Repeating patterns

Have you ever thought, ‘Why am I with this person?’

Or when in a new relationship, have you ever wondered, ‘John is just like my last boyfriend, Mike! Why did I do this again?’

Maybe you have told yourself, ‘I will never marry anyone like my father.’ Or, ‘I will never be like my mother.’ If any of these thoughts sound like you, I bet you would love to understand how we pick our relationships.

My pattern

In a recent text exchange, I updated a friend on my dating adventures. She questioned, “Why are all these men emotionally unavailable?”

I responded, “I…

A walk down memory lane

When PS I Love You said goodbye, I jumped down a black hole of unpleasant emotions. Hurt. Anger. Shock. My rock would be no more.

Into my bubble I floated, reminiscing. Although the first draft I submitted was not published, I was accepted as a writer. My piece did not fit PSILY’s style or guidelines, but Dan took a chance on me. Thank you, Dan.

I submitted a few more drafts that did not hit the mark. Then one day, Kay taught me how to reformat a poem I submitted. She could have rejected it for not following the correct…

Logistics

After an amazing day at the Jumeirah Mosque, Elaine and I headed to our hotel to get ready for our evening on the water. While in the States, Elaine found the Alexandra Dhow Boat Cruise in the Dubai Marina, via Viator. Our pre-paid tickets cost $47 each, which included a boat ride through the Dubai Marina, entertainment, and a buffet. We were looking forward to experiencing a new perspective of Dubai, from the ocean.

Old friends unite

Friends come, and friends go. But true friends will always weave in and out of each other’s lives. That is the case with my friend, Leann. Although she lives 3,000 miles away in California, our paths will always intertwine.

During her recent visit, we decided to check out the hot, new restaurant, Bird&Wolf, located in North Andover, Massachusetts. I met Leann, her sister, Alison, and their kids at this gorgeous venue.

The restaurant is bright and spacious. Beautiful art is strategically placed on the walls, along with plants. Alison showed me the indoor gardens, home to strawberries and other edible…

TRAVEL. CANADA

Pre-COVID, I spent countless hours on the road driving to meet with clients. When I first started my role, I would make an adventure of my windshield time. At some point, the nights grew longer, and my fun time started to dwindle away.

My territories used to include New York, New Jersey, and New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont). A few years ago, one of my counterparts, Cheryl, and I had been doing joint presentations in our zones. One of our stints included training workshops in Scranton, Pennsylvania; Amherst, New York; and Syracuse, New York…

Venice Beach, California

In my mid-twenties, I lived in Marina Del Rey, California. I often meandered off to Venice Beach for some fun in the sun. My soul danced to the beat of the waves crashing along the shore, and I always held my breath as the ocean swallowed the sun. The magnificent shades of pink, orange, and red were captivating, and people-watching was delightful. I never knew what craziness my eyes would witness. Sometimes my roommate would join me, while other days I beached it solo.

One bright, sunny afternoon, my roommate had to work. I wandered through Venice Beach’s canals to…