Judgement (noun): the ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions. Judge (verb): to form an opinion or conclusion about These days are full of negative thoughts, occurrences, words, interactions and feelings. Of course, that is my judgement on the current state of affairs, after carefully considering and sensibly concluding. Lately, I’ve been Read More
Doesn’t Add Up
Skinny doesn’t equal healthy. Full doesn’t mean fulfilled. Present doesn’t equal presence. Connected doesn’t mean connection. Anesthetized doesn’t equal pain free. A temporary fix doesn’t mean a solution. Escape doesn’t equal freedom. Absence of conflict doesn’t mean peace. Be aware of the twisted math we perform in our heads…sometimes it doesn’t add up.
The Miraculous Monarch Migration (and how you can fly too)
Lately, I’ve been reading and reflecting on monarch butterflies. It may sound like a strange thing to think about, but I’m drawn toward the miraculous in nature, and in life. According to National Geographic, the 3000-mile migration of the monarch is one of the greatest natural events on Earth. There are other species on that Read More
Living in a Place of Mystery
Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe what we cannot see, and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty. Brene Brown This year, I have spent a lot of time in a place of mystery, and now I find myself living there yet again. Embracing the Read More
Sunday Meditation: A Beautiful Gift
And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them. Ephesians 4:29 TPT Whether you are the victim or the offender, every one of us has experienced the devastation of ugly, hateful words. Read More
The Element of Self-Sabotage in Relapse
I’ve been thinking about relapse lately, and why it happens. I picture a weakened figure sliding down the steep sides of a slippery pit. A bird caught mid-flight and thrown back into a rusty cage. The loudness of silence, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Ask anyone who has a history with drugs or Read More
A New Agenda
My husband and I squeezed in one more outing before I return to work tomorrow. On the agenda was a quick trip to the coast where we hiked and spent the night at a hotel on the ocean. It was an eight-mile hike, chosen on the spot and maybe a bit overambitious. When you read Read More
Sunday Meditation: Guard Your Heart
Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 Our thoughts, speech and actions settle into our hearts and, if repeated often enough, find a home. At certain points in my life, I have found myself off course, or on a bad course. It is hard to see Read More
A Letter to my Husband on our Anniversary
Dear Husband, I feel like year 11 should have come with a warning label. WARNING: You will be physically separated by 7,000 miles for seven months of this year. Life as you know it will change in big and small ways. You will feel lost, anxious, discouraged and frustrated a majority of the time… But Read More
Progress Report: 500 Days
Today marks 500 days into my wellness journey of sobriety and personal growth. I decided to check in with myself and reflect on my progress. We get progress reports in school on our academic journey, and since I’m a teacher my mind thinks like that. Although organic in form, I find it helpful to look Read More