Dorothea Deley

Are you David or Goliath?

Malcolm Gladwell’s book, David and Goliath, makes the case that successful innovators and entrepreneurs often experienced childhood losses or traumas. Dr. Emil “Jay” Freireich, inventor of modern chemo treatments for cancer, and President Barack Obama both lost their fathers at … Read More

The Biggest March You Probably Never Heard About

Ten years ago, my partner, Mike, and I traveled to Washington, D.C., for the largest march in American history. But you probably never even heard about it. More than 1 million women and men marched on the Capitol in support … Read More

The Payoff for Being Afraid

photo by Mike Maxwell
“Adventure is not outside [wo]man; it is within.” ― George Eliot
(photo by Mike Maxwell)
Recently a friend asked me what the payoff is for my “Shame Shit Storms.”

This is a painful and somewhat embarrassing question to answer.

Here’s what I came up with . . . My shame allows me to:

  • stay safely in my comfort zone, which allows me to
  • avoid being seen, which allows me to
  • escape being hurt.

Looking at this list makes me uncomfortable. How can it be? I like seeing myself as a strong and capable woman, not a fragile and frightened little girl!

But in my heart I know staying in my comfort zone means I don’t have to take a stand — for myself, for others, for love. If I’m shamed back into my little corner, I can bypass doing my inner work. I can give in unchallenged to my defeating beliefs that I am lazy and worthless. That I am broken beyond repair.

Ultimately, I can avoid taking responsibility for myself and my life.

Which is pretty fucking ironic considering I am the FOUNDER of the Church of Personal RESPONSIBILITY!

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Go Secular Students GO!

We’re excited to announce a special performance of our show at Colorado Mesa University! Come out to laugh and show your support for secular students in Grand Junction. “We’ve been looking for unique events to bring to campus in order … Read More

We are the True Believers

Having faith in humanity is harder on some days than others. Like today. Walking up the sidewalk to my house, I noticed someone had cut the little bunch of tulips growing by my front porch. WTF? Obviously people do far … Read More

Join My Baby Picture Movement!

I have this idea. We’re all running around acting like we’re oh-so-grown up, when in reality we’re just little children trying to get by in a scary world. We go about our day-to-day lives, interacting with each other, disparaging those … Read More

Your Story Matters

For those of you who know me, or have seen my show, you know that I don’t have the best relationship with my mother. We don’t see eye-to-eye about much. Basically, she wants me to be something I’m not — … Read More

Go Ahead — End Your Life

Photo by Randy Walker
Photo by Randy Walker

Nine years ago my dear friend walked to the end of the San Simeon pier, climbed over the railing, and jumped in to the icy Pacific Ocean. Her body washed ashore three days later.

Two years ago a relative of mine downed a bottle of Prozac with a fifth of vodka and passed out in her bathroom. She survived, thanks to a random call that woke her husband who found her.

And last month, a kind newspaper reporter I met during a phone interview leaped off Maroon Creek Bridge. He leaves behind a teenaged daughter, a wife, and a confused and grieving community, including several friends of mine of who knew him well.

I imagine we all know someone who has committed suicide, attempted it, or thought about it. Perhaps that “someone” is ourselves.

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Boobs, Butts & TEETH?!?

An entertainment weekly recently wrote a story about my show at First Baptist Church in Denver in November. I provided a photo, and loved the caption they gave it: “Thea Deley, a new face of atheism.” The article focused on … Read More