When I was a child, I loved riding the merry-go-round. Watching the world spin by in a blur was fun. Getting dizzy and trying to walk a straight line after hopping...

A few years ago, I was struggling with postpartum depression. I felt as though my life had veered off course; my ambitions stalled in the wake of motherhood, and I felt...

When traveling in northern Mexico, I have noticed that during late summer and early fall it is common to see large strings of chili peppers, known as “ristras,” hanging from buildings...

My first sentence as a child was, “I do it myself.” From the earliest years of my life, being fiercely independent has been part of my identity. It is a trait...

When my mother passed away in 1982, I became an orphan and was raised in an environment without honesty or trust. With no firm foundation to rely on as a child,...

I love to watch the birds from my kitchen window. After refilling the feeder one day, I watched as a single bird arrived, grabbed a seed and flew off through the...

When I attended the 50-year reunion for my high school class, it was fun to reconnect with classmates I had not seen in decades. I chatted with two friends whom I...

One morning, I bent over and experienced an excruciating snap in my spine. My back locked up, leaving me in an awkward position, and I screamed in pain. Two weeks of...

As a Christian, I’ve always been intimidated by the concept of sharing out loud the word of God. My introverted personality made me uncomfortable at the thought. However, while browsing for...

When I retired, I moved to the mountains and lived only a few miles from the Appalachian Trail. Each year, thousands set out to hike the entire trail — a months-long...