Reflections
Soul-deep reflections on growth, healing, boundaries, and lessons I didn’t expect to learn. If you’ve ever asked, “Am I the only one feeling this way?”—you’re not. This space is where I look back to move forward.
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2025 in Review: My Wins, Lessons & What’s Next
2025 in Review: My Wins, Lessons & What’s Next Another Year, Another Chapter I can’t believe 2025 is already wrapping up. This year stretched me, softened me, and showed me more than I expected—in life, in business, and in my journey as a Deaf woman. It wasn’t perfect (none of them are), but it was powerful. And today I want to look back with you—not just on the wins, but also the lessons. Because that’s where real growth lives. If you’re ready to reflect, reset, and go into 2026 with a little more intention, I made you something: 🎁 Download my free Year-End Reflection Toolkit: 👉 Click here to get…
- Accessibility & Advocacy, ASL Advocacy, Deaf Lifestyle, Donna's Diary (Main Writing Hub), Life, Reflections
You’re Not “Difficult.” You’re Being Dismissed.
Let’s cut to the chase. You’re Not “Difficult.” You’re Being Dismissed. If you’re Deaf or hard of hearing, you already know the drill. You send the email. You wait. You follow up. You wait some more. Maybe you get a voicemail you can’t hear. Maybe someone tells you to “just call.” Maybe you explain – again – that email or text is better. You repeat yourself. You clarify what you already said clearly the first time. You do the work. You’re not being “difficult.” You’re being dismissed. The Pattern You Didn’t Imagine It’s not in your head. There’s a pattern here: Delayed responses. You send a time-sensitive message and wait…
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Deaf/Hard-Of-Hearing TLO Communications
- ASL Advocacy, ASL Stories, Deaf History, Deaf Lifestyle, Glow-Up + Wellness, Life, Reflections, Wellness & Self-Development
Vision or Illusion? My Wake-Up Call on MLMs and False Empowerment
The truth behind MLMs and how they sell us dreams that don’t hold. Let me be real with you: I almost didn’t share this. Vision or Illusion? My Wake-Up Call on MLMs and the Deaf Community’s False Empowerment Trap Not because I’m embarrassed, but because I know how sensitive this topic can be. MLMs are everywhere and they promise so much. But this isn’t about dragging anyone. It’s about truth, lived experience, and making sure others don’t fall into the same trap I did. I speak from experience and research. This isn’t personal – it’s advocacy. I hope we can respect each other’s journeys. – Donna Melena This post reflects…
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Do We Have to Be Broken to Become Better?
Hi online friends! This one’s coming straight from the soul. One night, it hit me while I was sitting on a small cozy brown chair with a feeling… That weird mix of awareness, sadness, and gratitude. And I couldn’t shake this question: “Do we have to go through the bad just to become better?” The honest truth? Yeah. Sometimes, we do. Not because we’re weak. Not because we deserved the pain. But because truth reveals itself in contrast. You don’t realize how dim the room was until someone opens a window. You don’t know how heavy the silence was until you finally speak. And a lot of us, especially as…
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Raw. Real. Remembered.
Raw. Real. Remembered. This Memorial Day weekend, Donna took to her platform with a video that didn’t need filters, edits, or rehearsed lines. She sat down—15 minutes “late” by social media standards, but right on time in spirit—and let her heart speak. In an era of polished tributes and performative patriotism, Donna’s message stood out because it wasn’t about perfection. It was about presence. In her unfiltered video, Donna didn’t just mention names—she honored legacies. With visible emotion, she spotlighted Richard, Matt’s father, with deep reverence. His service wasn’t just acknowledged; it was felt. She also called out @skylar_madison and @christian_madison with heartfelt appreciation, recognizing their outstanding service with the…
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I Went Back to College 8 Years Later – Was It the Right Choice?
When I first left college in my early twenties, I had no clear vision of what I wanted from life. I wasn’t chasing dreams, and I wasn’t building anything. I was just trying to survive. School had felt like a box I was supposed to check off, a path I was told to follow. I didn’t have financial support, I didn’t have stable housing, and I didn’t have the luxury of being myself. I now realize how closely my experience mirrored that of someone raised in foster care—a sense of being raised well enough to stay out of trouble, but never really prepared for life outside the bubble. No one…
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2025 Blog Library: Deaf Lifestyle Posts By Month
Capstone Project
2021 Resolutions
- Blogging Tips, Creative (for product and brand building), Deaf Lifestyle, Donna's Diary (Main Writing Hub), Homepage, Life, Reflections
2025 Blog Library: Deaf Lifestyle Posts By Month
January 2025 New Year, Bold You: How I’m Starting Fresh as a Deaf Woman in 2025 Deaf-Friendly Declutter: 21-Day Minimalist Reset for a Calm New Year Budgeting as a Deaf Woman: My Low-Stress 2025 Money Plan (With Free Toolkit!) Glow Up Season: My January Wellness Routine as a Deaf CEO Deaf Joy: 10 Everyday Habits That Brought Me Peace This Winter February 2025 Love Loudly: How Deaf Women Can Create Deeper Relationships (Romantic or Not) Deaf, Single, & Thriving: 5 Ways to Celebrate Yourself This Valentine’s Declutter Like a Queen: Deaf-Friendly Guide to a Mid-Winter Reset Black Deaf History Matters: 5 Trailblazers You Should Know Manifesting in ASL: How I…
