“Hate can­not dri­ve out hate; only love can do that.”

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I know things are stressful. I know this election has everyone on edge. I am acutely aware that this year has seemed like one big dumpster fire that refuses to be put out. I'm not going to sit here and blow smoke up your ass and promise you that 'every little thing gonna be alright' immediately. What I will tell you is that no matter the end result, it's gonna take work, and vigilance and consistency. More than that, though, it's gonna take hope and LOVE. It's gonna take tolerance and patience. It's gonna take you and me.

 

What won't help though, is division. The hate, animosity and apathy are rampant, and they're adding to the problem, not solving anything.

 

In the words of The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. "Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love..."

 

Y'all, things WILL get better. I can't give you a when, but I can tell you it is always darkest before the dawn, so hang in there. Be gentle with yourselves. Find something every day that makes you smile.

 

I'm giving out free virtual hugs, and though I am a highly selective 'hugger' because I'm guarded, after we're no longer in the middle of a pandemic, I'll even give out real life hugs.

 

Until then, if you're struggling, reach out.

If you need a friend, I'm here.

If you need a mom, I'm here.

If you need support, I'm here.

If you need to be reminded of the beauty in life during this awkward dumpster fire phase, I'm here.

You are not Alone

 

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Writing can be lonely no matter how often we joke that our characters keep us company. Scratch that, all art can be lonely. Hell, being a human being is lonely anymore and getting lonelier by the day thanks to the climate of the world we suddenly find ourselves thrust into.  

I see people on every social media platform reaching out for support, just wanting to breach that abyss; needing nothing more than to have someone to sit with them in the darkness while they stumble along to find their way. I'm told when I reach back that they are used to only hearing crickets. Now, I'm not one to pity anyone, but I am definitely one to never let you sit or walk alone as you meander the dark. 

Right now I may only be a stranger. 

I may be nothing more than a number on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, MeWe, etc.  

But I'm here, and as long as I have air in my lungs, and my heart beats you will never have to be alone. Reach out. Email me, message me, hell send a homing pigeon if you need to, but please don't ever think you have nobody, or that nobody cares. I know what that feels like, and I made it my mission long ago to alleviate that feeling in others as much as I am able. 

 You are not alone. 

I'm right here. 

Love and Light. 

Make Yourself Write

I can't tell you how often I've thought, uttered or downright complained that I wanted to write but "don't have the time" -- Lo' and behold when I had plenty of time, what happened? Yep, you guessed it - I didn't write! 

Why not?

I found other things to do. 

Things that could be done literally any other time, things that could be done while multi-tasking (including while writing), but suddenly I had to do it right stat then, instead of write. 

Do you see how ridiculous that is? 

And I can pretty much guarantee that my fellow writers have done exactly the same types of things. 

Maybe you're thinking "but I just didn't feel like writing" and I get it. I do. But id doesn't matter. 

Do you know why? Because you need to write the thing. Nobody but you can write the things that you do, so we are all depending on you to get it done. 

To get it done, you have to write, my lovelies. Even on days you don't feel like it. Even on days you flat out don't want to do it. Hell, especially on those days. 

Maybe the first few sentences (or paragraphs, or pages) will suck, but that's what editing is for. 

As Jodi Picoult says "You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page."

Just write.

Force yourself to write until the words come easier and I promise they will. Until then... 

Just. 

Write.