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.
Relationships
Learning to Apologize Well: The Art of Meaningful Forgiveness
I thought I knew how to say sorry, but my apologies weren't landing. Discovering the five apology languages transformed my relationships and taught me what real forgiveness looks like.
Six Ways I Learned to Love Better: Transforming Broken Relationships
My relationships were failing because I was bringing the wrong version of myself to them. Here are six hard-won lessons that changed how I connect with the people I love most.
From Dating Marathon to Instant Family: When Love Changes Everything
After a decade of dating disappointments, I found love that felt like home from day one. Here's how meeting Tony and his daughter transformed my writing, my heart, and my future.
Finding Your Perfect Fit: When Love Finally Makes Sense
After years of forcing relationships that never quite worked, I discovered what it feels like when all the pieces fall into place. Sometimes the right fit changes everything.
Falling for Two Hearts: Finding Love and Becoming an Instant Stepmom
Five dates in five days led to meeting his daughter and finding myself on the other side of a parent-teacher conference. Here's how I fell in love with both of them and discovered I'd been waiting my whole life for this moment.
Getting Right with God: A Beach Encounter That Changed Everything
A mysterious man named Ray at Fort Monroe Beach asked me a simple question that cut straight to my heart: "You want a husband? Then you need to get right with God." Here's how that encounter became a prayer.
Dating at 40: When You’re Still Holding Out for Fireworks
On Independence Day, I had a great first date but found myself wondering: am I holding out for chemistry that might never come again? Here's what I learned about being enough without the fireworks.
What I Learned Dating After Loss: Setting Boundaries Worth Keeping
After losing the love of my life, I returned to dating with new eyes. Here's what I discovered about self-worth, boundaries, and refusing to settle—lessons every woman deserves to know.
Growing Pains: How We Embrace Change and Growth
Growth and change are two of the most defining aspects of life. Whether it's a crab shedding its exoskeleton to make room for new growth or a human transitioning from one relationship to another, we all experience these shifts in our lives. Female crab shells litter Fort Monroe Beach’s shores. Alongside them are skeletons no one sees but me, phantom beach companions and even a charming proposal.
Writer's Growth 