Trigger Warning: Mention of sexual assault and suicidal ideation *** I was born needing to be fixed. They didn’t have the fancy ultrasounds forty-some years ago, so I came out bloody and ready to breathe life into the world—except I could barely breathe. I was born disfigured; my lip was attached to the bottom of […]
Sisters in Mental Illness: Shaley Hoogendoorn Talks to Jessica Birak of Mint & Birch
by on June 26, 2019 Leave a Comment
[ Trigger Warning: Mention of abuse, as well as an eating disorder.] This month, Shaley Hoogendoorn talks to Jessica Birak, founder of the jewelry company Mint & Birch, who is also a vulnerable and honest advocate for mental health. They talk about topics related to anxiety, depression, postpartum, hypochondria, eating disorders and healing from childhood […]
For Those Who Don’t Belong
by on June 18, 2019 Leave a Comment
I had two hours of time to myself while the nurse watched my daughter. I decided to spend that time attending a local group for moms at the church down the street. I was a newly-minted mom, so it seemed like a good idea to get to know other women at a similar stage in life. I […]
Learning to Let Go
by on February 14, 2019 Leave a Comment
Do you sometimes feel as though you’re carrying around a rucksack full of rocks? Yeah, that’s been true for me, too. Perhaps it has something to do with being a Type Two on the Enneagram. Perhaps it has more to do with being a female of “a certain age.” And maybe it has a heckuva […]
Thankful For All the Wrong Things
by on February 7, 2019 1 Comment
I birthed my first babe a week ago. My unwashed hair is scraped into a lazy bun, my eyes sunken from lack of sleep. I’ve been wearing the same pajamas for days. Shuffling to and from the bathroom is a major event now, and I’m embarrassed by how difficult those few pathetic steps are. It […]
