Hearing Out Life Drama Blog

It was fun to play with two tin cans and a string to communicate with our friends when we were young.  Even though we could usually hear them without the cans.  As adults, however, communication can be more...

This is a feeling that doesn’t just happen when you’re a kid.  In fact, it’s so common that Time magazine wrote about it in 2016, and in recent days it’s a common theme it’s popped up again in social media. ...

“I need to go to the hospital.”

“I’ll be there in 45 minutes.” Which meant she was walking out the door as she was talking. I was having complications in my second pregnancy. She came to get my older daughter, so that...

Noah Kahan sings,  “I’m still angry at my parents for what their parents did to them”

My mother was always so angry at her parents, especially her mother, so this line resonates with me. I’d like to think each...

“You never write. You never call.”  Some parents say this to their adult children. It’s an expression of powerlessness. If the complaint is offered repetitively, it’s no wonder they don’t initiate contact!

What...

The world seems very divided these days. Wars are evidence of it. Our political climate is evidence of it. A rise in anger is evidence as well. It seems like a very good time to emphasize the importance of listening. It’s hard to stay angry...

Most of us are quick to say that our desire for our children is that they are happy.  The funny thing is, we can’t create happy for them.  

Have you ever noticed that when you are around a happy person, you usually start to...

In the last month, there’s been a meme that’s blown up.  It began with the simple question: Would you rather your daughter be in the woods with an unknown man or an unknown bear.  It morphed into “would you rather...

In our society right now, men have been conditioned to believe that they shouldn’t have or express strong emotions. While this has shifted somewhat during my lifetime, we still have a ways to go. Men are humans, and as such are entitled to...

I’ve been on several podcasts recently, and I’ve shared the experience of being a young child in the car.  My parents had a disagreement after an incident with another driver.  My parent driving erupted in rage.  The car...

On this Mother’s Day, Linda and I wanted to acknowledge that not everyone experiences the 

stereotypical image of a mother-daughter relationship–close, warm, sharing, loving. It certainly is an ideal relationship.

Everybody has a...

Empathy is increasingly recognized as a crucial component of effective workplace dynamics. But is there such a thing as too much empathy? I was asked during a Q&A portion of a presentation I recently gave if it was possible to offer too much...

In today's interconnected world, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. Whether it's scrolling through social media feeds or observing our peers in real life, the temptation to measure our worth against others can be...

I know I overthink a lot. In fact, as we were working on this blog post, Linda and I spent entirely too much time overthinking our approach!

Because this is such a common challenge, let’s go deep and look at it all the way around.

...

I have battled perfectionism for the majority of my life. In fact, it was one of the many reasons I didn’t think I’d ever be cut out for parenthood. It was often repeated in my family of origin, “If you can’t do it right...

Self-sabotage. It's a term we often hear but may not fully understand. Yet, many of us have experienced its effects in our lives, sometimes without even realizing it. Let’s explore what self-sabotage is, how it manifests, and the root causes...

With the busy life we all have today, finding a moment of genuine connection and understanding can feel like a rare and valuable gift. If you have people in your life who regularly give you this gift, be sure to tell them thank you.

What happens,...

I asked Linda if she wanted to write a blog post about how procrastination affects productivity, and she said, “I could kick that one down the road a bit…” I love working with her so much.

But my motto is, “Done is...

Conflict is an inevitable part of human interaction. Some are easy to handle, like deciding what to have for lunch, while others can be a bit trickier, like having difficult conversations. You know, those talks that make your heart race and your...

If you live day-to-day with negative self-talk whispering in your mind, you’re certainly not alone. According to research, 70-80% of our daily thoughts are negative. However, reframing negative self-talk is doable and takes self-awareness...

Change and decisions are a fact of life. While all decisions change your life in some way, some create seismic change. 

At 52, I’ve made my fair share of life changing decisions.  At almost every crossroads, I sought someone else...

We watch commercials of people enticing us to what some in our society call guilty pleasures. Lindt Chocolates' commercials are a great example of the idea of guilty pleasure.  Our complex relationship with these joys prompts us to question...

This is one of a series on grief.  Be sure to check out the other posts:  Grief thru a natural causes Anticipatory Grieving, Complex Grieving (suicide, accidents–grouped because they’re harder get through), Ambiguous...

This is one of a series on grief.  Be sure to check out the other posts:  Grief thru a natural causes Anticipatory Grieving, Complex Grieving (suicide, accidents–grouped because they’re harder get through), Ambiguous Grieving...