I was with a friend last weekend who understandably didn’t eat a "bad spot" in a piece of pineapple, but as I pushed it off the plate and down the garbage disposal, it occurred to me that is how we sometimes treat people when we identify something that doesn’t appear quite right or that concerns us. We can often see or feel bad spots in fruit when we are making selections in the grocery store, but sometimes like with the pineapple, discoloring occurs after cutting it up and t

Dedicated to Gabriella Ann "Gabby" Collins , January 24, 2007-March 31, 2025, and Austin Hayes Waters , December 19, 1994-January 28, 2025, and all their family and friends who love them so dearly. Several years back, if I had read this blog, or virtually any other similar message, I would have disregarded it thinking, she doesn’t know my pain, she must not have challenges like I have, life must be easy for her, she doesn’t live in my brain, etc., etc., etc. I was a master at

After selling my home more than two years ago and getting rid of all but a few physical possessions in order to go away and write my memoir, I returned to Kansas City last year and told my daughter I wasn’t going to buy any Christmas decor for my little studio apartment. My little lover of all things Christmas, who is now 29 years old, wasn’t going to let me get away with making it easy on myself. It sounded blasphemous to her not to have at least some holiday decor, so she b

What if America's favorite pastime1, baseball, is what could bring Americans together again?

I was out of town visiting my sister and her family and, on the way back, there was a slight detour because an overpass had been torn out...

I don't often write about my spiritual beliefs, not because I'm uncomfortable doing so, but rather because there are so many people who...

Grief has taught me  To honor and acknowledge love  With supreme gratitude and urgency, Whether that’s through new moments  Or...

"If we're honest, we're always losing everyone all the time. And that's why to love anything is insane, right? Because to love anything...

I was in a hurry as I pulled into a parking garage this afternoon, but when I came back out and got into my car I looked up and noticed this beautiful view of the Kansas City skyline. It was as if the garage framed it perfectly, pretty as a picture so I took one. I sent the photo to my daughter and a friend…and then I had these thoughts arise.

In my memoir, I write about telling my daughter, Kylee, I would take a self-defense class after I finished writing the book and returned...

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words...but I have just a few more to add. And for anyone who knows me, or better yet...

In memory of Thomas Joseph Karlin May 2, 1994- November 5, 2011, and Joseph Lee Karlin August 19, 1967-December 10, 2024 Through a...

In my memoir's Afterword, I introduce readers to my self-compassion coach, Ginger Rothhaas, through a video. Following is a very brief...

“There is a powerful moment in life when you either decide to tolerate life the way it is or decide to be brave and change it.” Rachel...

The following excerpts are from Brave Enough To Be Bliss , Section VI, Chapter 6, shared today in honor of Veterans Day. I’ve only lived...

Monday, October 21, I will officially share my Brave Enough To Be Bliss story with the world through my website ...

This is the graphic from my book's first section title page and if I could wrap up the entire book into one sentence, this would be...

I sent a rather large file containing the book, Brave Enough To Be Bliss , to the printing company on Thursday night, but I had to send...

Those eyes. That face. OK, this Gigi is biased, but I think Cooper is just the sweetest and in May we celebrated his fifth birthday. And...

Last Saturday, while my daughter was driving, I was reminded of her tendency to yell at other drivers when they do things that from her...