Identity is a concept that needs further examination in today’s society. Our perceived identities drive so much of our behavior that it requires self-examination, a thoughtful dissection of why we might identify in certain ways, what those identities say about us, and how identity affects how we walk in the world. Identity is formed early…

Bright toothy smiles and glimmering eyes Fixed on a lens meant to capture happiness. Behind the photo, a renewed sense of purpose meant to push me into the next chapter. But…and there’s always a but… Residual pain felt from a previous slight That doesn’t fade so much as it pulses, Oscillating from strong to weak…

The Star-Spangled Banner says the “land of the free and the home of the brave.” What does it really mean to be “free”? There are so many issues out there that challenge this notion. A hot topic right now is gun rights. Argument A says that we aren’t free unless we have the right to bear…

We are missing honest conversations in this world: in relationships, in politics, and in our relationship with the spiritual realm. Most of us are too afraid to have honest conversations because it means we might have to change how we think or view the world. We might have to get uncomfortable and confront qualities or…

Midnight blue, painfully quiet and alone, breath shallow, wailing sobs cut the night. A chasm has opened wide in my heart, And there’s an unspeakable sharp ache in my wrenched twisting gut, Where security, nostalgia, and hope used to reside. It had created a tepid home inside me, one with unstable floor boards and rickety…

This is me, from a childhood marked By freedom, love, and adventure sparked. This is me, running down the lane Through soot and dirt, trying not to complain. This is me, a good girl at heart, Playing the emblematic All-American girl part. This is me, fast forward to teenaged dreams, With waves of ups and…

Life is the balance between planning & building a hopeful future and non-attachment & letting go. Both have their place; the trick is knowing when each is appropriate. The answer lies in your ability to discern what truly serves and drives you versus what is holding you back or harming your progress. That is your…

Many of us use art as an outlet, a way to express our emotions and process events that happen to us. This is always seen through our own lens, our own interpretation of what happened. It doesn’t usually reflect the opposite or adjacent sides. It isn’t meant to. Art used as healing is a way…