Author: Cate Tracey

Comparisons

/ Cate Tracey / Leave a comment

We all do it: we compare ourselves to others, we compare present day to the past… it’s human. And last weekend I couldn’t help but compare where I’m at now vs. where I was at in 2022.

Linley and me hiking in Asheville (2022)

On my trip back at Chicago from Asheville in 2022, Linley was by my side through some hard times. One of my best friends called me on my drive to tell me that she was expecting her first child, meanwhile I was telling her that a divorce was in my foreseeable future. I was so excited for all my close friends going through such amazing milestones in their lives, meanwhile I was at the loneliest point in my marriage and physical location of Chicago.

Linley, Alex and me hiking at the same spot in 2026

Last weekend I took Alex and some of our friends to the same spot Linley and I enjoyed four years ago. Although it was rainy, we made the most of it. And it’s really similar to my life right now: it’s a literal and metaphorical rainy season, but I’m making the most of every moment and am enjoying the rain as it comes.

To think in 2022 I was struggling in my family dynamics, certain friendships, my marriage, location and career. Now my biggest worry is that I won’t be able to make it as a solopreneur, but have never felt more loved and supported.

Photos taken in 2022 and 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina

Agility Training • Alex & Linley 🐾

/ Cate Tracey / Leave a comment

In 2017 when I first rescued Linley, I knew I wanted to sign him up for training. Lin wasn’t a bad dog by any means, but he had a lot of anxiety and abandonment issues prior to finding his way to my heart. Plus I figured it’d be great bonding for us, because he was still figuring me out.

Linley on graduation day in 2018
Proud boy

On Christmas last year, I wanted to do something special for Alex and Linley to give them the same experience. The founder of Linley’s dog hiking group, Two Chicks and a Pack, recommended Megan at Primed Instincts for dog agility training here in Atlanta. I signed the boys up right away, and they had the best time together!

And here’s some videos if you want to see the guys in action:

I was lucky enough to watch the last two weeks of the agility trainings, and seeing my two favorite fellas always melts my heart! It was cute to see Linley smiling through all the obstacles, and he’d get so serious when following Alex for a treat. And it was awesome to see Alex so serious too; it was like they were both in “work mode.”

Even an 11-year-old dog can learn new tricks, so never sell yourself short 😉

Media taken Sunday, May 3, 2026 at Walker Park in Atlanta, GA

Celebrating Alex in North Georgia

/ Cate Tracey / 2 Comments

Alex’s birthday was Saturday, and we had a great time in the mountains of North Georgia! We started our morning with a hike on Blood Mountain where we had stunning views all around us. It was a nice spot to rest, and we even saw a blue lizard scurry nearby.

After our hike, we grabbed lunch at a local spot in downtown Dahlonega that we love so much. We sat outside, enjoyed some sweet tea and seafood, and Linley got even more attention than our birthday boy.

After realizing that Linley had a tick on him in the car (we’re all good, thank goodness!), we enjoyed more stunning views at a winery Alex loves. I’m doing an alcohol-free year but I enjoyed a Sprite while Alex enjoyed a glass of red wine. All three of us were basking in the sun and enjoying the moment together.

Before we knew it, it was time to head home. We look forward to next time!

Photos taken Saturday, May 16, 2026

❤️V🧡O💛T💚E💙!!!💜

/ Cate Tracey / Leave a comment

Today I voted for women.

Today I voted for a community that accepts me – and has always accepted me – more than my own family has.

Today I voted for immigrants; ALL immigrants.

Today I voted for people who don’t look like me.

Today I voted for the ones who are working hard but don’t have enough free time or money in their bank accounts to show for it.

Today I voted for Mother Earth and everyone living here.

Today I voted for vaccine health.

Today I voted for peace, transparency and positive action.

Today I voted for democracy. 

Are you voting for yourself, or are you taking your neighbors into consideration, too? Let’s think about ALL people when we vote, or else we’ll end up in a similar situation again…

We may not be able to fully reverse what’s been happening since orange man, but we can take action and vote. One person can’t do everything but everyone can do something. 

Finding community in adulthood

/ Cate Tracey / 1 Comment

I started my own business this year because I once felt extremely lonely: lonely where I lived, lonely in my own family, lonely in my workplace and even lonely in some of my friendships. According to a recent study by the American Psychological Association, over half of adults in the United States feel lonely and isolated from others. I want to help others who feel how I used to just a handful of years ago. It’s incredibly important to find community whether you’re going through a major life change like relocation, a breakup or divorce, job loss (or like me: a combination of all three) and more. 

I’m sharing who makes up part of my new community because it’s possible for anyone who feels lonely to feel supported and loved; I can promise you that! One year ago I was really wondering if my community was truly stable here – because my life is normally filled with instability and chaos – and it is as strong as it can be. And that’s what everyone deserves. 🫶

Linley and me at an Atlanta Dog Mom Social Club event
Celebrating with my Aunt, Uncle and pup cousin, Ellie!
Atlanta United game with our best friends
A family 3k for a great cause
Hanging out with our friends Devin and Colin
A lovely Mother’s Day
Watching sweet Larkin again
Meeting a teammate in person
Dinner with Joss, who is also part of the Atlanta dog mom group!
Quality time with the hubs of course
A bestie was back in town real quick!

Happy birthday to my best friend! 💕

/ Cate Tracey / 3 Comments

Carolyn and I started as blind roommates in France, and we’ve been best friends ever since. Cheers to dozens and dozens more years of friendship and even more after that! 🥰

Messing around in Paris (2014)
A baseball game in D.C. (2016)
First time in Boston! (2018)
Maid of Honor speech (2019)
D.C. round two (2020)
Spontaneous fun in Virginia (2021)
Carolyn’s baby shower for Lily! (2022)
Our visit in Alexandria (2024)

All that comes with family estrangement

/ Cate Tracey / 13 Comments

TL;DR: Look up, get some sunshine, call a friend, spend time with ones you love when you’re feeling down. It may not take all the pain away, but you deserve some peace and you’re allowed to give yourself grace + feel your feelings as they come. ❤️‍🩹

Trigger warning TW: Family estrangement,  verbal abuse. 

Yesterday was a hard day and it’s been a hard week. Last Friday, a family member who I haven’t seen since 2018 and haven’t heard from since about a year ago reached out to me multiple times. When I heard from them a year ago, more hurtful things were said (again) and the worst part is that this happened during my honeymoon. They always know when to share things/reach out at the worst time. 

Then Sunday rolls around and some triggers came up while my parents visited. Although my relationship is significantly better with them, they’re the only biological family I speak to. There will always be challenges and reminders that come with that…

And then yesterday, we had a virtual baby shower for a teammate at work who is having a second child (a boy). He has a daughter and he kept saying how excited he is that his soon-to-be younger son will have an older sister to look up to and learn from, because his older sisters are gifts to him. It’s just me and my brother and because I’m older and estranged, I felt immediate guilt, sadness, heaviness and also anger. Why didn’t he ever view me or our relationship as a gift, the way that I viewed him and our relationship? I don’t know. I may never know. But it hit so hard. 

Whether you know me personally or have read my WordPress blog for a while, you may know the struggles I face with the grief vs. relief of it all.

I’ve been estranged from most family for nearly a decade now but never thought my brother’s and my bond would break. When things about sibling love are shared, or birthdays pass, or moments where I considered my brother to be my best friend fill my memory again, it’s extremely hard. If you’re struggling with the same thing or something parallel, just know that I see you, I understand you and all your complex, rollercoaster feelings are valid. 

April Appreciation for Atlanta

/ Cate Tracey / Leave a comment

Between 404 Day and now, it’s been a solid month here in Atlanta. We’ve explored new places, revisited some favorites and felt a sense of community with our neighbors (especially Amy because we got to watch her sweet girl, Larkin, this month!) 

I look forward to what the rest of April and beyond has in store!

Sweetwater Creek + 404 Day

/ Cate Tracey / 2 Comments

On Friday, I wasn’t feeling the best, but I knew a hike with Linley would help me sweat out my cold in addition to making my heart feel good. We revisited Sweetwater Creek State Park for some light hiking and beautiful views. My mom also had the day off, so we talked on the phone like the good ole days. And as usual, Linley got lots of attention and four young women were adoring him, so I gave them each a treat to give to Linley. He was in heaven!

Being with Linley always makes my day, especially when we can be outdoors together.

And yesterday’s 404 Day celebration in Atlanta was a ton of fun! We strolled through our favorite neighborhood in the city, watched Linley play at Piedmont Park, picked up some plants at Flora and Fauna, and enjoyed an afternoon in our own neighborhood.

I’ve been beating myself up all week about random sh*t, and honestly, I need to stop because I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Media taken Friday, April 3 & Saturday, April 4, 2026 in Atlanta, GA.

Rock Lobsters game in Athens

/ Cate Tracey / Leave a comment

Alex took Linley and me to Athens, Georgia for our first visit yesterday! We walked around town and UGA’s campus before going to the game where Linley, and other dogs, were part of the main event. Everyone at the game and involved in the game were amazing and we’ll definitely be back for another fun day of hockey!

Linley was basically a celebrity and everyone was taking photos of AND with him all day! A woman we met at a brewery before the game even came up and said hello again. Seeing Linley love and get love back always melts my heart.

Alex signed Linley up for a race on the ice after the first period, and since Lin had been a daddy’s boy all day, I held Linley on the ice so he would run to Alex. However, Linley got cold paws, literally and figuratively, and didn’t want to leave my side! Although Lin didn’t win the race, he won in everyone’s hearts. Going backstage and on the ice was really cool (pun intended) for all three of us in the Tracey Trio! 

Life is good and Linley was fast asleep in the stands and on the ride home.

Media taken Sunday, March 29, 2026 in Athens, Georgia 🦞

Loving spring in Atlanta 🌸

/ Cate Tracey / Leave a comment

Don’t get me wrong: I love our roadtrips and weekends away. But there’s something extra special about being home in Atlanta this time of year. It’s not nearly as drastic as Michigan’s winter-to-spring transition, but laying out in the sun, listening to soul music in the park nearby is something I don’t take for granted here.

The last couple weekends have been so much fun, and I know this weekend will be no exception. We’ve even stayed busy during the week, because there’s no point in living for the weekend (in my humble opinion 😉).

Here’s some highlights that have brought me sheer enjoyment and smiles from ear to ear:

Enjoying some beautiful sunrises and sunsets

An afternoon with Linley

My first Atlanta United game of the season

Another fun dog mom social club event (and checking out a new trail!)

Painting Linley at Piedmont Park

Seeing Linley after his Two Chicks and a Pack hike

I can’t wait for more fun, but enjoying these moments has been exactly what I’ve needed!

Photography taken March 2026

I finally started my own business

/ Cate Tracey / 4 Comments

You read that right! I started my own business. I’ve always wanted to help people outside of the “typical” business world, and I’m finally taking the plunge. I’m a certified professional coach (CPC) and TEFL-certified tutor, and want to help others find joy in life during and after a major life change. This can include divorce, relocation, career and more. I’ve been through so much in my life and I would love to continue helping others who are going through their own journeys.

Here’s the timeline of how things went:

  • August – I started my professional coaching certification through the University of Georgia, because I’m tired of corporate and truly want to help others.
  • December – I officially registered for and launched my LLC: Cate Tracey Coaching.
  • January – I officially graduated from the certification program!
  • February – My website was built, and made me appreciate UX and other web features even more.
  • This month – I’m going all-in on social media and I’m trying to create better reach, page views and engagement overall.

My goal is to have my business full-time up-and-running before the end of this year. It’s an aggressive goal, but I’m aiming high so I can keep at my North Star. I have a few clients right now but I hope to grow this enough so I can do this full-time. This is the only career path I have ever been excited about, and to finally feel excited about my career and professional purpose feels incredibly inspiring.

And no: this blog will not become a professional coaching blog, but I did want to share this news with y’all. 🫶

Here’s where you can find me:

I’m excited for this new chapter and have faith that it’s all going to work out. I can’t wait to help more people and continue to grow in this profession!