Writer Lois Brown

Lois Brown

Hey. Welcome. I’m glad you’re here, thinking about this stuff. Ethics, being a good person… it sounds simple, doesn’t it? But it’s anything but. It’s messy. It’s hard. And it’s the most important work we do.

From the Front Lines to the Front of the Mind

My path here wasn’t exactly straight. I spent eight years as a medic, two tours in Afghanistan. I patched people up, stabilized them, tried to keep them alive. I saw things no one should see. Not just the physical wounds, but what war does to the soul. That’s what brought me to this work, really. I realized fixing a body wasn’t enough. You could stop the bleeding, but what about the damage underneath?

After I left the military, I became a trauma therapist, specializing in first responders. Police, firefighters, paramedics… people who run towards the chaos, just like I did. They see the worst of humanity, and they carry it. I help them process it, learn to live with it, and find a way forward.

It’s a privilege, honestly. And it’s taught me a lot about what it means to be human, about what breaks us, and what – surprisingly – makes us strong.

What Keeps Me Writing

I write about courage, but not the Hollywood kind. Courage isn't what you think. It’s not about being fearless. It’s about being terrified and doing what needs to be done anyway. It’s about showing up, even when you’re falling apart. And it’s about admitting you are falling apart.

I’m fascinated by vulnerability. We’re taught to hide it, to armor up, to pretend we’re okay. But I’ve seen, time and again, that true strength comes from allowing yourself to be seen, flaws and all. It’s terrifying, yes, but it’s also incredibly liberating.

I also write about resilience. I've seen the worst, and I've seen people survive it. Not just survive, but thrive. And I want to share what I’ve learned from them. What tools they used, what strategies worked, what helped them rebuild their lives after everything fell apart.

What You Can Expect

My articles will be direct. I don’t have time for fluff. I’ll cut through the noise and get to the core of things. I’ll share practical advice, things you can do to build your own resilience, to cultivate your own courage, to live a more ethical and meaningful life.

• Expect honest conversations about difficult topics.
• Expect a focus on action. Here's what works – I’ll always offer something tangible, something you can implement right away.
• Expect a challenge. I’m not here to tell you what you want to hear. I’m here to help you grow.
• Expect a little bit of tough love. Sometimes, you need to hear the truth, even if it hurts.

I believe that everyone has the capacity for goodness, for courage, for resilience. And I believe that by exploring these qualities, we can create a better world, one person at a time.

— Lois Brown, still serving.