Inner Spark Consulting & Coaching

08/26/2026

Why Do We Grieve People We Never Knew?
Yesterday, Dolly Parton died.
And I felt a sense of loss.
Much like when Ozzy Osbourne died, I found myself thinking, Why does this hurt? I didn't know them.
But maybe that's exactly the point.
We may not have known these people personally, but somehow, they became woven into the stories of our lives.
A song can take us right back to a particular moment. A movie can remind us of going to the theater with a parent who is no longer here. An actor, musician, or character can become connected to a chapter of our lives that we didn't realize was so important until years later.
Sometimes, public figures give us something even deeper: permission.
I think of Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.
For many young girls of a certain generation, she was the first self-rescuing princess. She was smart, sarcastic, brave, willing to face her fears, and absolutely unwilling to back down simply because the men around her thought they were more powerful.
And then there is Dolly.
Dolly gave so many of us permission to be unabashedly feminine while still owning our intelligence and our power. She showed us that kindness isn't weakness. That success doesn't require becoming hardened. That you can be wildly successful and still reach back and help someone else climb the ladder.
She reminded us that good deeds matter even when we never get to see the ripple they create.
Maybe that's part of what we are grieving when an icon dies.
We're grieving the person, certainly.
But we're also grieving the memories attached to them. The younger versions of ourselves. The people we shared those moments with. The eras of our lives that they helped soundtrack.
And when we begin losing the people who shaped our childhoods and our younger years, there can be another uncomfortable realization:
We are getting older, too.
Maybe that's why these losses can hit so deeply.
They remind us that time is moving.
So perhaps the best way to honor the people who gave something beautiful to our lives is to keep living ours.
Love fiercely.
Laugh loudly.
Be unapologetically yourself.
Help someone when you can.
And spread kindness like glitter.
After all…
Kindness is free. And you never know how far your ripple might travel.

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08/18/2026

What If We Gave Ourselves Permission to Make a Misstep?
We are often taught to avoid getting it wrong.
Don't make the wrong choice.
Don't mess up.
Don't disappoint anyone.
So when something doesn't go the way we hoped, we can quickly turn a moment into an identity:
“I made a mistake” becomes “I failed.”
But a misstep doesn't mean you're a failure.
Sometimes it's information.
Sometimes it's growth.
Sometimes it's simply part of learning something you haven't learned before.
You can make a mistake and still be capable.
You can choose differently next time.
You can fall down and still be able to get back up.
Maybe the goal isn't to get everything right.
Maybe it's to give ourselves enough grace to say:
“I didn't get this right. And I'm still worthy. I'm still learning. I can begin again.”
You are not failing. You are growing, becoming.
Inner Spark Therapy, Coaching & Consulting

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08/05/2026

As the Back to School Season Begins... Don't Forget Yourself.

Back to school isn't just a transition for children.
It's a transition for parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, college students, and anyone adjusting to new routines, changing schedules, and increased demands.
You may find yourself juggling school supplies, calendars, sports practices, dance team, homework, work responsibilities, and trying to hold everything together.
In the middle of taking care of everyone else, here's your gentle reminder:
You matter, too.
Self care doesn't have to mean a spa day or an entire weekend away. Sometimes self care looks like:
Taking five slow breaths before walking into the house.
Drinking your coffee while it's still warm.
Saying "no" to one more commitment.
Going to bed 30 minutes earlier.
Taking a short walk.
Asking for help.
Giving yourself permission to be "good enough" instead of perfect.
Transitions can bring excitement, but they can also bring stress, anxiety, grief, and a sense of being overwhelmed. It's okay if this season feels like a lot. You don't have to navigate it alone.
As routines change, remember to check in with yourself just as often as you check backpacks, calendars, and homework assignments.
Ask yourself:
How am I doing today?
What do I need?
Have I shown myself the same attention I've shown everyone else?
You deserve the same care you so freely give to others.

As this new school year begins, may you extend yourself grace, celebrate the small victories, and remember that caring for yourself is not selfish, it is essential.
Because when you care for yourself, you are better able to care for the people you love.
Be gentle with yourself this season.
Inner Spark Therapy, Coaching & Consulting

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07/28/2026

"You don't look anxious."
If I had a dollar for every time that has been said, I'd probably be writing this from Disney World, in one of the bougiest hotels.
The truth is, anxiety doesn't always look the way people expect it to.
Sometimes it's the person who is always on time.
The one everyone depends on.
The one who never forgets a birthday.
The one who gets straight to work, checks every box, and somehow keeps everything running.
From the outside, they look like they have it all together.
On the inside, they're wondering if they forgot something. Replaying a conversation from yesterday. Worrying about tomorrow. Feeling guilty for taking a break.
That's often what high functioning anxiety looks like.
It can sound like:
"If I don't do it, who will?"
"I just need to push through."
"I should be able to handle this."
"I don't want to let anyone down."
Many people with high functioning anxiety have spent years being the strong one. The responsible one. The helper. Somewhere along the way, their nervous system learned that staying busy, staying prepared, and staying one step ahead felt safer than slowing down.
The problem is our bodies aren't designed to live in "go mode" all the time.
Eventually, anxiety starts asking for our attention through exhaustion, irritability, trouble sleeping, muscle tension, headaches, stomach issues, racing thoughts, or that feeling that you can never quite relax, even when nothing is wrong.
If this sounds familiar, I want you to hear this:
You are not failing.
You are not weak.
And you are certainly not "too much."
Your nervous system has been working incredibly hard to protect you. The good news is that it can learn a new way.
Healing doesn't mean you'll never feel anxious again.
It means anxiety no longer gets to make every decision for you.
So today, I want to leave you with one gentle question:
What would compassion say to you today?
Maybe it would remind you to take a deep breath.
Maybe it would encourage you to ask for help.
Maybe it would simply whisper,
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
At Inner Spark Therapy, Coaching and Consulting, we believe healing begins when we stop judging ourselves and start understanding ourselves.
And sometimes, that's where the biggest change begins.
Be gentle with yourself today. You've been carrying more than most people can see.
# Inner Spark Therapy, Coaching and Consulting

07/28/2026

The flower does not bloom because the storm never came.

It blooms because the storm did not have the final word.

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07/28/2026

07/21/2026

At first glance, the lotus flower is simply gorgeous. But its story is where the beauty truly lays.
The lotus begins its journey rooted deep in muddy water. It doesn't wait for the mud to disappear before it grows. Instead, it slowly reaches toward the light, rising through the darkness until it blooms on the surface …….strong, resilient, and breathtaking.
Emotional wellness is much the same.
None of us are promised a life free from pain, grief, anxiety, trauma, or uncertainty. The difficult moments. The "mud" of our lives does not define us. It becomes the place where healing begins.
Emotional wellness doesn't mean you're happy all the time.
It means learning to care for yourself during difficult moments.
It means recognizing your emotions without letting them control your life.
It means asking for support when you need it.
It means believing that growth is still possible, even after hardship.
Healing isn't about pretending the mud never existed.
It's about discovering that something beautiful can grow because you chose to keep reaching toward the light.
At Inner Spark Therapy, Coaching & Consulting, we believe every person has the capacity to heal, grow, and rediscover the strength that has always been within them. Sometimes all it takes is a safe place, compassionate support, and the courage to take one small step forward.
Like the lotus, your story is not defined by where you began. It's defined by your willingness to keep growing.
Rise. Heal. Bloom.

07/14/2026

You can appreciate the roots that nourished you while pruning the branches that no longer help you grow. We inherit stories. We are not required to live by all of them.

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07/08/2026

3 Signs you may be over functioning:
1. You try to fix everything before anyone even notices there is anything wrong.
2. You apologize to keep the peace. Their comfort is bought with your discomfort.
3. You attempt to manage other people's emotions automatically.

Over functioning often stems from trauma and anxiety.
It is not your personality.
It is a survival skill that no longer serves you.
The good thing is survival skills can be updated!

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06/30/2026

We are so honored to be on this journey with all of you!

Inner Spark Therapy opened their doors to their new location along Central Avenue in Le Mars during a ribbon cutting ceremony yesterday. Speaking to KLEM, therapist Frankie Konz says the grand opening was the culmination of over a year’s worth of planning with business partner Teri Copple.   Konz...