Stress is a constant in our lives, quietly influencing how we work, connect, and grow. How we handle it can shape both our future and how others see us. I admit I don’t always handle certain kinds of stress well. As someone with strong expectations of myself and a tendency toward self-doubt, I find that reminders of my limitations can make my world feel like it’s falling apart. Handling stress with grace has been a challenge. Emotional ...
Book Review: Jaws by Peter Benchley | Nasty Ellen Overshadows the Shark
I have to be perfectly honest: I have no idea where to start with this review, so I guess I'll just begin here: Dun… dun… Dun… dun… Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun Get ready to dive into these shark-infested waters because, honestly, I was rooting for the shark to win in this book. Let me make myself clear: the characters in this book are absolutely revolting. I’m specifically pointing to Ellen— and I’m ...
Book Review: Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher | Trauma, Faith, and Religious Harm
Unspeakable by Jessica Willis Fisher is a heartbreaking memoir that explores religious trauma, abuse, and survival. At times, it is difficult to digest — but it is absolutely worth the read. Because Jessica narrates the audiobook herself, I highly recommend listening to it in that format if possible. Hearing her gentle voice tell her own story — and sing her lyrics — creates a profound sense of intimacy, camaraderie, and understanding. The ...
Game Review: The Monsters We Make: Illness and Empathy in Silent Hill 2
First off, let me say that I don’t think video games have to be analyzed deeply by everyone who plays them. They can be purely entertainment, and that’s perfectly okay. However, as is my nature, I often use the media I consume—whether it’s books, movies, or games—for self-reflection. I didn’t grow up with video games, and Silent Hill 2 is actually my very first playthrough of any game in the series. That gave me a raw, unfiltered experience of ...
Book Book Review: Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline | Characters Flat as a Pancake
*Orphan Train* by Christina Baker Kline seemed like the perfect read-along to tackle with the bestie. For those of you who’ve known me for many moons, y’all probably remember the shenanigans Fizzy and I got into over on the now-retired blog, *A Simply Enchanted Life*. I got divorced. She got older. I got chonkier. Life happened. So some of y’all might not know the bestie. Let me fix that: her name is Fizzy. She writes over at ...
