In 2024, I had a conversation with a friend that completely shifted how I communicate, not just with my kids, but with everyone.

We were talking about why so many people struggle to compromise, collaborate, or even get along. His answer was simple, and honestly, uncomfortable in the best way.

He explained that he was taught as a child to be very intentional with his words. The goal was to eliminate miscommunication as much as possible. The problem is that most people are never taught this skill. Some of us learn it later in life out of necessity, and many never learn it at all.

He pointed out something that stuck with me. Most people use words that do not actually express what they mean.

Shortly after that conversation, I heard a life coach say something that connected all the dots for me. People often listen to debate, not to understand.

That sentence alone explained years of communication challenges I had experienced in personal and professional relationships.

Once I became awa...

If you are carrying pain caused by someone you cannot bring yourself to forgive, this is for you.

I recently found myself reflecting deeply on forgiveness while reading You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero. Her words stirred memories of my own struggles with forgiving people who had hurt me in ways that changed how I moved through the world.

I do not believe there is a single person who has lived without experiencing emotional pain. The impact of that pain varies, but some wounds run so deep that they shape how we trust, how we love, and how we protect ourselves.

For me, betrayal created walls. I would trust people only partway, maybe 80 or 90 percent, but never fully. At the time, I told myself I was being cautious. In reality, I was afraid.

What Forgiveness Is Not

Many people resist forgiveness because it is misunderstood.

Forgiveness does not mean:

• Saying what happened was acceptable
• Allowing someone back into your life
• Giving permission for the behavior to continue
• Forgettin...