Dr. Kim Butts

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and I want to begin somewhere quieter than statistics. With the answer many of us give without even thinking about it: “I’m fine.” Sometimes you really are fine. Other times, “I’m fine” is simply the easiest answer when you do not have the time, energy, or words to explain what is really going on. Some of us know what it feels like to be the woman people count on. You handle what needs to be handled. You show up for work, family, friends, and...

Summer has a way of showing you what you’ve been trying not to notice. By July, the habits that help you get through the day can start to feel heavy. You’re still showing up. You’re still smiling. You’re still getting things done. But that doesn’t always mean you feel settled inside. This is your summer check-in. A quiet space to notice what feels off, what you’ve been pushing aside, and what you may need right now. What Emotional Masking Can Look Like Emotional masking can look like saying...

You may not always have the words for it at first, but you just know something feels different. On the outside, you’re still showing up, taking care of business, and doing what needs to be done. Everything might look just fine as you move, manage, and carry so much, but deep down, there’s a quiet knowing that more is waiting for you—more purpose, more space to breathe, and more of the life you’re actively reaching for. That middle place can feel heavy, not because you’re ungrateful, but...