What you’re really searching for this Black Friday

Friend, did you participate in Black Friday this year? I suuuure did.

I bought gifts for my whole family—some things I’d planned, others… well, let’s just say that I got sucked into the deals. And in the moment, it felt goooood.

You know the feeling…That little spark of joy when you find something you know someone will love. The click. The email confirmation. The anticipation of the package showing up at your door. (Even better if you don’t totally remember what you bought by the time it gets there. 😬)

That rush? That’s dopamine.

Dopamine is the brain’s way of rewarding us for doing something that feels good or satisfying. It’s what keeps us coming back for “just one more scroll” or hovering over the “add to cart” button late at night. It’s also why shopping—especially this time of year—can feel like both a celebration and a coping mechanism.

Sometimes we shop out of joy. Out of love. Because we genuinely want to give or buy ourselves something we’ve been eyeing (or needing) for months. That’s real and beautiful and valid.

But sometimes we’re not shopping for joy—we’re shopping for relief. From the stress, the grief, the fatigue, the hollowness we can’t quite name. We’re trying to fill a space inside us with things outside of us.

And there’s no shame in that. But here’s the thing about dopamine: it’s quick. It’s chemical. It wears off fast. And when the package has been opened and the receipt long forgotten, the deeper ache is still there.

That quiet longing for something more lasting. Something nourishing. Something true.

No amount of new things—no matter how beautiful, useful, or joy-sparking—can do the work of truly meeting ourselves with curiosity and compassion.

What we really crave is presence. Spaciousness. A soft place to land when life gets hard or noisy or uncertain.

That’s why I created my new healing studio in Lewiston, NY. It’s a quiet, sacred space for deep restoration—where you can lay down the weight you’ve been carrying, breathe again, and remember who you are beneath all the noise and distraction.

Whether you’re working through grief, navigating burnout, or just longing to feel a little more like yourself again, this is a space where all parts of you are welcome.

I offer private Reiki with sound healing, grief coaching, private yoga, and somatic energy coaching—gentle, grounding practices that meet you right where you are and calm your nervous system. 

I’d truly be honored to hold space for you in my new Lewiston studio – whether in person or virtual. Because nothing comes close to that feeling of being seen, understood, and loved – without judgment.

In Love, Light, and healing,