Freedom of Voice

The other day on Facebook, I asked my friends to drop a positive word I could carry into 2019. I got the idea from my husband’s cousin’s post and figured my friends would not disappoint. They didn’t. Here’s the thing: These words only carry weight if I actually do something with them. And I truly plan to incorporate each and every one into my life on 2019 (except maybe the suggestion of kinky...lol). So much better than some lame resolutions I won’t keep. These are more than words. They are sincere well-wishes, prayers, blessings. And just to irritate one of my poetry-hating friends who shall remain nameless, I’m putting them into a NYE poem. Words carry weight only when you      collect them like stones,             each one carefully chosen                   for its uniqueness, its beauty. Adaptability leads to serenity. Caring increases kindness. Daring to unleash some hellfire, ...

"Too blessed to be stressed!" memes dot the social media landscape. It's such a catchy saying, there are shirts, a planner, even a book. Wait. Can't I feel both blessed AND be stressed?  I wasn't aware that these two things were mutually exclusive until someone pointed it out in an annoyingly delusional way. Like many platitudes, I worry about the message it sends. It implies if I were just more grateful, more focused on my blessings, I would be a better person. Like a mother scolding a naughty child, wagging her finger in my face while saying, "Now, now. You have nothing to be stressed about. Your life is easy. Others have it way worse. Just think about how lucky you are." And, you know what? I am not disagreeing that I am a) blessed, b) lucky, and c) others have it way worse. What I am calling foul on is the implication that I am not allowed to be stressed because a, b, and c are true. I think that's a dangerous precedent to set, kind of Step...