Eliza Fletcher’s story matters — I went for a 7 mile run the other day, per my marathon training plan. Did I think about safety? I always do. I can’t afford not to. I’m a woman. I also thought about the abduction and death of a female runner as I ran. And I ran alone…

How this distance can change your life — Ultramarathons aside, in the world of running, the ultimate test of mental strength and physical fitness is the marathon. Why is running the marathon such a powerful testament to a person’s will and mental toughness? One reason: the pain. We’ll revisit this point in a bit. Pursuing the Dream In…

Edited education is a handicap — It’s 5:00 on a Friday afternoon. I’m wrapping up my documentation for the day, and I’m running later than anticipated. But before my frustration gets to me, I’m calmed by a welcome, yet unexpected sound. Over the loudspeaker of the nursing facility where I work, the cantor sings a song…

A poem about healing from gun violence — Guns are not toys. Guns are not fun. Just look at all of the harm they have done. My life is a mess. Improving, at best. I have no more demons to confess. Forever impacted By this event protracted. A smudge in my life that should be redacted. I went…

My new mantra for life as I learn to live in the present. — A wise running coach once taught his marathoners that when the run gets tough, just run the mile you’re in. It’s such a simple metaphor for life, right? I mean, how much time do we spend ruminating about the past while simultaneously future-tripping? This was my life before trauma rehab…

A sad tale of witnessing. — My daughter has just parked the car. We found a great spot next to the cart return at the grocery store. I’ve taught my girls a series of lessons in grocery shopping, and parking location is one of them. We step out into the cold, damp Virginia night air as…

Pulling yourself out of a mental health crisis seems impossible — As the reality of what I’m about to do solidifies, I get these moments where a strange feeling emerges. It starts in my gut. It tingles sickeningly up my back and into my arms, then to my brain. It’s a feeling so acrid that it has a smell. It’s a…

TW: GUN VIOLENCE — There’s nothing quite like your daughter calling 911 and having the dispatcher declare an active shooter to the police tasked with ensuring your safety. Or hearing her commands to get down on the floor because of said shooter. That was how my girls and I spent part of Sunday afternoon…

Roosters, that is — Ahem. That is a bachelor flock of chickens. Driving home the other day, I spotted this sign in my neighborhood advertising “free roosters.” It’s a conundrum for many backyard chicken owners. You buy a few chicks and some grow up to be roosters instead of hens. The problem is when…