Table of Contents
Introduction: If You're Tempted to Give Up on People, Read This 11
1 Table of One Jennifer Dukes Lee 17
2 Mending a Marriage That Was Falling Apart Grace P. Cho 26
3 What If Pain Is the Stage for Miracles? Becky Keife 32
4 Setting Seats at the Table for My Political Opponents Michelle Ami Reyes 40
5 When Forgiveness Is Exhausting Lucretia Berry 47
6 From Heartbreak to Grace Patricia Raybon 53
7 Staying Friends When You Share More Differences Than Similarities Kristen Strong 60
8 Standing Ovations and Longing to Be Loved Anjuli Paschall 67
9 When You Feel Alone in the Struggle Kathi Lipp 73
10 How to Deal with Toxic People Bonnie Gray 79
11 The Unexpected Gift of an Age Gap Melissa Zaldivar 88
12 Tenderness Is the Only Way Forward Tasha Jun 95
13 The Messy, Beautiful Power of Speaking the Truth in Love Holley Gerth 102
14 The Loving Work of Biting Your Tongue Mary Carver 109
15 Exchanging Envy for Celebration Aliza Latta 114
16 Will You Be a Flamethrower or a Fire Extinguisher in the Dumpster Fire of Internet Comments? Jami Nato 121
17 How to Carry the Weight of Rejection Simi John 129
18 The Question That Changes Everything Robin Dance 135
19 Staying Curious When You Want to Run Away Michele Cushatt 142
20 I Thought I Was Over the Hurt Renee Swope 150
21 How to Stop Running from Someone's Hard Places Jen Schmidt 155
22 Learning to Disagree While Still Honoring My Parents Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young 163
23 Love Your Friends and Let Them Go Rachel Marie Kang 172
24 When to Offer Your Presence over Positivity Joy Groblebe 178
25 Keeping an Open Heart after a Friendship Failure Dawn Camp 185
26 Forgiving before an Apology Stephanie Bryant 192
Final Thoughts 199
Questions to Ask When You're Sitting Together 205
About the Authors 209