it’s time to cut you off

that’s it.
I’m not putting up with you any longer.
you’ve got to go.

I’m not going to mess with any
“it’s not you it’s me”
lies.

it’s not me it’s you.
it’s time to say goodbye.
I’m done pretending I love you.

it’s time to cut you off,
as hard as it may be
to separate myself from you.

my identity was wrapped up in you.
who will I be without you?
I’ve been afraid to know myself apart from you.

but today…
today I bid you
farewell.

I feel lighter.
I didn’t realize how much you were weighing me down.
it feels good to be free.

I’ll miss you.
life’s going to be different without you.
but honestly? it’ll be different in a good way.

note: Things may not be as they appear. Did you think you were reading about a boyfriend/girlfriend break-up? Well, this is actually a Dear John letter to my long hair. Go ahead, reread it. 😉

 

before

after

pushy notifications

good morning, time to check the phone
see what I missed while I was sleeping
doesn’t matter if it’s overcast or sunny
my phone lights up by itself

throughout the day I never worry
I won’t miss out on the social media scene while distracted with life
my friends tag and @mention me
and my phone tells me each time

in the middle of something
phone dings and vibrates too
to make sure I don’t miss any notification
I’ll either hear or feel it

all day

I either hear or feel it
I don’t miss notifications, but I do miss life
phone dinging and vibrating
in the middle of everything

and my phone tells me each time
my friends are stupid or clever
and while I’m distracted with the social media scene, I miss out on life
I worry my days will pass me by

I decide to darken my phone
now I notice the clouds and the sun and…
see what I’ve missed while in a phone-coma
good morning, time to set down the phone

I walk to work barefoot

I walk to work barefoot

Why?                                                                  .

                                                                      Why not?

Why do you not walk to work?
Why not choose a home
near enough to where
you work and play
to walk?

Why do you wear shoes?
Why,
when we have smooth sidewalks and soft grass
do you put plastic on your feet?
Why don’t you want to feel the earth –
the dust from which you came?

I’ve learned a lot walking to work barefoot

How being eccentric can actually make you more approachable

Which leads to meeting that grandma
who’s agreed to provide daycare for her youngest grandchildren
but only until she says a harsh word to them
because she wants the best for them

And that couple from Holland
who not only raised two children of their own
but invited in five girls pregnant with fatherless little ones
to live until they got their feet back under them

I think I know why we’re afraid to walk to work barefoot

We want to protect ourselves

We wear shoes and go from house to car to office to car to house
to avoid feeling
what might be uncomfortable

We strive to maintain a sense of control
to avoid dirty feet
or losing track of time chatting with a neighbor

But what’s so bad about a little mud and conversation?

Out of the mouths of babies

photo courtesy of JFA

It was a beautiful day in Yukon, Oklahoma. People of all ages gathered in the park for the “Freedom Fest” complete with food, games, and even a car show on the grass. I was there with other JFA staff and volunteers to give the “Independence Survey,” which was designed to lead us into conversation about abortion.

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