Do you ever attempt to soothe your soul in an absolutely nonsensical way? Common advice for anxiety sufferers is occupying your hands to distract your mind, as if knitting an afghan would erase your constant stress. It certainly wouldn't do the trick for me, since I never had the mental fortitude for knitting -- instead... Continue Reading →
You Are Amazing
Remember a few years ago when everywhere you looked, there was a woman reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle? Women in Starbucks, women on airplanes, women on the beach, all heeding the call at the same time? I didn't read it. As a rule, I avoid any book that is wildly popular because those books are... Continue Reading →
Chin Up
I was sitting in a doctor's office this morning when I noticed a glob of children's toothpaste smeared on the back of my hand. It had been hours since I'd brushed the kids' teeth, so I only knew what the sticky goop was because it was blue and smelled like fake fruit. It was a... Continue Reading →
How, exactly?
I have well-documented anxiety, and have recently begun discussing it with a therapist again. Why, you ask, wouldn't I be in a constant state of therapy if I know I have anxiety? Because I very much dislike crying. I get an awful headache after I cry, and it's obviously embarrassing and exhausting, but I also... Continue Reading →
Down For the Count
I'm entering night three of a bout of unnamed illness, and currently typing from an awkward reclined position because being upright for more than a few minutes is a non-starter. Coffee and dim lighting for the headache, blankets and sweater for the chills. It's not vertigo, more like motion sickness, where nodding or turning my... Continue Reading →
A Case of the Mondays
Y'all. Today is the Mondayest Monday. Last night I had nonstop nightmares, but I can't remember what the nightmares were about, so I don't even know what to be afraid of. Killer spiders? Natural disasters? Escaping a car that's filling with water (this one is on frequent nightmare rotation)? Who knows. I guess I'll just... Continue Reading →
The Business of Writing
If I dreamt of being an actress, I'd be going about the business of fame by hanging around soda shop counters and hoping to be discovered for just sitting and sipping. I'm taking the same approach to my writing success. Maybe if I just send words into the abyss someone will say, "can I publish... Continue Reading →
Icarus
It turns out you can't just affirm anything you want into existence. Psyching myself up to write more and submit to other publications is seemingly more attainable than my quest to eat more vegetables. I was not able to manifest better health. I love vegetables and have watched several documentaries that extol the virtues of... Continue Reading →
The Trouble With Love Languages
I have more than one preferred language, but the one that applies to all my interactions with people is Words of Affirmation. My brother-in-law once said he liked my roast chicken and now I make it all the time. Of course, my brother-in-law lives in another city so I'm just force-feeding my husband my self-proclaimed... Continue Reading →
Genesis
A few years ago I thought I had cancer. My doctor was concerned so I had a barrage of tests including a biopsy of the lymph node in my neck that was jutting out like Frankenstein's bolts. The mystery of the neck lump was never solved, but I didn't have cancer so I tried to... Continue Reading →