I remember attending my first Twelve Step recovery meeting ever. It was an open meeting, and I attended with a friend. I listened. I learned a lot and felt that even though what people were sharing didn't totally apply to me, there was something warm and familiar about it all the same. I couldn't put... Continue Reading →
Say yes
I found myself whispering, too, even though I wasn’t the one hiding in a closet while a drunken man beat on the door. “Bridgett, it’s okay. You’ll be okay. You do not have to answer that door. DO NOT answer the door, okay?” Bridgett cried snotty tears on the other end of the phone. “But... Continue Reading →
I’d rather be wrong
Recently, one of my friends reached out to me to inform me that she'd been viciously attacked by her boyfriend (now ex). She described the bruises, and she admitted she felt scared for her life. "You were right about him." In the pit of my gut, I winced. There was a time when I reveled in... Continue Reading →
Being a mom: it’s hard, y’all
Today's post is the first in what I hope to be a series of post by friends and guest contibutors on the topic of Mother's Day and all things related. Big thanks to my guest writer today, blogger and former Arkansan Kambri Davidson, who now lives a more glamorous life with her husband Drew in... Continue Reading →
The golden ticket essay
*One of my students, Jared Tickner, in Comp II this semester gave me permission to share this essay with all of you. This is his first essay for the semester; I read it after reading a stack of other essays that were good essays but didn't quite measure up in one way or another. Some... Continue Reading →
Never say never
I've said NEVER about plenty of things. And eaten my words plenty of times, too. "I will NEVER get divorced." Done. Twice. "I am NEVER going to be one of those people who moves back to the middle of nowhere as an adult!" Done. Here. "I'm never going to date another alcoholic or addict, EVER!"... Continue Reading →
Day 28–The best he could
I'm very thankful to the guest writers who participated in the "28 days of love" project this month. It's been inspiring to read about the various ways love and gratitude coincide in so many very different people's lives. I had guest writers lined up every day, but a few people weren't able to write their... Continue Reading →