Get to Know the Voice Behind the Velvet Lens

Hi. I’m Abby.

If you’re here, it’s probably because you’re at a crossroads, a dead end, or a "why is this happening again?" moment. You’ve likely exhausted your friends, your family, and your dog with the details of your current dilemma.

Don't worry. I’m a professional over-analyzer, and I have a very high battery life for your drama.

The Person in the Corner Booth

I’m a writer, a deep-diver, and a firm believer that the truth is usually found somewhere between "it’s not your fault" and "you really need to stop doing that." I spent years being the friend everyone called at 2:00 AM. Eventually, I realized I wasn't just good at listening; I was good at seeing the patterns. We all tell ourselves stories to stay comfortable, even when that "comfort" is actually making us miserable. I started Side-Eye & Sympathy to give those stories a place to breathe—and a place to be challenged.

The Philosophy: Sips & Spills

Think of me as your resident realist in an oversized sweater. I’m the one who will sit across from you in a quiet cafe, listen to your entire chaotic story without blinking, and then take a slow, calm sip of my coffee before giving it to you straight.

I lead with two things:

The Sympathy (The Velvet): Your feelings are data. They aren't "wrong" or "too much." I will always start by validating the human part of you that is hurting, confused, or stuck. Consider this your digital velvet couch.
The Side-Eye (The Lens): Once we’ve honored the feeling, we have to look at the facts. I will point out the "spinach in your teeth" because a real friend doesn't let you walk around like that. I’ll be the one sipping my coffee while I spill the truth you’ve been avoiding.

I use wit not to be mean, but to break through the noise of your own excuses. Life is complicated; your advice shouldn't be.

The doctor is in, the coffee is hot, and the side-eye is ready. Let’s get to work.

Abby-Side-Eye-and-Sympathy-Advice-Columnist

5 Fast Facts About Me:

My Coffee Order: Black. No sugar. Just like my reality checks.
My Guilty Pleasures: People-Watching with a Narrative and Eavesdropping on First Dates (don't act like you don't).
The Advice I Give Most Often: "If they wanted to, they would." (Simple, brutal, and 99% effective).
My 'Therapist' Superpower: I can spot a toxic pattern from a three-sentence email. It’s a gift and a curse.
Why I Do This: Because I believe that when we finally stop telling the wrong stories, we finally have room to start living the right one.

Why should you trust me?

I’m not a doctor. I’m not a guru. I’m just someone who has walked through enough fire to know where the exits are. I don’t want to fix your life—I want to help you see it clearly enough so that you can fix it.

I’m the person who will hold the flashlight while you look under the bed for monsters. Just don't be surprised if I point out that the "monster" is actually just a pile of laundry you’ve been avoiding for three weeks.

Ready to get started?

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