What if we all told the truth and just acknowledged when something hurts? Why is being honest so hard? — Have you ever noticed that little kids say “Ouch!” to all kinds of things? Biting into the spices on a pizza, sitting on a hard button on a sofa cushion, and touching a warm plate often elicit that deeply felt exclamation. For me, it was the tags in clothing and…

What if a shared life is more than just watching the changing seasons? — We often talk about the seasons of relationships. It is an analogy that makes a lot of sense as we are getting to know someone and then sharing life together. As we age, so do our relationships. But what if there is more? Is there a different way to understand…

Some moments last forever as they replay in your heart. — Explosions of light and color sparkle outside The dark of night illuminated with joy Celebrating the dawn of a new year My hands trace each defining line of him Memorizing every inch of his strength Feeling every beat of his heart with my own His muscular body enveloped in my…

Learning to trust another person is a multifaceted thing built on all who failed you before. Unwinding old patterns takes time and intention. — The lease to my new place had been signed less than a week and trying to wrap my mind around moving in the next few weeks was daunting. This move had been in the works for almost a year. …

Realizing that even the simplest connection is now unattainable leads me to ponder what actually existed in the first place. — Sometimes relationships reach a point where there is no easy way out. All of the roads are just hard and none are going to come without a cost that will likely be a broken heart. Before my decision to finally walk away, there were several options available. Each with its…

The system fails once more. My mother has been released from guardianship to live independently. — I have been in cars, planes, hotels, and conference rooms more in the last month than anytime I can ever remember. A huge event that has been in the works for months had finally come to pass. It was an incredible success and a personal and professional victory. My joy…

Not all storms come from the sky. Sometimes the most damaging ones come from within. — Growing up in the South, I was taught to keep my eyes on the sky when making plans on a sweltering summer day. The sudden arrival of a severe storm can be far more damaging than just a bit of rain on your popsicles and picnics. You learn to feel…

The reflection I see in the mirror was built on lies. Can the damage be repaired? — My dear body, When did I begin to hate you? Perhaps it was at 5 years old when I outgrew my favorite outfit that my grandmother made for me out of a fabric I helped pick out. …

Searching for what you think you want makes you miss all that you have. — Life is hard. It is messy and it is complicated. The appeal of living a life filled with expectations is that it allows the focus to be on the future. For those of us who have a little control freak at the helm, expectations let us believe there is an…