You’ve just had your heart broken. You’re under the covers, Kleenex in one hand and wine in the other, watching what else? The Notebook. After all, it was your favorite movie. You used to watch it together. Once you’ve sufficiently punished yourself with sappy romantic drama, you grab your phone. What could it hurt to…

I sink comfortably into the couch and toss the blanket over me. I grab the clicker and flip through the channels and land on a program about first-time mothers. A few tears take residence in my eyes. I remember being a first-time mom. I remember the playgroup girls I started out with that gave me…

Surprisingly, not all controlling behavior is overtly obvious. Control comes in all shapes and sizes. Thus, so does ‘being controlled.’ It’s important to identify the various differences because too often, a person may not realize they are actually being controlled. This may sound hard to believe, yet passive and subtle control linger quietly in the…

It is not uncommon for individuals to choose to remain in an unhappy marriage. Of course, there are those who do so consciously and will admit it. At the very least, to themselves. And then there are others, who are somewhat conscious but choose denial. Those individuals recognize their unhappiness but convince themselves and others…

“Is there a right way to pray?” I admit I found myself asking this question. I don’t think it is uncommon to ponder this while experiencing hardship especially when struggles are unable to be conquered but instead continue. We begin to wonder. Am I praying correctly? Am I asking the right way? Am I surrendering…

I was thinking about my last column. I knew something was missing. I just couldn’t put my finger on it. Then it hit me. It wasn’t just that I did primarily everything in a supposed ‘partnership’ called marriage. I was actually okay with that. I was comfortable, even proud in my role as a problem…

I am chatting with a friend. “How do you keep up with all of these problems?” he asks. Here’s the thing. When someone you know, respect and like says something that gives you pause, you have to take the time to reflect. The funny thing? Before I initiated divorce proceedings I didn’t have problems. I…

The break-up of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt is horrible news for Brangelina lovers. It is vindication for Jennifer Aniston fans. People all over the world are asking what went wrong? Is it necessary to hear all the details? Not really, there were obvious signs along the way. It is sad to see any marriage…

I wrestle with my Hazel and might I add, all 75 pounds of her. She is both excited and nervous. The trademark sound of dogs barking sifts through the air. The vet enters the room with a smile. She bends down to look at my Hazy and then asks the questions I have been dreading.…

A relationship should not involve excessive control but unfortunately many do. This type of partnership can be oppressive. A controlling spouse is not interested in a fair union. They are concerned with controlling their significant other. They do not believe that a relationship is a melding of two individuals. They believe it is seeing the…

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More from Beliefnet and our partners