“You are the expert on you!” “Who me?” “Yes, you!” “Really?” “Yes, really.” “Wow . . . Ok!” That was a snippet of a dialogue between my therapist and me several years ago. (Hey, now... as tempting as it may be, let’s not try to figure out why I went to a therapist. Let’s stay focused on the message at hand ;)) I had never considered myself an expert on anything, especially when it came to making decisions for myself. I always needed a panel of constituents to consult Continue Reading
Dear Ashamed
To Whom It May Concern: If you really knew me, you would not love me. And I don't want to lose you and your love, so I can't dare show you the real me. That's why I lie. That's why I smile when I want to cry. That's why I say yes when I want to say no and no when I want to say yes. That's why I spend when I should save; suck in when I really want to exhale; manipulate; cover up; drink up and show up when I would rather be home in bed. It’s exhausting. The idea of being free of secrets and Continue Reading
Heaven And Hell
One day a conversation with my 7-year-old and my 4-year-old daughters went in a direction I was not anticipating. By the time I realized this, it was too late to turn back. Olivia: “. . .’Hell’?” “What is ‘hell’?” Me: (thinking, “Oh Lord, here we go!) “Hell is a place you go after you die if you don’t believe in Jesus.” Olivia: “Ooooh, that’s going to be baaaad!” Gabrielle: “One of my classmates said she doesn’t believe in Jesus.” Olivia: “Ooooh, that’s going to be Continue Reading