Religious

“You can’t force anyone to value, respect, understand, or support you, but you can choose to spend time around people who do.” ~Lori Deschene I always felt somewhat different from my family growing up. I didn’t have a terrible childhood—I was certainly loved, cared for, and looked after—but despite having two siblings, a mother, and […]

“The body heals with play, the mind heals with laughter, and the spirit heals with joy.” ~Unknown  Today, I want to give thanks for two of the special God-given gifts I feel grateful to possess: my sense of humor and my sense of optimism. Every time I’ve tripped and fallen or have been kicked down

Do you sometimes see people running around enjoying life and wonder what you’re missing? Sometimes I used to think I must be a horrible person. I had so many things going for me, and I still couldn’t be happy. I would ask myself, is there something wrong with me? Am I a narcissist? Then sometimes

“Take care of your body, it’s the only place you have to live.” ~ Jim Rohn I hear this happens to so many, but when it happens to you, it’s unsettling. I didn’t know what was going on with me, and I wasn’t getting any satisfying answers either. Most days were good, and I felt

“If you get stuck, draw with a different pen. Change your tools; it may free your thinking.” ~Paul Arden For a year and a half, I could feel a career shift coming. I had worked hard to cultivate a career I loved, but I began feeling disconnected from my work. The meaning I had originally

“If you believe it will work out, you’ll see opportunities. If you believe it won’t, you will see obstacles.” ~Wayne Dyer Gwen and I first met at a lactation group for new moms. She seemed like someone I’d get along with, and we talked here and there, eventually becoming Facebook friends, but nothing more. Fate

“Live your life for you not for anyone else. Don’t let the fear of being judged, rejected or disliked stop you from being yourself.” ~Sonya Parker On August 4, 2022, I buzzed off my long, thick, luscious hair. I marched up Sandy Boulevard in Portland, Oregon, walked into Take Pride Barbershop, and sat in the

“The strongest hearts have the most scars.” ~Unknown I always hated pain when growing up. For as long as I can remember I tried to avoid it. Physical pain was uncomfortable, but emotional pain was the real torture. It was sometimes easier to have a fight and stop communicating than to have a challenging conversation.

“The butterfly does not look back at the caterpillar in shame, just as you should not look back at your past in shame. Your past was part of your own transformation.” ~Anthony Gucciardi  Before I finally grew the courage to walk away from my boyfriend, I contemplated walking away many times. There was the time

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”  ~Mark Twain In 2022, I wanted to quit my job and didn’t