Relationships
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The Village That Raised Me
My aunt Mary passed away on August 17 this year. She was my godmother, who I lived with on and off for the first thirty-three years of my life. She gave birth to my two cousins Eddie and Tim, and also to Erin, who is the same as sister to me. We knew she was going to pass towards the end, which didn’t make it easier but did allow us to confront the pain and anger of life’s unfairness in a present, expected way, versus the sudden stunned shock that I have seen last for months and months in friends who lose parents unexpectedly. I have been stomaching…
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Friendship Between Two Female Hearts
In my early twenties it occurred to me that friendships are an active experience. It was early summer and I’d sent an email to Katie, my closest girlfriend in college, telling her I thought it wasn’t a good idea for us to live together the following semester. I felt our lifestyles weren’t conducive to sharing an apartment. A week or so later, with courage gained from several drinks at her local bar, she called me in the middle of the night to let me know exactly how she felt. Kate was angry and hurt not only about my decision, but the wimpy way I addressed it with her from…
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By Starting to Love Within
I was heartened to find an article on this site promoting emotional literacy in today’s young people. Emotional literacy begins when we own the experience of our feelings by allowing them without judgment. To be alive and Internet savvy right now suggests that physical needs—water, shelter, food—are met and likely well-surpassed. Beyond these basic needs, beyond health and education and security, regardless of our economic standing, what calls us now is a push towards emotional evolution. Towards living a daily experience of loving compassion. Emotional Literacy It makes me roll my eyes, just to write it. A daily living experience of compassion? Well if that doesn’t smack of righteousness. I’ve…
