Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you replaced all your square tables with round tables? In retrospect how different would your surroundings look or feel? Realistically, this drastic alteration probably isn’t feasible, but assuming imagination is possible, so how would it feel touching, feeling, and smelling new each day? Could the change be sustainable and tolerable? Continue reading
The month of June started and ended with ups and downs. Prickly vines twisted and entwined our breaths gasping for air.
Overwhelming peaks and plummeting valleys warrant tremendous digesting of what each consequence means. The list, a never-ending story, trails its long opaque veil. The value and devastation of this country are politicized. Continue reading
Over the past couple of months, I’ve finished relocating to a new city. The process of finding an ideal-to-a-perfect place is difficult. What I look for is a congenial context of weather, culture, politics, community, affordability, and an overall ascetical environment outside my window. What I’ve found in my search is the narrow appeal for many parts of this country. Maybe I’ve allowed prejudice to cloud and interfere. Honestly, deciding on a perfect home is a daunting task. Continue reading
Henri-Frédéric Amiel, Swiss moral philosopher, poet, and critic
There’s a universal exchange on the last day of December: HAPPY NEW YEAR.
I’ve wondered, these past few weeks, what this time-old tradition at midnight meant. Three words, HAPPY NEW YEAR, celebrated in loud cheers, teary and loving hugs, or whispered in solitude. Continue reading
I wanted to break the tradition of me writing December’s blog. My dear friend and poet, Michael Conner, gave me permission to post what, I think, is a brilliant poem. It is from his book Canto Sun (published by Invisible College Publishing).
James Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker, Ralph Ellison, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, and Alice Walker: What do they all have in common? They are all African-American writers who have published books considered American classics. And they are also authors whose novels are banned (or will be) by school boards and libraries across the United States.
A new day clouded in dirty words.
Virginia Beach School Board Member wants books about race by Toni Morrison and Other Black Authors Banned from the School District and Public Libraries. Continue reading
Violence against women in the United States is in the use of domestic abuse, murder, sex trafficking, rape, and assault (Wikipedia). Culture leads toward trivializing violence towards women and the media possibly contributing to making women-directed violence appear less important, particularly to women in this category: There were 543,018 people reported missing in 2020, nearly 40% of them people of color. Black Americans account for 35% of missing person cases (National Crime Information Center’s Missing Person and Unidentified Person Files). Law enforcement historically assumes children are runaways, and adults are involved in some sort of criminal activity.
Indigenous women’s communities have also expressed outrage that they have a disproportionate amount of media attention or legal assistance. This is tied to Tribal Reservation Law. Non-tribal perpetrators found on the Reservation for sexual assault, child abuse, or rape can’t be prosecuted. However, domestic violence by non-tribal members is investigated by tribal nations, but the women do not fare well. Continue reading
One of my favorite authors, James Baldwin said, “The world is before you, and you need not take it or leave it as it was when you came in.”
We want, I feel, a sense of empowerment that with all we face each day: An intentional life is achievable if we charge forward and be willing to make mistakes. Continue reading
Finding a reason to be different is a personal decision. The recipe’s ingredients are: why, how, and when. I took time off because the same ol’ same ol’ brought too much predictability.
Inner perspective examines fears, ideas, and choices. The real prize is accepting what’s revealed and discarding the parts that are roadblocks to moving forward. A huge life-changer is stepping forward beyond familiarity. Continue reading
Life has a way of challenging the way we see the next day.
I dedicate this month’s writing to my friend, Rodney, who recently died from COVID -19. Rodney’s smile always lit up his face. His generosity and eagerness to help others made him an endearing friend.
Battling COVID is not like a school sick day. Your vital signs (breathing and oxygen to the brain) battle for survival in a ventilator. Rodney did wear a mask, not as regularly as needed, and even flew to large family gatherings. With underlying conditions, such as diabetes, Rodney’s life mirrored a time bomb. Continue reading