WRONG SIDE OF REALITY

  I can tell because of the fog That I must take special care I must write my name in it On the foggy piece of glass So as to not forget myself It’s easy to get lost inside The wisps of “here nor there” Surrounded by smoky layers Of “what if’s” and “why not’s”…

#BeReal – PETER M. OLSEN

My #BeReal guest today is Peter M. Olsen.   Masks We all wear masks. Some are subtle. Some are hidden. Mine couldn’t be more obvious. Long hair, 20 pounds overweight, scruffy beard. The mask I wear is made from self-hatred and depression and scars. My mask tells me that I am ugly…So very fucking ugly.…

#BeReal – DORI OWEN

My #BeReal guest today is Dori Owen. On #BeingReal I am a storyteller. This is the way I transform my thoughts into #BeingReal. I came off the assembly line a little bit broken, a little bit funny, and with a love of all things creative. Art and writing are how I express my real. This…

#BeReal -STEPHANIE ORTÉZ

Please welcome my #BeReal guest Stephanie Ortéz For as long as I can remember I always felt compelled to unleash my talents to the world. My Grandmother nurtured my artistic talents by being both my adviser & biggest fan. She would collect fashion magazines and teach me how to braid my hair. She and I…

#BeReal – RAYMOND BAXTER

My #BeReal guest today is Raymond Baxter. The events in my life that broke me Well. This is my story. A special thanks to the #BeReal series for letting me publish this. I’ll also link to Darla Halyk for giving me the confidence to write this post. For helping me to make the decision to finally admit…

HELD BY DESPAIR

May is Mental Health Awarness month. I suffer from anxiety and depression.  Many people do.  I imagine many mental illnesses require the same if not more attention than depression does.  It is exhausting always having to search yourself for motive and intention.  It isn’t easy to separate rational ideas and expectations from irrational ones. Reality…

#BeReal – SHAWN HENFLING

My #BeReal guest today is Shawn Henfling. “I don’t need to be Michael Jordan but I’d at least like to be in the NBA.” I don’t like myself. Rather, I don’t like who I think I am. I can’t really hate myself because I don’t know who “myself” is. I’ve gotten through 38 years of…

RELATIONSHIPS ARE HARD – LINDSAY HOLMES

My RELATIONSHIPS ARE HARD guest today is Lindsay Holmes. Lindsay has written for the #BeReal series previously. If you have a relationships story you would like to submit you can find the guidelines here under RELATIONSHIPS ARE HARD.  You will find the five other topics I am always interested in sharing.   I hope to see…

#BeReal- SHONA HARTERY

My #BeReal guest today is Shone Hartery. I’m sitting in the this cafe on this freezing cold March afternoon waiting for roadside assistance to come save the day for the second time in 2 weeks! ! Now this fact would make one shake their head but no my friends this is just the beginning of…