Tell me the weirdest place you’ve ever experienced profound validation. I guarantee you I can beat you after this week. I can say with utter confidence that this was not … Continue reading The Consequences Building. (TW: court, crime, sexual abuse)
Tag: trauma recovery
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story.
I had to become the villain in others’ stories so I could live freely as the hero in my own. I’ve been thinking lately about the concept of heroes and … Continue reading Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story.
Upside down.
My mother turns 71 today. I managed to spend most of the day distracted by the fact that it’s her birthday, and the heaviness of all such implications. But it … Continue reading Upside down.
The Stuff Process, parts 1 & 2.
One thing I struggled with for many years, as a side effect of cutting contact with my mother, was the fact that I still had a lot of personal property … Continue reading The Stuff Process, parts 1 & 2.
Olfactory memory.
Have you ever caught a random whiff of a scent that has instantly transported you to a different time and place? There’s a lot of focus on the senses of … Continue reading Olfactory memory.
Monsters.
I used to fantasize that I was adopted. I think every kid has that wish on occasion when they’re punished or frustrated by the rules or whatnot. But for me, … Continue reading Monsters.
Starfish.
I read a little story once about a beach that was covered in hundreds of starfish that had washed up with the tide. A young person was walking along the … Continue reading Starfish.
On recognizing freedom.
“He cannot take physical form, but his spirit has lost none of its potency.” —Saruman in The Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring, talking to Gandalf about … Continue reading On recognizing freedom.
The tragic tale of my favorite color.
I am an elementary school art teacher. Color is kind of my thing. Admittedly, it’s been my thing since long before the art teacher gig. I’ve had a passion for … Continue reading The tragic tale of my favorite color.
Endurance.
For someone who’s endured a metric fuckton of pain, both physical and psychological, you’d think the potential of it wouldn’t scare me. But it has been, lately. I consider myself … Continue reading Endurance.
Journeys in the Dark 