On Asking for What You Need: a Short Examination
He said, “For someone who knows so clearly what you want, it’s annoying to me—someone who doesn’t have as clear of an idea—that you have a hard time asking for it.’ Maybe I’m too careful. Maybe there are times I need to step out of my accommodating, forgiving nature...
Love, Trauma, and Recovery: a Short Examination of the Worry Spiral
He is late. He usually calls or texts when he’s going to be late, but lately we’ve been more strangers than lovers, passing each other in the hallways, smiling, dropping quick kisses, breezing out the door. He didn’t even tell me where he was going today. I’ve been...
What Writers Give to Their Work
I was walking my sons to school the other day when the woman crossing them said, “I looked up your book yesterday.” I never know what to say in situations like these, so I just said, “Oh, yeah?” She said, “Yeah.” She didn’t say anything else about my book (I can’t say...
On the Secret to Marriage: an Essay
We are talking of the future and business plans and all these topics that beckon anxiety from its hiding place, because we’re in such a precarious position with so many unknowns. He is asking for hope and trust and certainty, and I can’t give it in light of all those...
On a New Year, New Goals, New Possibilities
At the close of every year, I always find myself turning my gaze to the new year—sometimes even before it’s time. There are certainly times in which to begin anew—the beginning of a summer, a birthday, an anniversary, the start of a school year. But there is no time...
On the Gift of Community and Believing in Yourself
I sat in my bed, reading. My eight-year-old appeared by the side of the bed and said, “The speech teacher took me out of class today. She said I say my s sound wrong.” I know this already; I’ve been in communication with his teacher about it. I said, “Oh yeah? How did...
Time Flies When You Enjoy Your Work: an Ironic Truth
“Can I show you this real quick?” My oldest son held out the old phone we gave him for his creative projects and a bit of technology time for which he has to complete a number of things before it’s earned. I was putting the last touches on dinner—some baked chicken,...
On Growing Up: a Short Essay
I could feel it coming: the nervous anticipation of the first day of school. When I was a kid, I threw my nervous energy into choosing my first-day-of-school outfit (which got progressively more complicated as I grew older and cared more about first impressions). I...
What it Means to Be a Peacemaker
The holidays are fast approaching. I will be spending time with people I love very much but whose beliefs and ideologies and values and political persuasions don’t always line up with my own. I have tried to ignore to which sides they lean and belong, but some things...
On Success: an Essay
We’re sitting around the table, talking about our days like we always do, when my husband says, “We got some negative podcast feedback today.” “Oh, yeah?” I say. He tells me about this product manager with Facebook, who wrote in to say that as much as he wants to...