Helping the vulnerable not just survive, but thrive I’m facing my brokenness and mistakes with greater compassion I toss and turn. Glancing at the phone, I see it’s only 2 a.m. Another sleepless night as my mind goes over the past five years of mistakes. Before I can stop myself, I begin to wonder what […]
Month: September 2020
How to Survive Living With a Sociopath
Helping the vulnerable not just survive, but thrive I did it by following these six essential rules. Each type of family constellation creates a unique culture with expectations and unspoken rules. Narcissistic parents, for example, often set up a competitive environment and pitch siblings against one another. To these parents, maintaining the family’s good image […]
Why I Think Online Dating Is a Failing Social Experiment
Helping the vulnerable not just survive, but thrive We’re trying to make a significant decision with too little information My first online dating experience was nearly five years ago. I still remember the excitement I felt when writing the bio. How I sweated over which descriptors to use and whether my photos conveyed a particular […]
I Just Want to Feel Like I Belong
Helping the vulnerable not just survive, but thrive If it looks like I have it all together it’s because I’m pretending. There’s something I’m very uncomfortable admitting — for the longest time, I’ve felt like an outsider. I’ve spent my entire life wanting to belong. I’ve longed to find a group of people who accept me as […]
My Amazon Sister, My Friend
A Poem for Karmen The watercolored memories Echo in my mind.Pictures of her, my sister,Childhood enemy and friend. She was younger, yet older. Fierce and loyal,My Amazon sister, my friend. I looked up to her, my hero, For strength, for love.Quietly she stood beside me,My younger sister, a loyal friend. Through the passing of yearsOur roles change again.She turns […]
Harnessing The Power Of Positive Thinking
Helping the vulnerable not just survive, but thrive It has unleashed my creativity Whenever I hear about the power of positive thinking, I fight the urge to roll my eyes. It reminds me of the character Stuart Smalley, from the SNL skit Daily Affirmation sitting in front of his mirror, saying to himself, “I am […]
Don’t Hate Me For Supporting This Presidential Candidate
Helping the vulnerable not just survive, but thrive I’ve noticed a growing divisiveness among those I love Lately, I’ve noticed a disturbing American trend of growing divisiveness. Evidence of it is everywhere — on TV, social media postings, and even dating profiles. This past week my inbox started to fill with personal notes from friends and family in […]
Living in This Present Moment: A Lesson From a Dying Man
Helping the vulnerable not just survive, but thrive He learned too late that all we have is this present moment. Brad walked into the bedroom dressed in his khaki shorts and a polo shirt, his white golf gloves still pulled high on both hands. With a big grin plastered on his face, he said, “You know, […]
I Dumped My Boyfriend for Getting His Feelings Hurt
Helping the vulnerable not just survive, but thrive He didn’t like me questioning him or being insecure. Well, I did it. I dumped my boyfriend — the much younger guy — this week. I knew it was coming. Despite the great chemistry, we had lots of differences. Most of them were related to life experiences and age — life goals, hobbies, […]
My Shocking Discovery at 58 Years Old That I Have Autism
A common undiagnosed or misdiagnosed condition for many women Almost two weeks ago, someone challenged a fundamental assumption I’d held about myself. This revelation has upended my world. Suddenly I feel wobbly, tentative, and not quite sure who I am. I’m undergoing a massive shift in self-understanding. As a licensed psychologist with over twenty years […]