Unplanned adventure. My therapist has been challenging me to expand my definition of what it means to nourish myself at the intersection of ed recovery, pursuing my publishing dreams and living during a pandemic. We aim high. She’s amazing. A huge part of how I got out from where I started was mastering the art…Read more Nourished
J
“he never says anything off the top of his head”
― Alice Walker, The Color Purple
Feeling Right
Many of us are asking ourselves if it's ok to feel a sense of vindication, even celebration, that certain people got some bad news this week. As a licensed clinician and survivor of complex trauma, I thought I'd share some insights about what's happening. When someone's behaved in ways that recklessly demolished the hopes, dreams,…Read more Feeling Right
Consider It
How do we end poverty? Those in power must first be willing to acknowledge their unearned privilege. Then, they must be willing to share by dismantling the systems they run which only work to their advantage. I know. It's a lot to ask. And super overwhelming. I mean, what's a guy or gal to do when…Read more Consider It
Reap and Snow
I can't remember if there was a tree, just that it was Christmas morning and the apartment had no furniture except for a sofa and metal folding chair in the living room. We probably weren't supposed to be there but I don't think there was another option. Hot silos of Dunkins sat on the counter…Read more Reap and Snow
Death of a Dream Journal
Cratered Lake and pot-holed The soul-hungry collective stalked empty mauls Hollow cases Echoed cries of the old normal We should have never been Taking as opposed to giving or sheltering tree Bitten Stung Strung out How should love be? A nearby wedding Featuring meth addicted bested men Filled the former foyers of Wall Street With…Read more Death of a Dream Journal
Breaking Free
What do Western Capitalism , The Social Contract, Hotel California and our families all have in common? They're dysfunctional prisons. Well technically, one is a song but the good news is, there is a way out. Systemic oppression is alive and well and always has been. It's just become more blatantly obvious since the invention…Read more Breaking Free
Venus
Say What you will With only means To take A rake to the bottom of the sea's soul Cutting through silt and coral To slit the ocean wide Gently bleeding, gilded girls Whale Stuffing the metal fist with clam shells How we long and weight To breathe Pliant prying Poke and prod I said no…Read more Venus
Bluefish
One fish to fish Hook Hooker Bait Line and sink her Red fish Blue fish The bass drowns out The invisible shadow of a shivering minnow Dripping in silence outside the door Paralyzed screams Tapping gently for entrance Crushed between a string of greasy thumb nails Muted pauses Hold your breath over the bridge Till…Read more Bluefish
You Are Enough and Other Lies
If we were enough You would cease in Scraping our faces across The searing sidewalks Of existence Track marks Steamrolling civility of Eloquent boundaries Set alongside cups of tea Steeped in humility Quiet Plainly stated requests would suffice In saying what now requires Scarred and hog tied bodies Screaming pleading bleeding Tears drowned in Gaslight…Read more You Are Enough and Other Lies
Free
My devotion this morning was Free, ‘for you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters’. My first reaction was, have you seen things around here lately? I fight with God every morning, in part because I’m not a morning person, but mostly because s/he always makes me think. This is what I realized: Many of…Read more Free
