- "You Can't Heal What You Can't Feel -

We attach so much shame and vulnerability when we FEEL emotions, that we often don't allow ourselves to fully experience what these feelings mean for us. Shed it all. Feel it all. Bathe in your sorrows, then wipe your body dry with self-compassion. Be kind to your ugliest mask. Be patient with the loves of your life. Accept that bad things happen to good people, and choose to be your best self anyway. And heal.

- re: Brock Turner -

I was hoping that writing these words

would heal me;

heal me from the anger that rises from 

my womanhood;

heal me from the rage that storms inside

my body.

Let me repeat that again and again -

My body. MY body. MY BODY.

But a few lines in, I realized that 

nothing can heal me from this.

When he violated my sister,

he violated me. 

When Justice did not serve her,

Justice did not serve me,

or the daughters who will come after me...

- This Is How I Love You -

We are so hard on ourselves. But, until we can forgive ourselves for our imperfections, we will never be able to love another human being fully. Until we learn to hold ourselves close and love our own hearts the way we know we deserve to be loved, we will never be able to love others in the proper manner. And LOVE, well..., it's worth being vulnerable for!

- A Haunting -

It's been a while, but I finally had a sudden visit from the Writing Muse and a few words flowed through me. A sad, shameful, and healing moment - all at once. I think finding Inner Peace (and staying there) is a long process that never quite ends. Sometimes, we revert back to our old ways of doing and thinking, but that doesn't mean we haven't made progress. Progress is knowing how to give yourself permission and time to FEEL all the emotions that require your attention, then get back to the peace you have worked and fought so hard for. Celebrate small victories - tiny but continuous steps will take you the furthest. 

- Hello, 2016! -

2015 was pretty wild! It was wild without the senseless drama & (too much) unwelcoming negative vibes. The climax, of course, being that Jamie & I exchanged vows with the commitment to work on our partnership for the rest of our lives. This was also the year that I can't recall any prolonged waves of sadness - I have been working on the art of letting go & finally feeling the positive effects. As a result, I have come to a certain level of acceptance for the people who used to be in my life but who no longer choose to make big impacts. Because people will always leave you behind, and that's just a part of life. The other part of life, however, are pieces of your souls in the forms of splendid human beings who refuse to leave you behind, who insist on making big impacts in your life - and for all these wonderful friends, I'm so grateful for the love that you continuously pour into our relationships. So many highlights of 2015 were spent with people who matter, and these memories only leave me craving more! More deep conversations over bottles of red wine about the reality of growing up, more reunions in different parts of this country & beyond, more dance parties till 4:00am, more honest communications about what we need from each other in order for these beautiful connections to keep blossoming beyond the time & distance that separate us.

In 2016, I hope to continue working on forgiveness - to fill my heart with wonder & HOPE, my head with positive vibes & less doubts; with my eyes looking forward & my tiny feet marching tirelessly toward even better days. I hope to set aside more time creating art that only I understand & feeding my brain new knowledge because it thirsts for growth. I hope to eat more good food & not deprive my body of such joyful experiences just because I'm afraid of the c-word ('calories', people!). I hope to label disappointments & failures as lessons (this will be a hard one!), so that when it truly is my time to succeed, I can meet the opportunity fully ready. Most of all, I hope to take steps on new lands, and plan visits to places I've been to hundred of times that still tug at my heartstrings - but no matter where I wander to, I hope to always find my way home.

And I hope to love myself better - even better. so I can love those who love me better.

- Recent Creations -

- Invisible Daughters -

It took me hours
to swim out of my Mother's womb...
Because I knew her disappointment
that I, too, have a womb.
Womb that will carry children,
while I slave in the kitchen,
while I discard the knowledge
that only men get to bear.
So I did everything,
to construct my own reality,
with heavy drinking that rival
to boys sitting at the same table.
With "too much education"
when I contribute to conversations.
With kitchen skills
that only produce simple meals.
I raised myself,
as my Mother raised her son;
as all Mothers should raise
all of their tiny loved ones.