SHE TALKS
A TRIBUTE TO
ALL THE DADS
MAGAZINE
JUNE
2025
VOLUME 2
ISSUE 6
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CONTRIBUTORS
Editor-in-Chief
DR. JULIE DUCHARME
Cover Layout and
Magazine Design
DR. JOSHUA DUCHARME
Contributing Writers
Lifestyle Editor and
Feature Author
TIA CRISTY
ALIANA MOSS
AMANDA TAYLOR
VIRGINIA WILCSEK
LISA E. KIRKWOOD
LAURA MARIE RUBIN
WENDY WATSON
KRIS MILLER
TIA CRISTY
ASHLEY SANDERS
CAREY CONLEY
KATHY ESPINOZA
CATHY DOMSCH
PEGGY SULLIVAN
Table of
Contents
Reclaim Your Power: A Self-Care
Guide to Stop Self-Sabotaging and
Start Thriving
You CAN change how you
are feeling!
Sunscreen &
Swagger
Navigating My Midlife Transitions:
Rediscovering Myself and Embracing
Change
Women Working in Pain ~
Accommodating Fibromyalgia
By Carey Conley
By Aliana Moss
By Virginia Wilcsek
07
12
26
34
14
Love, Rebuilt: How My Father
and I Found Our Way Back
19
By Wendy Watson
By Kathy Espinoza
By Peggy Sullivan
Unlocking Your Path to Financial
Freedom: Create Wealth for a
Lifetime
41
By Kris Miller
Summertime Vibes, Traditions &
Entertainment
Time Traveling Warrior: Facing the
Shadows of the Past and Reclaiming
Your Power
Financial Wellness: The Overlooked
Key to Lasting Health and
Confidence
How to Care for the Father of
Your Children This Father’s Day
By Lisa E. Kirkwood
By Virginia Wilcsek
By Amanda Taylor
44
58
66
49
Leading From Within: A New Era
of Empowered Women
52
BY Laura Marie Rubin
By Tia Cristy
Build your Data Savvy Without the
Overwhelm
By Ashley Sanders
71
Reset & Reconnect: Your June Guide
to a 60-Second Mind-Body Reset
By Virginia Wilcsek
76
A Father’s Legacy: Loyalty, Laughter,
and Love
By Dr. Julie Ducharme
56
Resilience, Leadership, and the
Power of Community
63
By Cathy Domsch
FROM THE EDITOR
Founder, Lead and Empower Her She Talks
Fellow She Talkers,
As we step into June, I can hardly believe we’ve reached the halfway point of
2025. This year has already brought with it so much growth, challenge, and
transformation—for our She Talks community and for each of us personally. If
you're like me, you might be taking a moment this month to pause, reflect, and
recalibrate for the second half of the year.
June is a beautiful invitation to do just that. The days are brighter, longer, and full
of energy. It’s the season of both sunshine and celebration—and one of those
celebrations is particularly close to my heart: Father’s Day.
At She Talks, we are built on the foundation of strong women lifting one another.
But behind many of us are strong men—fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers,
mentors, partners—who have stood beside us, cheered us on, and modeled what it
means to show up with integrity, love, and strength.
This month, I want to salute all the dads out there. The ones who quietly hold it all
together. The ones who lead with humility. The ones who sacrifice without fanfare,
protect without question, and love without condition.
To the girl dads raising fierce daughters.
To the bonus dads stepping in with open hearts.
We see you. We celebrate you. And we thank you.
As we head into the rest of this remarkable year, may we all carry forward the kind
of steady, selfless love that so many fathers model. And may we continue to rise—
together—with grace, grit, and a whole lot of gratitude.
Wishing you all a joyful, heart-filled June.
Thriving
Reclaim Your Power: A
Self-Care Guide to Stop
Self-Sabotaging and Start
For many women, juggling
personal, professional, and
social responsibilities can
feel like walking a tightrope.
The good news? These patterns can be
recognized—and more importantly,
replaced—with powerful self-care
strategies that support both mental
and physical wellness. Let’s dive into
how you can reclaim your time, your
confidence, and your health—one step
at a time.
We push ourselves to meet
expectations, stay busy, and keep
everyone happy—but often at the cost
of our own well-being.
What we don’t always realize is that
some of the stress, burnout, and
frustration we experience stems from
self-sabotaging habits that quietly
undermine our progress and peace.
By Peggy Sullivan
SHE TALKS | 7
1. The Burnout Trap
The constant hustle is glorified, but busy isn’t always better. Overloaded schedules can lead to
chronic stress and emotional exhaustion—two of the biggest threats to mental health.
Self-care shift: Start protecting your energy. Prioritize strategic rest and carve out time to think,
reflect, and grow. Saying “no” isn’t selfish—it’s an act of empowerment.
WORKPLACE WELL-BEING: GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO PAUSE
2. Unclear Priorities, Constant Stress
Ambiguity creates anxiety. When we don’t know what to focus on, everything feels urgent and
overwhelming.
Self-care shift: Ask for clarity at work. Advocate for fewer meetings and more meaningful time to
execute. Clear boundaries create space for calm and control.
3.The Overwhelm of Big Goals
When goals feel too big, we often freeze.
Self-care shift: Break it down. Micro-steps reduce anxiety and help you build steady momentum.
Small wins release feel-good hormones like dopamine—supporting both mental motivation and
physical wellness.
4.The Pressure to Perform
We often feel compelled to speak up, show up, and do it all. But presence isn’t always
performance.
Self-care shift: Tune in before you speak up. Practice active listening. Ask questions instead of
pushing solutions. You’ll gain clarity, reduce cognitive load, and foster better relationships.
SHE TALKS | 8
1. Dismantling the Inner Critic
PERSONAL WELLNESS:
REWIRE YOUR INNER
DIALOGUE
We often feel compelled to speak up, show up, and
do it all. But presence isn’t always performance.
Self-care shift: Tune in before you speak up. Practice
active listening. Ask questions instead of pushing
solutions. You’ll gain clarity, reduce cognitive load,
and foster better relationships.
2. Rebuilding Self-Belief
Your wellness journey starts with how you see
yourself. No amount of external validation can
replace internal trust.
Empowerment shift: Say it daily: “I am enough. I have
enough. I do enough.” Your nervous system responds
to self-affirmation just like it does to a hug or calming
breath.
3. Moving Through
Stagnation
When we feel stuck, our bodies tighten,
our thoughts race, and our confidence
plummets.
Empowerment shift: Use the 5-4-3-2-1
technique to ground yourself and take a
micro-action. Movement—physical or
mental—can be the bridge to healing and
momentum.
SHE TALKS | 9
WHAT DOES SELF-CARE
REALLY LOOK LIKE?
It’s not just candles and bubble baths (though
those are great too).
It’s:
Taking a walk instead of answering one more
email.
Drinking water when your body says it's
thirsty.
Saying “I need help” without guilt.
Letting go of guilt when you rest.
Choosing peace over perfection.
ONE STEP TODAY,
STRONGER TOMORROW
True self-care is not a luxury—it’s a radical act of
self-respect. Empowered women know that
reclaiming time, voice, and health is how we break
cycles of burnout and build sustainable success.
So today, ask yourself:
What’s one small act of self-care I will commit to—
for my mind, my body, and my future?
You don’t have to do it all. Just start where you are.
And let one micro-win become your momentum.
CONNECT WITH PEGGY
https://www.instagram.com/peggysullivanspeaker/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyasullivan/
https://www.facebook.com/peggysullivanspeaker
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyVk8tpyJYL_
aqyqb6HOLGA
SHE TALKS | 10
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There are very few things in life that are truly
outside of our control. I know you know this, but
do we really apply this truth when things get
really tough?
So, what do we do about the things that are
inside of our control to improve the quality of
our daily lives? One thing that has helped me is
to make a choice to shift my perspective on the
situation; to literally change how I see and feel
about it.
I believe this to be a three-step process:
First, we have to believe that we CAN actually
make this shift. Too many times, we feel, and
even state out loud, that what is happening to
us is something we can’t change. Without first
making this shift in belief, it will be impossible to
take steps two and three. Start with committing
to changing your belief.
Second, acknowledge the situation and how you
are feeling about it objectively and removing
the emotion as much as you can. Easier said
than done, I know! You will notice, however, that
when practiced with the lesser intense
situations, you will be able to handle the bigger
adversities with much more ease and peace.
You CAN
change how you
are feeling!
By Carey Conley
SHE TALKS | 12
Lastly, look for and start implementing
ways you can see things differently. Talk
it out with a friend who is good at
seeing things in a better light. Start
asking God to show you what the lesson
is in this and be open to new ideas that
come to you. Get around people who
have maybe been through this already
and figured out a way to change how
they saw and reacted to things. Having
a strong community is key!
Remember to not close a door before
looking for the window, and know that
MIRACLES (my word for the year) do
happen with Faith.
Connect with Carey
https://www.careyconley.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/careyconleyinc/
https://www.instagram.com/carey.conley/
SHE TALKS | 13
Women Working in Pain:
Accommodating
Fibromyalgia
BY KATHY ESPINOZA
Did you know that in 2025, approximately 2% of the adult
population in the United States is estimated to have fibromyalgia?
This translates to around 4 million adults. It has a higher prevalence
in women, particularly between the ages of 20 and 55. Individuals
with other rheumatic diseases or chronic pain conditions typically
have an increased risk of developing fibromyalgia.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), fibromyalgia is a
condition that causes pain all over the body, and can cause sleep
problems, fatigue, and emotional and mental distress. People with
fibromyalgia may be more sensitive to pain than people without
fibromyalgia. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic believe that
fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way the
brain processes pain signals.
As an ergonomist, I have
encountered more and more women
performing their jobs in pain. Women
are much more likely to work in
office, administrative and clerical
environments. During the
ergonomics evaluation, they disclose
they have fibromyalgia. The stories I
hear from these women are
heartbreaking.
“At first, I thought I was coming down
with the flu. I ached all over. I would
wake up in the middle of the night
from the pain. I didn't know what
was wrong with me. I was so tired
most days that I would be in bed by
6:00, but I couldn't sleep. And I
didn't even have the strength to
open my eyes and watch TV. As a
single working mom, I had 2 children
to take care of. But there I would be
in bed, and my kids would sit on the
edge of the bed and just look at me. I
finally went to a rheumatologist and
was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.” –
CP
Fibromyalgia can also be described as
widespread muscle pain accompanied by fatigue,
sleep, memory and mood issues. Many women
with fibromyalgia may also have tension
headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety and
depression.
“I stooped down to open a file cabinet and
couldn’t get back up. I saw a doctor, who sent me
to see an orthopedist, who sent me to physical
therapy. No one could figure out what was
wrong, and I just got worse. A friend said, “You
know, you might have Fibromyalgia.” And I
replied, “Oh, I know people with Fibro and I’m not
that bad.” Well, it turns out I was. There’s a
stigma about Fibromyalgia. People are afraid it's
all in their head. But it’s not.” – VB
According to the CDC, the cause of fibromyalgia
remains elusive, but there can be triggering
events thought to precipitate its onset. A few
examples would be an infection (viral or
bacterial), an automobile accident or the
development of another disorder, such as
rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or hypothyroidism.
These triggering events probably do not cause
fibromyalgia, but rather, they may awaken an
underlying problem. While there is no cure for
fibromyalgia, a variety of medications can help
control symptoms, as well as a daily routine of
exercise, relaxation and stress-reduction.
“For me, it began when I had problems with my
neck. My whole body just started aching. I
probably saw 10 or 15 different doctors. Finally, I
went to a rheumatologist and he said I had
Fibromyalgia. It’s hard. Your life changes with
Fibromyalgia. It just takes over your whole body.
I’ve always been an independent person as far
as doing my job, housework and yard work and I
can no longer do that. You just can’t do the
things you used to do. Everybody has a different
way of dealing with the pain, with this illness. I’m
just a very strong-willed person and I’m the type
to just get up and go regardless of the pain. I just
keep moving. I try to exercise, swim, and such.
And I know when to sit down and rest.”- SG
WORKING WITH FIBROMYALGIA
Working a full-time job with fibromyalgia can be
difficult, to say the least. I often hear that what
frustrates many women is that fibromyalgia is an
‘invisible’ illness, where afflicted women feel like
the walking wounded. They function, but with
great difficulty. On the outside they look good,
but they function on extremely low energy
reserves and in constant pain that migrates
around the entire body. Most want others to
know that even though they’re functioning, they
are doing so at low capacity, and everything they
do is twice as hard as it is for others, and three
times as hard as it was before they became sick.
SHE TALKS | 15
For women working in an office environment, the
working postures and movements dictate how
well they function daily. If the workplace is set up
with ergonomic interventions in place, it can
reduce some of the pain and spasms that can ruin
the day. For example, if an office worker’s
monitor is too far back on the desktop, it can lead
to the worker leaning forward from the waist in
order to see the monitor screen, which can
debilitate the lower back muscles causing
spasms.
If you are a working woman with fibromyalgia
syndrome (FMS), it is important to know that
there are ways to accommodate you. I
recommend openly discussing fibromyalgia with
your supervisor and coworkers. Talking about the
symptoms of pain, fatigue, and stiffness can help
coworkers understand why you may have good
days and bad days from this “invisible” illness.
Here are a few accommodations for women
working with limitations from fibromyalgia,
provided by the Job Accommodation Network
(JAN) (jan@askjan.org). This is a free service from
the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability
Employment. For a more in-depth discussion,
access JAN's publications at
http://AskJAN.org/media/atoz.htm.
The following suggestions can be a good start in
the interactive process with your supervisor.
Together, you can find a successful
accommodation that helps you work without
fibromyalgia pain.
Concentration Issues:
Get written job instructions when possible
Prioritize job assignments
Ask for flexible work hours
Use memory aids such as schedulers or organizers
Fatigue/Weakness:
Identify, reduce or eliminate excessive physical exertion
Take advantage of work breaks, away from the workstation
Consider asking to work from home on bad days
Ask for an ergonomic evaluation to set up your workstation properly
Headaches:
Eliminate fluorescent lighting
Use task lighting
Use computer monitor glare guards
Ask management for a "fragrance-free" workplace policy
Place an air purification device in your office
Here are a few accommodations from some of my ergonomics
evaluations done for women working in pain from
fibromyalgia.
Case 1: An administrative assistant with fibromyalgia working
for a utility company reported neck pain and upper body
fatigue. Her duties included typing, answering the telephone,
and taking written messages. She was accommodated with a
telephone headset to reduce neck pain and eliminate the
repetitive motion of lifting the telephone from the cradle, a
portable angled writing surface and writing aids to take
written messages, a copy holder to secure documents, and
forearm supports to use when typing.
Case 2: A nurse with fibromyalgia working in a county health
clinic experienced a great deal of fatigue and pain at work. The
nurse typically worked evening shifts but her doctor
recommended a schedule change so she could regulate her
sleep patterns. Accommodation suggestions included
changing her shift from evening to day and restructuring the
work schedule to eliminate working two consecutive twelve-
hour shifts.
My pain and fatigue started after a
traumatic experience. My life literally
changed in every way. It's hard for me to
even put into words what that was like. I
can’t even guess how many doctors I saw.
I was in flares more often than I wasn't. It
was pretty devastating. Doctors thought I
might have chronic fatigue syndrome or
depression. In 2020, I decided to see a
rheumatologist. After giving me a
pressure point exam, he said, "T, you
have Fibromyalgia." Altogether, it took 25
years for me to get diagnosed. I have
learned to work hard at managing my
Fibromyalgia. My life is such now that I
accept my diagnosis and am at peace
with the situation. So, it’s pretty nice,
pretty wonderful. - TH
Case 3: A guidance counselor for a large high school experienced severe bouts of irritable bowel syndrome,
depression, and fatigue as a result of fibromyalgia. She experienced difficulty in opening the heavy doors to the
entrance of the school and had to make frequent trips to the bathroom. The employer moved her office to a
location closer to the restroom and added an automatic entry system to the main doors.
Case 4: An individual employed as a patient rights advocate had carpal tunnel syndrome and fibromyalgia. She
had difficulty keyboarding, writing, and transporting supplies to presentations. The employer installed speech
recognition software for word processing, provided her with writing aids, and gave her a lightweight portable
cart to assist with transporting materials.
Accommodations can be as simple as taking a break to stretch, move around the room, get some fresh air, have
a drink of water, adding a fan or heater to the office or moving your office to a quieter part of the building. As
mornings tend to be the toughest time of day for fibromyalgia sufferers, perhaps you can ask for a flexible start
time. Getting a parking space closer to the office or having a modified door-assist mechanism installed can limit
fatigue before the day starts. This will allow you more energy for the workday.
Connect with the author
www.kathyespinoza.com
https://www.facebook.com/kathy.espinoza.1865
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyespinozacom/
SHE TALKS | 17
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LOVE, REBUILT: HOW MY
FATHER AND I FOUND
OUR WAY BACK
By Wendy Watson
When my parents divorced, I was
eight years old—and my world
cracked wide open. Nothing made
sense anymore. The people who were
supposed to love each other didn’t.
The home I once knew was split in
half, and I didn’t know who to blame.
So I blamed the easiest target: my
dad.
We only saw him four days a month—
every other weekend. That was the
court order. And even though he tried
in his own way, those four days never
felt like enough. I was angry. I was
confused. I was grieving something I
didn’t have the language for yet.
Somewhere between the distance, my
own stubborn independence, and a
heart full of unprocessed pain, I
stopped seeing him as a parent. I still
remember the day that became clear. I was about 11,
and we were at the beach—my dad, my sister, and I.
He was giving me another one of his lectures about
how I needed to open up to him, how he was still my
authority figure. I remember thinking, “You’re not an
authority to me. I only see you four days a month.”
SHE TALKS | 19
Looking back, I don’t remember the
temperature of the water or the way the
waves crashed on the sand. I just remember
that moment—the divide between a
daughter and her dad growing a little bit
wider.
I was hurt. I was angry. And underneath it all,
I felt abandoned.
He broke up our family. He wasn’t paying
child support like I thought he should. I
hated splitting holidays. I resented both of
my stepfamilies. My stepfather’s family?
Terrible. My stepmother and her kids?
Worse. And worst of all, I felt like he let it
happen. That he let her wedge herself
between him and his daughters. I found out
he had to lie to her just to take us to
breakfast—and that only deepened my rage.
I believed no one—no partner, no spouse, no
outsider—should ever come between a
parent and their child. But I watched my dad
let it happen. So I hated him. And I had zero
respect left.
But no matter what he did, it never felt like
enough—not to me. Not back then. He took
us camping every year. Sometimes it was
just sleeping bags and a cooler in the desert
in an old Chevy E350 van, or road-tripping
from San Diego to Seattle. He was the
assistant coach on my softball team. He
even coached for a season.
He taught us how to ride quads, how to jet ski
and water ski, how to cliff dive and water tube. I
remember him pushing me to the edge with
water skiing. I wasn’t good at it, and I hated it. I
tried until I was exhausted, crying in the water,
waiting to be pulled back into the boat. One day,
I hit my limit. I was done, tears streaming down
my face, body aching, pride shattered. He
finally pulled me in. I didn’t understand why he
had pushed me so hard. It felt like too much.
When my grandfather—the only stable male role
model I had—died, it was like the last bit of
grounding disappeared. I felt alone. Betrayed.
Abandoned by all the men in my life. That pain
shaped me. I chased love in all the wrong
places, fell for the first man who showed me
attention. He ended up being emotionally and
psychologically abusive. Looking back, it all
makes sense. I had this gaping hole in my heart
that I was trying to fill with anything that looked
like love.