The kingdom tore in two with a sound like thunder across the plains. Solomon’s empire, divided by sin and consequence, ripped along fault lines long hidden beneath the surface. Yet even as the people wandered through broken temples and shattered […]
Monica Dean
My Family, My Boundaries: Choosing Courage Over Obligation on My Wedding Day
Saturday evening, 7:14 pm. I watch Emily pace my office, gesturing with both hands as if conducting an invisible orchestra of wedding-related anxiety. “I mean, it’s my wedding, right?” she asks for the third time. “I get to decide who’s […]
Monica Dean
Why My Boyfriend Keeps Me Waiting (And What It Really Means)
🪑 The Invisible Prison of Anxious Attachment When someone expects you to sit in a backroom while they work – despite you living two minutes away – what they’re really saying isn’t “I love your company.” It’s “I need to […]
Sophia Rivera - Workplaces
When My Friend ‘Gets It’ But Actually Doesn’t: Navigating The Validation Gap
Yesterday I watched a woman at Starbucks nearly burst into tears while whispering furiously into her phone. When our eyes met, she mouthed “my boss” and gave that universal grimace we all recognize. 😤 Later, as she gathered her things, […]
Jas Mendola
I’m Thinking About My Friends More Than I Admit
He sat at the wooden bar, staring at the amber liquid in his glass. Two missed calls from Mike glowed on his phone. Three months had passed since they’d spoken. It was his oldest friendship. Twenty years. He thought about […]
Dating - Marriage - Monica Dean - Relationships
When My Love Language Doesn’t Speak Your Alphabet
Been pondering something lately while chatting with women at my favorite corner café in Chorlton. ☕ It’s fascinating how differently we interpret affection based on our upbringing. Last week, I sat with two friends – both bright, accomplished women about […]
Families - Melanie Doss
When My Emotional Needs Became Optional to Others
POV: You’re literally sobbing in the backseat on what should be the happiest day of high school because your mom “forgot” the one thing you asked for—again. 😢 The orchid lei wasn’t just a pretty accessory; it was the last […]
Christian Perspective - Marriage - Samuel Hartwell
When Longing Turns to Lament: My Journey to Finding God in the Darkness of Unmet Desire
The darkness had settled in her bones like an old friend. It wasn’t dramatic—no cinematic collapse or tear-stained confessions. Just the slow, steady drip of hope leaking away, leaving behind an empty vessel where dreams once lived. She stared at […]
Christian Perspective - Samuel Hartwell
When I Feel Betrayed: My Journey to Healing and Rebuilding Trust
“The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.” – Proverbs 14:10 In the darkness of her bedroom, Emily stared at the ceiling, the soft blue light of her phone illuminating her face as she scrolled through […]
Monica Dean - Relationships
When I Fight About Moving, It’s Not Actually About the Location
Yesterday, I watched a couple at the coffee shop having what they thought was a whisper-fight about moving to Portland. He insisted it would solve everything. She clutched her latte like it contained her hometown’s entire social support network. Neither […]