Brave Heart, Brave Soul. She who is brave is free.

“I would not wish for any other companion in the world but you. “~William Shakespeare Marriage like any other relationship takes work and lots and lots of it. Sometimes no matter how hard we try, or how many tears we cry over our marriages, they simply fall short and then apart. I know because mine did five years ago. Now I’m not gonna mince words or sugar coat things, life was off the rails in the wrong direction for a long time. Words were said, things were done, and hearts were broken. To tell the truth we didn’t much like each other either. The blame doesn’t matter. After 18 years of marriage, ours was failing. Did either one of us set out to harm the other? No, not at all. No one plans to intentionally hurt those they love, not unless they’re callous, heartless or cold-blooded that is. This is the thing about life though. It happens whether we like it or not. Prepared or caught off guard it can get sticky pretty quickly and end up downright muddled before we know it. An...

“Running away from your problems is a race you’ll never win.” ~ Unknown We’ve all heard the story of the prodigal son. He’s notorious, right? He left home, packed his bag, took what was owed him, said adios to his family, turned his back and set off to see the world and live big. He was his own man, ready to do his own thang. You know how it is when you’re young. Our protagonist wanted nothing more than to live high on the hog, party, mingle with the masses and make a name for himself. OK. I know it’s a bit of a cliché, but I can’t help but think of Smash Mouth here. I’m envisioning our wayward son pulling an “All Star” move with his finger and thumb in the shape of an L on his forehead. I mean come on. Let’s be honest. On the way out the door he pretty much flipped off his family and disappeared. In the bigger picture, we can see what he can’t. Youth, money and good times don’t last. In fact, at some point we lose all three in our lifetime. You know this and so do I, b...

“Happiness is not a checklist. A dream job, a fast car, a good home, even love, mean nothing at all if you have not yet found a way to feel full and content in your one mind and heart.” ~ Beau Taplin Let me first begin with this...  I usually don’t have a plan most of the time. My imagination, however, always has one. Combine this with my old pal weirdness and most days I’m off and running. See, I’m one of those old souls. I’m a little odd honestly but I’ve never minded the label. Life’s been tough. I won’t deny it. And yet somehow, I still carry a happy heart in spite of the struggle. I’m most definitely an only child, there’s no way around that. My imagination and curiosity can attest to this. I’ve never been lonely though. As for my life experiences? Well each one's fashioned me into the writer I am today. I’m happy I’m me. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.  Turning 45 has me calling my childhood to mind. It seems so long ago some days. Others it f...

"When people are intimidated  by your strength and happiness, they'll try and break you down, and break your spirit. Remember, it's a reflection of their weakness, and not a reflection of you." ~ Free Spirited We have a saying here in the South. Truthfully it's probably where 'Bless your heart' originated. See, while we're biting our tongues, mama's raisin' isn't forgotten. When folks are acting all high and mighty and being ugly we simply remind ourselves to kill 'em with kindness. Lord have mercy! This task may be really difficult at times, but the truth is, you catch way more flies with honey than you do with vinegar, that's for sure. Now when it comes to those who ain't acting like they got good sense or feeling the need to make a mountain out of a molehill, well you just gotta remind yourself, "more Jesus, less drama." Mama didn't raise no fool... I can assure y'all of that. When gossip shows her...