Family can be our greatest source of love or our most painful source of hurt. In this candid episode, I dive into my recent Atlanta trip to celebrate my Nephew's 12th birthday – a milestone that's left me emotional as I watch the little boy who gave me my Auntie nickname "Nene" grow taller than me.

Between reflecting on my driving anxiety (seriously, we're controlling several-ton machines with just our feet and a wheel!) and stepping outside my comfort zone at an airport bar, I explore how my perfectionism often keeps me from experiencing life fully. The conversations I had with strangers reminded me that we're all living vastly different stories on this "floating rock in space" – so why waste time worrying about others' perceptions?

The heart of this episode tackles a powerful listener question in our first "What Would Daijné Do?" segment. Michelle shares her struggle to get her father a headstone after 18 years, facing resistance from her siblings. When family members make their conditional love evident, how do we honor our boundaries while still accomplishing what matters to us?

I leave you with this truth: blood relation was forced upon us without our consent, but choosing who deserves space in our lives is entirely within our control. You deserve to live authentically without anyone diminishing your peace – and sometimes that means letting people go, regardless of their relation to you. Your one precious life shouldn't be spent trying to earn acceptance from those unwilling to give it freely.

Have a question for the WWDD segment? Email thenapkininbetweenpodcast@gmail.com and share your story. I'm honored to be part of your journey toward living your fullest, most authentic life.