The “What Happened?” Conversation is where we spend much of our time in difficult conversations as we struggle with our different stories about who’s right, who meant what, and who’s to blame. On each of these three fronts — truth,
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“The “symptom” theory goes as follows: An affair simply alerts us to a preexisting condition, either a troubled relationship or a troubled person.”
― The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity
― The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity
“You know who does a lot of good deeds and doesn't have kids and totally understands what's important in life? George Clooney. Unlike me, he doesn't give a fuck what you think about the fact that he's not "selfless" enough to father a kid. He's not writing a book defending his position. He's having sex with a cocktail waitress and then saving Darfur. Both are noble positions.”
― I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids
― I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids
“It is always astonishing how love can strike. No context is love-proof, no convention or commitment impervious. Even a lifestyle which is perfectly insulated, where the personality is controlled, all the days ordered and all actions in sequence, can to its own dismay find that an unexpected spark has landed; it begins to smolder until it is finally unquenchable. The force of Eros always brings disturbance; in the concealed terrain of the human heart Eros remains a light sleeper.”
― The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity
― The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity
“Invalidating a woman’s life choices by saying things like, “Oh, but you’ll regret it if you don’t have kids,” or, “I didn’t think I wanted kids either until I had one,” is like me going to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and telling the newly sober that eventually when they grow old, they’ll want to take the edge off with a little gin and tonic and that if they could only just be mature enough to control themselves, they could go on a fun wine-tasting tour in the Napa Valley.”
― I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids
― I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids
“I’ve always had a thing for guys who make a living doing something in public (with the exception of someone who hands out sandwich shop flyers or dresses up like Pluto at Disney World).”
― I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids
― I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales From a Happy Life Without Kids
Ashley’s 2025 Year in Books
Take a look at Ashley’s Year in Books, including some fun facts about their reading.
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