later that night
i held an atlas in my lap
ran my fingers across the whole world
and whispered
where does it hurt?
it answered
everywhere
everywhere
everywhere.
–Warsan Shire
What She Said, June 9: Warsan Shire
Diane Masiello
I am a writer and high school English teacher at a Catholic, all-girls private school. I began my teaching and writing career over 30 years ago, earning my Ph.D. in English Education from and first teaching at New York University. After I finished my degree work, my husband and I moved to Florida; I have taught at both Nova Southeastern University and The University of Tampa.
I left academia to raise two beautiful daughters and help care for my parents, which is when I turned to blogging to help me process my experiences. I started in 2003 with a LiveJournal entitled "Afternoons with Coffee Spoons" which I eventually translated over to Wordpress. In 2019 I was invited to join "The Gloria Sirens" blog, which gave me space to develop my voice.
Over the past few years, as I have raised teenagers and gone back to teaching, my writing has become more focused on the interplay of the Catholic faith, mystery, and storytelling. This has, in 2025, led me to return to writing exclusively for my own blog where I can more fully explore "Every Grace and Blessing" that God has bestowed upon me and those I love.
What She Said, June 8: Sojourner Truth
If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back, and get it right side up again. And now they is asking to do it, the men better let them.
–Sojourner Truth
What She Said, June 1: Ijeoma Oluo
You have to get over the fear of facing the worst in yourself. Fear the thought that right now, you could be contributing to the oppression of others and you don’t know it. But do not fear those who bring that oppression to light. Do not fear the opportunity to do better.
–Ijeoma Oluo
What She Said, May 31: St. Mary Euphrasia
Do everything you can for love, and you will see what you are capable of. One can make more progress this way in a year, than in ten by the way of fear.
–St. Mary Euphrasia
What She Said, May 30: Margaret Atwood
The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was that important to them: there ought to be as many for love.
–Margaret Atwood
What She Said, May 29: St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.
― St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta
What She Said, May 28: Maya Angelou
In the flush of love’s light we dare to be brave. And suddenly we see that love costs all we are, and will ever be. Yet it is only love that sets us free.
–Maya Angelou
What She Said, May 27: Mignon McLaughlin
A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, and always with the same person.
–Mignon McLaughlin
What She Said, May 26: Brene Brown
A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don’t function as we’re meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick.
–Brene Brown
What She Said, May 25: Stephanie Lahart
She wanted a relationship that consisted of loving someone unconditionally, flaws and all, so she started with herself.
–Stephanie Lahart
The Gloria Sirens 