A few months ago I turned 40 years old. It is weird because I don't feel my age, but I am thankful to be getting older. Honestly, I have seen so many young people pass away, I feel so grateful to still be here. My greatest desire is to live a happy and fulfilling life. I told myself I cannot let a number define who I am, and what I do; however, for the past few months, I have been letting it define my physical self. That has to stop. Since my youngest son, Tiago, was . . .
The Bathroom Situation
When my children’s alarm beeps incessantly at 6:30 am because it is “too far out of reach”, I am startled out of my bed trying to figure out where I am. I sit up and look around trying to discern what I am looking at for a full 30 seconds before I realize I don't have my glasses on; which explains the blurs in front of me. The background noise of a sleep playlist is lost in the sound of an alarm so annoying, I have no other choice, but to jump out of bed and find that tiny little button to stop . . .
The Ball-and-Chain
Walking while wrestling with self-doubt, my own ball-and-chain. Longing to fly and slightly remembering the feeling of gullible optimism. Waiting to be above the canopy; to see the expanse of opportunity and possibility. Imagining the wind cutting through my hair without care. Musing over the clouds and their shapes. Creating my life from the marshmallow world that is above my reach. A fantasy. How do I cut through its hold? The ball-and-chain pulling me down feels as if I might . . .
The happy, smiling girl.
There once lived a little girl that loved to laugh and be happy. She wanted to share her laughter and always looked for the good in people. One day she was playing in the park and a little boy came up and took her by the arm roughly. He demanded that she give him her smile. So she smiled for him. He walked away smiling. The next day the little girl was happily going through her day looking at the beautiful clouds when the same boy came up behind her and pushed her to get her attention. . . .