Dating after divorce came with new rules, new vocabulary, and one unforgettable orange bucket. Thankfully, I’d changed too. Dating Has Changed Since I Was Last Here The last time I dated, people actually called. On telephones. With cords. If someone liked you, they asked you out. If they didn’t…well, you eventually figured it out. Fast-forward…
Somewhere along the way, standing up started requiring sound effects, staff meetings, and clearance from the control tower. Welcome to getting older. I Now Make Sound Effects When I Stand Up I don’t remember exactly when it started. I just know it wasn’t there in my thirties. One day I sat down in my favorite…
Finding hope after difficult times sometimes begins with remembering one simple truth: the tide always comes back in. The Tide Always Comes Back In Living near the ocean teaches you a few things. For one, never underestimate a seagull. If you’re holding a sandwich, they’re already discussing it in a committee meeting somewhere overhead. Second,…
The good dishes are waiting. The candle is unlit. The dress still has tags. Maybe someday isn’t the occasion. Maybe you are. The Myth of Someday Stop Waiting. Your Life Is Happening Right Now. My mother had a gravy boat. It was part of a china set she received as a wedding gift—cream-colored with tiny…
Grocery shopping with kids may feel exhausting now, but those noisy little errands often become some of the sweetest family memories. The Grocery Store Adventures I’d Miss Someday There was a time in my life when going to the grocery store alone felt like a vacation. I’m serious. If someone had offered to watch the…
Mom brain has me losing keys, glasses, lists—and occasionally my patience. Maybe we’re not forgetful. Maybe we’re simply full. The Case of the Missing…Everything You know what I’ve been looking for lately? Everything. My keys. My reading glasses. My grocery list. The debit card I was positive I put back in my wallet. The phone…
Starting over after life changes isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes joy returns through new routines, little freedoms, and wonderfully ordinary days. The Unexpected Joy of Starting Over I used to think starting over would feel… well… bigger. I imagined trumpets. A dramatic movie soundtrack. Maybe a wise old woman appearing on a mountaintop with life-changing advice…
How to stop overcommitting starts with one realization: the people you love deserve your time—but the woman holding the calendar does too. How to Stop Overcommitting: My Calendar Is Full of Everyone but Me There was a season of my life when I genuinely believed I could fit one more thing into my calendar. One…
First impressions can fool us. One hurried afternoon and an unexpected introduction taught me why curiosity is kinder than assumption. It’s a Good Thing I Didn’t Finish That Sentence I’ve discovered there are moments in life when your brain quietly saves your mouth from making a terrible decision. Thank goodness. Because if my mouth had…
HomeGoods shopping started with one innocent bath mat. Forty-five minutes later, I had a candle, a ceramic bird, four bags—and no bath mat. HomeGoods Is Playing Games with Me I’m fairly certain HomeGoods knows exactly what I came in for…and quietly moves it to another aisle just to see what else I’ll buy first. I…