Churning

I’m uncomfortable. My stomach churns. My life has been about trying to hold the center line and bring people closer through commonalities. However, that seems unallowable in our current state. Everyone wants you to choose sides or assure them they are the ones that are right while the rest (the other side) do not have

Misunderstood

I misunderstood addiction. I thought I was an expert. Food, money, sex. Unfortunately, addiction understands and humbles me. Generally, I don’t take pain pills because I have a high pain tolerance—just Tylenol and Advil. Post knee replacement four years ago (before the opioid epidemic was a thing), I was given 150 hydrocodone tablets to take

Resigned

Watching you detour Trails lead to known futures My mother heart weeps cjl2020

100 word challenge

Her balcony. Solitude. Soundless snowflakes. She leans forward, and her tongue peeks out to taste the loose snow. The feel of snow melting to water quenches a thirst. For what? Childhood? Simplicity? Freedom? Her unhappiness persists without reason. It’s always been part of her. It adds depth to the show she puts on for others.

Betrayed

Moving forward

This post will be short and sweet. I am a self flagellator. Generally. I allowed some physical and emotional trials to get in the way of my words. Instead of using them to move past the experiences, I didn’t want to feel. I started fresh. I am writing. I discovered I do have a tribe.

Opportunities

I’m so grateful I was given the opportunity to share my experiences as a writer during the pandemic as a guest on the Pages Penned During the Pandemic blog. It’s live today so follow the link to check it out. https://www.kaylakingbooks.com/blog/tag/pages+penned+in+pandemic This is the link, open for Submissions, for an anthology collection about what you

What Students Really Need to Hear

Originally posted on Chase Mielke:
It’s 4 a.m.  I’ve struggled for the last hour to go to sleep.  But, I can’t.  Yet again, I am tossing and turning, unable to shut down my brain.  Why?  Because I am stressed about my students.  Really stressed.  I’m so stressed that I can only think to write down…

Wrinkle Blanket

As I look into her face, a face I have been looking into since I was born, I lose myself in her wrinkles.  Some fine and barely there, others etched in as deep as if carved there by a stone-cutter.  To her the wrinkles are sometimes valued; but mostly unwanted as they mark the passing

Rejections

Rejection is a funny thing.  When you are a child and are trying to talk to your parents and they are distracted you feel unimportant.  When you are a parent and your child gets too old for hugs and kisses when you drop them off for school you are sad and realize they are growing