I actually cried when Hector told me he'd found my "book." I think God knew I would be an oft-wandering soul. That friends and loves and family members would come and go, and I would need something to anchor me, something I could rely on even when those I loved couldn't be there for me. The empty page was always waiting to take my pain or rage or joy.
Personal Growth
Between the Rocks: Finding Sanctuary in the Waiting
Sanctuary isn't the absence of uncertainty. It's not found in answered prayers staying answered or circumstances finally settling into place. Sanctuary is the practice of returning to God in the midst of unknowns—the daily choice to sit between the rocks and seek the Rock.
The Last Time You Don’t Know Is the Last Time
My colleague's military family knows when they're leaving – her daughter could make the most of her last band competition. But when someone keeps leaving without going anywhere, when every good day might be the last good day but you won't know until later, when you're taking it one day at a time with no shared tomorrow—you're not building anymore. You're just accumulating artifacts for a future museum of memories you'll need to reframe.
Game Over: What Zelda Taught Me About Learning Curves at Forty
Kids die in video games a hundred times and laugh. Adults see one 'Game Over' screen and think we're stupid. Sick with a cold and struggling with Zelda's complicated controller, I realized I hadn't challenged myself mentally in years. Maybe growth requires being terrible at something first, even when you're forty and can't remember which button makes Link jump.
Trading Heroes for Mentors
As a child, my mom was my hero. Now, teaching sixth graders about heroism while navigating my own struggles, I've realized something: I don't have heroes anymore. I collect mentors instead. Heroes stand on pedestals, untouchable and perfect. Mentors sit beside you with their own scars visible, showing you how to navigate the flaws. The real hero's journey? Not an ascent to perfection but a descent from pedestals to walk alongside others.
Behind the Scenes: A Summer of Cutting, Crafting, and Chasing Dreams
The sun crested the York River this morning at 5:59 AM, and I was there to meet it, rosewood ukulele slung across my shoulder, journal tucked under my arm. Same 9 PM bedtime, same sunrise ritual—rain or shine, whether I'm alone with my thoughts or surrounded by the Fourth of July crowd that descended on … Continue reading Behind the Scenes: A Summer of Cutting, Crafting, and Chasing Dreams
Teaching Students to Be Mental Health Advocates: From Darkness to Dawn
When my sixth-grader called herself a mental health advocate, I knew we were onto something important. Here's how educators can inspire students to champion mental wellness.
Finding Beauty in Broken Things: Sea Glass Lessons from Fort Monroe Beach
Searching for sea glass on Fort Monroe Beach became a metaphor for how God uses broken pieces to create something beautiful. Sometimes our greatest storms produce our most treasured gifts.
Chasing Sunrises: Lessons in Resilience Through Daily Rituals
Sixty sunrises in as many days taught me about resilience and renewal. Here's how a daily sunrise photography ritual became my mental health anchor during recovery.
Taming a Temper in Therapy and Accepting My Bipolar Diagnosis
After decades of trying to control my temper through prayer alone, therapy finally gave me the tools to manage bipolar rage. Here's how mental health treatment changed everything.
Writer's Growth 