Not all poetry feedback is equal, nor is it equally appreciated. It depends on what you write, who is offering the feedback, and the type of relationship you share.

I write poems about sex, sadness, and spirituality, thus my audience is broad and eclectic. I want to be read wildly by most everyone, except perhaps by my family, colleagues, neighbours, and acquaintances who may (read have) raised a few eyebrows at my work…

When you start to make changes in your life in any positive direction, you will encounter haters. There are people who will share with you all of the reasons that you should stop doing what you are now doing, and why you will fail. They cause you to doubt yourself, question your goals as well as the methods that you are going about acquiring them…

"Typically, we don’t leave a relationship until it becomes so bad that the truth of the situation is truly undeniable.

However, by then, we have been beaten down and are broken by the relationship’s turn for the worse. Our confidence levels are shattered and we may have the symptoms of a plethora of mental afflictions – we are anxious about the future and depressed about ourselves. Our self-worth drops so low that we feel like staying is the right option because ‘they are the best someone like me could get’ or ‘at least I am lucky enough to have someone’..."

If you are currently pregnant and wondering what to buy and why, this is for you. It covers what you should buy prior to the birth in preparation. As baby gets older, you will need to get more things, but by then you will know what you need...

"It was like releasing water through a dam. It felt like if I didn’t cut, that my mind would crack, with devastating results ..."

It is 4am as I write this, I am slightly inebriated and my brain is buzzing. I have been up all night writing and I am still going. I can’t stop.

I must keep writing. When I get on a roll I can’t help it. Something comes over me and I must get it out. It is an affliction. This has happened before and will happen again...

Reflecting on my experiences with anxiety leaves me with a one sentence, anxiety killing mantra:

“Anxiety is a liar and it’s taking up too much of my life”.

I want to prove it to you. Consider the following questions:

- When has it ever been as bad as you thought it was going to be?
-How many times have you worried about something that just has never occurred?
-How many anxious thoughts do you have about one thing - could each possible outcome come true?
-How many times were you anxious before an event, only to be completely fine during the event?

In a world that often glorifies selflessness and sacrifice, the idea of putting yourself first can feel uncomfortable, maybe even selfish. But the truth is, prioritizing your own wellbeing isn’t just essential for your personal growth and happiness; it’s also crucial for the health of your relationships and the impact you have on others. Putting yourself first is not selfish, it’s a non negotiable.

Each time that I was close to following through, one thought kept coming to mind. It was so poignant that I couldn’t shake it: before making a permanent decision, give yourself the chance to try before you die - try everything you’ve ever dreamed of - you might just find a reason to stay.