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

  An Open Letter To My Son ~ I’m not sure where life took a wrong turn. But it did 2 and a half years ago. I’d love to tell you I understand everything. But I don’t. Not because I’m blind to my own faults. I know I have plenty of them. I’m mistaken often. I make the wrong choice, say the wrong thing and embarrass myself a lot. But what I’m not, is cold, without emotion, unfeeling or unapologetic. What I am is truly and deeply sorry for everything. I’m sorry for your pain and anger. I’m sorry for the damage done to our family and the rift between you and your brother. I’m truly distressed you’re separated from your Nana and Paw Paw. And I’m deeply remorseful that you've ever felt rejected. You are my son, and nothing can or will ever change that.  I hear your resentment and I deeply feel your hate. And it breaks my heart. However I’ve contributed to this injury, I’m sorry. I want to understand and hear you, to acknowledge and recognize your hurt. To face what it is I’ve do...

    I’ve been grappling with what’s around the corner lately. In fact, I’ve been thinking a lot about this subject. Pondering where I’ve been and where I’m going. What I could have done differently. What I can change. Some days I have a pretty good idea. Others I have no clue. But what I do know is this: I've lived a full, imperfect life. I’ve been bold, loved fiercely and unconditionally. I’ve definitely made hundreds of beautiful memories along with a good number of painful ones too.      Yes, I’ve made mistakes. Lots of them. Horrible and excruciating ones. I’ve fallen flat on my face. Landed on my butt. Are there moments I’d like to do over? Of course, certainly there are. But I have no regrets. Everything in my life has happened for a reason. Every step has led me to where I am. Every slip-up and blunder has been a teacher.      I have faults. Many of them. I’m lacking in more ways than one. I’ve been completely in the wrong and to...

  Two thousand twenty-two proved to be a tough year for me. I'm sure that can be said for a lot of folks really. Life happens, right? But on the flip side that’s not to say it wasn’t a good year. Or amazing for that matter. Because it was. One of the best truthfully.  We traveled, experienced life outside our box, reconnected with old friends, made long needed improvements to our home, faced our demons and created some pretty amazing memories. So, how was it a hard- pressed, taxing year? Well, life can and is a constant contradiction. Am I right? I mean life is basically a balancing act between Ying and Yang. And for me 2022 was both fantastic and formidable.    Life is like that though. One day we’re on top of the world and the next we’re barely hanging on. From finances to health life can throw a party or a punch. One year you’re healthy, the next your body is failing. Yesterday you were sitting pretty, and today you’re on an operating table with a knife literally ...

“The hardest thing is the last goodbye, especially if you didn’t know it really was the last one.”  ~ Unknown   Goodbyes aren’t easy.  And they never really say it all do they? Goodbyes are just messy. At their worst they leave us abandoned with no room for understanding, second chances, forgiveness, or reconciliation. At their best, goodbyes leave us feeling misplaced and lost.    Let’s be real. Doesn’t matter how many times we say them, nothing about a goodbye is painless. Absolutely nothing. Goodbyes hurt. They sting. Most of them are full of sorrow, anguish, and heartache. And if it's a final goodbye, well, it can take our breath away, can't it? Especially if it comes unexpectedly or abruptly.    Death is the final goodbye. And he’s never a welcome friend. But he doesn’t care. He comes for the young and old alike. Death moves on his time, not ours. Yet somehow, we’re always shocked by his presence and angry with his lack of notice. We always want m...

 “When we deny our emotions, it owns us.” ~ Brene Brown    Grief.  Sadness.  Sorrow.  Suffering.  Heartache.  Anguish.  Pain.  Fear.    Every last one of these feelings and emotions turn up like some kind of a lemon, don't they? And by lemon I mean trainwreck. Implosion is probably more like it, right? Off the rails, through the roof, off key kind of hot mess. I mean we can throw humor at it all we want but a shipwreck is still a shipwreck. Kind of like a really bad adaptation of Inside Out.      Let’s be real. Most of us don’t like to talk about Grief or his not so content, very chummy bedfellows. I get it. It’s painful. Seriously, who in their right mind volunteers for pain? Grief can do a lot of things, good or bad if we’re honest. When we're willing to face it, grief can heal us. If not, it can tear us apart. The problem with ignoring our hurt and grief is the darkness it lets in. It eventually consumes...

“Do not think you can be brave with your life and your work and never disappoint anyone. It doesn’t work that way.” ~Brene Brown     I've learned a few things in life. Well, let me take that back. I’ve learned a whole heck of a lot of things, good and bad. And all of it came with grief, pain, and a decent side of loss and disappointment. That’s life though, right? I mean we’re all here on this planet together. We all know, right? Pretty much I’ve found nothing turns out the way you thought it would. Absolutely nothing at all!    Abraham Hicks said, “People will love you. People will hate you. And none of it will have anything to do with you.” Truth? He’s unquestionably right. Although I’d also add, people will blame you for their disappointments too. It is what it is. Well sort of. See, the biggest lesson in life isn’t grief, loss or even disappointment. Though those life lessons all come with some sort of grit and a good wallop, dollop or punch to the face of d...

“Never say, “That won’t happen to me.” Life has a funny way of proving us wrong.” ~Dr. Anne Brown     Life really does have a funny, if not odd, ridiculous, and bizarre way of knocking us off our feet. Bringing us down to size really.  My dad calls them “wait -a -minute vines”. I like to call them knock’em, sock’em creepers. I mean they not only take you out, but they also creep up and lay you flat out too. Unless you’re just a sucker for punishment, wait a minute vines typically are an ugly surprise. And if you haven’t guessed by now, I’m not a big fan of low lining, swinging, sucker punching, wait - a- minute vines. Not in the least.    Life. Who knew, right?     Truthfully, life’s one big ole cracked mug of burnt black coffee. It’s a real hot mess sometimes, right? But let's not be too dramatic here. Life can also be pretty sweet too. Especially when we mix in a bit of sugar or a touch of honey to our cups. Now that doesn’t mean every cup is go...

“ Make peace with your broken pieces.” ~R.H. Sin  Let’s talk forgiveness. I know. It’s one of those dirty words we don’t like to use, isn’t it? Nope, it’s not a four-letter word so to speak but it definitely gets the same reaction as the notorious F word doesn’t it?  Who wants to forgive or forget, anyway? It’s easier to hold a grudge, right? Or is it? Does forgiveness really make us weak or is it possible letting bygones be bygones can actually make us stronger? So, what is forgiveness and why is it so necessary anyway?   Granted most of us think of Christianity when the word forgiveness comes up. After all Jesus commanded His followers to forgive, but really, it’s more than a religious commandment. The concept of forgiveness is vital if we want to be happy or live freely. Tell you what. How about we just put the whole I command you thing aside for a moment. Christian or not, forgiveness is an important process. It’s not just a parlor act, an ...