One of the most painful lessons many of us learn in life is this: not everyone has the same heart as you. Just because you love people deeply doesn’t mean they will love you the same way in return. Just because you go out of your way to show kindness,…
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On September 10th, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed—not only for standing for what he believed to be true, but because he was effective at it. He had a way of stirring people to think differently, challenging them to question the world around them, and encouraging them to stand firm…
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Have you ever had dreams about past relationships—ones that weren’t even that meaningful, but for some reason they keep resurfacing? Recently, I found myself dreaming about old boyfriends. Not because I miss them, or because I secretly want them back, but because my heart is still working through what they…
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In high school, I wasn’t the girl who chased popularity or tried to blend in with the “cool kids.” I wasn’t known for being super smart or even athletic—even though I tried. What I was known for was having my eyes fixed on something beyond the small town I grew…
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I’ve allowed judgment from people who were never even part of my upbringing or my story. Somewhere along the way, I allowed people’s opinions to define me. I let their words settle in my spirit, and believed lies that had no foundation in truth. The truth is, more often than…
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My father used to call me “well adjusted.” I suppose, in his eyes, I was the ideal daughter—quiet, respectful, non-confrontational. I never talked back; smiled through everything; and held my tongue when I wanted to scream. What my father never realized, though, was that there was a storm brewing inside…
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First of all let me just say this:This isn’t about villainizing anyone—it’s about bringing awareness to something many parents overlook: the painful reality behind why some adult children create distance. There’s something unsettling about a parent who is quick to point out the flaws in their adult child without first…
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It took me 45 years to realize something that had been staring me in the face the entire time:Neither of my parents ever figured out how to love me. That’s a painful truth to admit. For most of my life, I tried to explain it away—telling myself I was too…
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Why Suppressing Emotions Is Not Strength In many cultures and families, we’re taught—either directly or subtly—that emotions are something to be controlled, hidden, or minimized. Crying is often met with “toughen up.” Expressing anger is labeled as “being too much.” Voicing fear is seen as “being weak.” So, we adapt.…
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How Pain Taught Me to Love Again I’ve always been the kind of person who checked in. The one who noticed when someone seemed a little off.The one who remembered birthdays, sent texts “just because,” and picked up the phone to ask, “How are you?” Loving people wasn’t something I…