The Secret to Surviving the Hardest Hike of Your Life

A few weeks ago, the husband and I took a trip to the absolutely captivating Cape Town, South Africa. Normally the most anti-tourist person you’ll meet, this time I wanted to do all the things. All the food. All the beaches. All the scenery. It was a whirlwind of three days and I only wish […]

Be Kind to Yourself | How to Manage Darker Days

This is part six of a series on how I manage my anxiety. Read the introductory post here. As I’ve browsed articles, read the self-help books, received the solicited and unsolicited advice, I’ve noticed two main paradigm options when relating to yourself on bad days. The first is one of indulgence. Feeling down? Do whatever […]

Why I Preached Two Weeks Before My Wedding

November 9? No way. That’s two weeks before my wedding. There’s no way I’ll have time for that, let alone the headspace and focus.

A Levitical Reflection: Integrity

Leviticus is an easy book to let one’s eyes lose focus and start planning the rest of the day’s to-do list. But you don’t think I brought you here to stop there, did you?

Lessons from White Water Rafting

Spending a week in Deep Creek, MD with the family and some friends was ridiculously refreshing. Amidst the spontaneous naps, coding practices, and obsessive reading, I was able to fit in some white water rafting. It was a blast, we had the best guide, and it gave opportunity for many lessons.

As a Father

The inability to do anything presented a need for something I hate: asking for help.

Why Good-byes are the Worst (but Not)

I’ve always been a messy goodbye-sayer. Dormitories where I hung my hammock, trailer homes that shook with the morning stroll, a basement bedroom next to an overly active washing machine…sure, I’m a lover of places. But of course, the pain of leaving is evoked by my torn heart strings wound around those lovely people.

Chosen Reactions

I thought it was a waste of time. I didn’t say that with my mouth, but I said it just as clearly with my face and posture. It was a school-wide program and I was apparently the only one that hadn’t been properly initiated through a two-day-download of information. And so, with a very reluctant […]

Encourage the Strong

I remember sitting in her office, probably for the thousandth time. I was talking about how I wanted to be, who I wanted to be. The loving mentor didn’t seem to get what I was describing. Pointing through the library window, I pointed to her. “That’s how I want to be,” I said wistfully, gesturing towards […]

Given Away: Giving When It’s Still Yours

“Miss Callie! He’s stealing from my box again!” The outraged young lad silenced half the room with his accusation. He straightened to his almost-four-feet, hands clenched, bottom lip firmly turned down. He meant business.