"The ups and downs are usually not that bad, but it's the damn twists and turns that get me every single time." – J. Hasamear
Friendships can shape us in ways we don't fully appreciate until they're gone. What happens when you lose the close-knit group of women you once called your tribe, the quiet grief that follows, and the journey toward realizing that your worth was never defined by who chose to stay. Sometimes thriving isn't about finding your way back to the life you had—it's about discovering the strength to build a beautiful new one.
There’s something about spring that feels like permission. Permission to start over.Permission to try again.Permission to believe that maybe—just maybe—what’s ahead could be softer, brighter, better than what’s behind. After months of gray skies and heavy days, the world slowly begins to exhale. Trees that looked lifeless just weeks ago quietly bloom. The air shifts.... Continue Reading →
Six months ago, my world changed in a way I didn’t expect. One day I had a job, a routine, a place where I showed up daily to contribute, create, and be part of something bigger than myself. The next day… I didn’t. Losing a job has a strange way of forcing reflection, whether you’re... Continue Reading →
There’s something quietly powerful about a new year — not because everything suddenly changes overnight, but because we do. As 2026 begins, I’m stepping into it differently. Not naïve. Not untouched. But grounded. Wiser. Still standing. Last year left its marks. It tested my patience, my resilience, and my mental health in ways I didn’t... Continue Reading →
I have watched the Broadway musical, Wicked, on the stage 3-4 times, listened to the soundtrack countless times, and recently saw the second part of the movie in theaters. And a line from Wicked’s “For Good” imprinted on me immediately upon hearing it all those years ago: “Because I knew you, I have been changed... Continue Reading →
Many of my memories from Ursuline Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school, remain vivid even after 30 years, especially from my senior year. The memories flow through my mind like water—sounds of girls talking, yelling, and singing in the cafeteria; the familiar scent of the hallways; the taste of sour watermelons eaten secretly in class;... Continue Reading →
My brother and I grew up with the clear understanding that we were both adopted. With six years between us, it was also very clear that we came from two different families since our parents received us at birth.Recently, my brother's birth aunt reached out via social media after finding him on Ancestry.com. He called... Continue Reading →
Over the last couple of weeks, I have been one of many on an emotional rollercoaster, hoping justice would be served in the violent loss of a life so dear - a daughter, a sister, a friend and a girlfriend - for absolutely no reason. In a world full of pain, sorrow and violence, I... Continue Reading →
With music blaring in the background and kids screaming around me, I find myself standing in a crowded room, unable to place what I have lost or even what I am missing but I just have this overwhelming feeling of loss. I want to scream. I want to catch my breath. I look to the... Continue Reading →
As a family, we recently stood together to watch my son, Nicholas, as he was promoted from eighth grade to high school. Like most events in our lives that have happened over the last 15 years, there is always a feeling like something is missing. No, more like someone is missing. This year marks another... Continue Reading →
Does this Roller Coaster ever stop? 