Hello and welcome to The Untangling, a haven for you to untangle identity, trauma, and broken narratives.
This is where we question beliefs—cultural, social, religious, familial—and why we believe them.
Fundamentalist Christianity, traditional East Asian values, mental and chronic illness, and experiencing all kinds of trauma shaped who I grew up to be.
I have spent over the last decade untangling who I was told to be from who I truly am. Perhaps you are searching for freedom, too.
You will not find single-dimensional viewpoints here. If that’s what you are looking for, this is not the publication for you. I am not one thing, and often anger everyone by questioning both/all sides.
However, you are very welcome here, even if we disagree!!
I am making space for us to question, discuss, unwind, and rewind those tangled parts of our souls, together.
This is for you.



Reality Echoes in Tolkien's Legendarium
The Fellowship of the Ring | Book 1, Chapters 6-12


Tracing Your Shadow through Shifting Leaves
Chronicling my father's recurring cancer battles in 7 powerful drabbles. Follow my emotional journey from childhood to adulthood as I grapple with love and uncertainty.

Friel Black on Navigating Grief and Creativity in Writing
Discover editor Friel Black's insights on writing, grief, and the publishing industry. Learn how to balance creativity with market demands and grow as an author.

Lord of the Rings Reading Challenge
Join our guided journey through Tolkien's epic saga. Read, discuss, and explore Middle-earth with fellow adventurers.

Roots and Wings
A Taiwanese American woman explores identity, belonging, and home across two cultures, finding wholeness in contradiction rather than perfection.

Birthmarks and Breakdowns: A Raw Look at Maternal Anxiety
A journey through catastrophic thinking, from mountain storms to parental fears. Learn to find peace amidst life's uncertainties.

Enmeshed but Alone
Exploring the hidden costs of extreme loyalty and the paradox of loneliness in collectivistic cultures. Discover solutions for deepening friendships across cultural barriers.

Ai Jiang: Transcending Genres and Exploring the Human Experience
Ai Jiang, an acclaimed author, discusses her unique approach to storytelling, transcending genres and delving into the essence of the human experience.

Home in the spaces between
A poignant personal essay exploring the complexities of identity, faith, and love. Journey through my experience of unbelonging, resilience, and redemption.

What They Don't Tell You About the Third Year After Losing Someone
A poignant, deeply personal essay exploring the complex emotions and profound loneliness that come with prolonged grief, three years after a loss of a child.

Not Everyone Should Foster or Adopt a Child
In "Troubled," Rob Henderson shares his foster care experience. Discover the heartbreaking realities and how providing stable, loving homes can transform lives.

When the Orphan Crisis Has a Name
Discover how meeting one orphan, Eliana, transformed our lives and inspired us to adopt. In this personal essay, I reflect on the power of individual stories.

Platonic Soulmates: What Happened to Our Friendships?
Discover the life-changing power of platonic soulmates and the profound impact of deep friendships on our well-being in an increasingly disconnected world.

In the Absence of a Lost Love, Will an Echo Do?
Can AI help us cope with grief by simulating lost loved ones? A poignant exploration of love, loss, and the limitations of technology in the face of sorrow.

Christmas For Those Who Grieve
A compassionate letter for those grieving during Christmas. Finding ways to honor lost loved ones while navigating holiday grief and sorrow.


Advent, Fog, and Beauty in the Unknown
A poetic reflection on grief, hope, and unexpected miracles through the lens of chasing fog in Colorado mountains. A story of loss, pregnancy, and finding beauty in uncertainty.