Still Growing

February 10, 2026.Reading time 1 minute.

People pleasing is a trauma response. This statement made me stop and pause. I’ve been on a mission lately to break out of the cycle of people pleasing, and this is one revelation that I somehow missed. “It’s part of fawning,” my therapist explains. I hadn’t heard of that either. Apparently, flight, fight, freeze, or […]

Lost and Found

July 23, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Fallen limbs and pathless woodsno obstacle for a wild childleft to her own devices,searching for a self. Only with age, and sproutingcurves, did I learn to be afraidof shadows, that the woodsequated with wolves and lurking And that abandoned placeshouse evil – held captive therejust this side of adolescence – lost all that innocence gifts […]

Trauma’s Shadow is Rage

September 22, 2018.Reading time 3 minutes.

“…he had always been popular and happy and things had always worked out.” (Holly LeCraw, The Swimming Pool) I close the book, feeling the rage shifting just below my sternum. It’s the second time this week […]

Dead Are Unimpressed

A cruel masterthe ticking clockSo much potentialGet it done! I rush past shadowscrumple the pagesfailed attemptsmounting What of dreams?Of life’s destiny?How I worshipat the altar of should Even with positivityfantastical notions fall shortI argue against uncertaintymeet only disapproval There is no magicno pre-destined famejust dust gatheringThe dead are unimpressed. (Image my own)

After The Storm (haiku)

Focus

It’s so easy to spot in others – those that constantly complain about everything – but, do we catch it in ourselves? These days I admit to feeling overwhelmed. Everywhere I look there are things to pack, and dust balls waiting to be scooped up. I lie awake thinking about it, instead of getting much […]