sweet like cinnamon

Getting to a text or notification in 15 minutes versus 2 hours changes absolutely nothing about the outcome of a situation

You forget 80% of what you scrolled through at the end of the day

There’s absolutely no image on Pinterest, no post on Tumblr, no story on Instagram that could be as novel as reading a book you’ve never read and the dopamine release from finishing it and soaking it in

it can literally wait. It’s not the end of the world. Your brain will make it seem that way but it’s not

Phones are built like slot machines (same exact mechanism) so don’t be too hard on yourself

But also consider how much progress you’d make in your goals if you siphoned some of that screen time into whatever goals you’ve had forever

you don’t need to live a no phone lifestyle, it’s about portions

This is by a patient of mine with early late stage dementia, who was a poet for most of her life. Her new poems are dictated to me during writing workshops I run at my hospice job. She hadn't written since her diagnosis. This is one of seventeen poems I've written with her so far.

I’ve been doing poetry since I could write but I do think she was my only teacher.

Working with her was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I mean it when I say you all are so lucky to get even this glimpse at the majesty of her work.

In her words from another poem (not posted):

I am not the only creature watching

All of this,

Drinking it in.

I have a companion,

The cat who sleeps in the backyard

Is watching, too,