2 days agoMember-onlyReflections on the Inglorious History of the South and Finding Belonging In The Places We Call HomeCome sit a spell, why don’t ya? written on the unceded territory of the Cheraw people, that is present day Greensboro, NC. Belonging. It’s something I talk about a lot in my writing. It’s something we all seek. Belonging is often evasive, particularly when you’re going through formative experiences and…Self7 min readSelf7 min read
Jan 16Member-only“No One Asked You” and Other Things I Wish I Had The Nerve To SayUnsolicited advice is common, but why? We’re wired to hate it — Happy Monday, readers! Today was just one of those days I woke up and my whole mind and body screamed, “No! We are NOT feeling this!” I haven’t had one of those days in a while and it was a gentle reminder that life goes on and you have to…Advice8 min readAdvice8 min read
Published in Writers’ Blokke·Jan 12Member-only4 Pieces of Advice To Help You Grow As A Full-Time FreelancerCongratulations, you’ve picked a doozy of a job — If you’re anything like me, freelancing is your dream come true. Even on your worst days, when you’re sick of stuffing you’re body into a chair in front of a desk again and again or when fear of chronically bad posture strikes and you seriously consider getting a desk that…Writing4 min readWriting4 min read
Published in ILLUMINATION·Jan 11Member-onlyReflections On January 6th And The State of DemocracyFeaturing sociocultural analysis, witty humor, and a rage room invitation — In memory of Brian Sicknick, Ashli Babbitt, Rosanne Boyland, Kevin Greeson, and Benjamin Phillips. No matter what your view on January 6th, 2021 was or is, none of them deserved to die that day. They should all be here. Yesterday, before I wrote the original iteration of this article, I…Politics6 min readPolitics6 min read
Published in Be Open·Jan 10Member-onlyThe Magic of Solitary PlacesReturning to the land. Returning to ourselves — The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.- Isaiah, 35:1, KJV This Bible verse, like many others, mentions a solitary place. In this verse, God’s chosen people have just had their land restored to them. Isaiah 35:1…Healing6 min readHealing6 min read
Published in Writers’ Blokke·Jan 5Member-onlyMapping The Path to Success: A Constant Exercise In Trust And PatienceNo magic or shortcuts here, folks — My New Year’s Day this year started similarly- I imagine- to many other people’s New Year’s Day. It started with a hangover bad enough to make me wish I had Pedialyte, making David Perlmutter coining January 1st “National Hangover Day” hit a little too close to home. With the advent…Writing3 min readWriting3 min read
Published in Know Thyself, Heal Thyself·Jan 4Member-onlyHow Do We Reconcile With Our Own Mortality?Talking about every day, big questions we try to avoid — Do you remember the first time you realized you would die? The moment when the boundless nature of your childlike self was covered up by a little bit of fear that one day you would just be … nothing? We talk a lot in meditation circles about how the practice…Death5 min readDeath5 min read
Published in Hello, Love·Jan 4Member-onlyI’m Sick and Tired of Being Sick and TiredOn trust and being enough, just as you are. — “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.” A mentor of mine said this to me when I was in college. Quite frequently. Just last month, I texted him to say, “ I’m not sick and tired anymore.” It was true! I had had an amazing few work months…Self2 min readSelf2 min read
Published in The Writing On The Wall·Jan 2Member-onlyI Got RSV. It Sucks, And Here’s What It Taught MeThe universe has a strange way of delivering messages — I had it all planned out. January 2nd, 2022, was going to be the start of my EPIC work year. I started freelancing full-time last year and this year I was taking things to new heights. Of course, with this kind of expectation placed on myself combined with the holidays…Illness2 min readIllness2 min read
Dec 30, 2022Member-onlyPutting Together The Pieces of 2022: Wins, Losses, Lessons, and Reflection“That is the nature of endings, it seems. They never end. When all the missing pieces of your life are found… there are more pieces to be found.”- Amy Tan — Reader’s Note: A picture of my dog’s new haircut will be at the end of this newsletter for your viewing pleasure On December 16th, 1930, a light came bursting into the world in Brooksville, FL. On one of the darkest days of the year, my grandmother entered this world.New Year6 min readNew Year6 min read
