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Welcome to Lita's Lens
Reflections on Grief, Identity and Self-Discovery
A Letter from Lita
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Dear Reader,
I've always been someone who thinks (and feels) deeply, sits with things, and writes to find the words and meaning for experiences that are hard to articulate. My reflections are personal. I write to stay in touch with myself, and this introspective blog space where I've chosen to let that journey be witnessed. I write about my lived human experience, exploring life transitions, identity, and the quiet, ongoing work of being honest about who I am as everything changes.
You're welcomed to witness life through Lita's Lens. I share it in hopes that something here gives you language for something you've been sitting with.
~Carlita
Monks, Murder, and My Mental Health: The Impact of Witnessing Violence and Moral Injury
The new year began somewhat hopeful for me. I had spent the last few weeks of 2025 trying to restructure my life in ways that might support a more balanced work and life rhythm, something that would allow me to operate within my capacity while still accomplishing what mattered to me. I entered 2026 believing that kind of preparation might be enough. Less than thirty days in, I feel exhausted in ways I am still trying to maneuver through. I have not decided whether what I am f
Jan 294 min read
What the New Year Might Ask of Us
As the year has been winding down, a lot of the conversations I’ve been having in session have naturally turned toward reflection—looking back at what this year held, what it took, and what it asked people to survive. And for many, 2025 hasn’t been a light year. There has been real grief, layered loss, political disillusionment, and a kind of quiet exhaustion that doesn’t always show up shapes how people are entering the new year. Even when growth or progress can be named, it
Dec 28, 20254 min read
Strong But Not Invincible: Suicide Prevention and Mental Health for Therapists & Helpers
I’ve spent most of my professional life in spaces where people look to me for answers, guidance, or comfort. It’s sacred work that I value, but it comes with something I didn’t fully understand when I first began this journey as a therapist. People start to see you as the one who always has it together.
Aug 18, 20258 min read
The Treasure in Travel: Why Traveling Is One of My Favorite Forms of Self-Care
From the moment I step into a new place, I feel something inside me shift — a loosening, a lightness, a reminder that I am allowed to be more than my daily grind. What started years ago as a spark has now become a rhythm, a promise I keep to myself: twice a year, I travel to see the world and to reconnect with who I am. Each trip is both an escape and a return; an escape from the weight of constant doing, constant caring, constant responsibility, and a return to joy, breath,
Aug 17, 20256 min read
When Stillness Sets You Free
Montego Bay offered more than turquoise waters and tucked-away cabanas. It gave me breath, pause, and a mirror to see myself clearly again. As I wrap up this Montego Bay Meditations series, I do so with a heart full of peace and reflect on the moments that shaped my journey, both outward and inward. This wasn't merely a vacation; it was a pilgrimage back to myself. A Moment That Reframed It All Here—under this roof, wrapped in ocean breeze and quiet—was where I told him I’d d
May 18, 20254 min read
Montego Bay Meditations: Belonging to My Self - Whole, Wandering, and Unwed
What if being alone wasn’t something to overcome, but something to honor?
In Whole, Wandering, and Unwed, Carlita Coley shares a quiet meditation on solo travel, self-trust, and the beauty of choosing presence over performance. With tender honesty and grounded insight, she explores what it means to live fully—even when life doesn’t follow the expected script.
May 14, 20255 min read
The Space Between Expectation and Reality
There’s a version of motherhood I carried in my heart for years—a vision of emotional closeness, shared wisdom, and mutual care between myself and my adult children. I imagined easy conversations over brunch, spontaneous check-ins just to hear my voice, and holidays where I was a center of gravity. I believed, deep down, that all the love, labor, and sacrifices I poured in would come full circle—not necessarily with fanfare, but with intentional presence. That vision wasn’t u
May 12, 20254 min read
Montego Bay Meditations: How I Got Here - First Solo Trip with a Disability
Spoiler alert: I made it to Jamaica. Alone. Disabled. And absolutely triumphant. Traveling solo is a leap of faith for anyone—but when you live with a disability, it can feel more like a tightrope walk with no net. My Mother’s Day getaway to Montego Bay was more than a vacation. It was a declaration: that despite neuropathy, fatigue, and a world built for the able-bodied, I deserve joy, adventure, and rest too. . This post isn’t just about the miles I traveled—it’s about the
May 10, 20255 min read
Mother's Day in Montego Bay: Reclaiming My Groove, My Peace, My Power
This Mother’s Day, I didn’t wait to be celebrated—I booked a getaway to Montego Bay and chose me. In this deeply personal blog, I open up about the complexities of motherhood, the grief of unmet expectations, and the powerful act of self-honoring. From mental health revelations to reclaiming joy, this is a love letter to any woman who’s ever felt unseen on a day meant to celebrate her. Come with me as I unpack pain, find peace, and rediscover my groove in the most sacred way—
May 10, 20256 min read
How to Let Go of Roles That No Longer Fit—From Cat Rescue to Self Rescue
A compelling example of emotional intelligence because it reflects deep self-awareness, honest introspection, and the courage to evolve. Through thoughtful storytelling, she demonstrates empathy for others while still honoring her own boundaries, a key hallmark of emotionally intelligent decision-making. By navigatinhe tension between caring for others and caring for herself, she shows how emotional intelligence empowers us to choose authenticity over obligation.
Apr 17, 20254 min read
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