LJ Herman is a former editor at Love What Matters and lives in Colorado. LJ is a concert, ticket and technology enthusiast. He has seen the Dave Mathews Band over one hundred times and counting.
‘When gifting us our rainbow baby boy my placenta was directly in line with my tumor.’: Woman with spinal tumor discovers ‘mini miracles inside a big miracle’
”Right before I was wheeled into the OR we discovered he, too, was not only a Buckeye but also graduated from the same small high school I graduated from. It gave all of us much more reassurance I was exactly where I needed to be at the exact right time. Mini miracle inside a big miracle.”
‘I’ll have her taken away from you.’ He played dad to a child who watched hers die months prior.’: Mom and daughter survive narcissistic abuse, ‘She was his victim, too’
“This was not, ‘Hey this isn’t working for me anymore. I hope we can still be friends.’ I found out he cheated on me, took my money, sold me a car he had pawned the title to. ‘I’ll have her taken away from you if you’re not careful.’”
‘All the adults are freaking out because they don’t like the sudden change in routine!’: Autism mom says ‘autism doesn’t allow change; he expects his old normal back’
“He worryingly asked her if he had coronavirus. He is 6 years old. He has no concept of social distancing. We thought schools closing was our biggest worry.”
‘I can’t breathe.’ His whole body was shivering. His eyes were filled with pure terror and a tear ran down his face.’: Woman shows life-saving kindness to old man, ‘It was my natural instinct’
“It was a completely deserted area: I saw a lone person sitting on the window seat. ‘Sir, Sir?’ I got no response. Against my better judgement, I reached out and touched his shoulder. He lifted his head and looked at me. I threw down the mail in my hand and my purse. ‘Can’t breathe.’”
‘She just listens to the ceiling fan spin. Her hurt and doubt soak her pillowcase with tears.’: Woman prays for others struggling with acceptance, ‘Dry her tears, God’
“When her head hits the pillow, her mind suddenly wakes up. And then, it gets really freaking mean. ‘Why aren’t you in better shape?’ it hisses in her head. ‘Your husband is aging better than you.’ By two, she’s exhausted from the thoughts, the Googling, and the tears.”
‘You ghosted me when my husband died. You told me I was thinking too much about myself.’: Widow hurt by friends who abandoned her and broke promises
“I don’t know why you made promises and didn’t follow through. I needed my friend… but you were gone.”
‘The wild of his heart makes me tired. It’s a constant tug-of-war. Most of the time, if I’m being honest, he’s winning.’: Mom shares realization for parenting ‘wild-hearted child’
“I spend all day clashing with his strong will until the day is over, and I go to bed feeling like a worn down nub. He is bruised knees and outside voices, ninety miles an hour, all day every day.”
‘This is the third time you’ve been here.’ My son witnessed it all. He made a scene. She wasn’t having it.’: Woman thanks restaurant manager, reminds everyone to ‘be kind’
“I thought I knew what I was supposed to do, but it never felt right. I woke up 2 hours early. ‘Why don’t you tell me what you need?’ she said. ‘You had my son as a customer and he witnessed the whole thing.”
‘I was getting married in a month, they wanted me to have my operation ASAP. I had a panic attack in front of the nurse.’: Woman survives recurring skin cancer, ‘The support has been massive’
“That weekend was my bachelorette party. It was changing shape, getting very painful, and wasn’t normal. She said something I never expected her to say. Should I really put myself through this? It felt like the longest wait.”
‘I blurted, ‘I’m already ready for school to start!’ I’d forgotten how to act normal in public.’ Without hope I’m lost.’: Mom says of extended summer, ‘I’ve had plenty, thanks’
“All I say is ‘No.’ I’m tired of my kids’ disappointment. I’ll take ANY version of normal I can get my hands on. I bought school uniforms in June. I love summer, but I’m ready to exit the ride.”