how ADHD Entrepreneurs can use AI to save time, boost productivity, and make their workflow more efficient—without losing their own voice. Reflecting on a conversation with Cooper Simson of Martell Ventures, André breaks down why AI works best as a tool that thinks with you, not for you. From crafting better prompts to systematizing business tasks and personalizing outputs, this episode gives you real tips to help your ADHD brain harness AI's power while staying authentic. Get ready to learn smarter ways to cut through busy work and keep your edge.  

If you've ever looked around your house, your calendar, or your marriage and thought, Why is this so hard for me?—this conversation is for you. In this episode, Ginny Yurich talks with licensed therapist and Struggle Care founder KC Davis about why overwhelm isn't a character flaw, a lack of discipline, or a sign you're doing life wrong. KC names the invisible mental load of daily living—meals, laundry, cleaning, caregiving, relationships—and explains why these repetitive responsibilities were never meant to be proof of your worth. Together, Ginny and KC explore practical, compassionate ways to lower that load without adding shame. From reframing household work as morally neutral, to letting go of “just clean as you go,” to rethinking fairness in marriages and families, this episode offers language and tools that actually help. KC shares gentle strategies for building momentum when you're stuck, wisdom for dividing labor and rest more honestly, and a powerful reminder that community is built through realness and not perfection. This is an episode to save, share, and return to when you need permission to stop measuring your life by impossible standards. Learn more about what KC Davis has to offer including her podcast, courses, training, and more here: https://www.strugglecare.com Get your copy of How to Keep House While Drowning here Get your copy of Who Deserves Your Love? here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Amy Dott Harmer, executive director of the Utah Refugee Connection, discovered a forgotten note tucked inside Santa's chair after a holiday celebration for refugees, she didn't know what to do. The letter listed humble wishes: clothes, diapers, even toilet paper. Overwhelmed and out of time, Amy turned to social media, and that's when Lenice Paulsen stepped up. In this special Light the World episode of Uncomfy, host Julie Rose talks with Amy Dott and Lenice about how an uncomfortable moment turned into a Christmas miracle and how paying attention to the needs around us can change lives. Learn more about Light the World, a global invitation by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to spread light and serve others during the holiday season: https://www.lighttheworld.org Check out Utah Refugee Connection - https://serverefugees.org/ Episode transcript - https://uncomfypodcastbyu.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-lost-letter-strangers-kindness-and.html CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:44 The Gathering of Light Celebration 01:53 The Letter to Santa 05:13 Lenice's Response and Action 07:20 Delivering Christmas Miracles 10:30 Reflections on Light and Service 12:08 Conclusion

Brought to you by Diesel David and Main Street Warriors In this episode of Cherokee Business Radio, Joshua Kornitsky talks with Jeff Durkee, founder of Durkee Sales Solutions. Jeff shares his journey from emergency medicine to sales leadership, focusing on helping small, owner-led businesses scale intentionally. He discusses the importance of defining an ideal client, building a disciplined […]

Brought to you by Diesel David and Main Street Warriors In this episode of Cherokee Business Radio, Joshua Kornitsky talks with Jeff Durkee, founder of Durkee Sales Solutions. Jeff shares his journey from emergency medicine to sales leadership, focusing on helping small, owner-led businesses scale intentionally. He discusses the importance of defining an ideal client, building a disciplined […]

A Holiday Haunting: Part 1 Jack returns home and reconnects with his old ghost crush. Based on a post by zeon 67. Listen to the ► Podcast at Explicit Novels. Oh. Shit! She's back. Jack had to drop everything and run to the living room; he needed to see her again. His coffee mug shattering against the kitchen floor meant little to him. Jack followed her out of the room, stumbling into the den and crashed into a chair. Any pain that he felt was instantly ignored; he just had to see her face. But she phased through the bookcase, leaving him disappointed. Ten years. It had been ten years since Jack had last seen Erin. Just a brief peek of her ghostly form, and Jack was a teenager again. The first time he met Erin, he was thirteen. Jack's parents had dragged the family from Boston to live in a stock horror mansion outside Portland, Maine. He hated everything about it, feeling depressed, isolated from his old life. Then he saw her. She appeared late one night as Jack attempted to fall asleep. His eyes widened as this woman floated in front of his bed. She wore a bulky, dark shirt with a lighter collar, a long apron over a skirt that reached her ankles and sensible shoes. Pale skin and white hair held up in a professional bun. She stood translucent and hovered a foot off the ground. Jack was freaking out, shaking under the covers and trying to release a scream. But watching her body float, her head crooked to the side with a curious smile, Jack felt an eerie calm. He sat up in his bed and examined her further. She was beautiful, an oval face with dimples, full lips, and wide, expressive eyes. He tried to guess her age, but it was impossible due to her intangible form. "Hello;" Jack said. His voice was hoarse and unconvincing. She smiled again at him before disappearing. "Fuck." Jack immediately fainted. He awoke late in the morning, still shaken. Jack ran down to his family, yelling at them in the kitchen at what he had just seen. His parents responded with blank looks. His sisters both snickered, cracking jokes about Jack's nighttime activities, and how it must have affected his brain. But as he continued, the jokes stopped, and soon Jack had weekly sessions with Dr. Miller. It was like a month until he saw her again. Jack was alone in the house and found Erin standing in between his bed. He screamed this time, but Erin just replied with a smile. She looked amused by his actions. She disappeared, and Jack had to wait another month before catching her on the stairs. But he had a plan, knowing what he should do the next time he ever saw her again. "Jack!" His mother yelled from upstairs. "What Happened!" Jack rolled his eyes. "It's nothing. I dropped my mug." He shouted back up, praying that his parents won't come down. Tomorrow was Thanksgiving, and Jack had returned home early, hoping just to relax and forget about Laura. Retreating into the kitchen, he ignored the mess he'd left behind. He wasn't that heartbroken about the end of the relationship; he just needed to get out of Boston for a while. Jack filled up a glass of water and took a couple of gulps, trying to steady himself. The plan was to drink, eat loads and watch football. But now, Jack was instantly consumed by the need to see Erin again.   Erin's Further Revelations. Jack rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. He guessed that it was probably two in the morning. He should be asleep, but restless energy had overpowered him, just like when he was a teenager. The weeks after her second appearance, Jack woke early in the morning and saw Erin staring out of the window. She turned to him and then disappeared. Every couple of weeks, he would see Erin around the house, mostly in his room, but always when he was alone. Whenever Jack saw her, Erin would disappear, fade into nothing in front of him. After a dozen or so appearances, Erin and Jack got used to seeing each other over the year. He would see her, and they would exchange brief smiles before would Erin dissolve. Jack got used to finding her in random places, occasionally pretending that she was never there when Erin materialized during family dinners. Though she mostly appeared in his room. He was also sure that he was the only one who could see her, which developed a special bond as he aged. It was just a shame they couldn't talk to each other. Whatever break in the dimensions that brought her here didn't allow them to speak or hear one another. Over the years, Jack and Erin relied on non-verbal communication, making up their own sign language while also writing out words on paper. Jack's parents were weirded out one Christmas when he asked for a dry erase board. He would come home from school and rush to his room, wondering if that day was the day she would appear. If he found her there, Jack would tell her about his day, what had changed since they last spoke, and random thoughts in his head. She would eagerly listen to him and try to respond in her own way. She had become this nonjudgmental friend that he could bounce off from as he dealt with his new surroundings and the horror of puberty. It took two years for Jack to know Erin's name. They were together in his room; the house was empty apart from them. It felt that Erin had trained herself to emerge only when he was alone. Jack sat on his bed, talking to Erin. For the hundredth time, he had asked her name. She led him to the bathroom and pointed to the faucet. Running the hot water, he saw Erin smile as the bathroom mirror started to fog up. She clenched her jaw and pressed a finger up against the glass. Erin's face strained as her form became clearer as she wrote 'ERIN' in the mirror. The smile on Jack's face then quickly vanished as Erin faded into nothing. He wouldn't see her for another two months. Jack rolled onto his stomach, feeling his cock throb against his leg. Without any prompting, his mind cast back when he turned 18, and Erin gave him a special present. It was one of the few times that Erin appeared, when there were other people in the house. He was half-asleep, playing on his PlayStation when she materialized. Jack shuffled back and collapsed on the bed. There was something off about her that night, her body was trembling, and her face was stone-like. With great energy, her lips curled into a smile, and there was a flash. The clothing that Jack had always seen her in the last five years had disappeared into nothing, leaving her naked. A loud guttural groan escaped Jack's mouth; it was the first time he had seen a naked woman. Her body was slim, graceful, like a dancer, and perfect. He stared at her small but firm tits; Jack assumed they were B-cups and wished he could have his hands over them. Her skin then began to change, turning from a clear white to a fair skin tone. He noticed rusty-colored freckles dot around her angular nose framed by long reddish-brown hair. Then two bright green eyes stared back, overwhelming him. "Fuck," Jack whispered. His mouth dry, his stomach twisted into knots, and all the blood drained into his penis. He was in love or lust; it was all the same back then to him. Jack rolled off the bed and waddled to the bathroom, holding out the used tissue as far away from him as if it was toxic. He was only exposed to her for a few moments before she vanished. Still, Erin's naked form had been seared entirely in his brain, giving him special comfort during lonely nights. Dumping the balled-up tissue in the toilet, he started washing his hands. The general feeling of self-disgust hit him, but this time with more power. He was fantasizing about a long-dead woman. It's not right. He crawled back into his bed and reached for his laptop. Opening the browser, Jack thought to himself for a moment before going to incognito mode. He might need some privacy should anyone have a look at his search history. In the search bar, he typed 'Medium Psychic, And Portland, Maine.'   Ophelia's Services. The doorbell rang, and Jack quickly set down his coffee and rushed to the door. He briefly checked himself out in the hallway mirror; he looked normal. Jack wanted to make sure that he pulled that off, a navy oxford shirt, black jeans, and white sneakers, that all screamed normal to him. Jack then mentally thought about what he was going to say to the medium. It wasn't like he had a lot of experience in this. He could tell her about Erin, maybe use her name. Also, he could say where she usually appears and does. Probably shouldn't mention Erin getting naked as some kind of birthday present. He then wished that the medium agreed a later time just so he could rationalize having a drink. During Thanksgiving dinner, Jack told his family that he wanted to stay in Maine for a while, maybe until after Christmas. He had exaggerated the effects that the disintegration of his relationship with Laura had on him. It was a blatant lie; his parents knew it, his sisters didn't care, but no one really questioned it. He prayed that none of them would ever find out that he booked a medium. This Ophelia from Portland, Jack didn't know what he wanted from her. From movies, he had been told that ghosts that roam around usually have unfinished business. If somehow the medium was legit and could talk to Erin, he didn't know if it would be best if Erin moved on. Opening the door, a young woman stood, waiting impatiently. Their eyes met, and Jack was stunned to find his assumptions shattered. He was expecting a woman in her fifties, heavy makeup, and lots of necklaces, someone like that Long Island psychic. Instead, a woman stood in front of him who looked like she was in her twenties, with blonde wavy hair and a curvy figure. She gave an impression of an Instagram influencer with tight high-waisted jeans, a simple tee, and a suede jacket. "Jack Taylor?" she said, pinching her mouth shut and curving her lips upward. "Ophelia?" Jack arched an eyebrow without thinking. She nodded and walked past him, taking in the house. A Victorian-style mansion, built in the 1860s, with five bedrooms, a parlor, a giant fireplace that could fit a body, a near-constant fog-covered backyard, and a bloody-red painted door. She looked unimpressed. Ophelia raised her hands and fluttered her fingers, doing a sort of jazz hands while slowly spinning. Jack had no idea what he was supposed to be feeling, but she's young and hot. Was this a con? Did he want it to be one? "Do you want anything to drink?" Jack asked, trying to get a read of the situation. He then glanced at the clock. His parents should be home in a couple of hours; he had time. "I'm fine." She replied, flashing another smile. "Should we deal with the money first?" Taken back, he slowly reached for his wallet and pulled $150 in cash. He looked at the money and felt grateful that he would only pay an extra fifty if the reading exceeded the hour. Handing her the folded bills, Jack felt a breeze. Then the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Erin. He had been sensing her a lot, recently. "Nice house. Really Stephen King-like." Ophelia gave another forced smile. "Can you give me a tour?" Jack nodded and he took her to the home office, explaining what he had seen the other day. Ophelia took a quick photo and hummed; she felt nothing. Jack then led her around the house, describing where he had seen Erin and what she would do. Ophelia stayed quiet for most of the tour, her phone in her hand, occasionally checking it. He then explained his relationship with Erin. Jack recounted every meeting he had with her, including how he found out her name. When Jack said that he was the only one in the house that had ever seen Erin, he noticed a quick change in Ophelia's face. She definitely assumed that he's psychotic. As they climbed the stairs to Jack's bedroom, Ophelia suddenly became talkative. She put away her phone and asked several questions at rapid-fire speed. "So, who previously owned the house before you moved in? Erin, do you know her last name? Where she's from? Was she born here? Has anyone called Erin lived in the house before?" Jack knew nothing. He had known Erin for ten years and yet knew nothing about her. The house must have been her home or where she worked. He now knew what he had to find out, but Jack had no idea how he would research such things. Speak to a local historian, maybe? He should go to the library tomorrow. They entered his bedroom, a familiar feeling of cold hit his body again. Jack eyed the psychic; there was no change in her body language. Maybe she's a fake. Ophelia wandered around the room, doing the jazz hands again and calling Erin's name. His eyes narrowed on her chest, then to her slim waist, and then to her tight ass; she looked cute. It had been some time since Jack had anything close to sex. It ended with Laura over two months ago, and since then, a brunette ghost was the only thing he had to female company. Ophelia reached in her jeans and pulled out a velvet pouch. Opening it up, a nub of chalk fell into her palm. She then bent down and drew a circle just in front of Jack's bed. The circle was about three feet wide. Ophelia then drew four smaller circles inside the ring, north, east, south, and west. Jack watched her place crystals in each circle, wondering if he would be able to clean the chalk off his floor. "What are you going to do?" Jack asked, trying not to stare at the medium's ass. "I am going to summon Erin. I am going to see if we can talk to her and find out her unfinished business." "What would her unfinished business be?" "It could be anything," Ophelia said, looking around the room. "Some want revenge, especially if they were like murdered. Others are looking for missing rings, lockets or whatever. With my help, Erin could be able to move on." Jack nodded. She was right. It was fun seeing her again, he missed talking to her, but there had to be some conclusion for Erin. After Christmas, he will be back in Boston. Maybe it was best that she moved on, got closure from this world. The psychic then took off her boots and stood inside the circle. Kneeling, Ophelia raised her arms, praying to the ceiling. "Erin; Erin; Erin;" she chanted, raising her head, "Speak to us. Speak; Erin, come to us; come to Jack and me." She sang Erin's name a couple of times with no change in her composure. "Yes, Erin, I hear you. How can we help you?" Ophelia said, lacking any emotion. "How can we help you move?" Ophelia then went silent and very still. Her back was arched, and her head pointed up. Leaning in, Jack realized that her chest wasn't moving anymore; was she even breathing? Beads of sweat flowed down her face as the rest of the body began to tremble. Something was wrong. Ophelia then shuddered and Jack could see the color disappear from her face. She then slowly stood up. Looking at Jack, she gave him a warm smile. "Jack!" Ophelia then said, emphasizing the wrong parts of the name. Jack walked around and stood in front of her. Her body language was weird, not so closed off as it was before. Her eyes then focused on her left hand, marveling how far it was extended. The tips of her fingers then ran down Jack's chest. The broad grin on Ophelia's face got even wider as she felt him up. "It is me, Jack; Erin." Ophelia grinned. "No." Jack shook his head and took a step back. This had to be some weird psychic con. Was Ophelia going to sleep with him? "Ophelia, I think you should get out." "I am Erin." She closed the distance and reached for his hand. "I can prove it. You told me everything and I listened. Once you were overly excited in your classroom by a teacher. You frequently enjoy lobster rolls. And once I removed my clothing for you on your birthday." Jack whimpered, trying to collect his thoughts. Before he called Ophelia, he had read up on cold reading, but she knew things that he had never shared with anyone. Jack hit his bed frame and toppled over, hitting the mattress. He tried to compute what was going on, justify Ophelia's insider knowledge of him. But then the blonde climbed up on the bed, her body floating as she straddled him. This was real. "Jack; I missed you." Ophelia or Erin then leaned in and kissed him forcibly. Quickly sneaking her tongue into his mouth while she rubbed her body against his. Moaning as his tongue dueled, Jack was lost in a world of teenage lust. He had dreams about this, spent countless hours awkwardly pleasuring himself to the fantasy of having sex with Erin. But as he opened his eyes and remembered the blonde hair that flowed above him, this wasn't Erin. Maybe in spirit, but not in body. He pulled his face away and sighed. "Erin; no." Jack said, trying to push the possessed medium off him. "Not like this." "What?" Ophelia screamed. She shot back up and glared at him. Her eyes became demonic and bloodshot. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, breaking his skin. She began to shake and wail. "No; No; No!" "Erin; Erin!" Jack tried to get her attention. He reached up and gently touched her face. "I just want to talk to you. Please leave Ophelia." Ophelia's face contorted into a smile. Jack could tell that something was pushing back against Erin. Maybe it was the medium's spirit wanting to regain her body. She thrashed around on top of him, going from sweating to shivering to back to sweating again. Jack snuck out of her convulsing frame and watched with concern. The medium then slammed into the mattress, bounced high up in the air, and then back down. Jack watched her breathe slowly and rolled onto her back. She looked confused and tired. "What the fuck happened?" Ophelia asked as she sat up, her frazzled hair covering her face.   Researching the Franklins. Jack ended the call and rubbed his eyes. The pains of working remotely, struggling to stay productive while also being forced to over communicate just so he won't be called a slacker was too much. The only good thing about his job was that he could move back to Maine and still collect a paycheck. But yet, he hated taking calls from his bosses when it's technically his day off. He knew he shouldn't be cursing his luck. Last night, his parents gave him some excellent news. They needed to go to Springfield and help out Jack's aunt with something. Jack wasn't listening, just focusing on the part when his mom said that they will not be returning until Christmas Eve. Yes, it meant that Jack would have to prepare the house for the holidays, put up the tree, buy the food and sort out the presents. But it also meant that he would be alone in the house; he could plan and try to talk to Erin. Maybe even help her. Finishing his latte, Jack looked up the address for the library and the closing time. Since Ophelia's possession, Jack hadn't sensed Erin's presence. It was worrying. He tried to focus on absorbing as much information about the house. Jack learned that the house was built in 1860 for the Franklins. For more information, he had to drive into the city. As he walked into the library, his heart was thumping in his chest and sweat coated his forehead. Why was he so nervous? Yeah, he had created this pubescent fantasy, and Jack wasn't sure how he would react if that was cracked. What if Erin was an awful person; her death could have been just, and that she was using him. But he still had to find out. Jack sat down at the computer and entered his address and the Franklins in the search bar. Skimming through the records, he got a brief understanding of the family that built his home. Jedidiah Franklin was a local lender who had moved from Boston to Maine due to some unpleasantness. He was followed by his wife, Alice and their two children, Robert and Emma. Franklins lived a dull and typical life and died in the 1900s. "Nothing about Erin," He went through local newspapers and again found nothing odd. Going through the search results, Jack quickly realized that he had been wasting his time, and it was pointless. By the time he reached the fourteenth page, he was about to leave. But instead, he clicked on the link about a stagecoach accident involving the Franklins. Jedidiah, Alice, Robert, and their maid were returning late one night. Their stagecoach collided with a rock, and the maid was thrown out. She died instantly. The article gave the maid's name as Erin O'Ceallachain. Letting out a loud sigh and rubbing his face, Jack then searched for Erin O'Ceallachain. There was little about her. A short obituary that stated she was born somewhere in Ireland and died in 1898. She had been a maid for the Franklins for close to a year. There were no descriptions of her or any clues of her past. Jack leaned back and stared at the screen. It could be her. He had checked; there were no other women called Erin that lived in the house. This could be her. But, if she died on the road, then why was she haunting his home. The loud sound of his phone vibrating against the desk pulled him out of his thoughts. Jack saw that he got a text from Ophelia. She really wanted to speak to him. Ignoring her, Jack continued his deep-dive on the Franklins, trying to find anything. Even a morsel of information about the family would help. After another hour of research, he ended up on the website of an antique bookstore in Bangor. They had Alice Franklin's diary and it was for sale.   Tomes of Inquiry. Two days later, Jack sat in the home office and stared at the five-hundred-dollar book. It was too much; he should have tried to haggle them down. Jack wasn't even sure if the diary would be useful; it could be another Alice Franklin or just a list of mundane observations. Jack finished another beer and opened the diary. His hands were trembling with every turn of the page. Either he was nervous or just drunk, he couldn't tell. The pages were filled with fine late-twentieth-century cursive writing that was hard to read. Jack slowly read out each entry, making out every second word. The diary covered the time Erin had already started working for the Franklins to her death if it was the same Alice Franklin. He skimmed through the journal until stopping at an entry made on January 28th, 1898, where Alice mentioned hiring a new maid called Erin. March Twenty-first, Eighteen Ninety-eight ;  I saw Robert engaged young Erin in the library. How I wish we do not have the same story as in Boston. August Fourteenth, Eighteen Ninety-eight ;  That green-eyed temptress was with my son again. The Roman whore has plans for him. Jedidiah sees nothing. He pushes his son. Then reacts in fury when Robert is in strife. November Sixth, Eighteen Ninety-eight;  Constable Standish and his ghastly son shared supper with us. He has eyes for Emma. A boor. My darling daughter would never fall that low. Robert is forlorn. I see his glances at young Erin. When I call for her, the freckled-face jezebel smiles innocently. Jedidiah will end her services in the new year. Jack paused from reading, and tried to make sense. Green eyes. Freckles. It had to be Erin. Jack skipped ahead a couple of weeks, getting closer to the time when Erin died. December Twentieth, Eighteen Ninety-eight ;  The Irish whore created a scene. Late in the evening, we found her under the influence. She screamed for Robert. She said she is with child. He is the father. She wants to be wed. That boy has ruined us. December Twenty-first, Eighteen Ninety-eight ;  A clear-headed Erin spoke to us in the morning. She lies that she is not with child. The Catholic loves Robert, or it seems. Jedidiah and I agree to end her service. We will send her to Bangor tonight. It is clear to us. December Twenty-ninth, Eighteen Ninety-eight ;  My heart is gone. Losing Emma is a great blow. They are to be wed in the next Spring. My son now lives in Boston. I pray his temperament is strong. Erin is gone, a life stopped by a stagecoach. Now I have an empty house. A lost daughter and a dead maid. Jack closed the diary and ran upstairs to his bedroom to grab his notepad, then came back down again. He needs to do more cardio. The two flights of stairs had destroyed him. He knew he had seen the name Standish somewhere. There at the family tree. After Erin's death, Emma married Nathanial Standish, son of the town constable. It made sense now; the Franklins murdered Erin and used the constable to help make it look like an accident. In return, they married Emma to his son to keep his silence. He knew what happened to Erin, but Jack wondered how he could help her. But; like what Ophelia said before, does he want her to move on to the next stage. It probably would be best for everyone. But if he could talk to her and discover her unfinished business, how could he help her. What if it meant getting vengeance on those that murdered her? What if it was on Franklin's living ancestors? The sound of the doorbell ringing jolted Jack from the thoughts of homicidal spirits. He checked his phone; it was nearly ten. Finishing another beer, Jack left the den and shuffled to the front door. He prayed that it wasn't his parents, that their stay in Massachusetts ended early, and now they wanted to talk about his future. "Ophelia?" Jack asked, opening the door.   Ophelia's Admissions. She stood there in the light rain, looking like another person. Far removed from the bored, unimpressed medium he saw days ago. She looked nervous, worried, but still attractive to Jack's eyes. The skirt she had on gave him a good view of her slender legs and made Jack think. Again, it had been two months since he last had sex, and he was now feeling it. "Hi," she said, barely audible. "Can I come in?" Jack nodded and let her pass. He tried not to look at her like that anymore; he needed to stay focused on Erin. "Look, I'm going to be honest with you. I'm a fake-ish. I go to people's houses and pretend that I feel something. I do a bit of cold reading, call out the spirits and then lie that they're talking back to me." Ophelia admitted. She paced back and forth as she spoke, nervousness flowing out from her. "Oh," Jack said, looking away. He didn't know what else he was supposed to say. "So, what are you doing here?" "Also, my name isn't Ophelia, it's Lucy. I felt Ophelia looked better on the website. Make it look real." She nervously smiled. "Why are you telling me this?" "Because;" she stepped forward, "what happened that day was real. I felt it, I really did." "Yeah?" Jack noticed that she was holding on to his hand like she was pleading with him. "I used to hear voices. I thought I was going crazy, but then I found out that I was hearing the dead; and I could talk to them. But I don't know, a mix of vodka, and my own cynicism; the spirits don't want to talk to me anymore. I want to feel like that again. I want to help you." Jack paused. Again, not knowing what to say. He felt that she could still be conning him, that she was going to ask for money. He still wasn't a hundred percent sure that Ophelia or Lucy was genuinely possessed by Erin. Then again, they could have had sex, which would be a weird move to pull when conning someone. Jack needed alcohol. "Do you want anything to drink?" He asked. "Please." Lucy nodded. Jack returned from the kitchen with a bottle of red wine and two glasses. It was the only alcoholic thing left in the house. After completely filling up both glasses on Lucy's request, he grabbed the diary and his notes, and they settled in the living room. He observed the psychic read the journal, his thoughts becoming more and more concerned about her looks. She had removed her thick coat, revealing a slinky tank top that gave him a glimpse of her bra. "So, you think Erin had sex with Robert Franklin; may have gotten pregnant; and the Franklins decide to murder her, to prevent a scandal?" "Yeah," Jack said, leaning in. There were both sitting on the sofa, awkwardly close together. "I don't know much or really anything about hauntings. But I only see Erin here. She must have been murdered here, and they faked the accident." "Erin being an Irish maid, the family are rich, and you got a friendly cop who is willing to help, if he gets a favor, that's a straightforward cover-up." Lucy smiled, patting Jack on the knee. "There is something we can do. I know people in the psychic and magic world. There's one girl who told me about this ritual-like thing. It's like a s ance on steroids. We can make her appear and we can talk to her. Then we can help her." "What's the catch? There is always a catch." "Not really. The s ance is a bit complicated and there is a shopping list, also it will be for a couple of hours only." "Sounds like a plan," Jack replied, raising a glass. They quickly finished their wine and poured some more.  Lucy asked him about his family and if they ever believed him. He told her about Dr. Miller, and how his dad would make the occasional jokes. When asked about their absence, Jack explained, and without realizing, underscoring that he had the whole house to himself. Jack then turned the attention on her, quizzing Lucy what happened when she first talked to a ghost; and what was the weirdest shit she had seen. As Lucy went through her backstory. Jack started picking up subtle clues about her. She was touching him more and getting close as she talked about hearing spirits when she turned thirteen. He tried to guess if Lucy was flirting with him, or was this some alcohol-induced delusion. After she finished her story about being asked to communicate with a woman's dead cat, they realized they were out of wine. Jack asked and quickly got another bottle on Lucy's insistence. "So, about you and Erin." She said, playing with the stem of her wine glass. "You were the only one to see her?  What relationship did you guys have?" "Like a friendship. Growing up; Erin was like my confidante. I would talk to her about every insane thought that was going through my head that day. I didn't know if she could hear me or not. It was comforting. I miss it. Guess that's why I'm here." "That's sweet." Lucy ran her hand down his thigh. "Sometimes I have some weird creeps that want to speak to their old teenage crushes, like teachers or neighbors that they used to jerk off to. It's nice to have a guy who just wants to reconnect to an old friend." Jack groaned. Looking at Lucy, his mind was made up, and he was sure that she was flirting with him. He should tell her the truth and see how she takes it. "I should tell you this. I have seen her naked." "Really?" Her eyes widened. "Yeah. On my 18th birthday, Erin appeared in my room and then flash, she's nude. She stood there for like a couple of seconds and poof, gone." Jack smiled, "That was the last time I saw her." "That's some present. Making me jealous." Lucy whispered, holding her gaze. "Really?" Jack said, leaning in. Lucy looked up at him, her tongue running over her pink lips. She craned her head forward and pressed her lips against his, her hand on the back of Jack's head, pulling him into her. Both were still holding their wine glasses, and Jack awkwardly pushed his mouth down on hers. Lucy's tongue shot out of her mouth and instantly snaked into his. They both softly moaned as Jack guided her body down on the sofa, nearly spilling her wine. She then suddenly stopped her tongue movements and pulled back. "Hold on, Ghostbuster." Lucy smirked, as she pushed Jack back upright. Taking the wine from his hands, she placed both glasses on the coffee table. With a shit-eating grin, Lucy grabbed Jack and resumed her mouth attack. Jack ran his hands down from her sides to her ass, pulling her on top of his lap. Lucy reached down and pressed her palm on Jack's bulge. She moaned into his mouth, sounding like she appreciated his size. She pulled her lips away, her attention now just all on his cock. Lucy fondled the turgid shaft through his pants, prompting it to throb in her hands. Jack leaned his head and slowly kissed down her neck, feeling her tremble in his arms. "Yes," Lucy said, closing her eyes and grinning. With a single-minded focus, Lucy unbuckled his jeans and yanked out his erect cock. Jack grunted, stunned by the blonde's eagerness. No other girl he had ever been with, was like this. They kept eye-contact as Lucy softly grasped his warm rigid shaft. Their lips met again while she stroked his cock, smearing her fingers with his oozing precum. While their tongues dueled again, Lucy's hand became a blur over his cock. They broke their kiss again, and Lucy lowered her head down, kissing his deep reddened tip. He watched in unbearable anticipation as she opened her mouth, but then instead of engulfing him, Lucy looked up and smirked. "Yeah, I'm bit of a slut," she said. "Just a bit? Jack grinned. "Okay, I'm a deeply deprived slut." She chuckled. Her very pink tongue then slid out of her mouth, and she licked up of his oozing fluid. Lucy took a moment to taste his precum, loudly humming and smiling at him. She then parted her lips and engulfed the bulging head in her wet mouth, firmly constricting, once his glans ridge was encased. Her tongue rubbed his frenulum, just under the tip.  She bobbed her head up and down, her firm round tits jiggling freely on his thighs, as she mouth-fucked him. "Oh; Fuck!" Jack grunted, taken by surprise by Lucy swallowing on more and more of his petrified cock. Lucy looked up and grinned at him again, before opening her mouth and engulfing him again. Her bright pink glossy lips slid up and down his shaft as she fucked him with her mouth. Then she sank til her nose rubbed his curly pubes, her teasing tongue gently caressed him as her throat muscle massaged his shaft, pushing his cock deeper. She hummed while she swallowed him, the hum of sucking filling the room. Her hands tightened their grip around his thighs as Lucy furiously pumped her lips up and down his cock. Once in a while, she would slowly pull his cock out, ever-so-gently running her teeth on the underside of his shaft while leaving huge trails of spit behind, then swallowing him again. It drove Jack mad in sexual bliss. She then wrapped her fingers firm around his meat again, lashing her tongue against his swollen cockhead, slurping up all the saliva and precum. Jack's balls were now sending messages to his brain, telling him that within seconds, he was going to cum; soon in big, bold letters. He also felt cold suddenly, and the hairs on the back of his neck were standing. He ignored that and watched the medium jerk him off, kissing his head as she worked the shaft of his phallus. Lucy stuck her tongue out and swirled it around his cock tip. But then he saw a figure near the TV. "Erin?" He said. She was right there and looked like she was in tears. A mix of fear and guilt hit him, destroying his previous horniness. But he still came, shooting thick loads into Lucy's face, hitting her in the lips and cheeks. She released her grip, but more jets of cum landed on her face. She raised her head and looked at Jack, the muscles in her face tensed, and her jaw clenched. "What the fuck, man? Give me some warning!" "Erin?" Jack said again, staring at the spirit. "Erin?" Lucy repeated. Her expression turned into an instant glare. But she followed Jack's gaze and looked over her shoulder, finding that they weren't alone. "Oh Fuck!" "No!" Erin screamed, deafening their ears. Her face was scrunched up in murderous intent. She lurched forward, and a force of wind cleared the table, sweeping the diary and notebooks off the surface. Jack and Lucy were pushed back by Erin's invisible energy, hitting the back of the couch. Erin raised her hands, maybe to strike, but felt her power evaporating. She looked at Jack, tears rolling down her cheeks, and then disappeared. Holiday Trimmings. Jack opened his eyes minutes before the alarm. It was Saturday and around ten. He sat up in his bed, his head still woozy from last night's drinking. He couldn't sleep and figured whiskey would knock him out. Also, he wanted to block out Erin's screams from replaying in his head. That face. Her expression dripping with anger and hurt. How Erin tried to attack them. He needed to say sorry. Erin probably won't believe him, Jack knew. But he had to try. Then there was what Lucy said, finding comfort so Erin can crossover. He hated thinking about that but realized that he couldn't be selfish. It wasn't about him. Jack's phone buzzed; he had gotten a text from his dad. It just said, 'Tree!'. Jack groaned, but he slipped out of the covers and took a shower. After getting dressed, Jack forced himself to eat something. He couldn't feel her. Usually, in December, he would see Erin more often than the rest of the year. Knowing that it was coming up to the day when she died, he expected to feel her. Two hours later, and overspending on a fir tree, Jack pulled into the driveway, confused. Lucy sat in front of the door, waiting for him. With a scared look on her face, she raised her hand and gave him a forced smile. Was she looking for him or for Erin? Jack climbed out of the car and slowly approached the young blonde. He never thought how she would take it, seeing Erin like that. After Erin faded away, Jack sat in silence while Lucy grabbed her stuff and bolted out of the house. "Hey," Jack muttered. "So, I have been waiting here for an hour. I walked away twice. But I really need to know. What the fuck did I see last night?" "I don't know," Jack said, looking away from Lucy's glare. "I've never seen her like this. She has never been this scary before. "Until;" "Until what?" Lucy stood up and got close. "You need to tell me." Jack sighed. "When you first came to the house, you tried to talk to her, right? Do you remember what happened next?" Lucy shook her head. "She took over your body and err; kissed me. We nearly had sex. But I stopped her. Telling her that it was wrong," Jack said, " to use your body like that." He quickly added. "Erin started shaking and going all Linda Blair. Then you woke up." "She gets rejected. Then she sees us on the couch, doing you-know-what, and takes it like a cheated-on girlfriend. That explains all the throwing." "I never knew she could do that." Jack smiled. "Can I ask you something?" Lucy stared into Jack's eyes. Jack shrugged and nodded his head. "What are you two? Is she your ghost girlfriend? Are you in love with her? What? Does she know what you are to her?" "Like I said, yesterday. Erin is my friend. Maybe there's more. I don't know, because I don't put labels on relationships with ghosts. But if I can help her, I will help her. Are you still in?" "Fuck it, yeah." He looked around, seeing his neighbors staring at him and Lucy. "Let's go inside. Can you give me a hand?" He asked, pointing to the tree. Lucy groaned but nodded her head. After undoing the bungee cords and dragging the tree off the car roof, the two of them awkwardly hauled the ten-foot fir inside the house. With Lucy leading, they pulled the tree into the living room, where the blonde suddenly stopped.  Jack was about to open his mouth, but he saw Erin standing in the middle of the room, and he went quiet. Erin raised her hands to her face, covering her eyes. Her breathing short and quick. She was freaking out. Erin then dropped her hands, clenching her fists as she glared at them. Her form floated to them, but unlike last night, there was no rush of force. Erin's face dropped, shifting into a scared expression. Dropping the tree, Lucy ran to her. She raised her hands up with open palms facing the spirit. "I am sorry. I am here to help you." She said, out loud. Erin didn't react. "He wants to help you. He wants to talk to you." Lucy pleaded with the spirit. Again, Erin stayed motionless. Lucy paused and looked over her shoulder at Jack. She mouthed 'trust me' at him and turned back to the ghost. "You can take over my body and speak to him. He would love that." Erin frowned, then faded into nothing. Jack walked past Lucy, trying to sense Erin's presence. There was nothing. He glanced at the medium; she had gone stiff, just like before. Jack's eyes bulged, realizing what was happening. But it was different. There was no sweat, no change in color, or fear on her face. Lucy just let out a small pleasurable moan. "Erin?" "What?" The woman barked back at him. "I just want to tell you that I am sorry. It was a mistake." "Liar. I saw you," Erin said, with no emotion in a unique tone. "Ye enjoyed every moment with the bonnie lass. I do not wish to intrude in your relationship with that adventuress." Her voice slowly morphed from Lucy's Mid-Atlantic accent to a faint Irish brogue. Jack sighed; he knew he had to deal with this. A simple apology wasn't going to be enough. "I'm so sorry about that. It's just that for a long time, there was this small voice in the back of my mind, saying that you weren't real and I was having a psychotic episode. When you saw me and Lucy, it was just an extension of that. I doubt it will ever happen again. But I did all this research so I can help you." "Help me?" "Yeah. I want to help you deal with whatever unfinished business you have. Lucy as well. That's why she's here. So, please don't be angry with her." "Unfinished business?" the voice then went quiet. She leaned in and kissed Jack on the cheek. Lucy's body went limp and she nearly collapsed. Jack reached out and slid his arms under her. He yelled out 'Erin'; then 'Lucy'; but got no answer. He dragged the unconscious blonde to the sofa. Carefully setting her down, Jack then prodded her cheek, trying to wake her up. She groaned and opened her eyes. "So, what are we going to do?" Lucy said immediately. Business Gets Busy. Jack looked at his phone as he walked through the front door. It was another email from his bosses in Boston. He had way too many people questioning his work. Being a cloud support engineer, he should be focused on the job. But since talking to Lucy about the s ance, Jack had been doing the bare minimum, and people were noticing. He figured that after he got closure with Erin, he could move on. Dumping the sage and wormwood on the coffee table, he saw her. Erin had been appearing more and more. Jack could actually count the times that she wasn't haunting the house. But he didn't get why; it was never this frequent back before. And she wasn't just haunting if you could call it, Jack's room. He had found her in the living room, kitchen and even the bathroom. Right now, Erin was floating near the Christmas tree. It was completely bare, left alone as Jack focused on work and the s ance preparations. There was some judgment he felt he was getting from Erin, like she still hadn't forgiven. Jack needed to remediate that, though he didn't really know how to regain trust with a ghost. He hunted for the Christmas decorations, taking longer than he hoped. Jack was desperate not to call his parents and deal with an endless conversation about how things were going in Springfield. Losing an hour to find them, Jack started decorating the tree, hoping that this will help him get back on Erin's good side. She carefully observed him as he decorated the tree, coating it in tinsel, lights and baubles. It appeared okay to Jack, the colors matched, and the string lights were all working. But looking at Erin, he was sure he had done something wrong. She wasn't that impressed. Jack first thought that she was still pissed at him, but then something hit him. While he saw her a lot during December, it was never on Christmas. This could be her first experience of Christmas in over a hundred years. With that, Jack opened his laptop and googled '19th century Christmas trees'. Getting an idea of what Christmas looked like in Erin's time, Jack grabbed his keys and told her that he will be back soon. Two hours later, Jack returned, and Erin looked like she was happy to see him. That's a positive sign, Jack said to himself as he emptied out his shopping bags. He bounced around a couple of stores before finding them, candle-like tree lights. Using real candles was a fire waiting to happen. And Jack didn't want to explain to his parents that he burnt the house down to impress a ghost. He then pulled out a ready-made popcorn and cranberry garland he got from a pop-up Christmas store. Looking at Erin, she approved by smiling back at him. He then added tinsel and icicle-like ornaments with Erin guiding him, pointing which branch needed something or if it was too much. Taking a step back, Jack admired his work. It looked old fashioned but still good. Seeing that Erin was happy was enough for him. He grabbed a beer from the kitchen and toasted, "That's one good-looking tree," he said, smiling at Erin. She rolled her eyes at him but then disappeared. That was getting Jack scared, her fading away just as they were bonding. It didn't look voluntary, like Erin really wanted to go to her void. She had this horrified look whenever it happened. Jack would then find her somewhere else in the house, an hour or two later. This time it was in the kitchen. He opened and closed the refrigerator door and found her there. Taking a moment to recover, Jack went back to making himself dinner. Erin hovered around him, curious at what he was doing. Jack guessed that she must have been shocked, that not many men cooked back in her time. He was also making pork chow-mein, and Jack wasn't sure how widespread Chinese food was in the 19th century. His phone began to buzz, and it was Lucy. Jack could see Erin's face turn. "She's probably asking about you," Jack said, putting his phone on speaker, "Hey Lucy." "Hey," she replied, "I got some news. We have to move the date of the s ance to the 12th. There's a full moon and it will go well with Hecate." "Hecate?" "Don't worry about it. Have you seen Erin since the other day?" Lucy asked, "Well, she is right here," Jack grinned at Erin, "She's in the room with me." "Whoa," she said, "How's that going? Wait shit, can she hear me?" Erin nodded. "Yeah." "Fuck. I mean shit. I mean I'm sorry," Lucy said, sounding like she was getting out of breath, "Anyway, I also need you to get some bundles of ash to burn. And candles, preferably black." "What is actually going to happen during the s ance?" "Hopefully, we can summon Erin properly and you guys can talk. Then maybe work out why is she here and if we can help her, somehow." Jack looked at Erin again. Her eyes were elsewhere. Jack started to doubt himself; was this something that she wanted him to do. "I will talk to you later, Lucy," Jack said, ending the call. Looking up from his phone, he saw that Erin had disappeared again. If the s ance actually works, Jack needed to ask where she goes whenever she vanishes. It didn't feel like a good place for her. Opening another beer, Jack sat down to eat and tried not to think about Erin. It was really hard. She still looked so sexy, and Jack was back replaying his eighteenth birthday present. Jack admitted to himself that with Erin randomly appearing in the house, he was feeling pent up.   Redhead Videos. It was close to two in the morning when Jack knew what he had to do. He had been rolling around his bed, got up twice and tried to dull his brain by checking the news on his phone. He still couldn't sleep. The only prescription that always worked for him was either whiskey or porn. As he couldn't be bothered to go all the way downstairs, Jack powered on his laptop and went straight to Porn. Jack checked out the video thumbnails, hovering over them as he tried to decide what he was in the mood for. Sometimes, he'd be craving blondes with double D-cups, getting plowed by massive cocks. Other times, it would be two lesbians slowly seducing each other. Milfs would be a good choice, but Jack felt that the algorithm would always then suggest stepmom porn, which he wasn't in to. He searched for amateur porn with Eastern Europeans, preferring their slender body shapes and lack of bad boob jobs. Jack sat up in his bed and pulled down his shorts, slowly stroking his cock to full, rigid life. He skipped the initial setup and forwarded it to the redhead pulling the guy's dick out. She grinned at the camera then kissed the man's purple head. Her tongue swirled around the tip before she quickly swallowed the man's cock. Jack shifted his weight as the redhead stripped off her top, revealing her decent-size tits. As the action turned to straight fucking with the twenty-something waitress bent over a park bench, Jack pumped his cock. He imagined himself there, in Prague, having hot, passionate sex in public. But then he felt cold. Looking up, there she was. Erin just appeared by the wall. She was confused and pressed the back of her head. It looked as if someone had just woken up, but in a different room than they were in before. She rolled her head around before stopping, and stared at Jack, her mouth agaip. He was illuminated by his laptop, so he knew that she could see what he was doing to himself. "Oh, fuck," Jack groaned, but he didn't stop stroking his cock. He thought she would float away, or scream, or do something, but Erin just stood there and watched. She even moved closer, standing at the edge of the bed. Her eyes focusing on his throbbing cock. Jack's heart was thumping as he frantically stroked his cock. His eyes darted back and forth from Erin to his laptop; the redhead had been replaced by a different model. She said that her name is Petra and is a med student, but what really turned Jack on was how Petra resembled Erin. Reddish-brown hair, slim body with perky tits, though she had tattoos and pierced nipples. His eyes bounced from Petra being fucked in a stall, to Erin's eager look. It was getting too much for him. His imagination then brought him to Prague again, but with Erin this time. He fucked her from behind, his cock pumping her hot, wet pussy, cupping her tits and making Erin groan in deep pleasure. Jack's balls were aching, then suddenly stopped, and he intensely climaxed. His tip exploded, and shot after shot of cum raced from his cock. Jack struggled to catch all his flying cum with a tissue. After cleaning himself, Jack and Erin exchanged looks. She was embarrassed, he could tell, staring at the ground and doing her most not to make eye contact. He wanted to say something, but Erin left the room. She didn't fade through the wall or vanish into anything, just walked away slowly. Jack then instantly fell asleep, not knowing what else to do.   A S ance. Jack opened the door, letting Lucy in. It was half two in the morning, and he was getting scared. A small sliver of thought wondered if she would let him down, or at least ask for $500 to proceed. For the s ance, Lucy had gone all gothic, wearing a black velvet dress and knee-high boots, also in black. She was carrying a large tote bag. There was panic in her eyes. She apologized for her lateness, saying that it took a while to get a cab. Jack was instructed by her, to get bundles of sage and wormwood for burning, plus ash. Lucy herself handled the weirder and harder to find items. She pulled out a knife that she called an athame, a ceremonial dagger Jack guessed. She also had a black bowl that she said is a water scry. It was going to help them talk to Erin. Jack led her to the kitchen and they quickly got ready. While she cut the sage and wormwood with the athame, speaking in Latin, Jack got the idea that this wasn't a con. It was real for her. That gave him hope. "So, where should we do this?" Jack asked, taking a steel bucket that she had handed him. "Your room." Lucy said, pulling more stuff out of her bag. "I've been thinking. You said you're the only one who saw her. And you normally see her in your bedroom, right? I think that's where she was murdered. By you sleeping there, a psychic link was created between you and Erin." Jack nodded. It made sense. They went to his bedroom; and with Lucy's help, he pushed his bed and everything else to one side, giving them space for the ritual. As they're going to make a fire, he opened the windows. Jack looked at the smoke alarms; if they go off, will his parents get an alert? Lucy got down on her knees and drew another circle on the floor, this time, a simple one without any other symbols. Jack lit the candles, twenty-four of them and placed them around the circle. Following her instructions, he then sat the bucket in the middle of the ring and lit the fire. Lucy took command of his bedside table and placed the porcelain bowl on top of it. She filled it with water from a special-looking bottle and dropped a crystal in it. "Take this and put it in the fire. Also, say her name in your head." Lucy said, handing him the sage and wormwood. Jack nodded and shuffled to the fire, trying not to drop the herbs. 'Erin, Erin, Erin,' he chanted in his head. He threw the herbs into the fire and was immediately overwhelmed by the aroma. It tasted sickly sweet, unnatural like. He then retreated behind Lucy; she was kneeling on the floor and speaking into the bowl. It sounded like Latin; Jack could make out the occasional word. She was calling out for Erin. The fire grew larger and smoke billowed from the bucket, looking like a volcano erupting. The smoke turned black, then blue and finally into grey. Jack took a step forward, in a trance, his mouth wide open and his hands trembling. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Lucy with her eyes clenched shut and was now calling Erin's name. Her fingers dug into the table and she frantically said 'Erin' over and over. He saw the smoke begin to clear and a body appeared above the fire. Jack gasped. Erin! She looked stunned, her hand covering her face. He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word, shocked. Color poured into her clothing, turning the transparent household dress into black. Her skin returned to its ivory color, while her hair became reddish-brown just as he saw ten years ago. Lucy had stopped chanting; she also was staring at Erin. She looked shocked, maybe a little scared. Lucy stood up and slowly shuffled towards Jack, resting a hand on his shoulder; but she kept her distance from Erin, using Jack as a possible human shield. Erin was just as surprised as the two of them. She reached out her arm, amazed by it. This was real. Erin moved forward but awkwardly stumbled as if she missed a step going downstairs. She then took a couple of more steps and touched the floor, a new sensation for her. Taking a deep breath, Erin became dazed with the menthol-like odor of burning sage. Her eyes lit up and a smile beamed from her face; she could smell. She then turned her head, focusing on the two, who had resurrected her. Her clogs banged against the wooden floor as she walked to Lucy. The psychic was trembling in her presence. Lucy flinched as she touched her arm. "Thank ye," Erin whispered. She then leaned in, and kissed the surprised blonde. Lucy moaned, instantly enjoying the kiss. Jack watched on, shocked. He didn't know if he should be terrified or turned on. Lucy wrapped her hands around Erin's waist and pushed herself against the resurrected maid. Overwhelmed by a sudden desire, Lucy slid her tongue deep into Erin's mouth. She felt good, but so tired. Erin then released the medium and watched as Lucy collapsed onto the floor in a deep sleep. She turned to Jack and grinned. "Erin?" Jack asked. His hands were trembling and he felt that he was going to sink into the floor. This is it, right? This was what he wanted, but he had no idea how to respond. "Is it really you?" He eventually spat out. "Hi, Jack," Erin smiled. "Fuck;" Jack said. He reached out and touched her hand with his. Wasn't this just supposed to be a s ance? "I can't believe I can touch you." "Me too," Erin said. "How are you?" Jack asked in a deeply sincere tone. "Confused. It felt I was being called by an unknown force. Then it took me." "I'm sorry, but I really wanted to talk to you." "I understand. Oh, it feels good to be heard and to speak with my own voice." "I need to tell you something," Jack said, "The reason we're talking is because I wanted to help you. But I never asked if you actually needed my help." She went quiet, looking like she was thinking something over, in her head. "You said about unfinished business. Bu

This week of Deck the Hallmark is presented by Aura Frames. Exclusive $45-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/DECK  // Promo Code:  DECK--The amazing Doug Jones is back! This year, he joins us to break down the newest Hallmark Christmas movie, A Suite Holiday Romance.ABOUT A SUITE HOLIDAY ROMANCEWriter Sabrina stays at a luxury hotel to ghostwrite a memoir. She meets Ian at the bar and lets him think she's wealthy. He's actually a secretary posing as nobility while managing a royal jewels exhibit.AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR A SUITE HOLIDAY ROMANCEDecember 13 2025 | Hallmark ChannelCAST & CREW OF A SUITE HOLIDAY ROMANCEJessy Schram as SabrinaDominic Sherwood as IanBRAN'S A SUITE HOLIDAY ROMANCE SYNOPSISWe learn about the Cordelia books by Hazel Holly, a beloved series that has been read by many and adored by all. We meet Sabrina, a writer who penned a glowing piece about the books. As a result, she's chosen to ghostwrite a memoir and is put up at the Grand Fairbanks Hotel in the legendary Cordelia Suite — a very big deal.She meets Grayson Westcott, the man who hired her. She'll be interviewing him about his life as an art broker and writing his memoir, but she only has until Christmas Eve to gather everything she needs.One night, while working late, Sabrina craves a sandwich. She calls down to the bar, runs in, and starts eating the first sandwich she sees — which turns out to belong to Ian, who's sitting nearby. He doesn't mind at all and clearly wants to keep talking, but the bar is closing. Maybe another time.The next day, Sabrina continues interviewing Grayson and learns that he was once Hazel Holly's butler at this very hotel. He's hesitant to talk about that part of his life, but when he opens up, she's completely captivated.Later, she runs into Ian again and they grab coffee. He tells her he works for a charity and that it's his first time in the city. What Sabrina doesn't know is that he actually works for the royal family — something he's keeping very quiet. After overhearing a conversation at dinner, she mistakenly assumes he is royalty. Could he be Lord Braxton? She keeps her suspicions to herself as they continue spending time together and sparks fly.Ian suddenly has to leave town to make sure Lord Braxton doesn't marry a woman he just met. They reunite at the Christmas ball, where they dance and share a magical evening — until Ian notices Lord Braxton leaving early and has to follow him. He does return for a kiss first, though. Sabrina is both smitten and increasingly frustrated by how Ian disappears without warning.For various reasons, Sabrina never quite asks him outright if he's Lord Braxton, and Ian never tells her that he works for the royal family. When she joins him at a charity event, she's having a great time — until she spots a jewelry box in his bag. Lord Braxton is known for proposing quickly… is Ian about to propose to her?During a dinner date, Sabrina finally admits she thinks he's Lord Braxton — but before Ian can explain, he's called away again. After hearing more of Grayson's story, Sabrina decides to end things before Ian can break her heart. Grayson is baffled and basically says, “How on earth did you get that from my story?!”Sabrina attends a gala and finally learns the truth: Ian is not Lord Braxton. Overwhelmed, she storms out. After more conversations with Grayson, he encourages her to rethink everything.Speaking of Grayson, Sabrina reunites him with his long-lost love, Charlotte — who is Lady Braxton. Grayson insists he's too old for love, but Sabrina shuts that down immediately. They rush to see each other, and it's beautiful.Sabrina races to find Ian, but she's told he's already left for the airport — except he hasn't. He stayed because he's fallen for her. He gives her the jewelry box, revealing not an engagement ring, but a snowflake necklace. They talk things through, make up, and he tells her he's moving to the States to expand the charity. They kiss — big ones.The movie ends with Grayson and Lady Braxton getting married. At their wedding, we see that Ian and Sabrina are engaged.She talks with Grayson more and he encoruages her to think about things a bit more. Speaking of Grayson, she ends up finding Grayson his long lost love charlotte. she's lady braxton. he's like oh i know that, but i'm too old for this ish. She's like NO! You're never too old for love. They rush down to see each other and it's wonderful. And Sabrina rushes to find Ian. But she's too late. He's already left for the airport. Except, HE NEVER LEFT! He says he's fallen for her and then he gives her the jewlery box...it's not an engagement ring at all. It's a snowflake necklace. they talk and make up. he tells her he's moving there to bring the charity to the states. and they kiss big ones!The movie ends with Grayson and Lady Braxton getting married. And at said wedding, we see that ian and sabrina are engaged. Watch the show on Youtube - www.deckthehallmark.com/youtubeInterested in advertising on the show? Email bran@deckthehallmark.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Overwhelmed with ideas? Join Jake Parker, Samantha Cotterill, and Lee White to learn how to evaluate potential projects and make the best selection. Plus, get an insider preview at the projects our pros are working on in 2026. 3 Point Perspective Podcast is sponsored by SVSLearn.com, the place where becoming a great illustrator starts!Click here for this episode's links and show notes.

With Christmas just one week away, consider this episode your invitation to pause, exhale, and remind yourself of what truly deserves your attention and affection this time of year. Amy Lowe, a fellow wife, mom, and follower of Christ, is joining us to talk about how to ditch the unrealistic expectations of the season, let go of pressure and aesthetic, simplify around what matters, and enjoy this often busy season with Christ and our loved ones. Connect with Amy and Winshape here. It's not too late to grab Tara's new book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Overbooked and Overwhelmed: How to Keep Up With God When You're Just Trying to Keep Up With Life⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - for a Christmas gift. FOLLOW TRUTH TALKS WITH TARA ON⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -- CONNECT WITH TARA: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Books⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Her website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jewelry line⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The free, email family⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor a child through Compassion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Overwhelm is a feeling that I am deeply familiar with… sometimes multiple times a day. In today's episode, we'll discuss why you feel overwhelmed, what's happening in your brain and body when that feeling of ‘too much' overcomes you, and how to actually reset your system so that you feel more grounded, calm, and rooted into yourself. You'll learn about: Overwhelm is not a mindset issue. It is a nervous system state. The chemistry of overwhelm Signs and symptoms of overwhelm How to expand your nervous system's window of tolerance Breathing exercises to bring you back to yourself when you're stuck in overwhelmCheck out the 21-Day Nervous System Reset I created for you with Dr. Michele Kambolis Connect with Erin:⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Website Support Our Sponsors: COWBOY COLOSTRUM - Use code RAWBEAUTYTALKS at CowboyColostrum.com for 25%offJONES ROAD BEAUTY - Get a free Cool Gloss on your first purchase when you use the code ERIN at checkout https://www.jonesroadbeauty.com/HELLOFRESH - Go to hellofresh.ca and use the code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 50% off your next order. KNIX - Go to knix.com and use code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 20% off your next order.MITOPURE GUMMIES - Go to ⁠Timeline.com/ERIN⁠ and use the code ERIN for 20% off. LOLA BLANKETS - Go to LolaBlankets.com and use the code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 35% off. SUPERBELLY POWDERS - Go to ⁠www.itsblume.com⁠ and use code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 15% off.AQUTRU WATER FILTERS - Go to www.aquatru.com and use code RAWBEAUTYTALKS for 20% off. Please use link on left side of checkout page, not the coupon code box on the right. ⁠Leave Well Within a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts⁠! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Start Living Sustainable, Cynthia shares three quiet low-tox shifts wise moms will make going into 2026—from calming your nervous system to moving through your home room by room with more precision and less overwhelm. Perfect for health-conscious moms and moms-to-be who are done guessing what really matters most in their homes for better health and peace of mind.

As moms, December can be incredibly overwhelming.  It's like life is now tossed into a blender and put on high, or we are driving a race car instead of our normal Honda Odyssey.  In the last episode we talked about 10 things I stopped doing in December and why I think you should too. Following the theme of decreasing the stuff on our plate, today's episode is more of a practical episode giving you actual steps to decrease your to-do items and the things on your plate this season.  We will start by talking about why our normal rhythms and routines fail, how to actually take to-do items off your plate, and why it's so important that we slow down.  Definitely grab a warm drink and let's get started.     Reminder: Are you ready for a fresh start?  As the Christmas season winds down and that New Year energy starts to pick up, you might already be thinking about what projects you want to tackle over the break — or how you want things to feel different in 2026. If you're tired of duct-taping your week together and craving a rhythm that actually works for your real life — for your family — now's the time to get support.   I've got some exciting things coming in January to help you design routines, rhythms, and systems that truly support your day-to-day life. And the best way to get started? Let's chat ...just check out the links below.  I pray this blesses you! Michelle PS If you need some extra accountability or help with productivity hacks, time management tools, mapping out a more efficient daily or weekly schedule, time blocking and so much more. We will break down what isn't working in your schedule, create new personalized goals for you, and determine the next new steps you need to take to have more freedom and live with more joy and laughter!   Grab a coaching call with me at: https://calendly.com/byrd-michelle/bonus-one-time-un-stuck-time-management-coachin-clone Email: contact@byrdmichelle.com website: www.byrdmichelle.com Free Productivity Planner - my gift to you! www.byrdmichelle.com  Come join our Facebook Group: The Busy Vibrant Mom https://www.facebook.com/groups/2315591962144641/

If you've been stuck in negative self-talk, overwhelm, or the holiday-season hustle, this episode is your fresh breath of clarity. In this solo episode of The Discomfort Zone, I share two powerful mindset exercises that have helped me peel out of stress spirals, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with ease — even in the middle of a six-month injury that kept me off the river. Whether you're healing, navigating a busy season, or feeling mentally overloaded, these tools will help you shift from disempowered to empowered — which is exactly what mental agility is all about.

The holidays are supposed to be joyful—but for many families, they quietly amplify stress, overwhelm, and emotional reactivity.In this special crossover episode with Parents of the Year podcast, Dr. Caroline and her husband Andrew step away from “perfect holiday” pressure and take a psychologically grounded look at why emotions run hotter during the holidays, for both kids and adults.We explore how disrupted routines, sensory overload, social comparison, family dynamics, and unrealistic expectations tax the nervous system—and why emotional meltdowns, irritability, withdrawal, or disappointment are not signs of failure, but signals of dysregulation.This episode bridges emotion regulation science with real-life parenting moments, including:· Why overstimulation is often behind kids' holiday meltdowns· How social media comparison fuels anxiety and emotional exhaustion· The role of structure, predictability, and proactive planning in regulation· Why parents' emotional regulation sets the ceiling for their children's· How to identify non-negotiables, let go of the rest, and reduce emotional load· Practical strategies for creating “magical moments” without emotional burnoutRather than trying to make emotions disappear, this conversation focuses on helping families anticipate emotional needs, regulate proactively, and respond with intention instead of reactivity.Want to learn more about boosting resilience during the holidays? Check out these episodes:Holiday Stress? Here's How to Build Real Resilience (https://youtu.be/jXgq7dn-hR4)How can we nurture kids' emotional resilience during the holidays? (https://youtu.be/jXgq7dn-hR4)Homework IdeasDo a “Holiday Load” Scan (5 minutes)Goal: Reduce dysregulation by identifying what's actually taxing the nervous system.Do: Write down the top 3 things that reliably spike stress for your child/teen (e.g., crowds, late nights, lots of visits, too many transitions) and the top 3 that spike stress for you.Use it: Pick one lever to change this week (sleep, pacing, fewer events, quieter mornings, etc.).Resource: A simple “HALT” check (Hungry, Angry/Anxious, Lonely, Tired) + add S for Sensory.Choose 2 Non-Negotiables + 2 FlexiblesGoal: Lower conflict and decision fatigue; clarify boundaries ahead of time.Do:Non-negotiables (examples): “We don't do three houses in one day,” “We eat before we go,” “We leave by 7:30.”Flexibles: “Which movie?” “Which dessert?” “When we open gifts (within a window).”Share it with your child/teen (and any other adults involved) before the big day.Resource: Brief script:“Here's what matters most to me so everyone's nervous system is okay…”“Here's what you can choose so it still feels fun for you…”Build a Regulation Plan: Before / During / AfterGoal: Move from reactive parenting to proactive emotion regulation.Do: Create a 3-part plan:Before: sleep, food, hydration, quiet time, predict the tough momentsDuring: micro-breaks, movement, sensory supports, time limitsAfter: decompression time, low-demand evening, early bedtime when possibleResource: “30/30 Rule” for high stimulation days: every ~30–60 minutes of stimulation, aim for a brief downshift (bathroom break, fresh air, water, quiet corner).Replacement Behaviours for Screen/Scroll TrapsGoal: Reduce comparison + mindless scrolling (a major holiday stress amplifier).Do: Choose a replacement behaviour you'll do instead of scrolling when stressed:5-minute walkshort stretchtea + 3 slow breathstext one friend directly (real connection)Resource: Set a phone boundary: “No social media before noon” or “10 minutes max, with a timer.”Create a “Code Word” + Exit Plan (Kids and Teens)Goal: Give kids a dignified way to signal overwhelm without melting down.Do: Pick a code word (e.g., “yellow light,” “reset,” “quiet break”).Define what happens when they use it:you step out togetherthey go to a quiet spotheadphones/hoodie breakshort car break if neededResource: Collaborative language:“Your job is to notice overwhelm early. My job is to help you reset.”Practice “Containment” When Volume or Energy RisesGoal: Prevent spirals by regulating yourself first.Do: When you notice irritation rising:Pause (one breath)Name internally: “My nervous system is activated.”Do one downshift: step away, splash cold water, 10 slow exhales, or a short walk.Resource: A simple mantra: “I can be the calm, even when it's loud.”Set Expectations Explicitly Goal: Reduce disappointment driven by vague, magical expectations.Do: Ask:“What are you most excited about—specifically?”“What would make the day feel like a win?”Then set realistic anchors:one meaningful momentone active thingone connection pointResource: “Lower the bar, deepen the moment.” (Connection > performance.)Plan for Sensory Needs Goal: Prevent overload (lights, noise, crowds, scratchy clothes, social demands).Do: Pack a “regulation kit”:headphones/earbudsgum/mintsfidgethoodie/comfort itemsunglasses/hatsnack + waterResource: Let kids opt into brief “parallel play” (being near others without forced interaction).Use “Let It Go vs. Address It” Sorting Goal: Avoid adults getting pulled into old roles and conflicts.Do: Before gatherings, decide:2 things you'll let go (minor irritations)1 thing you'll address if needed (a true boundary)Use a short phrase to hold it:“Not today.”“That's not up for discussion.”“We're keeping it simple this year.”Resource: “Boundaries are kind when they're clear.”End-of-Day Debrief: 3–2–1 ResetGoal: Teach emotional learning without shame; build resilience over time.Do (at bedtime or next morning):3 things that went okay2 moments that were hard1 tweak for next timeResource: Keep it brief and neutral. The point is learning, not blame.BonusThe holidays represent a perfect storm for dysregulation:· Increased sensory input (noise, crowds, events)· Disrupted routines (sleep, meals, schedules)· Heightened expectations (“This should be special”)· Social comparison (especially via social media)· Relational triggers (family dynamics, unresolved patterns) 1. Emotions Escalate When Predictability Drops When structure disappears, the nervous system has to work harder. For children especially, this can lead to:· irritability· emotional outbursts· shutdown or withdrawal The solution isn't stricter control—it's intentional scaffolding:· spacing events· building in rest· protecting sleep and nutrition· pacing stimulation 2. Overstimulation Looks Like “Bad Behaviour” Holiday meltdowns are often mislabeled as entitlement or attitude. In reality, they are frequently signs of:· sensory overload· emotional saturation· unmet regulation needs This episode reframes behaviour as communication—consistent with an emotion-coaching lens. 3. Parents' Regulation Is the Regulating Force Children borrow regulation from adults. When parents:· anticipate their own limits,· step away before exploding,· name and honor boundaries,they are modeling exactly the skills we want children to internalize. This is co-regulation in action. 4. Expectations Drive Emotional Pain Disappointment often comes not from what happens, but from the gap between:· what we imagined, and· what actually unfolded. This episode emphasizes helping both adults and children:· name expectations,· reality-check them,· and flexibly adjust rather than collapse into frustration. 5. Emotion Regulation Is Proactive, Not Reactive Regulation works best before emotions peak so it's important to use proactive strategies such as:· identifying non-negotiables in advance· planning recovery time· setting clear internal boundaries· collaborating with children ahead of time Suggested Listener Reflection Questions· What parts of the holidays are most dysregulating for me?· Which expectations am I carrying that may not be realistic?· Where could less stimulation create more connection?· What would it look like to model emotional boundaries for my child?· How can I help my family “ride the wave” rather than fight it?Enjoying the show? Help out by rating this podcast on Apple to help others get access to this information too! apple.co/3ysFijh Follow Dr. Caroline YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr.carolinebuzankoIG: https://www.instagram.com/dr.carolinebuzanko/ LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dr-caroline-buzankoFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCarolineBuzanko/Website: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/Resources: https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/resources/articles-child-resilience-well-being-psychology/ Business inquiries: https://korupsychology.ca/contact-us/Want to learn more about helping kids strengthen their emotion regulation skills and problem-solving brains while boosting their confidence, independence, and resilience? Check out my many training opportunities! https://drcarolinebuzanko.com/upcoming-events/

Overwhelmed by hunting gear options? We break down the essential checklist every first-time deer hunter actually needs - from legal must-haves to clothing, safety gear, and field essentials - plus the rookie mistakes that can ruin your hunt before it starts. Deer Hunting Strategies City: Goshen Address: 148 Green Mountain Hts. Website: https://www.deerhuntingstrategies.com/

In this episode, author, podcaster, and speaker Mary DeMuth returns to share the inspiration behind her latest work, which spotlights overwhelmed women in the Bible—women whose stories have often been minimized or overlooked. From Mary the mother of Jesus to Hagar to the widow with two mites, these women model faith, resilience, and wholehearted trust in God. We talk about how Christmas can be both beautiful and heavy. Mary opens up about her own seasons of overwhelm, from her water breaking on Christmas Eve to sleeping in a barn the week before Christmas. She reminds us that Mary, the mother of Jesus, lived through the deepest fears a mother can face, yet she remained faithful as a disciple. Here is some of what we cover:  Why Christmas often heightens grief, trauma, and unmet longings The consumerism of the holiday season vs. the simplicity of God with us What Shalom really means: wholehearted, whole-bodied peace rooted in surrender Jesus' care for the overlooked, the aging, and the marginalized The definition of “Whelm” which  refers to out-of-control stress,  “overwhelmed” is that same stress amplified beyond capacity Connect with Mary DeMuth:  Instagram: Mary DeMuth // Healing from Trauma (@marydemuth) Facebook:  Mary DeMuth Website:  Mary DeMuth Links Mentioned:   Nobody's Mother: By Sandra Glahn 90-Day Bible Reading Challenge: By Mary DeMuth Most Misunderstood Women of the Bible: By Mary DeMuth The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible: By Mary DeMuth The Most Overwhelmed Women of the Bible: By Mary DeMuth Podcast - Pray Every Day Mary DeMuth Church Hurt Checklist Related Episodes: Building the Family You Never Had :: Mary DeMuth [Ep 156] Nobody's Mother :: Dr. Sandra Glahn [Ep 443] From Overwhelmed to Anchored: Replacing the Lies of Motherhood with God's Truth :: Erica Gwynn [Ep 544] Featured Sponsors:  Green Chef: Go to Greenchef.com/ALONEGRAZA use the code ALONEGRAZA to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes. This 50% offer is only available for a limited time, so don't wait.  Policygenius: With Policygenius real users have gotten 20-year $2 million policies for just $53 a month. Don't wait until next year. Give your family the gift of security today with Policygenius. Head to Policygenius.com to compare life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save.  Thrive Causemetics: Complete your holiday look. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. 

Christmas is beautiful, meaningful, and holy — but for many women, it also brings overwhelm, expectations, and emotional pressure. In this episode of Fed by the Fruit, KB shares biblical wisdom for surviving the holiday season with peace and purpose. From the story of Mary and Martha, to practical spiritual strategies for managing stress, to the reminder that Jesus is not just “the reason for the season” but the season itself, this episode will help you rediscover the joy of Christmas when life feels stretched thin. KB offers honest, faith-filled encouragement for women who love Jesus, love their families, and want this year to feel different — lighter, holier, and more centered on Him.You'll also hear practical tools for setting boundaries, navigating difficult family dynamics, and honoring your body without guilt or perfectionism. With Scripture-based guidance, heartfelt storytelling, and KB's signature humor and honesty, this episode invites you to slow down, breathe, and choose presence over perfection. Whether you're hosting, traveling, or managing the chaos of kids and calendars, this conversation will help you step into Christmas with a peaceful heart, rooted in Christ and strengthened by His Word.This episode serves as both an informative guide to embrace a healthier, more balanced lifestyle, encouraging listeners to embark on their journeys with renewed vigor and compassion.Reach out to KB on Instagram and share your thoughts.

If you've ever ended a workday wondering, "Where did all my time go?"—this episode is going to change the way you run your business. In today's conversation, I sit down with executive coach Samantha Perinello, a powerhouse in helping business owners reclaim their time, streamline their operations, and finally build the kind of practice that doesn't rely on them for every little task. Samantha has a remarkable track record—her clients regularly get back 10 to 14 hours every single week—and she's here to break down exactly how that happens. We dive into the real reasons so many private practice owners feel overwhelmed, why multitasking is quietly sabotaging your productivity, and how simple habits like time audits, brain dumps, and strategic delegation can completely shift the way you work. If you've been craving more freedom, more focus, and more room to actually grow your business (instead of just keeping it afloat), this is an episode you don't want to miss. Samantha's insights are practical, energizing, and genuinely transformative. Tune in and learn how to take back control of your time—and your practice. Resources Mentioned In This Episode  Read the show notes here Use the promo code "GORDON" to get 2 months of Therapy Notes free Consulting with Gordon The PsychCraft Network Profit First for Therapists Workbook Meet Samantha Parrinello Samantha Parrinello is recognized as a leading executive coach, specializing in helping top-performing executives and entrepreneurs reclaim their most valuable resource—time. With a proven track record of transforming leaders from overwhelmed to optimized, Samantha blends decades of senior leadership experience with cutting-edge performance frameworks. Her clients regularly regain 10–20 hours a week while scaling their businesses faster and living with more freedom. Known as the master of time management and optimization, Samantha has become the go-to coach for leaders who want to multiply their impact without sacrificing their lives outside of work. LinkedIn Website Wealth Unfiltered 5 Essential Strategies for Entrepreneurs to Achieve 10-Figure Success

In West Virginia, a 15-year-old boy’s suicide is now tied to an online sextortion scheme that his father says is “100% murder.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Part 2 of our Weekend Series "Great Joy" rivercitychurch.co

Send us a textWe see it constantly: salon owners saying they're overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, and unsure what to work on next. They're putting in the effort, working long hours, and still feeling behind, and it doesn't have to be that way.In this episode, we break down why overwhelm shows up so often for salon owners and why it's usually not a time or effort problem. We talk about bad advice, vague soundbites, echo chambers, and the pressure to do everything at once, and how all of that creates mental fatigue instead of progress.We also share practical ways to reduce overwhelm immediately: narrowing priorities, identifying what season your business is in, eliminating services and tasks that don't serve you, focusing on one problem at a time, and replacing multitasking with focused work that actually moves your business forward.Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others.If you're feeling overwhelmed, this episode will help you slow the noise, regain clarity, and take back control — one decision at a time.Key TakeawaysOverwhelm is usually a priority problem, not a workload problem.Vague advice and soundbites create confusion, not clarity.Multitasking increases stress and reduces meaningful progress.Focused work outperforms scattered effort.Small wins build momentum; something is always better than nothing.Simplifying services and tasks reduces mental load.Every business moves through seasons; you can't work on all of them at once.Money, people, demand, and systems are the most common constraints.Systems reduce chaos and decision fatigue over time.Overwhelm fades when clarity, focus, and ownership increase.Time Stamps00:00 — Why salon owners feel overwhelmed 01:00 — Jen's opening take: saying no, staying in your lane 04:00 — Todd's opening takes: technician vs owner + complacency 06:00 — Bad advice, soundbites, and industry echo chambers 09:00 — Why vague guidance creates paralysis 11:00 — Multitasking, task-switching, and mental fatigue 13:00 — Focused work blocks and the “accomplished list” 15:00 — Small wins > doing nothing 16:00 — Confirmation bias and online noise 18:00 — Eliminating services, simplifying menus, reducing friction 20:00 — Business seasons: growth, repair, stabilization, preparation 22:00 — Stop trying to do every season at once 23:00 — Common constraints: money, people, demand, systems 25:00 — Systems reduce chaos and decision fatigue 27:00 — Avoidance, uncomfortable tasks, and leadership growth 29:00 — Final thoughts: focus, clarity, one step forwardLinks and Stuff:Our Newsletter Mentoring InquiriesFind more of our things:InstagramHello Hair Pro Website

In this touching episode of the Radio Medium Laura Lee Show, Laura connects with Miss Molly from Vermont for a deeply personal and heart-affirming spirit reading. A mother figure in spirit immediately steps forward, offering love, validation, and a powerful message through the symbol of a cherished wedding band—celebrating Molly's marriage and reminding her she has never been alone. Spirit also sheds light on Molly's current challenges with friendships, social connections, and the emotional weight of full-time motherhood, encouraging her to seek community support through mom groups, preschool networks, and meaningful me-time to nurture her own soul. Filled with compassion, guidance, and uplifting validation, this episode is a reminder that spirit walks beside us through motherhood, healing, and every phase of life.

Who wants to be productive over Christmas break, WHILE enjoying family time WITH LOW DRAMA? You're in luck! In this episode I share the details on where to find $10,000 in scholarships in under an hour, alongside several tips to lower family-stress this season. You are allowed to get away and be refreshed before the next Christmas party. You are allowed to leave next year in next year and learn to be present. I also equip you with ways to start out conversations with relatives that are cushioned in kindness and bring life! Christmas break can truly be joyful and triumphant! Grab your cold brew and TI-89, because class is now in session.   Related Episodes: 141 - Apply for This $2000 EASY, NO ESSAY Scholarship Over Christmas Break! on Apple Podcasts 143 - Apply for This $1500 EASY Scholarship BEFORE CHRISTMAS While Navigating Family Celebrations! on Apple Podcasts 144 - 2 Ways to Earn Spending Money from Phone Games While Resting Over Christmas Break! on Apple Podcasts P.S. Scholarship link mentioned in this episode --＞ 25+ Scholarships to Apply for in December 2025 - (accessscholarships.com)     P.S. Come join our FB Christian College Girls Community, and tell us what traditional degree you're getting, and how you want to use it in an unconventional way(: Facebook --> Christian College Girl Community ~ Scholarships & Graduate Debt-Free | Facebook Instagram --> @moneyandmentalpeace Email --＞ info@moneyandmentalpeace.com   **Get scholarships and pay for college without student loans!**   Are you worried about how to pay for college? Stressed because it's so expensive? Are you having trouble finding scholarships, or all you find don't apply to you? Overwhelmed with all things school and money?   Welcome fam! This podcast will help you find and get scholarships, avoid student loans and maybe even graduate college debt-free!   Hey! I'm Kara, a Christian entrepreneur, amateur snowboarder, and scholarship BEAST! I figured out how to not only finish college debt-free, but I even had $10k left over in the bank after graduation. (& btw, my parents weren't able to help me financially either!)   During school, I was worried about paying for next semester. I couldn't find scholarships that worked specifically for me, and didn't know how to get started while juggling homework and keeping up with ALL.THE.THINGS.   But dude, I learned there was a better way! With God's direction, I tested out of classes, and found the perfect scholarships, grants, internships, and weird budget hacks that helped me go from overwhelmed to debt-free with $10k in the bank–all with God on my side.   ... and I'm here to walk you through this, too.   If you are ready to find scholarships specific to you, learn to manage your money well, and have enough money to kill it at college, this pod is for you!   So grab your cold brew and TI-89, and listen in on the most stress-free and debt-free class you've ever attended: this is Money and Mental Peace.

Send us a textJanuary goals fade fast.Let's build a Q1 Game Plan you'll actually execute—with help from AI and one powerful 90-day sprint structure.By February, most goals are already forgotten. Want to be the exception? This episode shows you how to map your Q1 goal to weekly actions in 10 minutes using AI.In Day 12 of 12 Days of AI Quick Wins, Dawn reveals how to use AI to design a Q1 plan that doesn't collect digital dust. With one simple prompt, you'll go from vague intentions to a milestone-driven, week-by-week plan that lives in your calendar—not your imagination. It's how visionary founders actually get things done without burning out or getting stuck in “someday” land.Your Day 12 Action:Pick ONE Q1 goal that would make the next 90 days feel like a win.Run the Q1 planning prompt in today's episode.Map out your January. Add it to your calendar. Then review it every week.Key Takeaways:Set ONE clear Q1 goal. No more wish lists—focus fuels execution.Use the Q1 AI Planning Prompt to turn that goal into milestones, weekly actions, and priority filters.Build from January first. If it's not in your calendar, it's not happening.Tie your Q1 goal to your Weekly CEO Reset (Day 11) for consistent review and momentum.AI helps you plan smarter, faster, and with less decision fatigue.Resources & Links:Register FREE for the Day 13 Live AI Implementation PartyRelated Episodes:Day 1: Stop Overthinking ChatGPT: Free vs. $20—Which One Actually Matters for FoundersDay 2: The 3 AI Prompts Every Female Founder Needs in Her PhoneDay 3: Why ChatGPT Sounds Like a Robot (And the One Sentence That Fixes It)Day 4: AI Email Triage: End Inbox Overwhelm in 5 MinutesDay 5: The 5-Minute Meeting Prep AI Hack That Makes You Look Totally PreparedDay 6: Stop Rewriting Everything AI Writes: The 10-Minute Voice Training for FoundersDay 7: Overwhelmed? Brain Dump to AI and Get an Actual Plan (5 Minutes)DAY 8: Stop Rewriting the Same Emails: Build Your AI Template Library (15 Minutes)DAY 9: Stop Explaining the Same Thing: Create SOPs While You Work (AI + 10 Minutes)DAY 10: Stuck on a Big Decision? Use AI to Get Unstuck (3-Question Framework)DAY 11: Plan Your Week Like a CEO: Want to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

If you open your eyes and instantly feel mentally crowded, emotionally tense, or already behind, this 15-minute morning practice is going to change everything about how your day begins.In today's episode, I'm sharing the exact 15-minute sequence I use on mornings when I wake up anxious, wired, or overwhelmed — and the neuroscience behind why it works. Morning anxiety isn't a mindset issue. It's a physiological pattern driven by cortisol rhythms, overstimulation, and a nervous system that hasn't been fully off-duty in a long time.When you learn how to work with your body instead of forcing your way through your mornings, you create a completely different internal experience: calmer thoughts, steadier emotions, and a more grounded start to your day.What you'll learn in this episode:Why morning anxiety is so common among high-capacity womenWhat the cortisol awakening response is and how it affects your emotional baselineThe number-one mistake most women make in the first 60 seconds of their dayThe full 15-minute practice I use when I wake up overwhelmedThe somatic movements that instantly calm your systemHow hydration, nourishment, and gentle pacing shift your mood and energyThe final 60-second ritual that anchors clarity and presence for the rest of your dayIf you've been waking up stressed, rushed, or already overstimulated before your morning even starts, this episode will give you a simple, powerful framework to reset your system and start your day grounded.Press play and learn the morning practice your nervous system has been asking for.Related Episodes:Previous EpisodeMy 5-step Morning RoutineWhat To Do the Morning After (A Bad Night's Sleep)5 Morning Mistakes that Wreck Your Nervous System and Cause BurnoutMorning Meditation: Grounded, Grateful, and EnergizedNot a Morning Person or is it Actually AM Anxiety? Signs You Might Be Waking Up in Fight-or-Flight (and What to Do About It)-- Join the Burnout Recovery Blueprint Waitlist here!

Who wants to be productive over Christmas break, but not give up your precious time with family and Jesus? You're in luck! In this episode I share the details on where to find this $2000 EASY, NO ESSAY scholarship that you can apply for over Christmas break! Even if you're still in college finals right now and need a little break, this is a fun one that can give your mind a refreshment before getting back to studying! Either way, I want you to be encouraged that there are still easy scholarships out there that you can get going on over break, so that you feel like you've taken a next step in finding money for school next year! Plus, if you want more scholarship opportunities without the stress of searching, I've got you covered. I consistently help students find $10,000–$30,000 in scholarships for college, university, grad school, law school, and more. Want to learn more?

This week the crew answers questions from a writer who is overwhelmed caring for her elderly father, and another writer who's boyfriend's ex girlfriend is trying to reconnect with him. Check out Nick's "Fitness Challenge": https://www.mentalfitpersonaltraining.com/podtherapy Join our patreon!Listen ad-free, get the show a day early and enjoy the pre-show hang out on the same app you're using RIGHT NOW at www.Patreon.com/Therapy where you can also access our vast library of deep dives, interviews, skill shares, reviews and rants as well as our live discord chat!If you are an Apple user please rate us!If you are a Spotify user, please rate us!Submit a question to the show!Help us reach #1 on Goodpods!Interested in Nick's mental health approach to fitness? Check out www.MentalFitPersonalTraining.comCheck out Dr. Jim's book "Dadvice: 50 Fatherly Life Lessons" at www.DadviceBook.comGrab some swag at our store, www.PodTherapyBaitShop.comPlay Jim's Neurotic Bingo at home while you listen to the show, or don't, I'm not your supervisor.Submit questions to:www.PodTherapy.netPodTherapyGuys@gmail.comFollow us on Social Media:FacebookInstagramTwitterResources:Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255.Veterans Crisis Line - 1-800-273-8255.Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline - (1-800-662-HELP (4357)OK2Talk Helpline Teen Helpline - 1 (800) 273-TALKU.S. Mental Health Resources Hotline - 211

Send us a textYou've got a full calendar and zero clarity. Here's how to flip the script in just 10 minutes using AI.If your week starts in panic-scroll mode and ends in “what did I even do?” mode—this one's for you. Let's build your Weekly CEO Reset and take back control.In Day 11 of 12 Days of AI Quick Wins, Dawn walks you through the Weekly CEO Reset—a 10-minute AI ritual to help you prioritize, plan, and protect your time. Instead of letting the week run you, this simple framework helps you brain-dump everything, sort by impact, and schedule what actually matters. Perfect for Sunday nights, Monday mornings, or any time you feel the chaos creeping in.Your Day 11 Action:Right now, open your calendar and block 10 minutes for your Weekly CEO Reset.Use the AI prompt in today's episode, and let the week start with clarity—not catch-up.Key Takeaways:This is planning, not doing. You need strategy time to stay out of reactive mode.Use the AI Weekly Reset Prompt to categorize your tasks into Must Do, Should Do, Want to Do, and Worried About.AI turns your chaos into a clear plan—top 3 priorities, realistic workload, and overcomplication flags.Your calendar = your power. Schedule your priorities like they matter—because they do.End the week smarter. Review Friday to learn, adjust, and grow.Resources & Links:Get the full 12 Days of AI Quick Wins Toolkit – just $7Register FREE for the Day 13 Live AI Implementation Party – win a 90-minute Strategy IntensiveRelated Episodes:Day 1: Stop Overthinking ChatGPT: Free vs. $20—Which One Actually Matters for FoundersDay 2: The 3 AI Prompts Every Female Founder Needs in Her PhoneDay 3: Why ChatGPT Sounds Like a Robot (And the One Sentence That Fixes It)Day 4: AI Email Triage: End Inbox Overwhelm in 5 MinutesDay 5: The 5-Minute Meeting Prep AI Hack That Makes You Look Totally PreparedDay 6: Stop Rewriting Everything AI Writes: The 10-Minute Voice Training for FoundersDay 7: Overwhelmed? Brain Dump to AI and Get an Actual Plan (5 Minutes)DAY 8: Stop Rewriting the Same Emails: Build Your AI Template Library (15 Minutes)DAY 9: Stop Explaining the Same Thing: Create SOPs While You Work (AI + 10 Minutes)DAY 10: Stuck on a Big Decision? Use AI to Get Unstuck (3-QWant to increase revenue and impact? Listen to “She's That Founder” for insights on business strategy and female leadership to scale your business. Each episode offers advice on effective communication, team building, and management. Learn to master routines and systems to boost productivity and prevent burnout. Our delegation tips and business consulting will advance your executive leadership skills and presence.

If December feels like too much and everyone seems to expect you to hold it all together, this episode is the permission slip women have been waiting for. Chalene breaks down the invisible load so many women carry during the holidays, from money stress and body image to resentment in relationships and pressure to make everything perfect. She shares real messages from listeners, stories from her own circle, and why social media comparisons and unrealistic expectations make December feel extra heavy. Then she walks you through a powerful pen and paper exercise to separate what you can control from what you can let go of, and shares surprising new research on one simple habit that can lift anxiety and depression fast. If you have ever felt secretly tapped out, overwhelmed, or quietly angry at everyone around you this month, this conversation will help you release some of that weight and breathe again.  

Are you feeling like the world is spinning out of control? Does the fear, worry, and anxiety feel like it's reaching a breaking point? Are you exhausted from trying to hold it all together while everything seems to be going "cattywampus"? You are not alone, and this intensity is not an accident. Michael shares a personal update from his concussion recovery journey and the surprising revelation he had while literally spinning at Disney World. Discover why the overwhelm you're feeling isn't a breakdown, but a necessary "circuit breaker" moment designed to stop you from doing things the old way ever again. Key Topics: The "Circuit Breaker" Pop: Why your internal fuse is blowing right now to force you into a higher alignment (and why "no mas" is a positive spiritual statement). The "Spinning" Attunement: How Michael's concussion recovery revealed that leaning into the dizziness is actually the cure. The 3-Breath Reset: A simple, physiological trick to trip-wire your vagal nerve and instantly calm the nervous system. The "Hovering Awareness" Technique: How to float above your timeline to comfort your lower self and gain instant perspective. The 4 Questions of Alchemy: The exact questions to ask your fear to transform it into power: How am I feeling? Where did this come from? How do I let it go? How can I use this for good?. All Hail "King Mo": Why momentum is the only antidote to fear, and why there is no such thing as a wrong first step. The 2026 Energy Forecast: Why we are heading into the "year of big, fat, hairy change" and how to prepare now. This isn't about retreating to a cave to wait out the storm. This is about learning to "Tai Chi" the chaos, alchemizing the fear into fuel, and surfing the massive energy waves of late 2025 to launch your greatest self. Join the Inspire Nation Soul Family!

If you're overwhelmed, this episode will explain exactly why, and it's going to shock you. Today, we expose the root cause of overwhelm, the hidden beliefs holding high-achieving women back, and the identity shift that turns you into a woman who gets things done with clarity, confidence, and ease.HOW TO ENTER GIVEAWAY:1. Leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcast and/or Spotify 2. Screenshot the review 3. Email the screenshot to: theperryrichardson@gmail.comKeywords: overwhelmed woman help, busy women stress, mindset coaching for professionals, confidence tips for women, emotional burnout, personal growth for corporate women, women's mindset patterns, self-worth for women, high-achieving female leaders, anxiety and overwhelm tools, stress relief for ambitious women, thought work tools, identity shifting, confidence mindset podcast, stop negative self-talk, productivity mindset for corporate women, self-improvement for high achievers, mental resilience for women, feminine leadership, motivational coaching

In this powerful episode, Dustin sits down with Sean Covey, President of FranklinCovey Education, for a candid conversation about why so many schools today feel overwhelmed, overcommitted, and stuck in the whirlwind of competing priorities. Drawing from decades of global experience, and fresh insights from recent district visits, Sean describes what educators are experiencing firsthand: growing student needs, teacher burnout, increasing complexity, and constant pressure to improve everything at once.Tune in for practical insights and mindset shifts school and district leaders can use tomorrow, a roadmap for moving from overwhelmed and overcommitted to focused, empowered, and ready for meaningful change.Read Sean's article Overwhelmed and Overcommitted: Why Schools Underperform and Struggle to Improve:https://www.leaderinme.org/blog/overwhelmed-and-overcommitted/ Host: Dustin OdhamGuest: Sean CoveyTimestamps: (00:00 - 00:14) Beyond academics (00:14 - 00:51) Show open (00:51 - 01:18) The focus problem (01:18 - 01:37) Welcome and setup (01:37 - 02:39) Why Leader in Me (26:37 - 27:13) What gives hope now (27:13 - 27:56) Students leading the way (27:56 - 28:50) Focus on the good (28:50 - 29:24) Principles work everywhere (29:24 - 29:52) Leader in Me Unplugged (29:52 - 31:04) Lessons at home (31:50 - 32:20) Love of the arts (32:55 - 33:24) Thanks and vision (33:24 - 34:10) Close and call to action

If overwhelm has become your constant companion - the thing you wake up with, carry through your day, and fall asleep thinking about - your well-being is trying to tell you something. In this episode, we're unpacking why happiness can feel so far away when stress keeps running the show, and how you can manage what's on your plate without sacrificing yourself in the process. If you're longing to feel happier, love yourself more deeply, and finally declutter the parts of your life that feel too heavy, you are absolutely in the right place! My guest, author and Afro-minimalist Christine Platt (Less Is Liberation: Finding Freedom From a Life of Overwhelm), shares how her “normal” busy life quietly turned into a health crisis, and how she began seeing overwhelm as her body's way of saying, Hey, one of your wells is empty. We talk about the five foundations of wellness (your “personal wells”), the emotional labor and mental load so many women carry, and how learning to declutter your stuff, your schedule, and your beliefs can help you manage stress more wisely and reconnect with a sense of happiness in your daily life. We also get into the messy real-world pieces: overwhelm by circumstance (divorce, money, kids, career), people-pleasing, the guilt around saying no, and why so many of us overbuy and hang onto clutter “just in case.” As you listen, notice: Which of your wells has been running low? What are you still trying to prove by doing so much? And what would “less” need to look like for your life to feel more like your life again? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Constant Overwhelm and Stress: What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You 03:03 Chronic Overwhelm and Hypertension: When Stress Becomes a Health Crisis 05:51 Five Foundations of Wellness: The “Personal Wells” Framework 09:45 Emotional Labor and Mental Load: Why Women Feel So Overwhelmed 12:30 Minimalism as Liberation: Living With Less to Reduce Overwhelm 16:06 Time Scarcity and Productivity: Limiting Beliefs That Keep You Overwhelmed 18:29 Messengers and Limiting Beliefs: Redefining “Selfish” Self-Care 25:32 Overwhelmed by Circumstance: Divorce, Scarcity, and Minimalism by Necessity 32:26 Psychology of Ownership: Why We Overbuy, Hoard, and Accumulate Clutter 42:51 Inner Work Before Decluttering: Healing People-Pleasing and Attachment to Stuff 48:47 Filling Your Wells: Daily Practices for Sustainable Wellness and Well-Being If you're living in that constant state of overwhelm, please know you don't have to sort this out on your own. At Growing Self, you can talk with someone about what's really happening - the stress, the burnout, the clutter on the outside and the inside - and get matched with a therapist or coach who truly understands what you're carrying. Schedule a consultation today! You deserve a life that feels lighter and more intentional, where you can manage stress wisely, feel happier in your day-to-day reality, and genuinely love yourself in how you care for your time, your space, and your emotional well-being.

Do you ever feel like you're already behind before January even begins? Anna reveals the five excuses that keep you stuck in December chaos and shows how to reclaim clarity before January hits. She shares why you shouldn't wait for life to "calm down" and shares her free Rested & Ready private podcast to help you step into 2026 with confidence.