A Day Well Spent: Sprinklers, Snuggles & Starting Again

Day 18: Why Is Mental Health So Hard to Talk About?

There are some conversations that don't come naturally. Today's episode is one of them. Mental health isn't something I've ever felt completely comfortable talking about—not because it isn't important, but because I've always worried about saying the wrong thing. Instead of waiting until I had all the answers, I decided to simply be honest. In this episode, I share why these conversations can feel so difficult, how they've changed over the years, and why sometimes the most meaningful thing we can do is simply check in on someone we care about. I'm still learning how to talk about mental health...and maybe that's exactly where the conversation begins. If today's episode encourages you to reach out to one person, ask one sincere question, or remind someone they aren't alone, then these ten unedited minutes were worth it. Thank you for spending a few minutes with me today.

Day 17: Take Two, 1,000 Downloads & Finding Purpose in the Interruptions

Today's episode is actually...take two! After recording most of the episode, my granddaughter had other plans, my daughter walked in, and I realized life was reminding me exactly why this is called 10 Unedited Minutes of Marlena's Time. Today I'm sharing a little about our unexpected weekend, my daughter's return trip to the hospital, meeting our new priest, celebrating an exciting milestone of more than 1,000 podcast downloads, and why I believe God placed this podcast on my heart in the first place. Sometimes the interruptions become the story. As always...thank you for spending a few unedited minutes with me.

Day 16: A Hospital Stay, A Grateful Heart, Home Again

Some moments stay with you forever, and this episode begins with one of them. I'm sharing a memory of my dear friend Rebecca taking me to the home where she grew up and introducing me to her parents. It was such a simple afternoon, but one I'll always treasure because she invited me into a very special part of her story. Then we catch up on where I've disappeared to for the last few days. I've been spending my time at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center with my pregnant daughter after a frightening hospital stay. While the doctors still don't have all the answers about what caused her bleeding, they were able to rule out the most serious possibilities, and for that, our family is incredibly grateful. I also wanted to take a few minutes to recognize the amazing physicians, nurses, and staff at OSU Wexner. Their compassion, professionalism, and exceptional care turned a very scary experience into one where we felt informed, supported, and genuinely cared for every step of the way. Now that we're finally home, it's time to dust off the to-do list that's been patiently waiting for three days and get life moving again. Sometimes life puts everything on pause, and all you can do is be present, trust the people caring for the ones you love, and count your blessings. I hope you'll join me for another unedited ten minutes of life, gratitude, and whatever happens to be on my mind today.

Day 15: An ambulance ride to OSU, Channeling my inner Rebbeca, and putting today's to-do list on hold

Today started with a phone call at 4:00 a.m. that no parent wants to receive. My daughter, who is in the middle of a high-risk pregnancy, had a bleeding scare, and was on her way to pick me up so we could head to the hospital. We both expected a quick checkup, some reassurance, and a trip back home. Instead, she was transferred by ambulance to the High-Risk OB team at Ohio State. As I followed the ambulance down the highway, I found myself channeling one of my favorite people—Rebecca. Let's just say her legendary road-rage spirit came in handy when another driver thought it was a good idea to attempt to cut in front of the ambulance carrying my daughter! Thankfully, this story has a happy ending. Mom and baby are doing well; we made it home safely, and I'm incredibly grateful. But after a day like today, I found myself staring at a to-do list that never had a chance. So the question became...do I push through tonight, or do I give myself permission to rest and start again tomorrow? Sometimes life reminds us that our plans aren't always the most important thing on the calendar.

Day 14: Some Days You Just Say "Fuck It"... Then Do It Anyway

Some days just feel...off. You blink, it's late afternoon, and you can't shake the feeling that you've been physically present all day but mentally somewhere else. Today was one of those days for me. I seriously considered saying, "Forget it," skipping the podcast, and calling it a day. Instead, I hit record. Today's Rebecca memory is exactly what you'd expect—our shared appreciation for the versatility of one particular four-letter word. If there's a funny video involving the word "fuck," chances are one of us is sending it to the other within minutes. Sometimes laughter really is the best therapy. From there, I talk about something much deeper: showing up even when you don't feel like it. My gratitude jar reminded me how thankful I am for the home my husband and I have built together, especially after we spent an evening watching the FIFA Club World Cup projected onto the side of our house. It was such a simple moment, but one that reminded me how easy it is to overlook the good things when we're stuck in our own heads. This episode is a reminder that motivation comes and goes, but commitment is a choice. I didn't want to record today... but I did it anyway. And somewhere between pressing "Record" and "Stop," I found the part of myself I'd been missing all day. Maybe today is one of those days for you, too.