Dec 31, 2025Next week's newsletter will include new information about what's coming next to Affair Healing and The Affair Recovery Room podcast. See you in the new year! “Last year was a fine teacher, but I’m ready to graduate now.” —unknown Last December 31, our website and podast had been mostly stagnant for five years. That doesn't mean we had stopped working. All three of us—Jenn, Sharon, and I—remained active in our counseling and coaching work, but we weren't releasing fresh...
11 days ago • 2 min read
December 24, 2025 “I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.” — Ebenezer Scrooge Christmas has always been my favorite season. Some of my sweetest childhood memories come from holidays spent at my grandparents’ “perfect” Christmas house in Toledo, Ohio. I was a Florida boy raised in a ranch house, so snow, staircases, and a home full of happy relatives felt magical.Years later, I got to relive that wonder through my own children. I worked hard to make Christmas...
18 days ago • 2 min read
December 10, 2025 "There isn't a narcissist under every bush... but there's too many of them out there." —Annette Chesney Top 10 Takeaways about Narcissism I recently talked with Annette Chesney about being in a relationship with a narcissist. You can listen to our conversation or read a summary of it, but here are my top takeaways... Narcissists can often fool counselors who aren’t experienced with dealing with that behavior, so the partner remains an unhelped victim. Narcissism can be seen...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dec 3, 2025 "Without reflection, we go blindly on our way."—Margaret J. Wheatley I’ve just wrapped up the final episode of Kevin Leaves, closing out three years of conversations with a man who walked away from his marriage and family for another relationship.Going back through those recordings this past month brought up more than old audio files. It stirred up memories—some tender, some sharp—and reminded me how closely Kevin’s journey parallels chapters of my own life. Looking back isn’t...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Nov 26, 2025 The current RENOVATE Project group (for Involved Partners) was SOLD OUT, but I'll be starting a new group after the holidays. If you're interested in finding out more, visit AffairHealing.com/renovate. "Gratitude isn’t pretending the storm doesn’t hurt — it’s noticing that you’re still here, still breathing, still becoming." —Brené Brown What's your Thanksgiving? No pretending... just honesty. Tell me one thing about your affair recovery or personal growth that you're grateful...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Nov 19, 2025 "There is a difference between accountability and cruelty. Accountability says, 'I see what I did, I understand why, and I will do better.' Cruelty says, 'I am unforgivable. I am broken beyond repair.'"—Steve De'lano Garcia Failure. It shows up in every affair-healing story. It threads its way through nearly all the resources I create.And when our failure is significant, shame usually barges in—sometimes shouting accusations, sometimes whispering ridicule. It grabs our attention....
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Nov 13, 2025 If you’ve listened to our podcasts or audio posts, you already know that some of the most meaningful moments come from real people sharing their stories and questions. We’d love to hear from you. Whether you have a comment, a question, or a brief reflection on your own experience (90 seconds or less), your voice matters. We may include recorded messages in future resources, and you’re welcome to remain anonymous if you prefer. Just slip into a quiet spot and tell us what’s on...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Nov 5, 2025 Not long ago, I recommended a new book written specifically to Christians who have been betrayed and abandoned by their spouses. The book is now available in paperback. Check it out here: Redeeming the Post-Affair Divorce, by Linda MacDonald. "When I first came here, I was happy. I didn't feel guilty. Now I feel more like—did I make a mistake?" —"Kevin" Several years ago, I was coaching a man (we'll call him Kevin) who chose to leave his wife and children to begin a new life with...
2 months ago • 1 min read
October 29, 2025 I've moved this week's quotes to the bottom of the newsletter since there are a few of them... recent podcast reviews from Spotify and Apple Podcasts. A Creative Spark in The Recovery Room For over 40 years, I’ve felt that part of my life’s purpose is to “creatively communicate a message of healing and hope.” That creativity has shown up in many forms—speaking, writing, singing, storytelling, acting, even graphic design. I’ve always been looking for new ways to weave art and...
2 months ago • 2 min read