Feb 22Member-onlyThe Continual Rise of Toxic Self-Help Culture In 2023The desire for perfection has us buying something called “sex dust” — In 2022, it was predicted that the self-help/self-improvement industry was worth $13.2 billion. In a uniquely American phenomenon, the self-improvement industry has steadily grown since the foundation of the country on the idea that anyone could make a new life for themselves if they simply tried hard enough. Here’s a…Self Help5 min readSelf Help5 min read
Published inWriters’ Blokke·Feb 8Member-onlyThe (Copy)writer’s DilemmaHow do we sell ourselves just as we are? — Selling authenticity is one of the hardest things I think I’ve ever done- but here I go again. …Copywriting5 min readCopywriting5 min read
Published inBe Open·Jan 31Member-only3 Commonly Misunderstood Health Fads That Need A Critical EyeDon’t forget to take your “power dust” before reading! — As a society, I think we tend to perceive politicians, particularly ones that maybe evade taxes or pay for their girlfriend’s abortions while running on an anti-abortion platform as a blight on our society. These people, these anti-vaxxers, they’re what we need to heal to have a better society. I…Health8 min readHealth8 min read
Jan 24Member-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 inWriters’ 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. …Writing4 min readWriting4 min read
Published inILLUMINATION·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 inBe 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 inWriters’ 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 inKnow 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
