DRE'S SAFE PLACE

12/22/2025

We are three days away from Christmas.
For some, this means the noise of managing everyone else's joy.
For others, it means the silence of being alone.
And for many, it means the heaviness of wanting to give more than your bank account allows.

Whether you are overwhelmed by demands or overwhelmed by the quiet, you might find yourself switching from "feeling" to "functioning."

You go on autopilot.
You avoid the sad thoughts.
You smile when you have to.
You just try to get to December 26th.

But deep down, a lot of us are feeling something we don’t talk about:
Numbness.

We think numbness means we have no feelings.
We think it means we’ve lost our spirit.
But from a mental health point of view, numbness isn’t a lack of heart.
It’s a boundary your body set because it is at capacity.

When you are carrying:
▪️The grief of who isn’t at the table this year.
▪️The guilt of not being able to afford the gifts you want to give.
▪️The deep ache of loneliness in a season obsessed with "togetherness."
▪️Or the sheer exhaustion of trying to make miracles out of nothing…

Your nervous system sometimes has to turn the volume down just to keep you safe.
So, if you are moving through this week feeling detached, heavy, or quiet, please stop judging yourself.

You are not failing if your tree doesn’t look like social media.
You are not "less than" if you can’t provide the material things.
You are not broken if you are spending this day by yourself.
You are human in a high-pressure season.

And your worth is not measured by who is at your table or what is under the tree.

This week, give yourself grace.
If the only thing you manage to do is get through the day, that is enough.
Be gentle with yourself today.
You deserve to survive this season without tearing yourself apart❤️

​

12/21/2025

For the hearts carrying more than people see.

This season has a way of touching things people don’t talk about.

For some, it brings grief that never really left.
For others, it stirs anxiety that sits quietly all year and gets louder around gatherings, noise, and expectations.
Some are parenting children who are struggling emotionally.
Some are loving someone with substance use disorder, carrying fear, anger, hope, and exhaustion at the same time.
And some are fighting their own quiet battles, just trying to stay afloat.

𝑰𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒑𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.🛑

Nothing is wrong with you.

Mental health struggles don’t disappear because it’s a holiday.
Substance use doesn’t pause because the calendar says “family time.”
And trying to function through these realities takes more strength than most people ever see.

Certain moments trigger strong reactions for a reason.
They are reminders of loss, stress, past trauma, or ongoing worry.
They mean your body and your heart remember what you’ve lived through.

Whether you are holding space for others or holding it together for yourself, this season can feel deeply isolating.

• You may be smiling while constantly scanning the room or your own thoughts.
• You may be monitoring moods, behaviors, or triggers while pretending everything is fine.
• You may feel guilty for being tired, frustrated, or scared.

That guilt does not belong to you.

Instead of pushing through when these feelings show up, choose grounding.

Slow the pace when emotions rise.
Anchor yourself in what is happening right now.
Limit conversations and spaces that drain you.
Create moments of quiet, even if they are brief.
Ask for help without explaining everything.

As you move through this week, let this sit with you:

You are doing the best you can.
Your feelings and your experiences matter.
You are not alone, even if it feels that way.

Carry what grounds you.
Release what you cannot control.
And take care of yourself, because you are worth the same care you give to everyone else.

That is strength too ❤️

Drop a ❤️ if you needed this reminder today.

12/19/2025

Last night our, Healed Hands Workshop, slowed me down in a way I did not know I needed.

We hosted the Prayer Board Experience facilitated by Melody R Johnson , as part of our Healed Hands group, and I participated alongside the women. Not leading. Not organizing. Just present. That alone was a shift for me.

I am always running. Always thinking about what needs to happen next. Always holding space. In that room, I was able to stop. My body felt calmer. My mind felt quieter. I felt supported without having to explain myself. That does not happen often when you are used to being the one everyone depends on.

Melody led the experience with intention and care. The Prayer Boards became more than boards. They held faith. They held hope. They held prayers women have been carrying silently for years. Some spoken. Some written. Some simply felt. The space allowed reflection without pressure and connection without judgment.

What stayed with me most was the community. Women sitting together, creating with their hands, honoring what matters to them. No rushing. No pretending. Just women being safe in the same room. That kind of environment changes how your body responds. You can feel yourself exhale.

Here is the lesson I took away and the one I want other women to hear , you cannot keep running and expect peace to catch up with you. Healing requires you to stop long enough to receive it. Community reminds you that you do not have to do everything alone and that slowing down is not weakness, it is wisdom.

This is what healing in community looks like at DRE’S Safe Place. It is not about fixing anyone. It is about creating space where women feel safe enough to pause, reflect, and be supported.

I am grateful to Melody for leading with such care. I am grateful for the women who showed up open and willing. And I am grateful for moments like this that remind me why this work matters.

This is not just an experience...
This is the work
This is where healing happens❤️

And if you missed this experience, you do not want to miss the next Prayer Board Experience by Melody, coming to DRE’S Safe Place this April.
Register here
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-prayer-board-faith-building-experience-at-dres-safe-place-tickets-1977689037148

​

12/17/2025

The holidays hold more than one truth at the same time.
They can be warm and heavy.
They can be full and lonely.
They can remind you of what you have and what you have lost.

Some women enter this season surrounded by connection and tradition. Others enter it carrying grief, change, distance, or memories that still hurt. Many are doing both at once and trying to look "okay" while they do it.

At DRE’S Safe Place, we see what does not always get said out loud:
▪️ That showing up can take everything you have.
▪️ That smiling can feel like work.
▪️ That the heart remembers what the calendar does not.

✨ Today’s Affirmation ✨
Repeat this slowly and often:
"I honor my truth in this season. I allow joy and grief to exist without conflict. I move through this time with grace, compassion, and care for myself. I am allowed to feel what is real."

When to use this:
▪️ Repeat it when emotions rise unexpectedly.
▪️Repeat it when memories surface.
▪️Repeat it when the day feels heavier than you planned.

In this season, remember, you are allowed to move through it in your own way❤️

👇🏾Type "I am allowed" in the comments if you needed this reminder today.

12/15/2025

If the holidays are making you feel more anxious than excited, you’re not alone. For many women, this season brings financial pressure that weighs heavily on mental health.

Pressure to provide.
Pressure to make things work.
Pressure to show up for everyone while quietly worrying about money, time, and expectations.

That pressure fuels anxiety.
Racing thoughts.
Difficulty sleeping.
Constant mental calculations.
Feeling on edge even during moments that are supposed to feel joyful.

When financial stress lingers, it can also lead to depressive symptoms.
Low energy.
Feeling behind.
Loss of motivation.
Unspoken shame for not doing “enough.”

Many women carry this silently.
They overextend.
They spend past their comfort.
They say yes when they need to say no.
All to avoid judgment or disappointment.

Let’s name this clearly.
Financial stress becomes a mental health issue when it affects your mood, sleep, focus, and sense of self-worth.

If this season feels heavy, protecting your mental health may look like:
• deciding what you can realistically afford and sticking to it without guilt
• reminding yourself that social media and holiday images are not real life
• focusing on showing up emotionally instead of financially
• saying no to financial and emotional overextension, even when it feels uncomfortable
• letting someone support you instead of managing everything on your own

Your value is not measured by what you give, buy, or provide.
Your presence matters.
Your peace matters.
And protecting your mental health matters, especially right now❤️

12/15/2025

It was truly an honor to host Shades of Inspiration here at DRE’S Safe Place for their Winter Wonderland gathering. Their mission to provide empowerment, encouragement, and emotional support to women impacted by breast cancer was felt in every detail of today. From safe conversation to shared laughter, from a warm meal to moments of rest, women were able to simply show up.

Women walked into a space where they did not have to carry anything but themselves. A warm meal, good energy, meaningful conversation, and hands creating body butter meant to nourish more than just skin.

✨️As you prepare for the week ahead, take this with you:
​You are allowed to slow down & truly rest before Monday asks for more.
​You are allowed to receive without explaining.
​You are allowed to tend to yourself the same way you tend to everyone else.

Just like we nourish our bodies, our souls need care too.
Small moments. Safe spaces. Gentle reminders that you matter.

I’m grateful for the partnership, the trust, and every woman who showed up as she was.
Alongside an organization so committed to uplifting women through every stage of their journey. Thank you to Bianchi’s for always providing a meal that nourishes more than just the body.

Carry this care with you into the week ahead❤️

12/12/2025

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟐 • 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞: FEBRUARY 2026

The first Healed Hands cohort showed something important. Women are tired of carrying everything alone. They want a space where they can breathe, talk honestly, create something meaningful, and actually feel supported.

If you missed the first cohort, this is your chance to show up for yourself on purpose. Not last. Not when you are burnt out. On purpose.

Healed Hands is for women who are ready to invest in their emotional health and pour back into themselves while creating something that reflects their growth. Every session is built to help you release what has been weighing you down and build something stronger in its place.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭

A safe space where you can be yourself
Real conversations that help you understand what you are carrying
A themed self-care craft each month that connects to your healing
A full meal
Access to DRE’S healing rooms to support your emotional release and reset

𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

$45 per workshop
All supplies included
Meal included
Held at DRE’S Safe Place in East Syracuse

This next cohort will give you the same supportive atmosphere, connection, and breakthroughs the first group experienced. Women left lighter. More grounded. More aware of what they needed. You can have that too.

If you know you need something for you. If you are ready to stop pouring from an empty place. If you want community that feels real. Join the interest list.

Spots are limited for a reason. We keep it intimate so every woman gets what she needs.

Sign up for Cohort 2 and give yourself the care you keep putting off❤️

https://www.dresplacellc.com/event-details/healed-hands-reclaim-rise-series-cohort-2

If you’ve been craving a space to breathe, laugh, cry, and rebuild, you belong here. This isn’t just a craft night. It’s a monthly experience where healing meets creativity, community, and real conversation.

12/10/2025

Women carry an invisible weight and it's often heavier during this season.
Holding the family together.
Holding their emotions together.
Holding guilt, grief, disappointment, and fatigue with a straight face.

Most of the pressure comes from one simple lie:
“𝑰𝒇 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝑵𝒐, 𝑰’𝒎 𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏.”

Boundaries get tested the most during this season. Not by strangers, but by the people who know you. By the expectations that sit on your shoulders.

➡️But here is the part no one wants to admit:
When you say yes to everything, something in you gets left behind.
Your sleep. Your peace. Your needs. Your health.

And every time you ignore yourself, your body keeps the score.

No is not rude.
No is not selfish.
No is not disrespect.
No is choosing not to abandon yourself this year.

✨️Here is today’s affirmation to anchor you:

𝐈 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬.
𝐈 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐍𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞.
𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭.
𝐌𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫.

Repeat it until your body believes it.
Your peace is not negotiable❤️

Tell me below: What is one thing you are saying "No" to this holiday season so you can say "Yes" to your peace? 👇🏾

12/08/2025

The Pressure To Look “Put Together” When Life Isn’t

A lot of women look fine on the outside while struggling on the inside.
That’s masking.
It’s when your face, your tone, and your behavior don’t match what you actually feel.

Masking shows up when you’re overwhelmed but still showing up because you don’t want questions or judgment. You keep performing and holding everything together because it feels easier than admitting you’re exhausted.

Add perfectionism on top of that, and the pressure builds fast.
You stay strong even when your body is telling you it’s done.
That’s emotional exhaustion, not failure.

If this sounds like you, lowering the pressure starts with small changes:

• name one honest feeling a day
• take one thing off your plate without guilt
• give yourself one moment to pause instead of perform
• choose one space in your life where you don’t mask at all

Being honest with yourself is where things start to lighten❤️

12/07/2025

There is a point in life where you stop letting the world decide your pace and your peace.
Today is about getting back to that point.

I think. I feel. I choose.
Three simple truths that help you stop living on autopilot and start paying attention to yourself again.

I THINK:
Ask yourself what thoughts have been running your week.
Not the loud thoughts you say out loud.
The quiet ones that shape how you move.
The ones that create stress, doubt, pressure, or fear.
Naming them helps you stop letting them control you.

I FEEL:
A lot of women skip this part because feeling takes energy they don’t have.
But ignoring your emotions only makes life heavier.
Call your feelings what they are without judging them.
Tired. Angry. Numb. Hopeful. Overwhelmed.
Whatever it is, say it.
Truth clears space.

I CHOOSE:
This is where your power sits.
You cannot control everything that happens to you, but you always get to choose how you show up, what you accept, and what you refuse.
Choose what protects you.
Choose what steadies you.
Choose what brings you back to yourself.

You get to start this week in a different position.
Not reacting.
Not people-pleasing.
Not shrinking.

Just moving with intention because you know what you think, you know what you feel, and you know what you choose❤️

12/05/2025

Christmas Gift Certificates at DRE’S Safe Place

If you want to give someone a gift that actually helps them, give them time to breathe. Most people in your life are tired, overwhelmed, or carrying more stress than they admit. A DRE’S Safe Place gift certificate gives them something they will not buy for themselves.

This is why it matters.
They get a real break.
They get release.
They get relaxation.
They get a reset that lasts longer than any item in a store.

People remember gifts that make them feel better.
People remember the person who gave them peace.

Buy the Christmas gift certificate.
Give rest.
Give relief.
Give DRE’S Safe Place.

🎁https://www.dresplacellc.com/gift-card

12/03/2025

Joy can feel different for every woman who walks through life with a lot on her plate. Some wake up and feel it right away. Others have to look for it because stress, grief, or exhaustion has been sitting in the way for too long.

At DRE’S Safe Place, we see both.
Women who smile with ease.
Women who are trying to remember the last time they felt anything close to joy.
And women who want joy but are scared to hope for it.

Joy does not always arrive in big ways.
Sometimes it shows up in small moments that are easy to overlook.
A warm conversation.
A minute of peace.
A genuine laugh that breaks through tension.
Noticing these moments can shift your whole day. Sharing them can shift someone else’s.

Today’s affirmation is simple:

I welcome joy into my life. I notice it in small places, and I allow it to grow. I share joy with others in ways that feel real and honest to me.

Let this be your reminder for today.
Joy is possible even in hard seasons.
Joy can return even when you feel disconnected from it.
And joy becomes stronger when you let it flow both inward and outward.