Saying I feel sad does not even come close to describing how I feel seeing the fires that are devastating areas of Los Angeles.. … I’ve thought a lot about how scared I was evacuating my home (twice) while living in San Diego, not knowing if it would there when I returned. … I truly
On December 21, 2009, I published my first post on
At 590 pages, I waited to read Chris Whitaker’s “All the Colors of the Dark” until winter break so I’d have enough time. Well, turns
On December 21, 2009, I published my first post on my Leah’s Thoughts blog. I had no idea what would become of my little WordPress
Today is my running anniversary. Eight years ago, after only living in Indiana a little over two months, I went outside to run because I wanted to feel something different. Unbeknownst to me, that run
This morning I ran the Wabash Valley Half Marathon. I planned to use this race more as a training run (with a medal!) and I went into it not intending to race, PR or place.
I spent yesterday volunteering at the Hawthorn Half Day Relay and Ultra race at Hawthorn Park. I’ve run this race three times and it’s very
Big Sur Marathon 🌊💙✨ On any given year, the marathon is a point-to-point course, starting in Big Sur and runners move along Highway 1 to
I did not want to run today. After a very long Saturday traveling to and from a track meet in Illinois, all I wanted to
“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” I’m convinced whoever said that never ran a mile in their life. Nevertheless, that phrase is intended to show
One of the biggest lessons I learned in 2023 was coming to terms with what I want from my running. I’ve been running consistently for
Indiana Fall Classic 10K 🍁🍂 10-minute race PR and third in my age group, and my first time placing at Fall Classic. Six years ago,
December Reflections 2024 Proud of myself for … buying myself a new (used) car and being able to give Sophie my Honda. While I have ALWAYS paid for all my cars myself, this was the
To say I was excited to read Ina Garten’s memoir would be an understatement. Ina Garten, also known as the Barefoot Contessa, is the reason I fell in love with cooking. This was back in
Over the summer, I was telling my therapist that while in San Diego, my family was planning an afternoon of swimming and grilling at my
“You’re taking so long to heal because you’re doing it the right way.” I read this quote on Instagram recently. When I moved to Terre
One of the ways I described my actions and feelings for so much of my life was to “soldier on.” When I felt sad, angry
HOPE I have a client who frequently uses this phrase in her work and training: “Hope is not a strategy.” And while I agree with
Not long ago, I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to attend a mental health support group. While I have family and friends
I’ve been wanting to grow my own tomatoes for years. Last year, I bought two tiny tomato plants and they never made it out of
I read a post from the wonderful writer Steve Edwards the other day about the “I used to think/now I think” writing prompt. That inspired me to start this morning’s three college writing classes with said
“Hope is a muscle” — Mary Chapin Carpenter When I teach writing to my college students, we rarely dive into a new assignment without some writing “practice” first. I tell students that we need to
I saw a quote the other day that said, “Inspiration comes during work, not before it.” Whether it’s running, writing, a new exercise practice, wanting
Dr. Stephen Weber became the seventh president of San Diego State University in 1996. The following year, the university celebrated its centennial (the year I
Sometimes I get the opportunity to write a feature story that deeply moves me. That was the case with this piece. … Terre Haute resident
RIPPLES A little over two years ago, I published a personal blog post called “The Slow and Steady Unraveling of a Marriage.” I only ever write
Memories gather dust in the dark as time creeps into another season … Replayed moments stop before the ending.
My students and I needed a shot of positivity today. I gave each of them a Post-It and told them to write three good things
The Indiana Trail 100K race was not the first time a life goal did not finish the way I intended. Four months before the ultramarathon, I had a conversation with my husband. It was the
Today is the National Day of Prayer. It’s a day of observance designated by the United States Congress in which people are asked “to turn to God in prayer and meditation.” A few weeks ago,
Originally published on Medium “Have you gone on any dates? Are you seeing anyone? Have you tried meeting people?” These are the questions I’m asked
Originally published on Medium Growing up, my dad liked to play the “What if?” game. In an attempt to get at the root cause of
Originally published on Medium Sometimes, I’ll read a piece of writing that hits me on a visceral level. I know this because I won’t even
Originally published on Medium Not long after my ex-husband and I filed for divorce, I was sharing the news of the end of my marriage
When I was going through my divorce, I created a playlist of songs that I called “Reckoning.” From Lyle Lovett to Carole King to Jackson
One Saturday night during my sophomore year of college, I was holed up alone in my dorm room at San Diego State University. Friends were
When Sophie was 10 years old, she played the role of Ursula’s tentacle in the local children’s theater production of “The Little Mermaid.” Seven years later, she played the part of the sea witch herself
“Life is short, even in its longest days.” — John Mellencamp This daughter of mine turns 17 today. Seventeen … the age that so many songs are written about, Sophie says. … While John Mellencamp
Seven years ago, Sophie and I visited the Honeysuckle Hill Beestro for dinner. On the property was a swing hanging from a very tall tree,
Two years and straight teeth (and purple hair) later 🖤✨💜 Farewell braces … another teenage milestone complete!
Mother’s Day 2024 … I love this daughter of mine and I’m so grateful she made me a mom. ❤️
Gone are the days of hiding candy-filled plastic eggs around the house (and I’m very much okay with that). This year, the Easter Bunny brought
Sophie is now a licensed driver. A major life milestone, for both of us. 🖤
Saying I feel sad does not even come close to describing how I feel seeing the fires that are devastating areas of Los Angeles.. … I’ve thought a lot about how scared I was evacuating my home (twice) while living in San Diego, not knowing if it would there when I returned. … I truly
At 590 pages, I waited to read Chris Whitaker’s “All the Colors of the Dark” until winter break so I’d have enough time. Well, turns out it only took me three days (and staying up until 1 a.m. to finish). This book was absolutely incredible! The writing was some of the most real I’ve ever
On December 21, 2009, I published my first post on my Leah’s Thoughts blog. I had no idea what would become of my little WordPress blog, on my tiny corner of the internet. All I remember feeling at that time was restless and that I had things to say … about me, motherhood, marriage, books,
I recently embarked on a new project … as a U.S. Census enumerator. I wanted to do this part-time work to earn extra income and also learn about my county and residents. And already the stories and what I’ve encountered have been fascinating. It’s an interesting time we’re living in … census year, election year,
Sometimes a writing idea will come to me in minutes and I’ll feverishly draft the entire thing in the Notes app of my phone. Other times, it takes months for the idea to come to fruition. Or it starts as one thing and morphs into something else. This post is an example of a piece
December Reflections 2024 Proud of myself for … buying myself a new (used) car and being able to give Sophie my Honda. While I have ALWAYS paid for all my cars myself, this was the first time I bought a vehicle completely on my own. When I was 19 and 22, my dad was with
To say I was excited to read Ina Garten’s memoir would be an understatement. Ina Garten, also known as the Barefoot Contessa, is the reason I fell in love with cooking. This was back in 2001 when I was very young, newly married and had my first real kitchen. From her first “The Barefoot Contessa
“[Running] is the crucible of resilience. It owes you nothing, and you give it everything.” This was written by a runner describing cross country. I was struck so much by this idea and how it so accurately applies to running as a whole. At the end of the year, I always save some mental space
Today is my running anniversary. Eight years ago, after only living in Indiana a little over two months, I went outside to run because I wanted to feel something different. Unbeknownst to me, that run would change the course of my life, in so many ways. A few years ago, I wrote a personal essay
RIPPLES A little over two years ago, I published a personal blog post called “The Slow and Steady Unraveling of a Marriage.” I only ever write for (and can only speak for) myself; but, I always hope my words resonate and can maybe help others feel less alone in what they may be facing in life.
The Indiana Trail 100K race was not the first time a life goal did not finish the way I intended. Four months before the ultramarathon, I had a conversation with my husband. It was the scariest and most difficult conversation we ever had in our 18 years of marriage. It was that conversation that I
When Sophie was 10 years old, she played the role of Ursula’s tentacle in the local children’s theater production of “The Little Mermaid.” Seven years later, she played the part of the sea witch herself in her high school musical production. It was truly a full circle moment. Thank you to everyone who came out
“Life is short, even in its longest days.” — John Mellencamp This daughter of mine turns 17 today. Seventeen … the age that so many songs are written about, Sophie says. … While John Mellencamp wasn’t singing about turning 17, I feel those words so much today. I am immensely proud of the strong, brave,
On December 21, 2009, I published my first post on my Leah’s Thoughts blog. I had no idea what would become of my little WordPress blog, on my tiny corner of the internet. All I remember feeling at that time was restless and that I had things to say … about me, motherhood, marriage, books,
I read a post from the wonderful writer Steve Edwards the other day about the “I used to think/now I think” writing prompt. That inspired me to start this morning’s three college writing classes with said prompt. I wanted to get the students out of their research essay heads, and I said their truths can be
