I have been sitting and wondering what my first blog post should be about. I thought about what mental health tips or insights I could provide. Which expat subject to discuss. I even thought about doing something fun like discussing some differences in Dutch culture that have left me a bit flabbergasted. Eventually I realized that I should introduce myself and how I have been handling my re-introduction to the Dutch lifestyle.  I was raised in Oklahoma by my two parents, Angela and Marlon. Through them I was taught about how the world moves around me, how my ethnicity and gender would play a huge part in how the world viewed me, treated me, and expected me to behave. They also ensured that I was prepared for this and that I could do whatever I set my mind to doing despite those factors. 

I moved officially to The Netherlands on November 18, 2022 to open my therapy practice. I have been dreaming of this for years, since I graduated from Webster University in Leiden in 2018. I have had many setbacks in this move including a car accident, COVID-19, and my own health. cy’s, which then lead to delays or crazy 3 hour trips to other parts of the country where I can get an appointment. Figuring out bus, tram, and train routes. Fighting for sunlight on any given day. Basically it has been a never ending barrage of appointments, missing documents you didn’t know you needed, and emails. 

Despite a lot of “what if’s” and anxiety I took the leap.

Over the last few weeks I have been reminded of everything my parents taught me while getting myself set up in The Netherlands. The bureaucracy of the Dutch has been a struggle to navigate, with so many departments who are not in line with the other's poliIt has been stressful to say the least. I have been handling the stress and anxiety with simple tools and coping skills that work for me:

1. Reading for fun

2. Talking with friends

3. Going for walks

4. Meditation
   

 I am excited to bring more content about stress and anxiety, coping skills, and how to implement them throughout our busy schedules. For now I wanted to introduce some of who I am and also disclose my own anxieties and what has been working for me.