The AWE Blog

A snapshot from years ago in Ocean City, NJ—friends, laughter, and connection. A reminder that being “not alone” has always meant more than romance. Most conversations about relationships begin with a quiet assumption: that partnership is the destination, that singleness is a waiting room, that being chosen is proof of worth. Whether spoken aloud or not, many of us absorb the idea that life becomes good  only once someone else commits to sharing it. That belief places too muc

Pressing in instead of falling back—especially when it’s uncomfortable. Most problems in systems do not start with bad people. They start when good people stop asking questions. Over time, silence becomes normal. Rules stop being examined. Phrases like “That’s just how it is”  or “We have to follow the rules”  take over. At first, this feels calm and responsible. But sometimes, that calm turns into something harmful. I have come to think of this as toxic acceptance . Toxic ac

Beach night, sunrise, and then IHOP. The food always hits different after sleeping under the stars. Most people don’t fail to change because they lack insight. They fail because change threatens the balance they’ve built, often unconsciously, between themselves and the people around them. We talk a lot about wanting change: better habits, better relationships, better emotional regulation, better boundaries. But wanting change and being able to change are not the same thing. C

First day of kindergarten — Fall 1989.Outside Wright Street School with friends and neighbors Stephanie Migliaccio and Robbie Henderson. Before plans, before pressure — just the beginning. You’ve been doing a lot of the right things — and still, something doesn’t feel quite right. You’re showing up. You’re handling responsibilities. You’re getting through the days. And yet… there’s this quiet friction inside. Not a crisis. Not a breakdown. Just a feeling that you’re capable o