Diane Mouradian, LMFT, TF CBT

01/21/2026

You Two Are Friends?

We just got back from a whirlwind weekend in the Dallas-Ft Worth area, visiting a dear friend of mine. We managed to pack our seventy two hours with so much activity, laughter and memories that I slept all the way home on the flight and, then again, at night…I was wiped out. What makes time spent together so meaningful? Is it the activity?...

We just got back from a whirlwind weekend in the Dallas-Ft Worth area, visiting a dear friend of mine. We managed to pack our seventy two hours with so much activity, laughter and memories that I s…

01/21/2026

You Two Are Friends?

We just got back from a whirlwind weekend in the Dallas-Ft Worth area, visiting a dear friend of mine. We managed to pack our seventy two hours with so much activity, laughter and memories that I slept all the way home on the flight and, then again, at night…I was wiped out.

What makes time spent together so meaningful? Is it the activity? The laughter? The memories? Yes, yes and yes…in reality, all moments spent together with good friends create meaning, including the dark moments. In a long term friendship, there are plenty of those, as life deals us all hard times. As we ride the waves together, our bond deepens and broadens.

This particular friendship dates back almost thirty years, spans multiple countries and has weathered a host of life events. We met in 1998 in Mexico City, stayed connected through the Dominican Republic, Panama, Costa Rica and, now, in 2026, in Monterey-Ft Worth, we are still bonded.

On the surface, we may not seem like the likeliest of friends. But, underneath, “almas gemelas”…twin souls…

Life has an uncanny way of crossing our paths with people who become special to us. In turn, we are responsible for tending to them, however long the relationships may last. We all know that some friendships last a lifetime and, others, transition out of our lives sooner. Neither is good nor bad, better nor worse, just different. They all serve a purpose and offer us some meaning.

Relationships are effortful, even when they feel effortless. Here’s to friendship - may it find us all! And may we be good stewards of the opportunity…

PS check out my book, Diary of a Curly Top Everyday Reflections Through Art at https://a.co/d/b7JUlkD

https://throughmymindseyeblog.com/2026/01/21/you-two-are-friends/

01/20/2026

A special thank you to all who have been so encouraging in the last weeks and months. Here’s to finding your way of expressing yourself!

Diary of a Curly Top is available here: https://a.co/d/bmpiuRQ

01/16/2026

Landed in SoCal - get your copy so you can start creating too https://a.co/d/dBhnplD

01/15/2026

What they’re saying about Diary of a Curly Too now available on Amazon https://a.co/d/7jH0coW

01/14/2026

Now available on Amazon https://a.co/d/61cILGu

01/12/2026

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GG5RCK1K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=39CTL48F6F9BP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.OtQ2BbG7jrK8A44uxJB0bJ-Mf2qziXQempMv_r-kRg_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.fnrifBswuV_kBqh3gsIEZ_HpC_u-uZoyrhM56DKZxjo&dib_tag=se&keywords=diary+of+a+curly+top&qid=1768181200&sprefix=%2Caps%2C363&sr=8-1

In the summer of 2020, after months of being home alone during the COVID shutdown, I yearned for something new and creative. I wanted to connect with others and find a new way to connect to myself. That's when I discovered an online, creative workshop series and learned about art journaling. I'v...

01/12/2026

The Prize Is In The Process

Even though I don’t read the last chapter of a book to know how it ends, I do love to know where I’m going to end up in a process. Earlier in my career, I was a good project manager because I could visualize an outcome and drive towards it, while minimizing disruptions and variables. I was so focused on the endgame, though, that I’m not sure I truly valued what I learned along the way. In hindsight yes, in the moment no…

Dial it forward to today - I’ve been working on something special (see picture) and have had another opportunity to participate in a process that would produce an outcome. A book! My book!

Diary of a Curly Top…Everyday Reflections Through Art

I’m not sure why this endeavor landed on my horizon. It wasn’t a part of my plan (insert laughing emoji). But, as Robert Frost says in The Road Not Taken, “way leads on to way” and I believe that. Had I not gone to The Hudson Institute years ago, I wouldn’t have landed at the Modern Elder Academy this past summer at a workshop facilitated by Hudson faculty (Pam, Tom and Joy) and I wouldn’t have met my small cohort who motivated me to further explore my art. One member in particular - Rebecca - encouraged me to compile my work into a book, something that had never crossed my mind…yet here I am!!!

Saying yes to possibility sounds trite but, nonetheless, is true. Does everything work out beautifully when we say yes? Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. But the wonder that comes from exploring something you’ve never considered is worth the risk - in my opinion.

Diary of a Curly Top is self published - a truly grass-roots process that I knew NOTHING about when I started. How to begin? Where? Is it worth it? Is it silly? Will it look homemade? So many questions, along with some doubts, BUT I welcome a tough challenge and I am perseverant. I like those qualities in myself.

Given the novelty of all of this, I’ve been acutely aware of every step that I’ve taken. Not giving up when I couldn’t figure out how to upload the manuscript, not giving up when I couldn’t get the formatting right, not giving up when I didn’t have enough pages to fit into the spine, not giving up when the formatting for paperback and hardcover was different…not giving up…even when it got hard.

Is the outcome, ie the book in hand, THE most important thing to me? Not long ago, I would have said yes…but, now, the process of saying yes every day, from idea to outcome, is what resides in my mind and heart. The product is the cherry on top.

PS Diary of a Curly Top is now available on Amazon, in hardcover and paperback. It’s a compilation of my art journaling pieces, as well blank spaces, with prompts to create your own art and jot down thoughts and feelings. Let’s co create…My journal and Your Journal…Our Journal

https://throughmymindseyeblog.com/2026/01/12/the-prize-is-in-the-process/

01/12/2026

The Prize Is In The Process

Even though I don’t read the last chapter of a book to know how it ends, I do love to know where I’m going to end up in a process. Earlier in my career, I was a good project manager because I could visualize an outcome and drive towards it, while minimizing disruptions and variables. I was so focused on the endgame, though, that I’m not sure I truly valued what I learned along the way....

Even though I don’t read the last chapter of a book to know how it ends, I do love to know where I’m going to end up in a process. Earlier in my career, I was a good project manager because I could…

01/05/2026

When “Why” Joins In

Years ago, while participating in a coaching certification program with The Hudson Institute, I read The Adult Years by Frederic Hudson. That book introduced me to the concept of “life chapters” and how our priorities shift as we age. At that time (in my early forties), I was looking forward, with more runway ahead of me (as a friend often says) than I do now (in my early sixties).

I’ve become acutely aware of the passage of time and, as a result, what matters to me has shifted. The shift:

Becoming Purpose driven vs Plan driven…

At this juncture in my life, having a specific plan doesn’t feel the same as it once did. Historically, each January, I’d pen my SMART goals…what I wanted to do and by when. I loved that level of specificity and, for a good long while, I needed it. A container and a direction to keep me on track. Give me a strong SMART goal, a spreadsheet, a calendar and I was happy, felt safe and secure. I knew where I was headed.

Ironically, though, I’m trying to be less SMART now and more intentional…less rigid and more fluid. I’m not really sure what has fostered this shift but I definitely feel it. I seem drawn to not knowing where I’m headed (even though I resist it at the same time). A sense of wonder has emerged (and some anxiety). I do believe that years of structure and having laid a strong foundation have allowed me the luxury of being open to the possibility of not knowing. I don’t take that privilege for granted, in the least.

So, now, instead of solely asking myself “what” and “when” I’m also trying to practice my “why”…I say practice because it doesn’t come naturally nor easily. That being said, it feels worth it to add this into the mix.

Depending on where you’re at, what’s your what, when and why?

https://throughmymindseyeblog.com/2026/01/05/when-why-joins-in/

01/05/2026

When “Why” Joins In

Years ago, while participating in a coaching certification program with The Hudson Institute, I read The Adult Years by Frederic Hudson. That book introduced me to the concept of “life chapters” and how our priorities shift as we age. At that time (in my early forties), I was looking forward, with more runway ahead of me (as a friend often says) than I do now (in my early sixties)....

Years ago, while participating in a coaching certification program with The Hudson Institute, I read The Adult Years by Frederic Hudson. That book introduced me to the concept of “life chapters” an…

01/02/2026

From Psychology Today