#thestruggle

it is really real. if ya don’t know now ya know! you can think all you want that the mind body (spirit) connection is a bunch of *crunchy granola* *hippie dippy* insert crystals, candles, and sage here* bullshit. but have you ever really paid attention? I mean really paid attention? check yourself out and see what, if anything, you can find. it is not hard for us to acknowledge the increase in our heart rate in anticipation, fear, and/or panic. the slight flutter of butterflies when we see our boo-thang (probably early on in our relationships), or the stream of tears produced when feeling a range of emotions from sadness to undeniable happiness! but there are other things lurking ever so vaguely or with an explosive force due to the interaction of our mind and body. the 3 ton person on your chest that can accompany anxiety and panic. the headache that comes in anticipation of a difficult conversation. ever get the runs before a presentation, under or overeat when feeling down? ever felt like your feet were stuck to the floor by 25 of those big chewed up gum-balls that used to be a quarter at arcades because you thought you were in danger?

Georgia’s Weather

In the last two weeks I’ve worn a raincoat, a hoodie, a tank top, my flip flops, and today I pulled out the snow gear. I can’t seem to ever find the right thing to wear in this bipolar climate. When I’m having a bad day, I like to say, “I’m moody like Georgia’s weather.” If you don’t believe me look at this below. We’re going on a cold, wet, warm, dry, and wet again week. Get ready my…

The enemy had many forms—

first there was bamboo,

a forest that I cut by hand

until I changed the view.

Next was poison ivy,

God’s original sin;

my punishment for pulling it

was boils on my skin.

The rodents came in secret    

and hid within the house;

it took two years to get them all,

but now there’s not a mouse.

The ants then started swarming,

searching for my food;

I stamped and squashed and sprayed

until their army was subdued.

The centipedes were legion,

a million legs or more;

I slayed them all and left

their twitching legs upon the floor.

And then there came the hornets

like winged knives for hire,

I purged them from the very earth

with gasoline and fire.

Within the wooden siding,

the birds had made their nests;

I tore them out, the last to fall

now vanquished like the rest.

A house is more than furniture

and family and mirth—

it is an endless battle