Cator Sparks 8/25/23 Cator Sparks 8/25/23

The Complex Dance with My Dad's Death

My dad’s suicide on July 2, has, as expected, taken me on a great journey of processing, questioning, and understanding someone who was complex and imperfect, but who I loved deeply.

Cator Sparks 6/14/23 Cator Sparks 6/14/23

My First Course: Gay Dating Apps 101!

Over the past five years of coaching, one topic continually keeps popping up with my gay male clients, how to use dating apps. Some clients are older and literally have no idea how they work, while younger clients aren’t really sure what to put on their profiles or what to even do on the first date. But everybody has the same concerns about spending too much time on them and the mental health aspects of how we are all treated on these apps (enter ghosting and catfishing).

Cator Sparks 5/25/23 Cator Sparks 5/25/23

A Rite of Passage

While I won’t go into specifics (come to one!), what I kept hearing all weekend was-
Men. Need. Connection. With. Men.

To open up, to be held, and to be heard by another man is powerful and something society has told us for generations to avoid.

Cator Sparks 3/9/23 Cator Sparks 3/9/23

The Fundamental Need For Friendship

For many folks, friendship can be hard to find for many reasons: Moving to a new town, their past trauma of unhealthy friendships, and of course anxiety and depression can all keep us isolated. This is not how humans are meant to live. Just think of cavemen around the fire, we have been in community since we could walk and communicate. Friendship is vital for living a quality life, it improves our health and can even lengthen our time on Earth.

Cator Sparks 10/28/22 Cator Sparks 10/28/22

Balancing the Being and Doing

Being in nature with Fergus is one of my favorite ways to recharge.

Cator Sparks 8/11/22 Cator Sparks 8/11/22

Intergenerational Connection

Having younger friends can make you smarter, more resilient, and more open-minded.

Cator Sparks 7/18/22 Cator Sparks 7/18/22

Facing Our Fears

For a while now I have been hopeful that America was righting the ship, getting back on track, you know that ‘Liberty and Justice for All’ situation? But after Roe v Wade was overturned, I feel like the gut punches just keep on coming.

Cator Sparks 6/26/22 Cator Sparks 6/26/22

Normalizing Queerness

Cator Sparks 5/27/22 Cator Sparks 5/27/22

Your Mantra for Mental Health Awareness Month...

Now, I know this little mantra isn’t going to solve all of your problems… because guess what? You have to believe it. I had a client recently – who I saw as an amazing human being, flawed and fabulous – who had a hard time saying this mantra with any kind of conviction because he didn’t really believe he is enough.

Cator Sparks 4/8/22 Cator Sparks 4/8/22

When Triggered Do You Respond or React?

Cator Sparks 4/1/22 Cator Sparks 4/1/22

What I Learned on a 12-Day Ayahuasca Retreat

Cator Sparks 9/21/21 Cator Sparks 9/21/21

Growing Old - The Mame Way

Cator Sparks 8/24/21 Cator Sparks 8/24/21

Dealing with Dread

My garden- my Zen zone when I need to unwind, calm down, and change perspectives.

Cator Sparks 4/6/21 Cator Sparks 4/6/21

Spring (Emotional) Cleaning Part 1 - Anxious? Talk It Out!

Spring cleaning isn’t just about organizing the man shed (or she shed) or the sock drawer, it’s a great time for a mental reprioritization and clean-out as well.