“I … hope that there is meaning in mess and pain, that more will be revealed, and that truth and beauty will somehow win out in the end.” — Anne Lamott Life is messy, sometimes unbelievably messy. What enables us to survive, more or less intact? …

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…

Are all of these delightful moments too much to ask of life? — 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…

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…

My women’s fiction trilogy debuts with The Renaissance Sisters — Whether you’re a fan of contemporary romance, chick lit, women’s fiction, sister’s fiction, divorce fiction, western romance, or small town romance, The Renaissance Sisters has it all. My new trilogy, “The Inn at Verde Springs,” begins with the release of the first title in the series, on May 23. …

Listening to the news mesmerizes us with our “no limits” reality. Being under indictment motivates a disgruntled employee to run for the highest office in our country. And the house “freedom caucus” is focused on eliminating a long menu of freedoms if you’re a woman, or a book-reading high-school student, or…

You should have been there — you should have come when I called. You should have been there — you should have stayed the man I loved. I stood up so strong and I did my best, while you walked away, Your arms crossed across your chest. Cold, cold like a stranger… You should…

It Seems Like There’s Some Kind of Plan… — I’m not a religious person, and I’m especially not a fan of organized religion for all the reasons we see in social media on a daily basis. Along with Newton’s Law and the Theory of Relativity, there’s another certainty I believe in: Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. …

We’re often urged to “fill our own cups.” But if you’re in a relationship, there are times when you need your partner to contribute — or at least, show up. — Whether you are currently partnered, or not, “filling your cup” means taking time to replenish your stores of mental and spiritual energy in the ways that work best for you, while keeping in mind that each of us is unique. I might fill my cup by going on a walk…