My Natural Self – Reclaimed: Tying the Provisional Life to the Complex by Raymonde Savoie “… the power of our earliest messages is extraordinarily difficult to confront, especially when it is at work unconsciously. What we do not know does indeed hurt us, and others, and has the potential to guide our choices in directions..

The Glorious Gift of the Unexpected by Ceejae Devine Jade was only minutes old when they placed her on my tummy. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Actually, her eyes. They were huge, bright, fixed intently on mine. I lay there thinking, “Aren’t newborns supposed to have their eyes closed?” The midwife told me my life..

A Recovering Transracial Adoptee by Lucy Sheen In 2008-2010, I agreed to participate in the BAAF (British Association for Adoption and Fostering) research study, centered on a specific group of female British Chinese Adoptees, of which I am one. Because of that research I was finally able to reassess the meaning of transracial adoption and..

My Body Told Me So by Tina Proctor There was no warning when I walked into my brother’s house in Virginia that I would see a former lover, open myself to an intense, intimate relationship with him, and leave my husband as I sorted myself out. I knew I was overwhelmed with a stressful full-time..

Amanda Jane by Cody Van Houten Long, honey blonde hair, almond shaped green eyes and the loudest voice I’ve ever heard. Her name was Amanda. My father married her when I was fourteen. She stood tall, confident, and unwavering. A city police officer, she appeared to be the strongest woman alive. She made fun of..

Escaping Eden by Avery Caswell Lately I’ve been feeling sorry for Eve. She’s always gotten the raw end of the deal when it comes to Eden. The blame is laid squarely at her feet for getting man tossed from the garden. If it hadn’t been for her, we’d all still be living happily ever after. Eve upset..

Recovery by Natalie Ziemba Although I enjoy the company of others on a run, running has always been primarily a solitary pursuit. I need the meditation that comes with the repetition of step after step for mile after mile, focusing only on how my body is functioning in the moment, and as my running has..

A Performance by Caroline Wilkinson Standing up in front of a room full of people is daunting for most, so my fear of public speaking would seem rational in this circumstance. Not only would there be a hundred odd faces staring at me, but I would be reading them something I had written. In my..

I Am a Writer by Heather Renee I am a writer. I have forgotten this at times, letting my own insecurities seep in and tell me otherwise. I have avoided reading other writer’s work because I have felt subpar and not as talented. I may have looked at other writers as competition, letting their impressive..

On Becoming Myself by Vera Petrovsky My sister and I used to love looking through old family photo albums, giggling at pictures of our parents and relatives in ‘the olden days’. Wondering what life was like for them. Trying to reconcile the serious black-and-white faces with the animated older ones we knew. We scrutinized pictures..