Hello there, dear friends! Can you believe the month is almost over? I’m not sure about you, but it felt like a flash to me. I’ve compiled a list of the month’s highlights as well as some extra treats for you. I hope everything is going well. We can talk here, which I think is really cool. When you’ve finished reading and exploring, simply click the “Join the Conversation” box at the bottom of the page. You have just started a conversation thread! These moments of connection make me happy. I hope you’ll leave some comments, let me know you came by, and say hello.

Thank you for accompanying me on this journey. I’ll let you fall into goodness and creativity.

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SPOTLIGHT

We Celebrated Black History Month

As you know, we love poetry, and my dear friend, Lisa LaMarr, and I hold scheduled Twitter spaces through our co-founded account, Poetry Lights. I was delighted to meet a first time author, Paige Cary, who published a remarkable book of poetry, “A Paige in My Diary.” She joined us as the featured poet on Poetry Lights Podcast. She is an amazing young woman and wise beyond her years.

Listen to Paige on Poetry Lights Podcast

Purchase “A Paige in My Diary”

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Poetry Quotes We Featured in Honor of Black History Month

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I Talked Cults With Mindset by Dave Podcast

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LESSONS I’M LEARNING

Trusting after trauma is a journey that is constantly changing. There is a wound that occurs whenever we are betrayed in general. We are let down and disappointed, and we may wonder why this happened. We can withdraw our trust in order to refocus and protect ourselves. Trusting is often difficult, especially for those who have experienced childhood trauma.

I joined Rachel Thompson on her popular Twitter Space, Sex Abuse Chat, which she founded over ten years ago. This community is supportive and safe. We discussed the process of learning to trust and love after experiencing trauma. I believe you will glean from listening to this space.

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CREATIVE THERAPY

Tangling is a type of art that I’ve been experimenting with. The most enjoyable aspect of learning this art form is that it requires keeping the shoulders, arms, and wrists relaxed in order to create freeform lines and curves. Breathing exercises are recommended for relaxation. I keep a journal dedicated to the art of tangling and learn as I go. Check out this tangling for beginners video, and look for some of my tangle art in future issues.

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FEATURED ART

Art depicting children who have been abused serves to force a visual into the eyes and emotions of the viewer. In this series I call “Aura Bruises” I explored what a child would look like if we could see the emotional bruises they acquire when living with maltreatment.

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READ-WORTHY ARTICLES

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FREEBIES

Here are two e-books that I believe you will love. The process of making them was enjoyable for me. These e-books display beautifully in the Kindle app. Download an eBook reader to your phone if you don’t have the Kindle app. Adobe has a fantastic.pdf reader that is compatible with the majority of smart phones. If you’re using a computer, they’ll open in a browser window for you. Enjoy!

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MY CURRENT AFFIRMATION

I open my life to receive all that is good.

I’m pretty sure it’s working. I got new glasses, and I love them.

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One final thing before you go…

Please come write poetry with us! No pressure, but do it!

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I adore you! Please forward this newsletter to anyone you think might be interested. Also, a friendly reminder to click “Join the Conversation” below to begin a conversation. Everyone is welcome to participate. I moderate comments to prevent spam and am meticulous about approving your comments. I eagerly await our conversations, dear ones.

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