I admit it. I stayed in an unhappy marriage for too long. Initially, I did this for all the right reasons or what I call my favorite reason…LOVE. But ultimately even I was smart enough to realize any type of unhealthy relationship cannot be defined as love. That’s when the secondary reason for staying hindered…
One day my marriage counselor said, “Colleen, you have the ability to see your own faults and this is unusual. The average person, not even a difficult personality, does not necessarily have the ability to see their own faults.” I realized why he was telling me this. I couldn’t reach my husband no matter how… 
I hear from a lot of people in the throws of divorce angst. Undoubtedly one of the hardest things seems to be the overall sense of loss. The holidays just intensify the lack of true belonging many divorcing people feel. The good news? They will one day feel it again but that is of little comfort… 
“The cheerful heart has a continual feast.” – Proverbs 15:15 A wondrous verse to begin this Thanksgiving Holiday along with a few quotes below: “The struggle ends when gratitude begins.” – Neale Donald Walsh “When you are going through something hard and wonder where God is, remember the teacher is always quiet during a test.” –… 
It’s hard to admit shortcomings in any aspect of our lives. It’s even more challenging to face the fault in our relationships. It signifies the frightening possibility of surrendering to the potential demise of the complex relationships that sustain us when they do not drain us. There are a variety of ways to kick a… 
I sit in the coffee shop about to write this column. Someone I know stops to sit at my table. “Colleen, I just wanted to let you know I have brain cancer.” I am at a loss. What do you say to someone who has just received this news? These are the days the world… 
In the span of two days, my chocolate lab Hazel has stolen my dinner, overdosed on a package of contraband doggie treats, dug through the trash and pooped in my living room. I am extremely tolerant. I am after all, not just a doggie person. I am the quintessential animal lover. Hazy could ravage my… 
Not that long ago, I chat with my sister-in-law. To say my sister-in-law is a wonderful person would be an understatement. She’s all things good in this world. So I will give her the moniker of “Mary Tyler Moore.” She’s all sunshine and blue skies. “MTM” and I have a fair amount of similarities. I… 
In the darkest times and the deepest pain, it is not uncommon to feel completely alone. It seems cruel. An order of pain with a side of loneliness. It makes one question their faith. Why would God leave us alone? Our faith tells us that God leaves us feeling alone so that we find him.… 
My sister and I are up late talking. I snuggle in my bed with my chocolate lab Hazel curled at my feet. I share my sense of discouragement in divorce. I tell her that three years in to this no one should have to experience this exaggerated experience. I tell her I am tired. I…