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I’ve been hesitant to mention him—the special someone who entered my life seven months ago. All I willing to admit is that he is very special to me. Part of me feels that even acknowledging this budding relationship might jinx it, but life is full of risks, and the worst I’d have to do is delete this post!

I really admire him. He came to this country young, barely speaking the language, if at all. After a difficult marriage and divorce, he ended up raising his two children alone. He is fiercely independent, highly responsible and he has worked tirelessly to provide and care for his children.

From what I understand, he hasn’t had many relationships and had mostly resigned himself to staying single. I reached out to him online, finding his profile intriguing—though it was an old one he might not have responded to me if not for a nudge from his coworkers. We started talking at a challenging time in my life, and met in person a few weeks later. He’s been here with me through it all, seven months strong.

He’s quiet and reserved with his thoughts and feelings. He doesn’t shower me with empty compliments or flowers, but he’ll say something simple and heartfelt that melts me. When I told him I was upset and needed a hug, he stopped everything, came over, and held me until I stopped crying. He rarely arrives empty-handed, always bringing food, drink or both. I asked to be part of his family life, and he welcomed me in. He has been always been thoughtful, considerate, patient and kind to me. I shouldn’t be so surprised but I am….

Is he perfect? Not at all—but neither am I! Am I smitten? Absolutely.

Is this what Peace feels like?

Tonight, as I was re-reading some of my previous posts, I realized something has shifted within me emotionally. Could this be peace? I find myself in a good place, feeling calm without that nagging sense of dread that used to weigh on me. But have my circumstances really changed? The truth is, they haven’t. Everything around me remains the same.

Does this newfound calm mean that I’m suddenly confident and self-assured? Not exactly. I’m still the same person with the same uncertainties. However, I’ve been spending time with someone who presents a state of calmness and self-confidence, and perhaps some of those qualities have started to rub off on me. Whatever the cause, this change feels wonderful. I feel calm, peaceful, and happy, and it’s a state I’m grateful to experience.

Moments

Life is made up of moments—bookended by birth and death, with the dash in between holding it all together. We all have childhood memories that shaped who we are, and moments in life that filled us with joy—a special birthday, Christmas, or holiday, a wedding day, perhaps the birth of a child. And there are those moments that brought deep sorrow. I remember the assassinations of President Kennedy, his brother Bobby, and Dr. Martin Luther King. I remember our national tragedy, the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11th, 2001. So many moments leave lasting impressions on our lives.

Yet, some of the most impactful moments involve births and deaths. The birth of a child transforms you completely, while the death of a loved one can bring overwhelming sadness. I was taken by surprise by the grief I felt when I lost someone. In the weeks after my mother’s death, I found myself unexpectedly in tears. I say “unexpectedly” because, for reasons I’ve discussed before, I wasn’t close with my mother. I grieve not for her, but for the relationship we never had.

At her funeral, I wondered about the person others were describing—how they spoke of her as a wonderful person, someone who had greatly influenced their lives and would be sorely missed. That was not the woman I knew. As irreverent as it may sound, she was never someone I could rely on, either as a child or an adult. Who was this stranger they mourned? She wasn’t the person I had known.

No, I don’t grieve for the person she was, but for the relationship that never existed.

Escape


It’s heart-wrenching to witness loved ones and friends facing life’s challenges, and feeling utterly helpless to assist them. Whether it’s family strife, financial troubles, or their personal battles I’ve been entrusted with, I understand the profound pain, sadness, and confusion that can leave you paralyzed, unsure of the next step. The advice I’ve received, though difficult to accept, urges me to keep moving forward, even if it is feels like only a tiny step. I need maintain a real perspective, stay present in the moment and out of my head. They tell you, care of yourself physically with rest, exercise and good food. And at times I have sought professional. And I suppose, over time, they do aid in healing. But when you feel stuck, you feel stuck, and breaking free feels insurmountable.

At times, the darkness seems all-consuming. Yet, even when the light at the end of the tunnel is imperceptible, fighting to emerge into that light is crucial. The key is to keep forging ahead, and keep telling yourself tomorrow will be a better day.

May we never go back into those dark places from which one fought so hard to escape.

It’s not what it looks like.

Life often leads us down unexpected paths, stretching us beyond what we thought we could endure. What we anticipate as our breaking point often fails to defeat us. Somehow, we find hidden reserves of strength within ourselves. It’s like punching an inflatable toy weighted at the bottom—it falls, only to resiliently bounce back. That’s how I feel, constantly knocked down only to rise again, feeling weary of the relentless blows. Someone close to me observed recently witnessed me unraveling over something as trivial as parking. They remarked, “You’ve reached your emotional limit,” and indeed, I have. I linger in a perpetual state of exhaustion, questioning the significance of it all amidst life’s upheaval. What lessons am I meant to glean from this chaos?

In the past, I’ve explored the metaphorical mask I wear to conceal my true emotions. But currently, maintaining that facade is an uphill battle. Control slips from my grasp, allowing tears to trickle down. Each step feels weighed down, my legs burdened with the strain. Managing these heightened emotions demands an exhausting amount of energy. Accepting the lack of control is a challenge in itself. My choices have led me to feel like an outsider peering in. It’s a peculiar conflict—I’ve deliberately distanced myself from certain situations, yet still feel I am being left out. This inner struggle echoes the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 7:15, “For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” This internal conflict is an universal experience. But knowing that doesn’t offer me any consolation. Only a select few are privy to the real me; for the rest, I present a facade that contradicts my true feelings. So as the title of this post is very fitting… “It’s not what it looks like”

Home

Have you ever encountered a location that resonated so deeply, that you know it’s where you truly belong? For me, that special place is Dublin. With Saint Patrick’s Day on the horizon, the longing to return has intensified. I refer to it as home because, to me, Dublin embodies that comforting sense of belonging. I really miss the sights, sounds, people, green grass, and history. The craving to be back is like a physical ache.

Dublin is Where My Heart is Thus Home

I know

Aunt Sue said ” Its bad when people lie to you But its terrible when you lie to yourself” When I know what I know and I swear Steven has tried every thing he possibly can to get me to send MORE money or Obligate myself to get a Cell phone account! I know he is fake I know it without a doubt. So why am I hanging on? Why is he hanging on? Most Scammers are gone by now….its crazy….BUT I KNOW WHAT I KNOW I NEED TO STOP LYING TO MYSELF!!!!

Positive

When you’ve spent a lifetime feeling overshadowed by a persistent gloom, finding the sunlight becomes a challenging task. Shifting my outlook, mindset, or perspective is necessary, yet it feels like a monumental undertaking. Throughout my journey, I’ve told myself of inadequacy—believing I wasn’t smart enough, talented enough, the right size, with the wrong hair and clothes, and ultimately unlovable. Transitioning from this negative perception to a positive one seems nearly insurmountable.

The difficulty lies in altering this perspective when my life’s experiences continually reinforce these beliefs. If there’s a solution, I’m eager to hear it. On the surface, it seems simple: cease the negative self-talk, transform internal dialogue into positive thoughts and words. For those with faith, the power of words is evident, as seen in the belief that God spoke the Earth into existence. A proverb suggests that life and death rest in the power of the tongue. However, I yearn for a more profound change—one that extends beyond mere positive affirmations. How does one transform the very core of their being? And in doing so, would I still remain the same person?