Sharing my journey of hope.
Today I have a special guest post... Let me introduce my little sister, Melissa. There is a 31-year age difference between my little sister and I, and up until a year and a half ago, we had no relationship. She grew up without me in her life, except for the every so often visit. Sadly, I... Continue Reading →
Your darkest hour Well here's another topic that I just can't decide which one of my "too many to count" dark hours would be the darkest. I can tell you that these are the hours that shaped me, grew me and changed me. These are the hours that gave me my greatest challenges and where... Continue Reading →
The angriest letter you never sent I have only written two angry letters in my life that I can recall. One was written just a few years ago on this blog. Technically, it was "never sent" but it was posted as an Open Letter to a Puke. I don't know that this person ever saw it... Continue Reading →
If you’re anything like me, Christmas time can be so stressful. As a codependent and people-pleaser, I always want to do the best I can for those I love and it truly hurts my heart when I feel I have failed. No matter how much recovery I think I have, I still struggle with this... Continue Reading →
I had to give myself a reality check over the past couple of days and it has taken me some time to process it. It was a wake-up call to "hope vs. expectations" and it was disappointing. Somehow I have managed to bleed expectations into my hope. Years ago, someone called me "pathetically hopeful". I... Continue Reading →
As some of you may have seen in my recent newsletter, I ran across this free, online codependency support group and thought I would share with you. I have joined the group and have found some really encouraging and supportive people there. If you are struggling with something, it's a great place to get feedback, insight,... Continue Reading →
I originally wrote this post in 2014 but thought it was a good time to bring it up again. I had an interesting conversation last night with a friend of mine who seems to feel another friend we have in common (though I haven't seen her for a few years) is "stuck" in her marriage.... Continue Reading →
It has been an eventful week! I flew to Las Vegas last Thursday for my uncle's 90th birthday party and had such a wonderful time! I stayed with my mom and cousin from Thursday through Monday and what a pleasant visit we had. It was so funny that at the party Saturday night, my mom... Continue Reading →
Today’s post is going to be a little different. I am not specifically referencing the “W” words in this post but am trying to relay just one of the bazillion stories of why I felt… Worthless, Weak, Weary From 1990 until mid 2006, I worked for a health insurance company. I loved this company but... Continue Reading →
Hurt, Hurting, Hurts Twelve years ago I could not tell you what "hurt" me outside of what was physically, mentally and emotionally going on in my world at that moment. And at that moment I was hurt by the lying and cheating. I was hurt by the unending manipulation. I was hurt by the palm... Continue Reading →
I've had a really bad couple of weeks but I think I'm on the upswing now. Depression was sucking the life out of me and everything, I mean everything, was overwhelming me. Monday was my first class of a 4 week series on diabetes education. I kept tearing up through the entire class. When the... Continue Reading →
This will be the last segment of The Ugliness of Who I Was... but the story is not over. There is a better story coming...I promise. The Ugliness of Who I Was…(Part 4) In late 1998, through a series of events, I began corresponding with a man in prison, Ricky. I had no intention of a... Continue Reading →
Journey On Strong 