February is full of “love hype.” Singles and couples frequently feel caught up in the external trappings of Valentine’s Day. Everywhere you look—from the grocery store, TV commercials, to social media—everyone seems to be talking about and defining love. This hype can be stressful and can lead people to compare themselves to others. Although you might understand intellectually perfect relationship don’t exist, Hallmark, romantic books and movies can delude you. They gloss ove

Ntozake Shange, author of the famous choreopoem For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf passed away this year on October 28. She was an award-winning playwright celebrated for telling women’s stories in women’s voices. In 2010 Tyler Perry transformed her trailblazing work into a movie. One of the monologues from the choreopoem is called “Somebody Almost Walked Off wid Alla My Stuff.” It’s about what happens when a woman gives/allows her “stuff’—

“Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes” is one of my favorite quotes. It captures the angst associated with truth-telling. Standing in your truth requires real courage. Unfortunately, it feels like all too often, truth-telling, honesty, and transparency are not valued. Additionally, listening, hearing, and responding to truth can be even more challenging for many of us. A passage in a little-known part of the original early Christian Bible says, “If you bring forth what

This post was written pre-confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court of the United States. I am writing this during “investigation week,” which for me has been emotionally exhausting. I have shared my own MeToo story here. In the midst of the news of his alleged abuse of women and violations of power, this week in my own life and work I have also heard the stories of men who have been wounded and violated physically, emotionally, and spiritually. There are a lot of