POETRY | SPIRITUALITY | SELF-AWARENESS

I remind myself
don’t tread down that path
stay, remain still
calm
Let them come to me
breathe in my solace
sit in my quiet space
Let them wait on me
do not react
do not challenge
Eyes closed
Breathing

Either they will remain
or wander off with their pain

© 2021 Lori Carlson. All Rights Reserved.

In response to 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘊.’s Monday prompt — Don’t let people pull you into their storm, pull them into your peace.

Lori Carlson writes Poetry, Fiction, Articles, Creative Non-Fiction and Personal Essays. Most of her topics are centered around Relationships, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Mental Health, Nature, Loss, Death, and the LGBTQ+ community. Check out her personal Medium blog here.

ESSAY | SPIRITUALITY | SELF-AWARENESS

I knew that I would eventually get around to revealing all aspects of myself to my friends here on KTHT. I have great respect and trust for many of you here. Many of you already know a great deal about me, but there have been aspects of myself that I have held back, mainly because of how bizarre some of this will sound. Today’s prompt — What are your split personalities? — is as good a launching place as any for what I am about to reveal. One part of this is also something that I have only shared with…

ESSAY | SPIRITUALITY

In the beginning was the Word…
John 1:1 KJV Bible

I don’t normally begin… well, anything… with Biblical quotes. Not that I do not find wisdom in the Bible, but I am more of a ‘Christ Consciousness’ believer than a Christian and I gravitate more toward Buddhism and Taoism than Christianity. However, this quote is essential to my overall theme here on manifestation — the spoken word. (Yes, I know that Christians believe the reference of ‘Word’ here refers to Jesus, but just follow my thoughts here).

When we speak, our words become vibrations and vibrations become actions. To follow…

POETRY | SPIRITUALITY | LIFE LESSONS

A vast feast lies before me —
comfort food of my youth
lush cuisines of the world
and rich desserts to tempt me
I hear the voice telling me —
indulge!
How often have I listened?
— plunged right in ’til bloated
— crawled away, miserably full
— berated myself, in spite of myself
Led around by the noose of ego
I’ve hung myself a million times
Aren’t I equally satisfied with morsels?

© 2021 Lori Carlson. All Rights Reserved.

In response to 𝘋𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘊.’s Tuesday prompt — Starve the ego

Lori Carlson writes Poetry, Fiction, Articles, Creative Non-Fiction and Personal Essays. Most of her topics are centered around Relationships, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Mental Health, Nature, Loss, Death, and the LGBTQ+ community. Check out her personal Medium blog here.

POETRY | LIFE LESSONS

Each jagged scar reminds me
this is what happens when I lose myself
When pain breaches the walls
storms the castle
and kidnaps the princess
When plunged into the orifices of despair
When consumed by darkness
And even when healed
I am never completely whole again

© 2021 Lori Carlson. All Rights Reserved.

In response to Desiree Driesenaar’s challenge

Lori Carlson writes Poetry, Fiction, Articles, Creative Non-Fiction and Personal Essays. Most of her topics are centered around Relationships, Spirituality, Life Lessons, Mental Health, Nature, Loss, Death, and the LGBTQ+ community. Check out her personal Medium blog here.

ESSAY | SPIRITUALITY | LIFE LESSONS

I am an all-in or all-out kinda gal. I tend to gravitate too far left or too far right. I put all my energy into one goal and then tend to burn myself out, only to take up a new goal — rinse and repeat. I’ve known this about myself forever. I’ve allowed this to take my power away — my power to be a balanced person.

Dealing with extremes is exhausting. It saps all of my energy. It causes stress and worry. And it is all my own doing. No one makes me act this way. I am not…

I’d always felt the discomfort
of doing anything
outside my comfort zone —
too much pain
too little gain
— or so I was told

And yet, I was never very good
at sitting still
being all holed-up in a bubble
I had this desire
a burning need to explore
to challenge my own paradigms

I wanted so much more
than what I saw around me —
like understanding others’ cultures
their religious or spiritual beliefs
their family and community dynamics
their struggles and fears

And I knew in order to do that
I, a white privileged woman
would need to feel…

You once crawled around
in the underbelly of my mind
hidden and elusive
until a memory surfaced
Only then would you charge out
stomping your feet
like an indignant child
red-faced and distorted
All the pain and angst
rising to the surface
egged on by fear
fueled by rabid disappointment
And then I would spend hours
days even, tamping you down
sinking you back into darkness
I didn’t want to wear
such an enflamed mask

And then the wise Universe
sent me a mirror —
a partner overflowing with you
I saw first hand your destruction
How a gentle man could go from…