staceybooks

There are days when I feel like I’m walking through a fog, where my mind plays tricks on me, and I can’t quite shake the weight pressing on my chest. The stress, the fears, the old wounds, and the whispers of distrust, they swirl in circles, never quite letting me rest. I try to push…

For years after I walked out of prison, I wore my past like a hidden scar, tucked away beneath my accomplishments, my leadership roles, and my smile in meetings. I had survived the unimaginable, rebuilt my life from the rubble, and yet, I still heard the voice. “You don’t belong here.” That voice, that imposter…

Have you ever looked back on a relationship, whether personal or professional, and thought, “How did I not see it?” The truth is, most of us don’t. Not right away. We want to believe people are genuine. That their laughter is real, their support is sincere, their kindness is rooted in something pure. But what…

There are moments in life when your journey and your calling collide, and you realize, this is bigger than me. That’s exactly how I felt when I received the invitation to speak as a Main Stage Panelist at the Christian Women’s Expo in Memphis, TN. 📅 Event Date: July 26, 2025 📍 Location: Agricenter International…

Some couples take weekend getaways. We take roadside pit stops sponsored by blown trailer tires and sheer determination. Today started off simple: head out. Easy. Until the trailer decided it was done with this whole “functioning properly” thing. One tire straight-up gave out like it had seen enough of life. Poof. Done. No warning. Just…

We don’t talk about it enough: adult bullying is real. And it’s often more dangerous than the kind we survived as kids, because it’s dressed in suits, masked by professionalism, and justified by “personality differences” or “workplace dynamics.” But let me say this plainly: gossip, microaggressions, passive aggression, exclusion, false narratives, that’s bullying. And I…

There comes a point where you have to decide: your peace or their chaos. And for me, I’ve reached it. Whether it’s in my personal life or at work, drama has become the one thing I’m no longer willing to entertain. Why? Because it costs too much, and I’m not just talking about time or…

Imagine a community where people who made mistakes were not just punished but also given a pathway to redemption. A place where individuals who had served their time were met not with closed doors, but with opportunities. That’s not just an idealistic vision, it’s a public safety strategy backed by data, experience, and a little…

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation, a relationship, or even a workplace dynamic where, no matter what you did, you felt stuck, misunderstood, overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted? If so, you may have unknowingly stepped into the Karpman Drama Triangle. I’ve been there, more than once. The triangle has three roles: the Persecutor,…

Most people don’t see the battle. They see my job title, the events I host, the programs I lead. They see the smiles in the photos, the passion in my voice when I talk about second chances and justice reform. They see a woman who came out of prison and built something powerful, a wife,…