When I lost my mother's daily approval after calling off my wedding, I had to learn to be proud of myself for the first time. Here's how losing her smile of pride forced me to find my own voice—and write authentically even when my hands felt tied.
Personal Growth
Going Blonde and Breaking Free: When Life Changes Call for Bold Choices
I went blonde to mark my season of change after calling off my wedding and leaving my teaching job. Here's why sometimes breaking free means going 'all or nothing' instead of playing it safe.
After Ending My Engagement: When Truth Isn’t Black and White
After calling off my wedding, I'm learning that truth and trust aren't as simple as they seem. Sometimes being human means living in the gray areas where colors bleed together until you can't see the lines.
After the Fairy Tale Ends: Finding Truth When the Fog Clears
When I broke my engagement and called off my move to Germany, I had to face who I was without the fairy tale. Here's what I discovered when the fog cleared and I was finally standing alone—but standing.
After 158 Tuesday Nights, Even the Cushions Know My Shape
Chuck's words echo: 'Gravity works against all things... with time.' My shoulder feels it literally, but we all feel it—in sagging skin, long-distance love, dreams deferred. Yet tonight, though I can't see my magnolias in darkness, I know they bloom. Some things resist gravity's pull, at least for now.
Two Totaled Cars Taught Me This: Confidence Without Experience Is Just Well-Intentioned Danger
Rules aren't enough. Like my students facing new SOL questions, like me trusting that waving lady in traffic—we need experience plus someone who believes we can drive again. My shoulder injury changed every gym rule I knew. Sometimes the mentor matters more than the method.
156 Tuesday Nights Later: How a Blank Document Became My Resurrection Story
Three years ago, I typed 'I used to be a writer... even a wife.' Now, rain or shine, you'll find me on this white wicker loveseat every Tuesday. Some costumes get retired, others reclaimed. But writer? That one's not 'used to be' anymore—it's who I am.
Eight White Envelopes and One Ex-Husband’s Wedding Photo: Choosing What We See
Between mailing resumes to Virginia's top schools and finding my ex-husband's wedding photos at 2 AM, I learned that perception is everything. Do you see failure or faith? Because I'm choosing to see God in the white envelopes.
Turning 35 Single and Childless: Why I Wouldn’t Go Back to 19
I used to pity my divorced teacher with her mid-year name change. At 35, I became her. Here's why I wouldn't trade this broken, beautiful journey for the fearless girl I used to be.
Ice Skating at the National Gallery Taught Me I’ve Been Bracing for Falls My Whole Life
Charming and I skated The Mall in D.C., but I kept tensing for the fall that never came. After 15 years of fierce independence, I decorate Christmas trees alone and skate like I live—bracing for impact. Maybe learning to trust a teammate is just another grammar rule worth breaking.
Writer's Growth 