Iām glad tho because we all have so much to offer ourselves, and each other. Being able to look into the center of a struggle or problem and pull ourselves to the other side is absolutely INCREDIBLE!
This week reminded me to rest, reach out, listen, and reimagine what could be.
Yeah, this week tried it & LOST! āš¾
Time to fall into the joys of the weekend! Sending you all #Rest #Peace #Support and #Healingšš¾
Upcoming Events:
BLF Press presents Krystal A. Smith in conversation with DeMisty D.Bellinger. April 10th 6pm to 7:30pm EDT Register here
It feels special to make it all the way to the end of the week with minimal hiccups! I am grateful! I was present and deliberate this week. I like that I can acknowledge that.
(Image by Amador Loureiro (Unsplash) Desktop calendar with uplifting message that reads: “Life is short. Do stuff that matters.” )
I did have to let a few folks know I wasn’t the one to mess with, play with, or involve in their pettiness! That felt good too. I got a rush! LOL! Don’t start nun, won’t be nun, okay.
Writing is coming in spurts. I did start a new piece Monday and reviewed a draft for a writing buddy. #Community #AmWriting
Good snacks were within reach all week. Tasty-good, mostly; some healthy-good. I hit my water goals too! š
The Nerd/mail junky in me got excited every time my phone pinged with an email. It was me, y’all. I sent myself several email reminders throughout the week! š
I got to bed early 3 nights this week. I know that made a difference. Sleep is my friend! Halleloo! š
Oof! Google photos got me with a memory from a couple years ago. A picture of me in the sun smiling, flirting with the camera. It held my attention because I recognized in the photo I was falling in love then. The glow, the smile, the light in my eyes. I was radiant. It dawned on me I haven’t seen that woman in a while. I think I will again though. ā¤
Issue 2 of my lit journal Inkwell Black came out this week to great success. Check it out here.
I hope you’ve had a good week as well. Enjoy your weekend. Do something you enjoy. Show yourself all the love.
Hey hey Wordsmiths I used January as a test run of sorts. I wasnāt sure about anything coming into 2021. But Iām here rocking it and doing the best I can. Iām ready to start the year for real for real now.
February has good stuff in store. First off Happy Black History Month! Your Black is beautiful, worthy, and so loved! Know that! Believe it! Remind yourself as often as you need to. You are LOVED š„° And speaking of love can you feel it crackling all around? I can! Valentineās Day especially is going to be different this year for many reasons. Hopefully youāre being careful and not gathering in swarms but still manage to get the affection you need. I am channeling all the LOVE my way! Friendship love, writing community love, and yes, romantic love too. Shoot, I need my ankles massaged like the next woman āŗļø lol
Iāve got lots of projects in the works this year to both use my creativity and to keep from spiraling. Iām going to keep things up-to-date so we all know whatās going on!
Hereās to the newish year and all things joy (cos we absolutely deserve joy)! Stay warm and healthy and be kind to yourselves.
In September I saw a CFS from Dust Poetry Magazine for chairs, photos of empty chairs, and a voice in me said, yes, send them something, do it, send something in. I donāt know if it is the current state of the world, but my inner me is becoming my outter me and I gotta tell ya it is really working out. Iāve submitted more stand -alone pieces this year than I ever have. Some have been received well and some have been thoroughly rejected.
I feel like I have nothing to lose at this point and everything to gain.
Photo by Danielle MacInnes (Unsplash 2017)
It can be that way for you too. I encourage you to do that thing you want to do. Do it now. Donāt wait! It might turn out or it might not. Thats ok. Youāll still learn something and have an experience.
As far as the submission went: It turned out, yāall!! My photo was including in a cool gallery of chairs! Check out the link and, I donāt know, look at my chair! Dust Poetry Mag Gallery
I was just talking to a friend about our reactions to the stress of quarantine/Covid-19. Our bodies are trying to understand. Our minds are trying to adapt and cope. We are doing the best we can. Todayās poem is inspired by that.
Nothing New
Nothing new in or out. We are somewhat stale. Aware but hardly capable of moving too far ahead now. Take two steps forward, five at most. Then rest. It seems like hardly anything. But our orbits have collapsed. We are still vast but matter gathers around our ankles and blocks our various paths. Take two steps, five at most. Survey what there is in front of you or go back. Step back into familiar space for a rest.
The landscape ahead will indeed have changed by the time youāre ready for the next lurch forward. But that was always the possibility.
We are all seriously doing the best we can. And this, to so many, is nothing new. Sending love and light to each and every one of you. Be well and take whatever time/rest you need.
A week or so ago I watched Rupi Kaurās Instagram live poetry workshop. She did a list poem that I thought was pretty nifty. It was called A List of Things to Share w/the World. I wrote my list that day and loved it. I thought I would do one today for day 4 of National Poetry Month. The title is part of the poem.
A List of Things I Need More of
Laughter Sunshine Sweetness Dance music Stability Quiet Encouragement Strong coffee, a stiff drink Hugs/touch
Kisses on my face
This was just a quick poem off the dome this morning. I like it. Itās real and not too complicated. Thanks for reading!
I’m consuming a lot of media that is purely for no other purpose than to make me laugh or smile. I’m talking cat videos, puppy pics, cute animals, and other silly stuff that just makes me happy. I think I’m following about thirty pugs on Instagram (check out Chico Maru Pug, he’s an all white pug with a sweet face). I have no shame about it either. Because in these times, in these scary, unstable times I don’t want to feel as bad asĀ reality would dictate. For all the violent and negative things online and in life that can’t be avoided I have to have those feel good moments where I can get to a laugh ASAP. It takes up a little time to scroll through the feeds, but it sure does help me get through some of these hard days.
I’m also reading, reaching out to folks, and catching up on TV. (I’m so over Scandal, but I can’t not watch it.) I’m getting out of the house more and breathing. I know that last bit sounds strange, but have you ever just listened to your breath? Do it. Listen to your parts, check in with yourself. Is everything feeling like it should?
I made myself aĀ letter box that I fill with kind words and uplifting messages. When I feel myself getting too low to function or social media isn’t having the desired outcome I reach inside the box and pull out a letter.
A letter box to lift my spirits
A letter box to lift my spirits
A letter box to lift my spirits
A letter box to lift my spirits
What are you doing to keep on keeping-on? One friend of mine doesn’t look at any social media after nine o’clock at night. Another friend has upped her meditation practices. I would love to know what gets you through a hard day. Leave a comment below.
Krystal A Smith 