I still battle hesitancy and social anxiety I was one of those kids who experienced bullying — the awkward, nerdy type. The kind that others couldn’t resist picking on. It didn’t matter if I stayed hunched down, slumped over, and stuck to the corners of life. Somewhere on me was a neon sign that must have read “kick […]
Category: Interpersonal Issues
The High Cost of Abuse: I Forgot to Value My Peace of Mind
And, yours matters too A young woman posted before and after photos of herself taken a few months apart. In the first image, she looked worried. Stressed. Her expression was tense. You could see the tight lines around her mouth and eyes. She definitely had no peace of mind. In the second photo, she looked at […]
My Problem With the Money Shot, also Called a Facial (Not the Spa-Kind)
Please, will someone explain their popularity? I recently shared that I write under the pen name of Marie Lynne on Medium.com. There I explore the sensuality of sexual intimacy, provide education on better sex, and explore sticky areas surrounding sexuality, such as the money shot. It’s vulnerable, transparent, and raw. Definitely not everyone’s cup of […]
Are You Being Groomed to Be Abused? Watch out for these 5 signs
These warnings often occur early in a new relationship. Did you know abusive people often groom their partners? In the early stages of a relationship, they test to see if this person would make a good victim. Would you know how to recognize if you were being groomed? My Introduction to the Dynamics of Abusive […]
Informed Consent Is Binary: It’s Either Yes or No
And the default is no By GB Rogut Trigger warning: This piece is about non consensual sex and may be too graphic or disturbing for some. It wasn’t the first time we had sex. Still, the last couple of times hadn’t been that pleasurable, and it looked like this one wasn’t going to be either. […]
Hoping to be Loved, I Made the Mistake of Being Too Nice
And ended up being disrespected I heard from my ex recently. He emailed and asked for a large sum of money. Not hundreds of dollars, but thousands. Mind you, we’ve been divorced for over a year. This guy exited the relationship much richer than he entered it — and me much poorer. While married, I made the […]
The Difficulty of Finding Unconditional Love
We often don’t recognize it even when it’s standing right in front of us What is unconditional love? I’ve been asking myself that question a lot lately. Would I recognize it if I saw it or better yet, felt it? I don’t think so, but I’m working hard to change that. What is unconditional love? My […]
Why Cell Phone Snooping Sometimes Is Necessary
It might be the only way to know you’re not crazy s it ever okay to snoop on someone else’s phone? This question tends to stir up strong emotions on both sides of the issue. There are those who think trust and respect are paramount in a relationship. Breaking into our partner’s phone or computer […]
Common Mistake of Doing Anything for Love
I’ve learned the hard way self-respect must come first Someone recently told me to consider the number of concessions or sacrifices I am willing to make when starting a relationship. I hadn’t considered that I might be making a grave mistake of doing anything for love. I’m embarrassed to admit that despite years of counseling others, […]
How Being Nice Nearly Cost Me My Vision
Learning the hard way the importance of sticking up for myself After spending a couple of years abroad, I’d fallen behind with the routine matters of healthcare. I had ignored dental cleanings, eye exams, and annual physicals. Yeah, I know, not good for a woman in her fifties. Dealing with an abusive marriage left little energy […]