We had no examples of healthy relationships to guide us. — I had no idea what a healthy, loving relationship looked like before I met John. My parents divorced when I was a year old. My dad’s second marriage (to the woman I grew up with as my step-mom) also ended in divorce. …

a poem — They grow, hearty and vibrant, as you wither and fade. Naught but a skeleton of your former self remains. And that is just life’s way. Seasons of plenty and want; some peak as others wane. It is their time to thrive, yes. But this is not your end. Rest does…

In many ways, my scars help me feel seen. — Author’s Note: Because I am who I am (with the anxiety disorders I have), I feel the need to start with a disclaimer. I wrote this about my personal experience and feelings towards my own scars. It is written with absolutely no negative judgment towards those whose scars cause body…

And what I described is very similar to how I feel when I am in a depressive episode. — Since the start of this year, I’ve been struggling with medical PTSD — extreme anxiety and flashbacks brought on by a series of events which were eerily similar to the series of events that led to my cancer diagnosis back in 2005. As I wrote in an Instagram post back…

For me, being visibly out is liberating. Empowering, even. — For years and years, I convinced myself that everyone knew about me being bi (or, at least, assumed it). I believed that just me being me made it so obvious that I didn’t need to directly draw attention to it. I was absolutely fooling myself. Not only did I not…

It’s not funny. It never was. — I grew up hearing my mom consistently called stupid. Fat. Ugly. Everything she ever did was criticized. “I ought to get up and just beat you,” was repeated to both of us, regularly. And we were expected to laugh. And we did. We laughed. We laughed because this was as…

I am happily, monogamously married and I am still bisexual. — As a monogamously married bisexual, almost every reaction I receive upon making this known falls into one of two camps. People either think my bisexuality is impossible or they believe it is irrelevant. I say “almost” because I am fortunate enough to have experienced some completely accepting and validating reactions…