Dawn Carroll

As the calendar flips to a new year, the desire for a fresh start echoes within us all. After a month of disruptions, from irregular sleep patterns to indulgent spending, the longing for routine and a renewed perspective is palpable.

“All my words fall short” is a lyric from one of my favorite worship songs of late. Brandon Lake has beautifully captured the inadequacy of our words to convey great gratitude.

My Aunt Jamie is my spiritual mentor. Just ten years older than me, we have always shared a special bond. I have childhood memories of her long red hair, her love of the Carpenters and The Monkees, and she was always happy.

It was June of 2020. Many radical decisions were made during that early pandemic season. When faced with isolation and quarantining, working from home, and all the other drama the pandemic brought, I, like many others, reassessed.

Leaving the Nest: One Mom’s Perspective

Two years ago, along with tens of thousands of other Americans, my husband and I purchased a camper. It had always been a retirement dream, but the lockdown of 2020 increased our sense of urgency to find some peace and solace in the woods.

What do you want to be when you grow up? [As appeared on BostonHerald.com] As a child and later as a mom, this has been a frequent conversation starter in my home. I personally wanted to be a psychiatrist, but when we started exploring careers in school, I realized it would require a medical focus. I can’t deal with blood, so that dream was quickly dashed.