Two Homes, One Heart: A Reflection on Shared Spaces and Childhood Custody

By Dr. Latasha D. McFarland (Harrison) A New Season, Liminal and Unsettled As adulthood unfurls in unexpected directions, I find myself living an experience I could not have anticipated—one which has quietly stirred the deep waters of empathy within me and unearthed a gentle grief I had assumed was long at rest. Recently, I entered […]

READ ARTICLE

What It Really Takes to Stay Married for 30+ Years

People often ask: How do you stay married to the same person for over 30 years? Well, here’s the honest answer: You don’t. The person I married 31 years ago is not the same person I live with today. And I’m certainly not the same either. We’ve both changed—sometimes in sync, sometimes not. Somehow, we’ve […]

READ ARTICLE

Mind-Reading Is NOT a Love Language

There’s a poem by Jayne Gumpel that always stops me in my tracks. It’s called Goddamn It, Just Ask Me. It speaks to a part of me that has, for much of my life, been quiet—maybe even invisible: the part of me that has needs. For years, I saw myself as a giver. I was […]

READ ARTICLE

The Stories We Tell: How Who and What Shapes Our Narratives

We are surrounded all day by stories. What kind of relationship you have with your coworkers is a story, based on your last few interactions and major events that might have occurred with them. Even how you slept last night is a story. It is shaped by how you feel in the morning and what […]

READ ARTICLE

Ending Villain-Victim Thinking: Imago Dialogue Creates Understanding

A recent Washington Post article by Yael Schonbrun, “Typecasting others and self as villain or victim can hurt relationships”, explores how we often fall into moral typecasting—assigning rigid roles of villain and victim in our relationships. When we feel hurt or frustrated, it’s natural to see ourselves as the wronged party and our partner as […]

READ ARTICLE

Understanding Reality Brings Peace of Mind and Strengthens Relationships

Imagine you hear a loud thud coming from outside. What thoughts come to mind? Maybe “That’s concerning…” or “Oh, they were doing road work nearby today…” or “That’s that package I ordered…” Any of those might fit with what has really happened; any one may well be reality. Or none of those might fit. What […]

READ ARTICLE

Getting the Love You Want Might Mean Learning a New Language

I speak three languages — French, English, and Spanish — and I can tell you from experience: understanding the words doesn’t mean you fully understand the culture. You can know how to order un café con leche in Spanish and still feel totally out of place at a family table in Barcelona. You can understand […]

READ ARTICLE

We Expect To See What We Have Seen Before

My Imago Starting from early childhood, each of us is watching the world around us. Children are always watching, picking up images that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The term “imago” comes from Latin for “image” and refers to an unconscious, idealized picture of familiar love that develops during childhood […]

READ ARTICLE

Love’s Journey: A Unique Path for BIPOC Couples

Love is a beautiful journey, but for many BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) couples, relationships exist within a unique landscape—one shaped by cultural expectations, generational trauma, systemic challenges, and the desire to create something strong, joyful, and lasting. Navigating love while carrying these layers can be challenging, but healing is possible. The Getting […]

READ ARTICLE

One Couple Navigating the Relationship Cycle

Joshua sat on the park bench, watching the golden leaves drift to the ground. Beside him, Brianna gazed at the quiet lake, her fingers entwined with his. It was peaceful now, but they both knew their love had weathered storms. Love was never just a straight path—it was a cycle, a relationship journey. The Romance […]

READ ARTICLE