Was it Meant To Be? The night before I began my senior year of high school, my redheaded boyfriend and I broke up. I was heartbroken (funny how these things look so much different after a couple decades). About a week later, I received a wisdom-filled letter from my great aunt. “If it’s meant to be, it will,” she wrote. “And if it’s not, nothing will make it work.” She also suggested I take time to lick my wounds and focus on One Day At A Time while my heart healed. I found comfort in her words. Eventually I ran out of […]
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I Got Married! Yes, Really.
Remember when I said, “I’m not anti-marriage“? Here’s proof… On January 14, 2017, I tied the knot with my domestic partner of the past two years. We self-united in a small and simple ceremony, surrounded by our closest family members. One of our friends played the cello. Another facilitated the exchange of our vows and rings and later served as our photographer. It was simple, yet elegant. And overall, it was my favorite of all the weddings I’ve attended. The comparison between my first and second weddings has been interesting. This time, I feel more confident. About everything. I’m not suggesting […]
Continue readingBefore Letting Go, Do This
This afternoon, I took a drive. It was a gorgeous day featuring unseasonably warm temperatures, so I opened the sun roof, cranked up some Ani DiFranco tunes and hit the back roads. As I drove, a few leaves floated into my car, and I thought about the beauty of autumn and the lessons the trees teach us about letting go. And I realized, for as long as I’ve appreciated nature’s release of that-which-no-longer serves, there’s an element of the process that I overlooked. A rather important element: Before the trees release their leaves, they stop feeding them. It’s a simple fact that’s […]
Continue readingYes, I Love Divorce. No, I’m Not Anti-Marriage.
I get some funny reactions when I tell people about my work. Most people who’ve been divorced say something like, “I could’ve used you two years ago.” They’re often understanding, supportive and encouraging. And then there are the others… those who are offended or otherwise just plain uncomfortable. Most will stay quiet, while others feel the need to erect a wall. Sometimes they share their own views of marriage and divorce, often using religious references to justify their positions. Occasionally, people interpret my work as a direct threat to their marriage. Couples will grasp hands while one tells me in […]
Continue readingThe Voicemail That Launched 1000 Feelings
Last week, I received an interesting voicemail. The caller told me her name and said she was looking at my ad. And then… “…I’m a Bible believer, and I hope you know this, in America we have freedom of religion.” I’m happy to report: I was indeed aware of this fact. She continued, “And we don’t believe that the Bible teaches that we should look at our feelings and motives, but at the knowledge of truth.” She went on to tell me that I’m living in sin, and I’m helping people to sin against Jesus Christ and his word. And then […]
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