In her book of essays, poet Mary Oliver wrote, “…you must not, ever, give anyone else the responsibility for your life.”

It’s a lesson I learned the hard way, after breaking free of a very long, unhappy marriage. I learned it once more, as if to make sure I understood…

I don’t know why finding what we need in life and then being happy with it is so hard. I think most of us want the same things: connection, acceptance, affection, and respect. Love. Like most of the single, straight women I know, I’m still waiting — but I’m no…

A few years ago I was listening to a writer’s panel discuss the realities of a career in writing. The guest speaker, a handsome, successful writer, was asked, “What advice would you give to someone aspiring to a writing career?”

He answered, “Marry someone with a good job, someone who…

He wants to stay for a month, but a month is a long time to spend with a complete stranger. And my recent experience with a BnB guest who had to be forcefully evicted by my beefy next-door neighbor hasn’t left me in a trusting state of mind.

“OK…but we’ll…

Withholding is a difficult pattern to live with,
And apparently, to break.
I don’t know where it comes from.
Imitation, perhaps? Protection, more likely.
It’s difficult to continue to shower love upon
The withholder, who is perpetually wearing
A Teflon raincoat and holding an umbrella.
Every ounce of love falls to the ground,
Unabsorbed, often unappreciated,
Certainly…

Everyone is human — it’s the most interesting thing about us.
When a person expresses their humanity,
They are holding open the door to to let us in. Take a good look:
Mark the moment when they ask the important questions,
When they share the painful details of their life,
And perhaps most of…

I have no desire to write about hate or disappointment or betrayal,
Or how I’ve discovered the secret to life.
I want to write about love and pleasant surprises and loyalty. …