Thank you for all of the emails showing concern for my absence, wondering how I’ve been and when I’d be back. It has meant a lot to me, and I'm happy to say that I'm doing so much better and I'm definitely back!

Life doesn’t always work out the way we plan; in fact, I’d say it rarely does. Sometimes, you have no choice but to drop everything and focus on simply surviving.  

As always, what hasn’t killed me has forged me into a stronger person; albeit, this last set of challenges took so long to overcome I thought I was surely broken. Alas, I survived. And, yes, I’m re-emerging into the world with more clarity and emotional strength than I ever thought possible. I’m taking my time, choosing my battles, and removing a lot of the unnecessary stress of my past lives.  

I’m no longer a wife, but still a mother. I believe in marriage, but have learned what happens when you commit to staying with the wrong primary partner no matter what…things don’t get better and you nearly kill yourselves in the process. You bring out each other’s worst qualities and life turns into a nightmare.  

I’ve since realized that I needed to end some friendships that were wrong, as well. Breaking up with a long time friend is no easier than with a partner; in fact, it’s a bit more difficult in some ways. With a friend, ending things can seem just plain mean. Maybe it is. Unfortunately, by the time it’s necessary, you’ve usually already exhausted all other options.  

What’s always been most important in my life remains the same: LOVE.  

Maybe now I’ll finally learn how to take my own advice and focus on enjoying love without fearing its loss. I’ve conquered so many other fears this year. For now, it’s simply lovely to breathe.