Anxiety is a friend of mine. Friend may not be the right word; we have a love/hate relationship. Why? Anxiety is a liar. The constant thread of information filing through my brain is anything but reliable. Since my anxiety is here to stay, it is my job to see the truth and speak logic into ...

Shivering Leaves, forced by the power of the wind, form a circle. Threatened, the need for circle time has never been greater; the need to look into each other’s eyes has not been more real. Holding hands, this empowering moment will last through their lifetimes.

February 1, 2023 at 9 a.m. “Where is my wife Stacey?” asks John. Answer: “Stacey is out shopping. You are spending the day with us.” John: “Oh! Okay then. Where can I park myself?” Answer: “Right here on this chair. We will be starting a fun program singing patriotic songs.” John: “Oh! Okay.” 10:00 a.m. ...

A New-Path Last week, I started on medication for anxiety and depression. I never imagined I couldn’t handle it on my own. Life has been pretty good, all things considered. People don’t have homes, or access to food, water, or safe housing. Fortunately, I’ve never been without any basic needs. White privilege and two working ...

Walking from my car to the door of the elementary school, I think, “My feet are really cold!” Why, you may ask, are my feet so cold this fall afternoon? The answer—I was wearing my slippers! In my rush to get out the door, changing into shoes slipped my mind. Now there are two choices: ...

One of the funniest aspects of my writing is I am a perfectionist. The ideal scenario is that a scene will pop into my head, and I can write it down and fix a few grammar errors. Usually, I have a few plot points to piece together, or I have to discover everything that happens ...

Staying on the run to get everything donePlotting the next chapter when the current has just begun Barely breathing to get near achievingHoping to never lose the magic of believing Yes, it’s a bad habitI hate feeling like Mr. Rabbit I would love to stop racing against the clockBut I really want to be among ...

Do the selfish greedy fewWatch the innocent dieAnd bleed upon the morning dewDo they inhale the red dustAbove the crumbling homes of trust Has their warring blackboardBeen desecrated by the blood-spattered hordeSacrifice by their beheading swords The white doves of peace are cryingWhile the red lilies of loveLay under broken ground dying

Let’s be real: anxiety has become a companion for many of us in recent years if we weren’t acquainted beforehand. So what exactly is anxiety and how does one cope with it? Anxiety is defined as intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about what is to come. It’s a common feeling everyone shares: the ...

This will be the first in a series of Dear Diary entries. It may not be consecutive entries, but there will be more. 1, January 2022 Dear Diary: Random Musings – Blast from the Past A new year and a new you. Yeah, right. After 2020, I stopped making resolutions. I stopped trying to look ...