I’ve wanted to be an author since I was eight years old, and from the moment I started studying to become one I heard one message over and over again: if you want to be successful, you must work harder than anyone else. You must write every day, you must sacrifice your weekends and vacations … Continue reading
Among those of us who are neurodivergent (ND) and/or who manage mental illness, the word lazy has been stamped on our foreheads, like a much unwanted label, by people who just don’t understand our experience. Many of my friends who have ADHD, for example, have had their executive dysfunction completely gaslit by family members, teachers, … Continue reading
Mild spoilers for the movie Soul ahead: Everyone is talking about Soul. The Pixar movie, released Dec. 25, 2020, is the first Black-led Pixar movie in the company’s 25 years of making films. It’s been lauded by critics for its messaging and direction, as well as criticized for its depictions of Blackness, mainly the fact … Continue reading
There’s a decent chance that, in the last year, you’ve had to hang with folks virtually. Perhaps it was a business meeting, a class, or your family’s holiday shindig. As a writer, you might have done a book launch, a conference, a poetry slam, or a reading. We’re all communicating in new ways and my … Continue reading
If you’ve ever encountered me through video or in real life, the word most associated with my personality is “bubbly.” I love engaging with people and get energized by them. Making people laugh drives my joy. If you’re following me on Twitter, I’m also quite open about how I manage mental illness, such as agoraphobia … Continue reading
There was recently a themed writing call from one of my dream journals. It asked for works that feature or explore joy. Writing to a theme is one of my strengths, but I was flummoxed. The only take I have on joy is that I don’t have a take on joy. I see the world, … Continue reading
So, today, I decided enough was enough—I was doing the dishes. We have a dishwasher, so you would think it would be a breeze. Unfortunately, my particular injury makes bending painful, especially that halfway bend to load something above floor level. Then, in my infinite wisdom, I decided not to stop part-way through for a … Continue reading
Most of my health problems have been with me since childhood. I was diagnosed with a learning disability at eight years old. I acquired insomnia, anxiety, depression, and PTSD in my prepubescent years. I developed a repetitive strain injury at fifteen. Yet it was not until last year that I really felt comfortable claiming the … Continue reading
I hit a wall a few weeks ago. Not a literal wall — more a wall within myself — one that had neither substance or form, but was strong nonetheless. I hit the wall so hard that I hurt something within myself. I had ignored the warning signs and pushed forward until the wall within … Continue reading
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