Tori Mann

Trying out a new church has taken on the flavor of embarking on an adventure, requiring bravery and courage. But it also requires courage to stay.

I’m not in control. I’m not perfect. And I feel like my life is falling apart. You see, I felt horrible that I had disappointed someone.

My pets (a dog and a cat) are persistent. They know what they want, and they don’t stop until they get it. Maybe we can learn from them.

The habit of being busy has bled into other aspects of my life. While hospitality does take work, I find myself missing out.

I’m thankful for the differences that led to our breakup because there were other serious issues beneath the surface I realized years later.

I want so much to be a better person. I make efforts to be better, then get exhausted and stop and then go back to worrying and try again. It’s a sad cycle.

After our breakup, we both realized we still cared for each — as friends — so we tried to rebuild our friendship. And we made a lot of mistakes.

This summer I came home — a fresh college graduate — without a job. I had applied and applied and heard nothing back from the majority of companies. Out of 15 to 20 applications, I had only two interviews lined up for when I came home. My embarrassment …