Tag: family

This is not who I wanted to be

This is not who I wanted to be

I tried so hard for so long not to become her. The woman in this picture. My first real job out of college was working in the digital design department of a big name consulting firm. All of my coworkers were so much cooler than me, with their mid-century modern homes, designer clothes, and trendy haircuts. I tried to be like them, but neither my budget or plus-sized frame allowed for it. I was good at my job, though, so

What I learned from Clark Griswold

What I learned from Clark Griswold

Some of you may already know this, but my family and I just returned from a two week vacation in which we rented a 30 foot motor home and drove over 2,500 miles,  across 6 states, visiting 5 national parks including the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone NP. While some people might cringe at the idea of spending two weeks in a 300 square foot box on wheels with three kids and their spouse, this was actually a vacation I’d dreamed

The unexpected Thanksgiving gift

The unexpected Thanksgiving gift

Christmas may be the holiday best-known for giving and receiving gifts, but just a few weeks ago I experienced an unexpected gift on Thanksgiving. A gift that will live in my heart forever. Before I tell you what the gift was, I have to tell you a little bit about my family. Families are usually the people who have known you the longest, and yet sometimes you feel like they don’t really know you at all. Misplaced loyalties, unspoken expectations,

Finding your tribe – 5 unconventional tips for forming meaningful, lasting friendships

group of friends

I recall walking into the kitchen and seeing the giant pot simmering on the stove as the hearty aroma filled the house. “Whatcha making?” I asked my step-mom. “It’s chicken soup. My friend Sue is having surgery tomorrow and I wanted to bring her some soup,” she replied. This was a common occurrence in our house. Whether it was making soup, dog-sitting, sharing lawnmowers, an evening out, or simply talking on the phone, I watched how these relationships developed and evolved