My social anxiety causes me to resist inviting people into my life. Into my home. Into my space. I have long feared what others may think of me, how I may be perceived as failing (because anxiety always causes a person to jump to the negative). But my neighbors are amazing at it. They invite […]
The risk of relationship: Is it worth it...
Three days before the big move, Tim and I are sitting at our dining room table surrounded by a house that has imploded. Clothes are draped over furniture. Boxes lie around half packed, partially labeled. Food is on the counter. Dishes remain in the sink. Panicked I turn to my husband, “I wanted to be […]
When I Felt Like I Was Too Different
The Way of Gratitude: Day 7 (originally posted here) Looking back on this post, I can still feel my frustration My sense of uncertainty about who I am, what I do, how I do it… When I wrote months ago about being a Highly Sensitive Person, I may have mentioned how sometimes I feel very different […]
Why Sympathy Spurs Shame, but Empathy Em...
Day 28 of 31 Days of Connecting When Jack was 3 or 4 months old, we went to a family friend’s house for lunch. Not knowing them well, I mostly kept to myself, hiding myself in Jack’s needs. When he finally went down for a nap, I had no choice but to engage in conversation with […]
What our friends need most from us…
Day 27 of 31 Days of Connecting I fully intend to listen well. To be a good friend as my friends have been to me. To support them as they have supported me. And yet, I find myself doing it again. Focusing on me. While she shares her struggles feeding her baby boy, I’m trying […]
Why I am Grateful for My Friends
Day 22 of 31 Days of Connecting Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all […]
I Will Not Tell A Lie
Day 13 of 31 Days of Connecting Today I had a choice: Be honest. Be truthful. Or hide. Say what was hurting me. Or put on a mask. Encourage my kids to speak out. Or tell them to be silent. Over and over again this past week I have been encouraged by those who have […]
Gratefulness; Day 7 – Like Minds
When I wrote months ago about being a Highly Sensitive Person, I may have mentioned how sometimes I feel very different than others I interact with. Ok, I don’t remember if I did say that, but I don’t have time to look back now. The truth is, I often do feel as though I approach […]
Loneliness
Today, I’m feeling lonely. It’s not a loneliness caused by being alone, no, most often I’m surrounded by people and crave a moment to myself. Like, a moment to go to the bathroom alone without someone walking in or screaming at me from the other room. Or some time alone to remember, “what was I […]