Please welcome Don Ortolano to #BeREALationships. Where did this relationship between brothers start? Well, actually, it started before my younger brother, Robert, was even born. I recall the day well, even though it is in many ways, an eternity ago. It was one of those beautiful, cool sunny days in New York and I was…
Please welcome Jennifer Ortolano to #BeREALationships. I have always had issues with feeling good enough, feeling worthy enough, and well, just feeling enough. It is important to note that none of my issues stems from my childhood. My childhood was as close to perfect as one could get. You see, I believe I was born…
Time. We manipulate it somehow. The world does. Or society does with our schedules and our routines. Our calendars and the way we mark off the years. The way we pencil in meetings and make plans that we either rush towards or cancel. Time. It is the one constant. A rigid passing that we can…
Please welcome Annah Elizabeth to #BeREALationships. What do you think people see when they see your image? This answer will roll from my keyboard and onto the screen like melted butter down your chin. Smart…got it all together…successful business…leader…mentor…teacher…compassionate friend…justice seeker…student advocate…sweet…nurturing…devoted mother…Mama Bear… Perfect family… These are not my words, but a few descriptors…
Please welcome Heather LeRoss to #BeREALationships. I wrote this poem last year to a woman who had been like a sister to me, near the 1 year anniversary of her death. We’d been like family but had lost touch in recent years because, well, life I think. She was struggling and unhappy and I was…
#BeREALationships welcomes Michelle Poston Combs. We’re in the 21st century and we still struggle when defining family. Which is stupid, your family is who you say your family is. It’s quite simple. My husband and I have been together for 21 years. His daughters became part of my life when they were 9 and 12…
Please welcome Rachel E Bledsoe to #BeREALationships. I’m used to being alone. I prefer the silence. When you’re alone, no one expects anything from you. You rely solely on yourself. When you fail, you’re only letting yourself down. I am my harshest critic. I can beat myself bloody without ever raising my voice or speaking…
Please welcome Jenn Stricklin to #BeREALationships. My husband and I have been together for what seems like forever. People like to think I am the crazy one in the relationship, however, he picked me with both eyes wide open so I think I have a strong argument for him being the winner. He is truly…
Please welcome Duncan Swallow to #BeREALationships. I’d gone to a party on my ownsome, and R arrived with someone else. About an hour later she was sitting on my lap exploring my tonsils. I’d got a bit of a reputation for being a poacher, since something similar had happened with another couple of girls. Yet…
Please welcome me (Hasty) to #BeREALationships. 🙂 Relationships aren’t something I think people get right or wrong. They just ARE whatever they are. A relationship can last a lifetime but I believe many times they literally last a few short hours or even minutes. Did you make a connection? Then you formed a relationship. re·la·tion·ship …
HASTYWORDS 