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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
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, … Read more
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, … Read more
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 … Read more
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 … Read more
We avoid all forms of attention, even at the expense of our health Do you know what the opposite of a narcissist is? It’s not the empaths as some think. It’s the echoist. I know because I am one. I walked into my surgeon’s office today. Four days ago, I underwent a lower facelift to deal … Read more