Americans are fed a daily diet of disaster, tragedy, and scandal. As a parent, I simply do not have the stomach for it. — Note: This essay was originally published in The Freedom Chronicles and was written in the months following September 11, 2001, when every parent seemed to be afraid of everything. The news only seemed to be making things much worse. …

A poem to unlock the soul. — I see the world for what it is… so magical and majestic, mysterious and miraculous. But sometimes, the world feels so big and cruel, repugnant and maddening. I love the wondrous people who inhabit this world, but sometimes… I hate them too. I hate their pettiness, and their need to…

On Oscar Night, a Verbal Slap Was Met with a Physical Slap, and a Worldwide Debate Ensued — While we're still reeling from the "slap heard around the world" on Oscar night and debating who was in the wrong, I think it's important to talk about the physical slap and the emotional slap separately. I don't think we need to excuse one because the other felt much worse…

Preachy, good intentions are no longer enough when you are co-opting stories about marginalized communities and disempowered identities. — Last year, Sia tried to make a delightful fantasy film about an autistic girl who finds her voice in the world of MUSIC. It was supposed to represent people with disabilities with style, glee, and hope. I half expected it to be our generation’s Tommy. Instead, people hated the film…

In movies, the villain is a big, bad meanie with a badass name. In real life, your biggest foe is often a frightened, wounded, inner child who learned to protect herself by any means possible. — “Our brains are wired for connection, but trauma rewires them for protection. That’s why healthy relationships are difficult for wounded people.” (Ryan North, wordables) Whether in my work (teaching screenwriting) or personal life, I find myself talking a lot about trauma and childhood wounds.

We can’t truly appreciate all we have unless we’ve experienced some degree of suffering, loss, or unease. — The reason I SURVIVED a debilitating chronic illness? PERSISTENCE. Giving up during the battle was never an option. The reason I THRIVED despite chronic illness? Ironically, I learned to throw my hands up in SURRENDER. I had to let go of the life I once had so I could grow…

The impact didn’t kill me, it woke me up — Two years ago, I was at the lowest of lows, otherwise known as ‘rock bottom.’ I had fought through six years of debilitating chronic illness only to have my heart ripped open when my long-term marriage suddenly dissolved before my eyes. I found myself single for the first time in…

We've instilled fear in women (especially single women) to keep them limited out in the world while ignoring (or downplaying) the actual dangers at home. — This past fall, I remained single and spent most of my free time doing what I love best — taking long walks in the woods and at the beach. It was often just my puppy and me getting our 10,000 steps while enjoying the explosion of autumnal oranges and yellows…

Holidays Shouldn't Require Sacrifice and Depletion — We live in a culture that demands a lot of us, especially women when it comes to the holidays. For decades I tried desperately to live up to those demands. …