Humanity
Why I Donated Blood...
If you've been wondering what I've been up to lately, I was so grateful to share with the world - back when the golden Midwestern leaves littered the Northeastern roads of Indiana - that I had officially rejoined the American workforce! It was in my ideal field - the healthcare setting! Now, however, when I initially began writing this post and practicing in that field, I reside in a MUCH different State and time than that of my beloved home state of Illinois. The "Land of Lincoln," some say fondly. "Crook County!" other's sneer. I grew up FAST on BOTH sides of the South Suburban Chicagoland Region and Northeastern or Northwestern Indiana border! My oh my, how the times have changed - in terms of one mentally ill, young woman's life, circumstances, experiences, opportunities and challenges that she alone is EXPECTED to surmount and OVERCOME...
By Unlisted&Twisted!4 years ago in Confessions
Love Yourself
Self Love The first thing you need to do is to start loving the person you see in the mirror. You are perfect as you are, and any stretch marks you have represent how resilient you are. Start seeing your body as a beautiful creation of nature. These are the words you need to repeat daily to yourself - that you are amazing, beautiful, and powerful.
By Katherine Cruz4 years ago in Confessions
Why I’d Rather Stay in Ukraine Than Go Back to Nigeria - Stranded Student Explains
Okay, here's a story I'd really love to hear your thoughts about. If you follow the news, then you must have undoubtedly heard about what is going on between Russia and Ukraine. While our hearts were and are still breaking for Ukraine and the unimaginable things the citizens of that country are having to go through, another set of news reports started coming out. Apparently even in the face of war, racism still stands.
By Jide Okonjo4 years ago in Confessions
Agoraphobia, Acting Out and the Aftermath
Growing up I saw mental illness as something for weak people, those with no fight or guption. I used to be one of the aggravating few that said things like 'just be happy' or 'there's nothing to worry about, just relax'. Yes, I was one of THOSE people. Then I turned 23 and life had a lesson to teach me.
By Jodie Harron4 years ago in Confessions
Confused
How do you put being lost for words in a form of a thought? When does the questions become answers and your emotions become quite? Tell me the answer please cause I am tried of all the un answered questions that are in my head. I'm tried of the statements tried of the people tried of the system tired of other race downing us black people putting us in a box like we don't suppose to have a thought a mind of our own. I'm tried of the saying blacks are only good for being behind bars.
By Rachel Geegan4 years ago in Confessions
HAITI MOVED OUT
"Let him stay at your place," the supervisor made a half turn and faced the employee opening the door for patients returning from day-long workshops. "Let me get your workers in and I'll get back with you two in a bit," The woman at the door spoke back over her shoulder straining to look further out along the walkway where a string of people were leaving a central building at the other side of facility grounds. "There's your last two just coming out of the universal building now." It would take a few minutes, five at most, for them to walk over to the residence hall where they lived with six other persons. As she closed the heavy metal door behind the returning four tenants, Janell turned back to face the supervisor and the new employee. Janell was filling in for a short staff load and had been for several days now. "What was that you were saying?" The supervisor spoke again, "This is our new worker... new hire employee. He's in need of someplace to stay for a little while and I can't afford to lose an employee if he moves away to his sister's place in Chicago. She and her husband... their household may not get him here on schedule when he's supposed to be at work. We are short-staffed." The emphasis put on "are" told Janell that this request was something to be considered to be imperative. The supervisor tilted her head forward a bit and locked eyes with Janell staring then whencing before announcing, "Your house has a balanced load of staff workers. I'm going to have you work here through the coming wee while he gets in tune with the routine. You know the run of a day's work at the facility... the all-purpose building... workshop schedules, fitness schedules, and the medication carousel routines for nurse visits or shortages. You work this house for now. Pat will learn the routine and meanwhile, I have time to find at least two new hires for this unit to work here with him." Janell nodded her head, "Fine, what was that other bit you said?" her forehead furrowed, "You want him.. who... at my place?" She screwed her face up and frowned more deeply. It was obvious that she was about to argue against such a lurid suggestion. The supervisor spoke up, "Well, he doesn't have a place to stay. No place to live. Let him stay at your house or," her face drew a frown and pursed lips as well, "...or I'll have to cut corners." Janell straightened her face but tilted her head in question of the new order. "Stay with me?" her voice cracked, "I can't let this guy stay at my home, Lucy. I'm married, I have a teenage daughter and a son. There is no room for a guest... and I am married." Then, "Who is he?... I don't know this guy.. don't know him. Would you move a strange man in on your daughter? What's going to happen when I'm suddenly pulled to work an emergency shift or put on night shift... and he's at my house with my kids alone?" The supervisor snapped back, "Later!... talk about this later. You can work this house until I get the rest of the needed workers... staff, for my house here." She paused to catch a breath. Her mouth went into a straight line across her face, then she added, "I've got to get back to the office to check in over there before next shift." Lucy stepped out of the front door leaving the two co-workers to talk. As Lucy stepped out of the five-bedroom case house she managed, she waived at the last two returning patients and reminded them to prep for dinner. There was a new worker and the visiting staff person pulled from one of the other unit houses to watch over them for the rest of the shift. She sauntered off toward the unit office where she worked. As they entered the door marked 510, Lucy stepped into the main unit building greeting the unit nurse and other office staff.
By CarmenJimersonCross4 years ago in Confessions
There's No Map, But Here Be Dragons
Dear T., We met once in a bookstore. You were in town for a friend's wedding. I hyperventilated when I realized it was you. It's not every day you randomly spot your favorite author in the wild. You were kind enough to wait until I caught my breath, which took longer than I care to admit. You live in Seattle now and only come out with a collection of stories once a decade, and so you're a rare sighting. You don't have social media or a public email. My hyperventilating was somewhat justified as I didn't think we'd ever get to meet, nor would I get to thank you in person.
By Daniel Cohen4 years ago in Confessions
A Mind Can Be An Open World That Can Be Scary
There is one thing that the mind can do is wander very effectively and mine seems to have no problems with that lately. Many people may wonder why a mind wonders and I really have no answers for that one at all. My mind though gets some weird and not so weird thoughts. I thought an article about some of my random thoughts would be fun. Everyone can post there in the comments if they want too. I would love to read them. Here goes my random thoughts that keep creeping into my thoughts.
By Kenneth Watkins4 years ago in Confessions
All Of It
There are limits in this world that we allow people to cross so often. Why? Why do we do that to ourselves? We go from here to there. We lose friendships along the way. Become lost in our own self abyss. Blame others when it is really under our control. Blame ourselves when it is out of our own control. Someone tell me why I feel like I am screaming under water and no one hears me. The thought of you drives me insane. But then again, that is my limit. You are my limit. These feelings will not, are not, going to go away. You turned yours off. You found peace in your environment, I never will.
By Nia Wheat4 years ago in Confessions
HOLDING ON TO A DOLLAR
I ENDED UP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL because I was pregnant, married to the boy that got me pregnant, and no longer allowed to mix with the other students as a state law regulation. New to the neighborhood, I was coached to go over to a neighbor's house and introduce myself and stay there chatting for an hour. I could return home... one house from where I lived with the close of an hour's time. I returned early... raped and whining about the experience. I married that rapist as a result of no longer bearing the option to be a "virgin bride" as required by all morality and religion. The aftermath of that introduction to life in the real world has been a race to escape public welfare. Married and raising the first of two children, I applied to a college matriculated enrollment plan and began studies with BASIC COMPUTER LANGUAGES - 3 credit hours, ENGLISH COMPOSITION - 3 credit hours, and ENGLISH LITERATURE - 3 credit hours. The total limit for pre highschool transcript attendance in any college or university. I was already behind despite my "picket fence mentality" at the onset of life. I was teased by the computer instructor about my flowchart assignment subject matter as presented to him. Its focus was similar to the ladder of life applied to hexagram, rectangle, and squares with connecting lines to follow. He was amused by his 16-year-old enlistee to college. I finished high school through the GED program later on and went full force into college studies as family life, transportation, and later... as my jobs... and I have had many, including military, allowed.
By CarmenJimersonCross4 years ago in Confessions
