Every mistake is an opportunity to learn something — I was a mistake since conception. This is what I’d jokingly tell people about my origin story. Truth be told, I’m the product of an affair my mom had while she was married. …

Your words can heal — Fear taught me to be quiet for much of my life — fear others may see the pain in my eyes, the hurt I felt as a child, and the fear of living in fear was always that whisper within my ear. But it wasn’t fear that kept me from…

To win, you have to begin — It wasn't an inheritance or lottery winnings; I earned and wrote it. Like me, you, too, may have had some significant first-time memories — your first job, your first home, your first car, or maybe the first time you drove a car, rode on a boat, or published an article…

Unfortunately, my son was more ready than I was. — "There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings."-Hooding Carter. Jr. We bring them into the world. We love and nurture our children, then come the day, we must let them go. My son, Nick, was 22 when he left home and…

Every child deserves to know their real Dad — Physical pain stops. You move on from psychological traumas but do you ever truly heal from not knowing your rightful father? At sixty-five, Monica's pain still runs deep. Listening to her story while we sat for lunch this week resurrected my trama. Had I not moved on? I questioned myself. …

Thinking out loud, so you know you're not alone It doesn't earn me much. It consumes my time. I don't always feel like writing. So why, when I don't, I feel I'm missing out? Haunted by its desire Resisting the voice within that's telling me to quit writing. Insurmountable challenges Never-ending…

I knew then that our life becomes how we choose to see it. — The aim of art is not to represent the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance — Aristotle The colors might be the first thing you see at a glance at this piece. Art should stand out. But take a moment to look, see, think and feel. What draws…

For me, it feels awkward — I had the perfect image of a mother and daughter’s relationship growing up. I looked on as girls my age interacted with their moms — holding hands, hugging, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company seemed so effortless and natural. I didn't share that bond with my mom. But through it all, I never doubted my mother’s love for me. Years later, I realized that my mom couldn’t show me the love I desired; she was naïve to its formula.