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A note from the author, written three days after release If this is the first thing you’re reading here, welcome. I’m glad you found your way. Three days ago, my first book went out into the world. And while I expected relief or celebration, what I mostly feel is something quieter—grounded, exposed, and deeply aware of what it means to let people see you. This isn’t a book for everyone. And it was never meant to be. While I was putting this collection together—deciding what b

It’s day one of the New Year. Time for reflection as well as planning for the future. I am grateful for 2025. It mostly sucked– in that kind of way that you can only appreciate it once it’s done. There were lessons learned and battles fought that I didn’t sign up for. But, as we closed out the year I felt nothing but gratitude for my life and my family and my friends (old and new). 2026 feels like becoming, emerging, and breathing life. It looks a lot like showing up authenti

When you’re living in survival mode, asking for help can feel impossible. Maybe you’ve already tried and weren’t believed. Perhaps you don’t even have the words for what’s happening yet. Or maybe you’ve been told that asking for help would make things worse. Here’s the truth: you are not overreacting, and you are not alone. There are people—real people—ready to listen, believe you, and help you find your next safe step. Today’s post isn’t a story. It’s a map. A guide to what’

Abuse doesn’t always leave bruises.Sometimes it hides behind apologies, inside jokes, or “that’s just how they are.” It can be quiet, subtle, and hard to name — especially when the world tells you to look for black eyes instead of broken confidence. The truth is, abuse wears many faces.It ’s not just physical. It’s emotional, spiritual, sexual, financial, and psychological. It’s control disguised as care, cruelty dressed up as love. Today, I want to talk about the forms of ab

Healing doesn’t happen on a schedule.There isn’t a finish line or a single “aha” moment when the pain packs its bags and disappears. More often, it’s a series of quiet, ordinary days that slowly begin to look and feel like peace. Some days you’ll feel strong, unstoppable even. You’ll wake up lighter, speak your truth with confidence, and believe—really believe—that the worst parts are behind you.And then, out of nowhere, a smell, a sound, or a tone of voice can pull you right

Brianna is a single mom of two—her daughter is seventeen, her son eleven. She left her abuser, her ex-husband, soon after their son was born. Their relationship began when she was just sixteen and he was twenty-three. “ Sixteen and twenty-three is a huge difference when you’re in high school. But I thought I was just so mature… turns out he was just a bum and nobody his age wanted him. ” Her parents disapproved from the start.“My dad hated him. From the gate. My mom had alrea

I start every interview the same, asking them to tell me about who they are as a person outside of the abuse. April laughs uncomfortably...

When I first spoke with  Mary , she was ready to bare it all. Names, places, dates — nothing held back. But as is often the case with survivors, she later reconsidered. The risk of exposure weighed heavier than the relief of telling. She asked that we use an alias, and that is how I will honor her here. Mary has been in and out of therapy for more than two decades. Her chart now reads like a list she never asked for: depression, PTSD, complex PTSD, fibromyalgia, autoimmune di

Katie is a 30-year-old single mom who made the brave decision to leave her abuser one year ago. When we connected on Zoom, she bounced...

Usually, I’m the one asking the questions. Today, I’m also answering them. I believe it’s only fair that if I’m asking others to share...

Abuse doesn’t always look the way we were taught to see it. Movies and headlines show us bruises, broken bones, or police reports. And...

I am officially divorced. A “divorceé” if you will. It sounds fancy. French maybe. Like a debutante. Ready for the ball. The official decree arrived in the mail the same day my (ex) in laws traveled to our new town to watch the boy play baseball. The papers, while happily received, were very anticlimactic. There was no confetti or grand declaration. There’s no gold gilded stamps or elaborate calligraphy. Certainly nothing worth framing. And it feels… a little underwhelming. A

My girlfriend is toxic. I know- that’s shocking to hear. I only ever talk about how much I love her. How amazing she is at making every day feel like a fairytale. How lucky I am to have reconnected with her after two decades apart. But, yeah. She’s toxic. Not in that buzzword, trendy-psychosis, let’s all trauma bond kinda way. She is literally toxic. >is Britney Spears singing in your head yet? No. Go ahead and pull up Spotify- I’ll wait. Fun fact you probably don’t know abo

The Transition from Summer to Fall Summer has loosened its grip on us. It’s hot. Hotter in the sun. But the breeze is cool this evening, and the clouds provide enough shade to almost feel like fall. All of that to say, there’s a “chemo disconnect kit” in my purse. I forgot to take it out when we got home yesterday. I’ll probably leave it until tomorrow when Julie’s pump starts beeping that it’s time to disconnect. The Reality of Treatment This is her fourth treatment. Honestl

I do not love that man. That man is weak and a coward. He is both ineffectual and lacking empathy. A flawed character, for sure. I do not love that man. Truthfully, I do not know that man. I awoke one day to find him sharing my home. Beating my dog and yelling at my children. I do not know that man. He averts his eyes and raises his voice. Refuses to engage. Unless it’s a whiskey rage. Did he sneak in one night? While I was fast asleep- switch places with the man I chose? No.

Discovering Inner Peace Through Sound and Energy I recently attended a sound bath and meditative session with Reiki. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The instructions said to bring a yoga mat, so I envisioned some stretching, chants, and spiritual guidance. While there was no “lesson” per se, the guided meditation took me to a place I was not expecting. The theme was sunshine, and every time they spoke of the warm feeling, I was reminded of childhood, playing outside,

There’s a line about fences in a Miranda Lambert song: "Yeah, I could love a picket fence if it wrapped around the world." I think about it often. This whole town is wrapped in white fences. Some fences stretch as far as the eye can see. Fences That Lead Us Home Others lead the way home. These fences are markers of safety and comfort. They represent the desire to belong somewhere special. The Cliché of a Happy Life Mostly, I think of how these fences have become a cliché for

I don’t currently have a tripod. These panoramic photos were taken on my iPhone at the local soccer fields, stitched together by my hands—not because I had the perfect gear, but because I wanted to capture the whole scene. Not just a piece of it. And maybe that’s the most honest way to explain where I am in life, too. For years, I’ve asked for clarity. And for years, I fought the answers I didn’t want to see. Whether it was about a friendship I had outgrown, a marriage I was

This week's photo assignment was to take "abstract" photos. I took my photos of natural objects we have at home. Zoomed in. Adjusted the sharpness and texture. Added a black and white filter. When I was done, I looked up the definition of abstract. There are quite few, as you can imagine, depending on context. In short, the abstract is used to describe things that are intangible, something that is theoretical, or (in art) depicting a subject in a non-literal way or wheras an

Mom, do you see that?          See what honey?          There, across the road…            It’s 8 am and the late bell rings at 8:10. If I am extremely lucky I can have her to school before they close the doors and I’m forced to endure another condescending email on the importance of attendance and tardiness. I worked the late shift again last night. Everyone on the closing shift is new, which means they’re all still learning and what should be a shift that has me home by 2:3