A lifelong journey to something that might be happiness… — When I look in the mirror, I see someone I don’t recognize anymore. 10 years old — the reflection of a miserable lost child. Staring at myself endlessly in a dorm room mirror. Why am I here? How can I tell them that I don’t want to be? Doesn’t matter…

Failure is his own worst enemy — “Stay on the ground, Courtney, you’re dead.” Agent Morris stared down at me, his dirty shoe on my hip. He wasn’t pressing his foot down but the disappointment in his eyes was worse than any stomp I could imagine. He shook his head and walked away from me. “What were…

The Do’s and Do Not’s of Pet Health Care — Dear Pet Parents, If you’re reading this, you already know that I’m a vet tech and you probably did before you even saw the title. After all, this is my column, all about your pet’s health. Let me start by saying that I love my job. It’s not an easy…

I am the only beacon of hope that I have. — I write a lot about the traumas that I’ve experienced in my life. I believe that writers are born, not made. You either have the ability to tell a story or you don’t. I also believe that writers experience pain on a different level than non-writers. We can see our…

Please, if you’re a parent… read this. — When I found that picture on Pexels, I was mesmerized. It was like looking at a portrait of my childhood—a shadow in front of a ballet barre. I grew up as a shadow. Parents have this idea about not allowing their children to quit things. Winners never quit, that’s the…

A life unwanted. — The overturning of Roe V. Wade was of particular significance to me. Not because I’m a woman, not because I do not want children… though both are true… but because I was an unwanted child. I was born because my mother didn’t believe in abortion. I was not put up…

Because you obviously don’t know enough about me. — See a thing, do a thing. I saw someone write a list of 11 facts so now I’m writing a list of 11 facts and I will tag people and start a trend because that’s what I do. I often use this platform to write about the traumas in my…

Grief can be all-consuming. — The song you’re about to listen to and read about here, you’ve probably never heard of before. The singer/songwriter lives in Holland. She’s also my cousin. This song, and the album it’s part of, titled Aftermath — was written about her husband. Melynda went to Holland in college on a…

You don’t have to listen to me but you don’t need to insult me. — I have seven animals (soon to be ten) in my home. They’re all rescues. I am a licensed vet tech and I work insane hours. I am easily injured because my bone structure did not form properly due to growing up as a career ballerina from the age of two. …