It took me years to not feel shame about being gay. And, I do mean most of my life. Even after marrying my wife seven years ago!

Failure has not been something with which I’ve had much experience. Growing up, I wasn’t necessarily the best student in school, but I do not remember ever failing anything.

It’s not lost on me that I am the same age as my dearest friend was when she passed away five years ago.

Stop seeking acceptance from others. Because YOU are the only person that needs to accept you

I recently cared for my estranged mother after her surgery. When I relayed this story to a dear friend, she was shocked but also happy for me and the parental reconnection after so many years of pain and loss.

When I was 15, I remember thinking I was already in need of some serious healing. I started going to therapy.

I was nervous. I had never done anything this intense before.

Lately we've been fascinated by documentaries on cults. It's mind-blowing to watch the progression of the human psyche go from trusting and seeking validation to completely closed and shut off from reality.

The last 20 months have shown us some huge challenges for humanity. Besides the natural disasters, tragic events, and divisive information, a lot of people are experiencing some deep, emotional trauma with little to no support.

On our most recent trip to our soon-to-be new home, we stopped at a local coffee shop to enjoy some delicious food and the beautiful weather. We had just experienced some deep loss from a tragic event and we were starting to find the joy in life again.

I hear a lot of people lately concerned for their "personal freedoms".

Grief is different for everyone. Some grieve in stages, some all at once, and some never grieve. I have seen many versions of grief. But none so intense and overwhelming as the grief of losing a child.

I just rode in our little city's Independence Day parade. It was a short parade, filled with clumps of red, white, and blue-clad spectators.

My first memory of my mother taught me a life-long lesson: people cannot love you the way you need them to when they do not love themselves.

How do people make it through each day without facing the truth? Because denial is more comfortable.

Recently, I made the mistake of attempting to create a dialogue around gut health in a science group.

Were you ever taught how to have boundaries? Or were you just expected to be or do whatever everyone else expected of you?

Now let's look at your body as your home. What is the value of your home?

How would you communicate if you did not have words? A baby cries when they have a basic need. A dog barks or jumps around wagging its tail when it has to go outside. Your body typically experiences pain when there is a need. There are many ways to communicate. The trick is to listen.

A souvenir of growing up in a family of addicts was consequently developing codependency issues. Identifying and communicating my feelings was practically impossible, and needing the approval of others was a must.