Where should we go, and what should we do, when everything in our world feels unsafe? I can’t think of a single place in the world that is absolutely safe. Even (or maybe especially) the places that are supposed to be our safest havens are at risk. Our schools, our churches, the movie theatres down…

Christmas is 45 days away. Does that news give you an anxiety attack, or fill you with peace and goodwill toward men? I doubt this is the first time Christmas has crossed your radar this year. Decorations have been in grocery stores since October (right next to the pumpkins), catalogues are arriving by the dozen…

I’ve spent a great deal of my life trying to be an interesting person. When I catch up with old friends or relatives I haven’t seen in a while, I run through a mental list of noteworthy things I can share with them. “Let’s see, since the last time I saw you, I’ve gotten a…

I was holding my five-year-old son’s hand in his school’s parking lot yesterday afternoon when he casually pointed to the sidewalk. “That’s where we go line up when the fire bell rings, but we don’t go there when there are bad guys. When there are bad guys we hide in the bathroom.” Wait. What? Like…

My life is not balanced. It’s never been balanced. I don’t know what the perfect mix of activities should be in order to achieve balance. I often say I want to regain balance in my life, but that phrase is inaccurate, because you can’t re-gain something you’ve never gained. I certainly try, though, because a…

If I were to ask you right this moment who you were, how would you answer? Linda Gray, actor of Sue Ellen Ewing fame and author of “The Road to Happiness is Always Under Construction,” recently asked attendees at the 2014 Ultimate Woman’s Expo in Dallas to answer the question, “Who are you?” with an…

Seeing my firstborn son smile for the first time was one of moments in my life I will never forget.  It filled me with indescribable awe and heartbreaking love.  I was thrilled, and I wanted to share the joy I was feeling with a friend. “He smiled today!”  I reported, “For the first time!  He…

You know the classic question – is the glass half full, or half empty?  Your answer determines your outlook on life.  See the glass as half full, and you’re an optimist.  See the glass as half empty, and you’re a pessimist.  Who wouldn’t want to be the optimist in this scenario?   The pessimist is seen…

Yesterday, my husband and I celebrated our 9th anniversary.  Naturally, the occasion had me thinking about love. My husband (who I will henceforth refer to as “Lancelot,” due to his understated chivalry, unwavering integrity and giant heart) and I have made quite a life for ourselves in nine years.  However, it hasn’t all been sunshine…

Hi, I’m Carrie, and I’m an apology-holic. It’s one of the most evident downsides of not feeling good enough.  I’m constantly apologizing, and not for things that I should apologize for.  I say, “I’m sorry,” more times in a day than I can count.  When my 5-year-old can’t sleep and crawls into my bed at…

Let’s talk science.  Neuroscience, in fact. Turns out that settling for a good enough decision instead of waiting to make a perfect decision makes you happier. Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system.  Some neuroscientists study happiness.  Yes, there are scientists that study what makes us happy!  That’s a branch of science I…

I am an ordinary girl.  I grew up in a typical suburban house with two brothers, a mom and a dad, a dog and a few hamsters.  I went to college, got a job and got married.  Now I’m the one paying the mortgage on a typical suburban house with two kids and a dog of…