A Journey Through Criticism and Exhaustion
This morning, I woke up early, as usual, with a voice in my head already rattling off tasks: The dogs need feeding—they’re starving. The dishwasher needs unloading. Coffee. Juice. Trash. Yard cleanup. Before 5 a.m., I was already deep in the cycle of planning, doing, and picking up. By the time I sat down, I
A Review of Horror, History, and Humanity
When I think of horror, I typically picture something like Chucky, Freddy Krueger, or Jason—stories with characters who kill without rhyme or reason. I’ve always gravitated toward psychological thrillers and true crime for their ability to delve into the “why” behind human behavior. But Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix opened my eyes to
Raising a Child on the Margins in a World That Feels Unsafe
This morning, fear, tears, and anger once again filled our household. We are reeling from the executive order about birthright citizenship. This one is terrifying—it hits so close to home. It impacts so many families I love in Colorado and across the country. For so long, I’ve sat with news of atrocities and felt the
Live Reporting from the Mess
Today was a hard one. I’m still in it a bit, which is unusual for me. I typically write from a place of having healed, of having processed the messy parts and uncovered the magic. But today, I’m reporting live from the mess. Let’s see where this goes.Yesterday, we had a meltdown with our kid—the
Embracing the Paradox of Effort and Rest
Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do, and Not Do What I Want?This question resonates deeply. It’s an age-old struggle, even immortalized in scripture. Romans 7:15 puts it simply: “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I
The Gut Punch of Being a Nobody (and Doing It Anyway)
The new Bob Dylan movie, "A Complete Unknown," struck a deep chord with me. As someone currently embarking on a journey as an author, speaker, and songwriter, I can relate profoundly to Dylan’s story of being a complete unknown. At this moment, that’s exactly what I am—an unknown.The film captures Dylan’s arrival in New York
Wrestling with Addiction and Asking for Help
Seven years ago, I made the decision to stop drinking. Giving up alcohol wasn’t easy, but once I got there, it stuck. The road to that choice was filled with bargaining—I’ll just drink on weekends. I’ll only drink beer. Spoiler alert: that never worked for me. But once I realized that alcohol didn’t serve me,
Thursday Reflections: Unpacking Stories, Finding Ourselves
Spoiler Alert: This post discusses key plot points of the film Juror #2.Directed by the legendary Clint Eastwood, Juror #2 is a 2024 legal thriller that delves into the complexities of morality and truth. The film stars Nicholas Hoult as Justin Kemp, a family man serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, who
3 Simple Steps to Stay True to Yourself in Relationships Without Losing the Connection
As the New Year begins, I’m approaching resolutions differently. Instead of diving into a list of goals, I’m pausing and reflecting on how I want to grow—not just individually, but within my marriage.Recently, my amazing wife, Kelly, booked us a session with Nashville’s Shaman, Jeff Crawford. It was a game-changer. We left with a notebook
