Relationships & Spirituality
Stories about relationships, emotional and spiritual well-being
Mazel Tov, Shayna
It has been a pleasure watching Shayna Levy grown this year in her preparation for her Bat Mitzvah. As part of her mitzvah project, she helped us interview Iron Caterpillars for Iron Butterflies Project....
Shoebox Chronicles 4 – Remembering Well
By Mark LehmanLast weekend an airline flight delay leaving Washington D.C. gave me a couple of rare free hours. I could choose to see new monuments, a museum, or just visit favorite landmarks in this wonderful and uniquely American city. I opted for Arlington National...
Seth Glier, Not “Standing Still”: How his life and experience made him an Iron Butterfly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j22Ud1hjqmk https://youtu.be/5Wck2BxGCUU https://youtu.be/PQm-QVMVfe4 From the time Seth Glier was a young boy, music was something he always enjoyed. As he grew up, he loved to entertain friends and family to be the center of...
Shoebox Chronicles 2: Gospel According to Fern
by Mark Lehman Recently I found a 46-year old letter in the shoe box which dispelled a lifetime of very unflattering impressions of my insufferable Uncle Fern. The origin of his unusual name is unknown. Proving that truth is always better than fiction, Fern’s loyal...
Shoebox Chronicles 1: Healing Power of Letters
By Mark Lehman Recently I began the laborious and sentimental task of dismantling my parent’s homestead; also my childhood home. As I worked my way through old dusty boxes found tucked away in closets and under beds, I made numerous unique discoveries about my...
Shoebox Chronicles 3: Guideposts of Dreams
By Mark LehmanAs I was growing up, it didn’t occur to me I was actually living my own history. I was simply part of the ideal post-war era of the late 1950’s and early 1960’s with loving parents seeking their own part of the American Dream in a brand new tree-filled...
Whenever You’re In Trouble
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BrVYciS-PU Sandy Sandefur was born in Canada to a mother who was not ready to understand what it was like to raise a child with Cerebral Palsy. As a result, she was put up for adoption and was adopted by her mother Jean who lived in...
Healing Power of Meditation
By Melinda Rothouse Instead of asking ourselves, “How can I find security and happiness?” we could ask ourselves, “Can I touch the center of my pain? Can I sit with suffering, both yours and mine, without trying to make it go away? Can I stay present to the ache of...
Happy Mother’s Day
By Rose Horng Standing under the spotlight on stage, I felt embraced by the audience when they gave me a warm applause. I couldn’t believe I finally did it – delivering a public speech in English. I have been very shy since childhood, so I always feel nervous whenever...
A Reason To Fight
By Anna Harwin As the family scapegoat for a drunken stepfather, I knew it wasn’t safe to go home. Too many meals missed, too many head ringing punches, too little sleep, I knew I wouldn’t survive if I couldn’t find a place to go and so, one night at the age of 12,...
Finding The Courage
by Lynn Doelger My brother and I grew up playing in the vast woods of Alabama. I started running at a young age and recall running with my Dad in the morning before he went to work. My parents married at a young age. Home life was less than pleasant. Mom and Dad were...
The Corkscrew Effect
By Misty Raley Gassaway Fourteen years ago, my whole life changed. At twelve years of age, I was tucked in the back of my closet, banging my head against the wall attempting to soothe my fearful soul. Tears streaming down my checks, I repeated at least a thousand...
I Am One of Us
By J. L. Egremy I grew up in a place full of colors, smells and sounds from childhood birthday parties to holidays. My aunt was often called upon to make party costumes for my siblings and myself which were always a great hit. We truly enjoyed the attention and felt...
Listening To Those Whispers
By Molly Patrick I used to drink. A lot. I was 14 the first time I got drunk. It was at a New Year’s Eve party and my best friend and I snuck pink Carlo Rossi from a box until the numbing effect of the sweet nectar led us outside to the cool night air where we laid on...
Give Yourself Permission to Step Through Fear and Experience Eternal Change
By Mindy Miralia In the waking hours of March 29, 2011, I received the call that is every parent’s worst nightmare. Before I could utter a sleepy ‘h-e-l-l-o’ my father announced in an odd emotionally neutral tone, “Mindy, Micah’s dead.” “No! He is not!” I shouted with...
It Is Well
By Lynette Norris On Wednesday, November 25, 2014, we were completely blindsided by the news that I had Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer with two inoperable tumors in my pelvis. I won't ever forget telling my daughters this news. I felt as though I was telling them that I was...
Sweet Sixteen
By Brigette Neal It was Friday night, my friend had convinced me there was a "great" party we needed to check out, in a neighborhood near ours. Our usual drill was sneaking out her bedroom window, either walking somewhere to attend a "great" party, or sneaking her...
My Unexpected Life with Aunt Lillie and Mom
By Deb Hernandez I never imagined that at age 63, I’d be living with my Mom, but I’m amazed at how happy it makes me. Then again, I never imagined we’d both be caring for a 99-year-old Mexican woman either. This Golden Girls kind of life has been an adjustment for me...