January is often a time of introspection, new dreams, and leaving the past year left behind. Sometimes, leaving our pasts in the past is more challenging than we'd like. And sometimes . . .

Lately, with all the devastating wildfires in California, I've been thinking a lot about fire. I've been evacuated three times from these California fires—once this year, and twice in the past five years. I’ve been fortunate . . .

When I was beaten down from my myriad health challenges, I stopped saying yes and became fearful. At one point during the height of my illness, I couldn’t be left alone. I would shake and scream and cry from . . .