Category: personal essay
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Holiday Season – Why I Am Switching Off
Everyone craves time off to slow down, to have those perfectly curated, sweet, cozy morning routines portrayed on one of the many reels calculated by my Instagram and TikTok algorithm. It is presented with such ease, through a luscious spread of food, an assortment of coffee, and a very specific plan related to the gym,…
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Who Am I Without Yearning For You
I do crave a kiss. For a forehead kiss. For a forehead man’s kiss. And I know loving you was a bliss, because I don’t feel as happy and as good as when you were by my side. I crave for someone who wishes me a good night before sleeping and someone who holds me…
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In My Anti-People Pleasing Era
When I first saw that this publication was looking for writers to contribute their work, I immediately thought: “How can I add something of value to this magazine and its readers?” Each of us, regardless of what it is we aspire to become in life, all want to do something that makes each morning worth…
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Chronically Ill And Fabulous
Being chronically ill can feel like a full-time job. The doctors are rude to you. They have to Google what is wrong with you, it is considered that rare! The doctor admits they get 15 minutes of training on your condition. So, no, they are not very aware of anything you deal with! On top…
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Bernadette’s Story, Part 2: Living, Loving, and Learning to Trust
Bernadette was by no means a perfect dog, but she was the perfect dog for me. She could be unpredictable, aggressive, and would bite you if you tried to touch her feet. But she loved me unconditionally with her whole being. She followed me like a shadow and cuddled near me when I was sad…
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Bernadette’s Story, Part 1: Meeting The Mongrel
The staff at the animal shelter looked at me like I was crazy when I told them I wanted to adopt Bernadette. I had been volunteering there for a few months and had become fond of this “high-risk” dog, despite all her growling and snarling. However, I feared, due to her behavior and long stay,…
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Only Human
Here is a definition of Only: “On-ly: and no one or nothing more besides.” If we follow this definition of “only” to its logical conclusion, “only human” could be an oxymoron, kind of like Progressive Conservative or Artificial Intelligence. But then it is easy to play with the meaning of words, much like a potter…
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The Cost of Your Peace
I am a recovering People Pleaser. Today, at 45, I still wish there was a support group I could attend no less than once a week to walk along with me in this recovery. While it’s true that I am not technically harming anyone, I have, in fact, continuously harmed myself at the cost of…
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My Love Is Like A ….
My love is like a rose? How about a warm, burning fire? My heart is a slow-burning log, and it gets me into no end of trouble…… She’s 5 foot 2, eyes of blue, and I’m off to the rodeo…. The best metaphors are where you, dear reader, are left to figure out what is…
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Duct Tape, Nails, And Other Precarious Surfaces
On Knowing I Can Always Find Myself On The Dance Floor Have you ever tried to tap dance on the top of a crate that once transported a painting? Let me be more specific. Have you ever tried to tap dance on a wobbling piece of wood with nails lining the edges? I have. No,…