I didn’t think I would ever laugh again. But I did. 2025 was the darkest year of my life. And the darkest part unfolded in the last six months, mostly in the last four. It’s amazing how you can live life unsuspecting and get blindsided over and over again until you can’t catch your breath.  You can be a person who cares, who helps, who supports, but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll receive any of that in return. You can be someone who shows up consistently, unconditionally, and

Have you ever heard a song that you feel? Not just with your ears, but inside your body. The notes, the beat, the harmony move through you and refuse to leave. Some music makes your heart beat faster. Some slows it down. Some won’t let your body sit still. Other songs dive so deeply into your soul that they become part of you. You cry, smile, dance, or exhale without even realizing what is happening. Music provides color to scenes or lightens the dark. It can transform a memo

This post contains reflections on a period of acute emotional crisis following a major life rupture. It includes descriptions of disordered sleep and eating, emotional distress, and recovery through community support. Photo cred: Les Go Hiking GroupMe Chat. Since my arrival in Atlanta at the end of 2017, I’ve been looking for my people. It hasn’t been easy. Part of the challenge is that I’ve never been entirely sure who my community is supposed to be. That question has follow