Category: Pain
June 21, 2017
Rest In Peace, Hollie
Being around those who are terminally ill is always awkward for me, but Hollie put people at ease immediately with her goofy sense of humor and her contagious laugh. She was all about laughing through the pain, smiling through the fatigue, pushing herself as long as physically possible, resting a while and then getting up and doing it all over again. We lost Hollie to cancer on Monday, June 19. Rest in peace, my friend. See ya soon.
June 16, 2017
What’s Holding You Back?
Is something holding you back from loving with all your heart, and if so, what are you afraid of? Since telling stories is what I love to do the most in this life, allow me to give you access to a conversation between my wife and I, from nearly 30 years ago, that, up to now, nobody else but her and I were privy to. It’s difficult for me to be so vulnerable, but I feel there are many people who are holding back in life, terrified of being hurt. As far as I’m concerned, however, life is a beautiful, amazing, breath-taking adventure, and I'm all in.
June 15, 2017
Keep Going, You’re Almost There
You may be in a valley right now; you're debilitated, destitute, disheartened and depressed. Yeah, I get it. I've been there. But slow down, close your eyes, relax your heart rate, calm your breathing, whisper a prayer and force yourself to press on...step by step. You'll make it, and when you get to the mountaintop, fill your lungs with the crisp, clean air. Take in the view, for it will be wholly worth it, my friend.
June 10, 2017
The Cancer of Unforgiveness
To achieve emotional health, you must forgive, even if what someone did to you was criminal, heinous. Forgiving isn't excusing what they DID; it's letting go of a potentially deadly emotion which, if left unattended, will destroy you.
June 7, 2017
“Live,” says Death. “I am coming.”
We have to make peace with the fact that someday our time on this Earth will be over. We must live our lives within that framework, realizing how fleeting life can be. We can’t dwell on death; no, we must dwell on LIFE, friends. That's not depressing to me, it's a fact. The reality of death should not make tomorrow look grim; it should make today look beautiful.
June 5, 2017
Childhood Abuse – The Monster Behind The Curtain
Over time I was able to begin working through my past, and today I’ve made peace with most of it, but the demons of yesteryear nearly sabotaged my entire existence. I understand the monster behind the curtain; I’ve listened in fear to the raspy breath of the beast on the other side of the door. The thought of opening up old wounds is sickening, disgusting, I get it, but if you don’t, at some point the creature will claw through the walls you’ve erected, and destroy you.
June 2, 2017
“Spousal Abuse: Scattered Thoughts of a Survivor” by Annette Cooper
My sister, Annette, lived through a terribly abusive marriage and made it through to tell the story. One day, several years after she escaped and upon hearing of a friend in a similar situation, she put pen to paper. This is the heart-wrenching and hope-filled result.
June 1, 2017
My Family of Warriors
I come from a long line of warriors, determined to fight the agony of that darkness which seeks to devour our entire existence, until God gives us permission to lay down our weapons. Quitting is not an option. We've slowed down, sure, but we won't stop. For you see, victory is the only dream worth pursuing.
May 31, 2017
Broken People 