Today we said goodbye to Sophie, our ten year-old mini schnauzer. It was a really difficult decision my mom and I made together after considering the amount Sophie was suffering, and the amount she’s suffered her whole life. Being in the presence of someone/something who dies isn’t something I’ve done a lot in my life, … Continue reading
Today is October 15th. Five years ago, I came home from work, and as C trimmed his toenails (true story), I said I still didn’t feel like things were okay between us, and he agreed. I never imagined what he’d finally work up to say just twenty minutes later. “I think I need to be … Continue reading
They were always running. Even their sprint toward you was them running from something else. For a time you were a safe haven, an escape from the flames. You relaxed into their embrace, even while anxiously hearing the crackling of the fire, much too close for comfort. But do you know what happens when someone on fire … Continue reading
Have you ever noticed that when it comes to letting something go, we get all agitated and resistant? It’s like when people talk about having a gratitude practice or meditating — science has shown over and over that these practices absolutely increase happiness, and yet we’re totally resistant to them and get borderline annoyed by … Continue reading
“It should be called ‘Small Life, Sad Life’,” I said to my husband over lunch. “All I do is write about grief. Breakups and death and feeling suicidal.” “No,” he said. “Dealing with that stuff is part of having a small life. And you write about getting to the other side of grief.” “Hmm,” I … Continue reading
It was Christmas Eve, 2012. I’d been at work all day, watching happy customers come and go, arms amply filled from shoulder to wrist with bags full of gifts for their loved ones. It had drizzled the night before (this is Los Angeles, after all, so there’s no snow here), so the parking lot was … Continue reading
small life, slow life 