The Person We Think We Have to Be
I think just about everyone has had a role model growing up. Maybe it was an athlete, a movie star, a teacher, a coach, or someone you only knew from a distance. Whoever it was, there was something about them that made you stop and think, “Man…I hope I’m like that someday.” When we’re young, […]
The Stories We Tell Ourselves
The stories we tell ourselves often begin long before we realize it. A childhood memory, a difficult season, or a label we’ve carried for years can quietly shape the person we believe we are. But what if the story you’ve believed about yourself stopped being true a long time ago?
Should I Have Known Better?
For years, I believed I should have known better. Then I started wondering if I was judging my younger self with wisdom and experience I didn’t have at the time.
Why We Pretend Not to Care
Most of us care far more than we admit. We pretend rejection doesn’t hurt, criticism doesn’t sting, and embarrassment rolls right off our backs. Looking back, some of the best acting I ever did wasn’t pretending to be someone else. It was pretending not to care.
How Humor Helped Me Connect
Looking back, I wasn’t always the funny kid. From kindergarten through third grade, I was quiet. I made the honor roll. I stayed out of trouble. If my teachers had described me back then, “class clown” probably wouldn’t have made the list. That version of me existed while my parents were still together. My mom […]
The Finish Line Feels Different Than I Expected
After years of writing a novel, I expected relief when the finish line finally appeared. Instead, I discovered something far more important about potential, self-doubt, unfinished goals, and what happens when you finally follow through on something that matters.
The Exhaustion of Trying to Become Better After Work
The Exhaustion That Starts Before Work Even Begins There are some mornings I wake up at 4:30 AM and still think about how younger me would’ve never believed this was my life. Years ago, I used to shy away from jobs that started super early. Some of them I flat-out refused to take. Back then, […]
How Vulnerability Became Dangerous for Men
A raw reflection on masculinity, emotional armor, fatherhood, humor, toughness, and why vulnerability in men still feels risky even today.
Giving My ARC Readers My Book Was Harder Than Writing
Sending my novel to ARC readers after years of keeping it private brought excitement, fear, vulnerability, self-doubt, and a strange emotional emptiness I wasn’t fully prepared for.
Her Birthday, My Why
A tribute to my mom, the pain of losing a parent, and the strength she gave me to finally face my fears. Today is my mom’s birthday. And I’ve been sitting here trying to figure out how to put into words what she meant to me… and honestly, I don’t think that’s something I’ll […]