Latest news with #LesleyUniversity
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eliza Dushku Graduates With Master's Degree After Acting Retirement: ‘Deep Calling Realized'
Bring It On actress Eliza Dushku fulfilled a new dream, earning an advanced degree in clinical mental health counseling. 'Graduating with my master's degree (!!) feels like more than an achievement — it feels like a deep calling realized,' Dushku, 44, wrote via Instagram on Friday, June 6. 'True growth, energy, and passion — manifested.' Dushku received a Master of Arts degree from Lesley University late last month. 'After nearly a decade of inner work and building a new life, I'm so grateful for this moment in time,' she captioned her Friday post. 'To my highest self — for taking this wild leap away from everything I knew and making it happen. To my boys + ♥️ — for the little sacrifices made & love you gave, each day to honor and support this dream.' Eliza Dushku Reveals She Transitioned From Acting to Revolutionizing Trauma Care in Boston Dushku has been married to Peter Palandjian since 2018, and they share kids Philip, 5, and Bodie, 3. Palandjian, 61, and the couple's kids were on hand for Dushku's graduation ceremony. 'And to my family, friends — new and old — my colleagues/classmates, professors/teachers, and community, I give thanks: for rooting me on, encouraging me day in and day out, and affording me the grace, strength, and space to step fully into these past years of clinical training,' she wrote. "Today, I stand grounded and ready to support others on their journeys of becoming — through self-discovery, healing, and transformation. The connectedness I feel in holding safe, compassionate space for those who seek the undertaking is such lifeblood now.' She concluded, 'To possibility, hope, and healing, all. Non sibi sed toti 🤍.' Dushku took a step back from acting in 2017, turning to a new career in mental health counseling. In a 2024 profile for Boston Magazine, Dushku revealed that she is certified in psychedelic-assisted therapy. 'I had the means to shift directions and choose a course in my life that focused on healing myself so that I could help heal others,' Dushku told the outlet. 'I would be remiss if I didn't now share the transformation and the peace and the passion that I have. This is just absolutely so clearly my real calling, my real purpose.' Stars Who Left Hollywood Behind Over the Years: Cameron Diaz, Michael Schoeffling and More According to Dushku, she had previously used psychedelics to help recover from past traumas. 'I found myself feeling so wholly unwell,' she recalled. 'So painfully vulnerable, raw, exposed — terrified and suffering from what was diagnosed as PTSD. I finally surrendered and began to feel a release and a sense of peace and security and calm whooshing through me.' Dushku revealed past struggles with alcoholism and addiction in 2017.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Buffy's Eliza Dushku reveals milestone in shock new career nearly 10 years after walking away from Hollywood
Eliza Dushku graduated with her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Friday, June 6. The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, 44, shared a video clip of her receiving her degree on stage and walking off with it. She also shared several photos to her Instagram Stories including one photo posing with her classmates all looking very happy to be done with their studies. 'Graduating with my master's degree (!!) feels like more than an achievement—it feels like a deep calling realized,' her caption began. 'True growth, energy, and passion—manifested. After nearly a decade of inner work and building a new life, I'm so grateful for this moment in time. 'To my highest self—for taking this wild leap away from everything I knew and making it happen. To my boys + ♥️—for the little sacrifices made & love you gave, each day to honor and support this dream.' She then went on to thank her 'family, friends—new and old—my colleagues/classmates, professors/teachers, and community.' 'I give thanks: for rooting me on, encouraging me day in and day out, and affording me the grace, strength, and space to step fully into these past years of clinical training. 'Today, I stand grounded and ready to support others on their journeys of becoming—through self-discovery, healing, and transformation. 'The connectedness I feel in holding safe, compassionate space for those who seek the undertaking is such lifeblood now,' her caption concluded. The post also featured a photo of her young kids' handwritten notes, which read 'Good Job Mommy' and 'I Love You Mom.' Alongside her husband, real estate developer Peter Palandjian, Eliza is funding groundbreaking research and clinical trials on the potential of psychedelics, according to 2024 interview in Boston Magazine. 'I had the means to shift directions and choose a course in my life that focused on healing myself so that I could help heal others. I would be remiss if I didn't now share the transformation and the peace and the passion that I have,' Dushku said. 'This is just absolutely so clearly my real calling, my real purpose,' she continued at the time. Dushku hasn't been seen on screen since 2017, when she appeared in Netflix's The Saint and played J.P. Nunnelly in CBS's Bull. That year, she stepped away from Hollywood after accusing her Bull co-star Michael Weatherly of sexual harassment. In the wake of the allegations, which Weatherly has denied, Dushku was written out of the show and told that her role as a series regular had been abruptly canceled. Mediation with CBS resulted in the network agreeing to pay Dushku a confidential settlement of $9.5million - roughly the amount she stood to earn if kept on the show for four seasons. Weatherly apologized for his behavior toward Dushku in a statement to the Times, saying: 'During the course of taping our show, I made some jokes mocking some lines in the script. 'When Eliza told me that she wasn't comfortable with my language and attempt at humor, I was mortified to have offended her and immediately apologized. 'After reflecting on this further, I better understand that what I said was both not funny and not appropriate and I am sorry and regret the pain this caused Eliza.' Dushku first rose to fame in 1998 when she was cast as Faith, the rebellious Slayer, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Her standout role as Faith, which she portrayed until 2003, earned her a devoted fanbase and solidified her status as a rising star in Hollywood. Dushku also starred in the hit cheerleading film Bring It On (2000), which became a cult classic. In her personal life, Eliza married Peter in 2018, and the couple has since welcomed two children. The family has since made a home in Boston, Eliza's birthplace, where they are enjoying life away from Hollywood.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
13 Signs You're Slowing Losing Your Sense Of Self With Age
Getting older is supposed to bring clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of who you are. But for many people, the opposite quietly happens: you wake up one day feeling disconnected from yourself. Your wants get quieter. Your identity feels foggier. And life starts to feel more like an obligation than an intention. This isn't just a midlife crisis—it's a slow erosion of self that can happen when we've spent years prioritizing others, surviving routines, or numbing the hard parts. The version of you that once felt sharp and alive begins to blur. And if you've been feeling out of sync, out of passion, or like you're performing your own life, this list might hit home. People often lose touch with the feeling of joy because it becomes associated with childhood or childishness according to this article in Goop. Joy involves reconnecting with its physical sensations and allowing oneself to experience simple pleasures again, which can help break free from this disconnect. Joy isn't supposed to be a mystery. If you can't name what fills your cup, it's a sign you've been running on autopilot. Reclaiming yourself starts by asking: When did I last feel like me? You handle the logistics, the checklists, the emotional labor—because that's what you've always done. But somewhere along the way, your own needs stopped even making the list. You're not just tired—you're invisible to yourself. It's easy to confuse being needed with having an identity. But when your worth is measured in service alone, your sense of self becomes transactional. You're allowed to want more than just being the one who holds everything together. Reconnecting with your body is essential because your body is not just a vessel but part of your identity. Being aware of your body and its signals helps you feel grounded, reduces stress, increases mindfulness, and draws you into the present moment according to YogaUOnline. A fading sense of self often begins with a disembodied life. Your body isn't just a vessel—it's part of your identity. Reconnecting with it is the first step back to wholeness. You used to have strong perspectives, favorite things, clear 'nos'—but now you just… agree. You nod along, go with the flow, and rarely push back. Not because you've become more chill, but because your edges have softened into silence. Losing your voice doesn't always happen loudly. Sometimes it's a slow retreat. But a sense of self needs contrast, conviction, and clarity, not just accommodation. This disconnect can feel eerie, but it's a sign you've drifted from self-expression into self-preservation. Mirrors have been studied as powerful tools for self-reflection and identity exploration, revealing how looking at oneself can trigger deeper introspection about who we truly are beneath the surface. A study published by Lesley University found that engaging with mirrors can help people reconnect with their inner thoughts and feelings about identity, highlighting phases of introspection, connection, and purposeful action in the process of self-reflection. This disconnect can feel eerie, but it's a sign you've drifted from self-expression into self-preservation. Getting dressed, grooming, and showing up should feel like an extension of your spirit, not a costume. If the mirror feels foreign, something deeper is calling for reconnection. Your goals used to be vivid, even if they were small. But now the future feels foggy—or irrelevant. You focus on getting through the week, not imagining what could be. Dreaming is a form of self-ownership. When the future shrinks, it's often because your identity has collapsed into survival mode. You deserve a future that excites you, not just one that exists. Where do you want to eat? What do you want for your birthday? What do you want in general? You shrug—because the answer feels out of reach. As noted by Frontiers in Psychology, engaging in self-reflective reasoning about your choices can strengthen your sense of identity, especially when those choices feel personally meaningful, highlighting the importance of reconnecting with what you truly value to reclaim your self-concept You go through the motions, check the boxes, say the right things—but everything feels… flat. Even the good moments land without real impact. Life feels muted. Numbness is a quiet cry from the self that's been ignored too long. It's not a lack of emotion—it's a lack of connection. The opposite of burnout isn't rest—it's reawakening. You cringe when you see old photos—not just because of how you looked, but because you remember who you were. That version of you felt more real, more alive, more you. Now you avoid being captured altogether. When you can't bear to look at yourself, something deeper is asking to be seen. The relationship you have with your image reflects the relationship you have with your identity. Compassion is the first step back. Ask who you are, and you respond with titles, not truths. 'I'm a mom.' 'I'm a manager.' 'I'm his wife.' But strip those roles away, and suddenly there's silence. Roles provide structure, but they're not the whole story. When your identity depends on what you do for others, your inner world starts to dissolve. You're allowed to be a person, not just a function. Quiet moments make you anxious. The silence feels too loud—like it's asking questions you're not ready to answer. So you stay busy, distracted, or numbed out. But stillness is often where the truth of you lives. Avoiding it means avoiding yourself. The discomfort might be the very doorway back to your identity. You smile, perform, and show up—but deep down, it feels like you're pretending. The laugh doesn't quite land. The conversations feel rehearsed. You feel like you're watching your life from the outside. This performative existence is a symptom of emotional detachment from self. You're not lost—you're just offstage. And it's okay to step back into the spotlight of your own life. There's a vague ache that follows you, like a ghost version of who you used to be. You don't know exactly what changed, but something did. And you quietly grieve the person you used to feel like. That grief is valid. You can love your life and still mourn your identity. But the beauty is this: your sense of self isn't gone—it's just waiting for you to come back home.
CBS News
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Contestant on "Love On the Spectrum" from Massachusetts hopes to change perception of autism
A student at a Massachusetts college is a contestant on the upcoming season of "Love On the Spectrum" and she's hoping to to break down stereotypes for those living with autism. Pari, a local student at Lesley University, is not only seeking love but also bringing a unique perspective to the show as a member of the queer community. As someone on the autism spectrum, Pari's story is one of navigating life, love, and stereotypes. "I used to think I was the only one who liked the things I liked or felt so alone," said Pari. "I never knew there were so many other people on the spectrum too." Passion for trains Her involvement in the show aims to challenge the way autism is portrayed and to broaden the narrative of who can fall in love. But it is not just about breaking down barriers. Pari's biggest passion in life is something many might not expect: trains. Specifically, the trains of Boston's famous "T" system. Her connection to the trains is more than just a hobby; it is a passion that she holds dear to her heart. She hoped to find a partner who shares that same love for trains, and without spoiling the show, it seems like she was successful. Pari told WBZ-TV her new partner is perfect. "She wears blue a lot and I wear purple," she said. "She's like the Amtrak to my Commuter Rail." Hopes to have a positive impact It is a bold step for Pari to put her journey in front of the world, but she is determined that it will have a positive impact. She said she has experienced bullying in the past, and believes this show will make a statement for her. "There's some bullies who have said, 'You're weird for liking trains because you're a girl' and stuff and nasty comments, the trolls and haters. But I hope this will show them that I can be who I want to be and break down stereotypes. You can like trains, you can like princesses, nobody's ever too old or too young for that." Fans can catch Pari in the season premiere of "Love on the Spectrum" on April 2 on Netflix.
