If you are like me, some days you feel like crawling out of your skin. If my routine does not shake up a little soon, I might just scream! At these times, I have to remind myself that social media is only the highlight reel of my friends’ lives and that everyone experiences some boring, mundane days. Weekends come and go, and typically Eric and I do very few noteworthy experiences. By Saturday evening, I am usually regretting our intense relaxation. Even two hours of something out of the ordinary (or even just getting out of the house) can be excellent for mental health and relational … [Read more...]

Each summer, two of my dearest friends and I get together, sit under the pier, catch up, and do a lot of laughing. When I spend time with these ladies, they do not divulge the details of their exploits to make me feel less important than them. They just want to include me in their lives, and I want to include them in mine. Maybe I do work from home and do not go on as many exciting adventures as they do, but comparing my life to theirs only leads to disappointment. And as much as I love being with them, there is always a part of me which slips into an old bad habit: comparing my life to … [Read more...]

Admittedly, I have procrastinated writing on this topic because it hits close to home. In some ways, I would say I am addicted to the past. I find myself idealizing seasons of life which were anything but ideal. In addition, I spend too much time regretting decisions or mulling over hurts which are years in my rear view and should not be controlling my life now (nor should they have been controlling my life all those years ago). Memories are powerful. I am thankful they can reconnect us with the past – people who are no longer with us and experiences which shaped us – but memories can also … [Read more...]

Depending on where you live, you might have experienced a recent gas shortage panic. While visiting my mom in another state, I woke up to the news that people were flocking to gas stations all over the state (and neighboring states) because a security breach had halted the Colonial Pipeline. Thankfully, I filled up my tank a few nights earlier and knew I had enough to get home to Virginia, but I was still nervous: nervous for what this event meant for our country, nervous for our way of life, and nervous for what it might mean for the future. So much has changed lately. As much as I wish I … [Read more...]