My friend’s words left me nearly speechless. I’d never been able to articulate exactly how I felt, but she just had. “It’s like you’re mourning a person who’s still alive,” she said, lying on the bed with her face propped up against her hand. Yes, that’s exactly what it was. What it still is. Even after I left the weekend conference we were attending and came home, I continued to ponder her words. Those words that described a relationship with a loved one who battles addiction. An Continue Reading
What This Is Us Teaches Us About Self-Medicating Our Pain
“You buy stuff to make yourself feel better.” My friend’s words both startled and angered me. Who did he think he was, a shrink? We had just left the shoe store and I was sporting my new pair of sandals. They were doing a pretty good job of diverting my attention from the emotional turmoil that was churning my stomach. That is, until he made his psychoanalysis. Perhaps it was true, but I wasn’t willing to admit it out loud. Over the course of the years, I’d found many ways to Continue Reading
When Grief is Great and Words Are Weak
Today we’re saying goodbye to one of the oldest members of our family. She doesn’t wear human skin or express herself in many syllables, but she’s loved just the same. She’s the four-legged kind. A blondie. A dear friend named Coco. She and our other mutt brought my husband and I together thirteen years ago with their mutual love for walks and chasing furry creatures. And as they say, well, the rest is history. Since I’m pregnant and rather hormonal the realization that our companion is Continue Reading
