What happens when a story we learned in childhood keeps shaping the way we look for love and belonging in midlife? The Search for Belonging When I think about growing up, I remember feeling isolated and alone, like I did not belong. If, as a child, I believed my mother did not love me, I started to believe nobody else ever will. I do not have to say those words out loud for them to shape how I move through the world. I try to be funny. I try to be adventurous and fun to be

An angel, a devil, and the pause between them: a curious look at the voices we hear, the stories we tell ourselves, and the choices we make.

Who am I becoming, and how much control do I have over it? What Becoming Means to Me When I say “Becoming,” I mean paying attention to my life while I am living it. I cannot control everything that changes around me. I can notice what is happening and choose how I respond. Most days, it is easy to slide into autopilot. I do the familiar things, my mind runs ahead to whatever comes next, and I miss what is right in front of me. Being intentional starts when I slow down long en

After years of estrangement, my mother and I made good memories together. A difficult interview and Dr. Janet Steinkamp’s response to my book brought me back to what I can choose and what I cannot control.

August taught me that persistence can quietly become pursuit, and sometimes the wisest next step is to stop chasing the whale.

July was the first full month of Becoming, and it did not give me the transformation story I might have expected. It gave me evidence.