“Becoming a writer is about becoming conscious...
When you’re conscious and writing from a place of insight and simplicity and real caring about the truth, you have the ability to throw the lights on for your reader.”
- Anne Lamott
What Just Happened at the Capitol?
The attack on our nation’s Capitol has me reeling. My mind fluctuates between deep concern and intense interest. There are so many worrisome and complex aspects to what occurred on that terrifying day. The new information released on a daily basis accompanied by striking pictures and videos tells different parts of many stories about what is truly happening in our nation and our world.
Peace on Earth is an Inside Job
2020 has been a lot! To quantify what has happened this year with all of the changes that have had to be endured seems impossible. Collective grief, loneliness, fear, and conflict have been ever-present. There has also been tremendous kindness, connection, and creativity. In reflecting on this year, I have been wondering about human suffering.
Your Survival Guide for the Election Season
Camping trips are my very favorite vacation. Being in nature with the simplicity of just the essentials — amazing food cooked over an open fire, laughter with friends and family, and technology-free activities — is, simply put, paradise. All campers know that to enjoy this kind of freedom you must also prepare a lot. It is imperative to have all of the necessary equipment to truly enjoy the experience. If you are cold, hungry, or ill-prepared for danger, it is not only unenjoyable but can be downright miserable.
How to Create Change in Your Life by Being More Fully Yourself
Back when I was an Obstetrics and Gynecology resident and new wife, I would return from a long work shift with my arm outstretched and my finger pointed. I pointed at all of the things that appeared out of place and messy in our small apartment as my husband greeted my exhausted body at the door. I had survived a sleep-deprived 48 hours of emergencies and chaos. I craved control over something, anything, and that something became my home environment.
7 Keys to Finding Your Voice
Silence = Violence. We have all read this on recent protest signs and in the writings of the leaders in the movement for justice and anti-racism. This statement has been a call for a new collective consciousness. Fighting racism requires expression. Justice requires voice. Staying silent in the face of injustice results in violence.
Who Are You and How Are You?
As we settle into what it means to stay-at-home, fluctuations in nearly every aspect of our lives have become commonplace. It feels like we all have been suddenly shoved onto a rollercoaster without a clear view of the exit.
The Reboot: How to Get Unstuck
Sometimes my computer requires a reboot. With mounting frustration, I acknowledge that the device has slowed down and become stuck and broken. When I finally get to the point of rebooting my computer, I am often feeling downright frazzled.
Attentivism: Can a pandemic bring about a new “ism”?
In America, we learn about rugged individualism from a very early age. It isn’t something conscious, we just know at a cellular level that we are to think about ourselves first. We are taught to be resourceful, we learn to be self-reliant and we compete fiercely to get ahead.
The Trouble with August
Every August feels the same. The evenings become cooler, the cicadas get louder and I find myself desiring to squeeze every last drop out of summer. Is it possible to cram in the boating, picnicking and lake swimming that I had imagined I would be doing all summer? Somehow, I never got to any of these things!
Navigating Complicated Pregnancy Loss: One Therapist's Story
Abortion is distressing. Yet, the inability to have an abortion is unthinkable. The time has come to speak the truth. There are countless reasons that women find themselves in the position to make this choice. I have had the privilege of caring for these women both medically, as an Obstetrician and Gynecologist, as well as psychologically, as a Licensed Professional Counselor. The truth of the matter is that no woman has ever wanted to be in the position to make this choice.