Don’t Be Less

I did it. My head spun in a disoriented fog. My limbs trembled with weakness. I felt sick to my stomach and my heart felt as though a boulder was sitting upon it. Everything within me screamed at the top of my I-can-barely-breathe lungs and I wondered if maybe curling up and actually dying would…

Read More

Beyond the Boundaries

Although I grew up in a large city (Detroit), I only inhabited one small part of it, what is locally known as the east side. Woodward Avenue divided the east side from the west side of Detroit, and I had no reason to cross Woodward Avenue. Everything I needed was available on the east side,…

Read More

Distance but Not Distant

“I think about today. I think about tomorrow. I don’t give much thought to yesterdays.” — Yellowstone  Our relationship has been far from easy. Unkind words have been exchanged and mean looks used to play a part whenever we communicated, but there have also been words of love, kindness, and support followed by a hug…

Read More

Look At Me Go

Every year on Independence Day, the little subdivision that held the yellow house I grew up in would shut down the loop of streets lined with houses that looked just like my yellow one. All the kids would decorate their bikes with streamers and balloons, and we would have a bike parade around the subdivision.…

Read More

The Doors

I imagine God putting a big beautiful and sturdy door on the front of my tender heart. The door is made of the finest cherry wood and engraved with beautiful swirls and intricate details. It is solid and it protects my empathic heart and soul. Outside the door of my heart it says WELCOME! My…

Read More

Making Messes

Just a few hours ago, I was scrubbing dog poo off of the behind of my three-month-old golden doodle. There was poo everywhere: on her legs, on her tail, on her belly—not to mention all over her crate, her chew toys, and the blanket used to create a cozy space for her.

Read More

Let’s Keep Going

Once upon a time it was not okay to say, “No, thank you.” Somewhere along the journey of life, my no was swallowed up by duty and obedience.

Read More

Me first.

Around the middle of our years in graduate school at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology—steeped in self-reflection, therapy, and the rehashing of our personal stories—my girlfriends and I were learning all about the importance of self-care.

Read More

Uncanny Space

I’m unsure of how to start the conversation about honor.

Read More