The Tattoo That Marks 13 Years of Healing After Abuse
“When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” ~Maya Angelou In June 2011, I got a Facebook friend request from a guy I vaguely knew from…
Why We Keep Accepting the Same Painful Relationship Patterns
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” ~George Santayana I was gone about two hours. I’d gone to see my stepbrother, who lived nearby. My girlfriend didn’t…
From Hyper-Independent to Human: Learning How to Accept Help
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” ~Brené Brown It happened on a…
When Doing More Is Really an Attempt to Control the Outcome
“Uncertainty is the only certainty there is, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.” ~John Allen Paulos I refreshed the analytics page even though I had…
When “Nothing Is Wrong” Keeps You in the Wrong Life
“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” ~Carl Jung I was twenty-eight years old, standing in front of a mirror, reaching for my lipstick. I…
The Year I Tried to Optimize My Way into Love
“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” ~William Bruce Cameron I noticed it halfway through the conversation. We were outside a café…