Being the First to Apologize

I am someone who avoided conflict for a really long time before I figured out how to get good at it. And by “good at it”, I mean embracing the uncomfortable in order to establish clarity. I don’t mind being temporarily uncomfortable if it means I can be better for it for myself and theContinue reading “Being the First to Apologize”

The 5 Ways To Know You’re in the Wrong Relationship

It’s easy to stay in a relationship when you know you’re with the wrong person. Sometimes we prefer to be with the wrong person because that seems better than being alone with the lies of inadequacy that are so easy to believe. But that’s just it: you’re either constantly being reminded that you’re not goodContinue reading “The 5 Ways To Know You’re in the Wrong Relationship”

When Your Favorite Christmas Present Comes From an Ex…

10 years ago today I was spending Christmas with my boyfriend and his family in the suburbs of Chicago. We had only began dating a few days before Thanksgiving but we quickly figured out that what we had was something special. While he went to his Freshman year of college in Ohio, and I wasContinue reading “When Your Favorite Christmas Present Comes From an Ex…”

The Peril of Pouring from an Empty Cup

“I’ve given all that I have and now I don’t have anything left of myself for me!” She blubbered through her tears. My good friend continues to struggle with the dichotomy of being “selfish” in meeting her own needs because of how it can interfere with her selfless desire of meeting the needs of thoseContinue reading “The Peril of Pouring from an Empty Cup”

God is Still in the Business of Doing the Miraculous

When my grandma passed away in February 2019 to say I was devastated would be the understatement of the decade. This powerfully faithful woman was in continuous prayer over her children, grandchildren, family and friends her entire life. She was in stage 3 Kidney failure for over 30 years and as her numbers would dropContinue reading “God is Still in the Business of Doing the Miraculous”

Grieving the “Right Relationship”

There’s something about the holidays that emphasizes singleness. It starts at Halloween and doesn’t end until Valentine’s Day. Literally 1/3 of the year emphasizes being paired up with someone. And social media emphasizes the perceived “happiness” and “fulfillment”—but whether that happiness you see on social media is rooted in reality is an entirely different story.Continue reading “Grieving the “Right Relationship””

Forgetting My First Choice

My social life growing up was less than ideal. I had a huge yearn for friends— not just “school friends” but the school friends who became “good friends” or even “BFFs” by hanging out over the weekend. When those opportunities rarely came, I settled on the attention I received by being the one that peopleContinue reading “Forgetting My First Choice”

6 Steps Toward Empathetic Understanding

If you’re anything like me, I have a need to verbally process my thoughts and feelings. Keeping my thoughts and feelings inside of my brain just … 6 Steps Toward Empathetic Understanding

3 Steps to Setting Realistic Expectations in Your Dating Relationships

I recently reconnected with an old friend from high school. As we were talking and catching up, he began to tell me about the frustration he experiences when trying to spend time with a friend who he feels is too-consumed with his relationship: “One of my best friends has to ask permission from his girlfriendContinue reading “3 Steps to Setting Realistic Expectations in Your Dating Relationships”

The Secret of Soulmates

“I can’t wait to spend forever with my soulmate!” That was the caption on her perfectly posed picture as she kissed her fiancé showing off a beautiful ring on her left hand. Soulmates, it’s an interesting idea isn’t it? As happy as I was for her and her fiancé as well their future together, itContinue reading “The Secret of Soulmates”