So I’d just as soon focus on how I made my loved ones feel while I was still here. — Until about a month ago, I’d never had surgery. I’d never even been to the emergency room unless I was accompanying someone else for moral support and to make sure they got there safely. But I knew that was probably going to change when I developed a deep, nagging pain…

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth having or pursuing. — Everybody grew up on the idea that successful relationships last “until death do you part.” In fact, everyone’s heard those words so often, they’ve forgotten what they really mean — that if you and your partner beat the odds and don’t simply break up at some point, one of you…

Even though it may not always feel that way, it’s a strength, not a weakness. — My brother and I didn’t have the kind of parents who liked doing “kid things” with us when we were still growing up. They were especially averse to sitting through kid-appropriate movies, like cartoons or family films. So anytime we wanted to see the latest Disney re-release or something, and…

Elevated Living Newsletter: December 2021 — I feel like I’m coming home after falling off the face of the planet and staying off it for a lot longer than I’d like. November of this year was a hectic but wonderful month that found me busier than I can remember being in a long time. Among other…

Elevated Living Newsletter: November 2021 — When I was younger, I liked the idea of the holidays, but the reality of them was another story entirely. I loved the imagery I saw playing out on-screen when I watched my favorite seasonal movies —especially the magical atmosphere someone could seemingly create with enough care and the togetherness…

No, we don’t secretly long to be different. And yes, you actually can “meet someone” sitting on your ass at home. — True story — my extreme introversion once made an extroverted neighbor so uncomfortable that she moved at her earliest convenience. That was new. I think that was also the first time I truly realized just how uncomfortable some extroverts can be when introverts insist on being themselves and having their…

A Story of Caged Hearts and Free Spirits — Most of us prefer to keep our hearts inside our chests, and with good reason. If you always know where yours is, you’re unlikely to misplace it when life gets a little hectic. Since your chest goes with you wherever your travels take you, so does your heart. This makes…

It’s easier to read other people and see what you’re getting into than you think. You just need to know what to look for. — There are many skills I wish I’d developed a lot earlier in life, but the ability to gauge another person’s character is perhaps one of the more important ones. I was far from perfect when I was younger and made plenty of mistakes, but I was a reasonably decent person…

I no longer allow people to tell me the things I want most out of life aren’t impressive enough. You shouldn’t either. — Growing up, I was absolutely fascinated with foreign countries and cultures. Languages, people, food, music — if it had anything whatsoever to do with someplace other than where I was, I was all about it. I’d spend hours and hours devouring books, movies, and documentaries about different places. And I’d…