Monday was the longest day I can remember.

It was graduation day at Hough High School. But my graduate wasn’t there.

We all probably try to prepare ourselves for days, experiences, encounters or milestones that we know may be difficult. But it’s impossible to predict how something will affect you. Read the full story

At 6:37 a.m. the assault begins. Adele’s rich voice fills the entire house, “There’s a fire starting in my heart. Reaching a fever pitch, it’s bringing me out the dark. Finally I can see you crystal clear….”

No response. No movement. No other sound. Aside from Adele.

The lump on the bed that alarm clock is supposed to wake up continues to sleep peacefully, deaf to the soaring vocals of the Grammy-award winning singer. Read the full story

Dear friend who chooses to live,

You are brave. I’m impressed by your courage. Whether you survived an attempted suicide, changed your mind at the last minute and saved yourself, or have thought about it but not acted, I want to tell you how amazed I am at your strength to continually choose life.

From speaking to others or reading their emails, I’ve learned that sometimes it is a battle. You are a warrior fighting for your life as you go to Geometry class, sit in your cubicle at work, or do five loads of laundry for your family. Read the full story

You can’t bully someone into believing. I spoke with a young lady who says she’s been bullied for her beliefs, or lack of belief, as some people might describe it.

“I am atheist, but not one of those in-your-face-about-it people,” she said. “I understand that people have different beliefs, and I believe that they should be allowed to practice those beliefs freely. I just choose not to have a religion myself.” Read the full story

Resilience has a face. That’s what I thought watching Elizabeth Smart speaking to CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer during the media coverage of the captives in Cleveland, Ohio.

Her authoritative tone, her bright and alert eyes, and the soft compassion in her voice was a striking contrast to my most memorable image of Smart, downcast eyes nearly buried in a full body garment that covered her head and face like a beige burka. A young girl of only 14 whose innocence was destroyed, whose life was ripped from her, but who obviously survived and thrived, she shared articulate and heartfelt insight with confidence on national TV. Read the full story

Please drop the Chicken Wing Pose, ladies. The trick with a trend is recognizing when it’s over. And when bloggers start saying a pose that’s supposed to make you look super cute makes you look like you are airing out your underarms — it’s over.

You know what I’m talking about: the pose with a hand stuck saucily on your hip, cinching in your waist so it looks its smallest and angling your arm so it looks its thinnest. All women, all shapes, sizes and ages are doing this pose. I call it the Chicken Wing Pose but it’s also known as the Sorority Girl pose, the Hand-on-Hip Pageant pose, and the Sassy Arm Triangle of Insecurity, as one male blogger called it. Read the full story

I guess it is finally time I come out of the closet.

If you don’t know me personally, you may not know this about me: I am a supporter of people living honestly, openly, and freely as homosexuals. I am a supporter of gay rights.

I regret that some of you will put down the paper or click to something new and never read me again. But, please, give me just a moment to explain my opinion. Not because I want to try to change yours but simply because I don’t want you to change everything you thought you knew about me. Read the full story

Jocelyn made both good and bad choices in her life. And to be blunt, she made one really stupid decision. But she also made at least one brilliant choice. Twice, in fact.

Jocelyn marked Organ Donor on both her NC Driver’s Learning Permit and her provisional Driver’s License. I remember there was little discussion about it as she was filling out the first set of paperwork for the permit at 15 years of age. And there was no discussion the day she was happily, finally, getting her driver license only a couple of months before she turned 17. She just marked it matter-of-factly and the red heart icon appeared next to her beautiful face when the license arrived in the mail. Read the full story