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.

When Your Body Forces You to Slow Down: Lessons from Hand Surgery

Four hand surgeries in fifteen months taught me that sometimes our bodies know what our minds refuse to accept. Here's what I learned about rest, limits, and listening to what hurts.

Moving Forward Despite Depression: The Art of Doing Things Anyway

Depression whispers that nothing matters, but sometimes healing happens when we do the next right thing anyway. Here's how I learned to take action even when motivation was nowhere to be found.

When Your Love Story Doesn’t Look Like Everyone Else’s

My fairy tale ended, my faith wavered, but love didn't disappear—it just showed up in places I never expected. Sometimes the best love lives are the ones that don't fit the mold.

The Hurricane That Never Came and the Storm I’m Still Fighting

We prepared for Florence, but she missed us. Meanwhile, I'm still battling the real storm—learning to live instead of just working to survive. Sometimes silver linings come with friends.

When Friendship Becomes Judgment: Learning to Love Without Fixing

I lost my best friend because I couldn't love her without trying to change her. Here's what the ocean taught me about friendship, boundaries, and letting people be themselves.