Tag Archives: Writing

Everyday Inspiration; Day 12: Critique a Piece of Work

Posted on by Gertie

Today’s topic is to critique a piece of art work or express my opinion on a topic. As someone who is extremely self critical I thought I would harshly critique my own art so I have decided to express my opinion on something.

Actually, what I want to discuss my opinion on is the importance of respecting people’s pronouns. Unfortunately, this one of the many issues that is dividing the United States at the moment and I personally think its sad.

Not everyone goes by the gender they were given at birth. I don’t go by female pronouns. Hell, I don’t go by male pronouns either. I go by they/them pronouns as I consider myself gender nonconforming or non binary.

So as you can tell this topic is near and dear to my heart. Many folks like myself are very passionate about this subject as we want to be respected like others. It’s important for the respect factor as well as many other factors. Factors that are stated below.

Why is it so important to respect people’s gender identity and preferred pronouns? Statistics show that 82% of transgender and non-conforming individuals don’t feel safe at work and/or school. The same stats show that 67% have been bullied online while 64% have had property destroyed. The effecting of being bullied especially regard gender identity are: six times more likely to be depressed; eight times more likely to attempt to die by suicide; and three times more likely to have a substance use disorder (SUD). To answer the question of why is it important to respect a person’s gender identity and pronouns is that it can literally safe someone’s life and is common courtesy to do so. It is also important that we respect each other as fellow human beings and that we value each other as individuals even if we don’t always get along.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 11: A Cup of Coffee

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! You would think living in Seattle I would love coffee but I don’t. I don’t like the taste of the yucky stuff but I love the smell. So, if you would go out to coffee with me I would most likely be having a cup of hot chocolate or some tea.

I’m not sure what we would talk about if we were to go coffee but I would hope we would talk about both the positive and negative stuff going on in our lives. Maybe would talk about the 2018 Winter Olympics and how they are about to end. Or even how the Olympics bring the world together in ways only sports can bring folks together.

Maybe I’ll talk about the loss of my grandma and how much she meant to me and my family. If we talk about my grandma, we would discuss how she was major influence on my life and a motherly figure to me.

Or we could talk about what is going on in your life. Whatever that may look like to you. We could talk about your family or sports or anything you want.

Thank you for reading. Have great day!!! Peace Out, World

Rambling About Sh*t

Posted on by Gertie

Good Evening, World!!! Today, has had its ups and downs yet I am grateful for both. Grateful, that I am able to be an okay enough place to have gratitude toward both the ups and the downs for the day. If it were December I don’t think I would have been grateful for the downs I experienced.

I discussed this with Gilbert today in our session and he stated that I am making a lot of progress. Progress with my recovery. Progress with my recovery that I am finally starting see in myself. Not only did we discuss the progress but we discuss the physical assault I experienced on Monday evening as well as the death of my grandma last Wednesday. We discussed on what I can do during the down moments when dealing with the death of my grandma and the assault I experienced.

One of those things I came up with was to journal. To journal about the strength my grandma had. Not just journal in any of my journals but my Wonder Woman journal. I journal in my Wonder Woman journal when I think it is going to be about someone who as some form of strength because Wonder Woman is a strong superhero.

Since we are on the topic of Wonder Woman I also discussed with Gilbert that reading my Wonder Woman comics would be helpful. He agreed as he thinks Wonder Woman gives me some form a strength and he is right. Yes, I know Wonder Woman is a fictional character but she does give me strength.

Thank you for reading. It is very much appreciated. Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 10: Let the Scene Write Itself

Posted on by Gertie

As I look out the west window of my living room, I notice that the sun is attempting to come out from behind the clouds. I quickly realize there is a bald eagle sitting in the tree outside my window looking in. I’m wondering to myself what he wants but realize that the eagle is paying attention to a squirrel on a lower branch of the tree.

I quickly turn my attention to my living room as the eagle went after the poor squirrel. I see my art supplies and a canvass or two waiting to be painted. I’m wondering if I should paint the eagle and squirrel in the tree. Wouldn’t be the best painting in the world but would be a reminder of what I saw today.

I continue to scan my living room and see music sheets on the floor. I really need to pick those up or practice the music on my flute. What music piece would I practice? I think I need to put playing my flute into my daily schedule.

I look at my couch and see the book I am reading. I really want to finish the book as soon as possible. Its not that difficult to take time out to read a few chapters a day. Oh how I love to read.

I look over to see what time it is on my Wonder Woman clock and it says 12:34pm. I’m thinking it’s time to eat some lunch. Thanks!!! Peace Out, World!!!

Everyday Inspiration; Day 9: Writing & Not Writing

Posted on by Gertie

Today’s  assignment is to discuss what I do when I am not writing. This easy for me to write about as the things I do outside of blogging is a form of self care for me.

I tend to be a strong advocate in my community. Not just the mental health community or the Peer community but the LGBTQ+ community. Being able to advocate in the communities I identify with helps be in the long wrong to be able to advocate for other communities that I don’t identify with but an ally.

I also volunteer at the Warm Line in my area. Which is something I have been doing for three and a half years now. Something I also love to do. I love to be able to be of support to those who may not have the support that I have.

Something, I do to help myself are self-help workbooks. I am currently doing two work books. One is one my gender identity and sexual orientation while the other is on mindfulness and meditation.

Reading is another thing I do besides reading. I love to read. My favorite genre’s are science fiction, fantasy and mystery. I also love to read text books. Yes, I know it sounds strange but its something I enjoy.

Another thing I enjoy besides reading is to do art. I love to paint, color and collage. Writing helps me process my emotions and feelings while are helps me express them.

Another way I express my emotions is by playing the flute or harmonica. Where words fail music speaks. I also love listening to music and have a ton of play list on Spotify.

Thank you for reading. Have a great day everyone. Peace Out, World!!!

 

Everyday Inspiration; Day 8: Letter Format

Posted on by Gertie

Dear Abuser,

Normally this where I tell you hi and ask how you are doing however you don’t deserve that type of greeting. This the point in the greeting I tell you how I am doing. I’m angry.

Angry with the fact of the shit I had to endure at your hands and the hands of others. Others that had paid you for me. I am a person, not a commodity. Humans are not merchandise. We are to be respected and not sold.

I was only nine when you raped me for the first time. You ruined my childhood. Do you realize the shit I deal with on the daily basis because of you. The shit you did to me interferes with my sleep, eating, love life and other daily stuff people take for granted. You took that away from me.

You are an asshole and you don’t even deserve this acknowledgement.

Gertie

Table For Two

Posted on by Gertie

Craft a story or scene about two people—or other nonhuman characters, if you prefer—from very different backgrounds sharing a meal together. What do they learn about each other that they weren’t expecting?

This is an easy one for me as Junior and I come from two completely different backgrounds. Junior is a well off Mexican American while I am an Irish American who is not all that well off. He is well over six feet tall and I am just barely over five feet tall. Junior is a successful firefighter while I am an unemployed Peer Specialist dealing with their mental health conditions.

Junior and I maybe completely different from each other especially when it comes to how we were raised yet we have a lot in common. We both play musical instruments. He plays the bag pipes, drums and trumpet while I play the flute and teaching myself the harmonica. We both are in the “helping” professions. We both have a sense of humor. Humor that gets us through rough patches as individuals and as a couple.

I think what Junior and I learned about each other is something that we weren’t expecting but not a surprise was our desire to advocate for those who do not have a voice. Especially those who don’t have a voice in the communities we most identify with. Another thing we were both surprised about is the love of sports we have.

Thank you for reading my blog. Peace Out, World!!!

 

Everyday Inspiration; Day 7: Let Social Media Inspire You

Posted on by Gertie

Today’s assignment is to let social media inspire me. They gave some tweets we could use but I’m going to use social media as whole as my inspiration. I say this because social media can play a role in people mental health and well my blog is a mental health blog. I feel like if I don’t discuss how social media can affect one’s mental health then I would be doing my readers a disservice.

One can argue that social media could be helpful and it is. One can also say that social media is not helpful which is also true. I know from my experience it is combination of both. I just have to be watchful of my time on social media including me blogging. So, I guess what I am saying about mental health and social media is watch how it affects you.

Everyday Inspiration; Day 6: A Space To Write

Posted on by Gertie

For me having a space a good place to write also depends on the head space I am in at the moment. As of lately, I’ve been in a head space to where writing has been quite helpful for me.

When I am at hope I like to write facing my west living room window so I can look up and see the trees outside of my window. This helps me when I’m having trouble coming up with words to help me convey with what I want to say. The words someone says or writes can bring a person down or lift a person up. For me I hope that I lift folks up with what I say and write.

I say this because I’ve had harsh words said to me. Words that had me thinking about dying by suicide. (No, I’m NOT currently suicidal.) When I talk and/or write, I want to make sure my words don’t have others thinking about death by suicide.

For me the space to write all depends on my head space and is different every time I write. I like to write by water no matter my head space however that can be dependent on the weather if I write outside. I also like to write in mom and pop coffee shops. It helps with my creativity.

Middle of the Night Ramblings

Posted on by Gertie

Hello, World!!! It is exactly twelve midnight in my corner of the world. I’m not sure if I will be able to sleep tonight but I hope I will be able to. As a precaution I came up with a plan to keep myself occupied if I am unable to sleep.

The plan is to do some art. Most likely some collaging. Collaging a poem or two or maybe more. It seems to be something I’ve been enjoying quite a bit the last few days. I might make one in memory of my grandma.

Another thing I have planned is to read my book Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb. Yes, it’s taking a while for me to read but am enjoying it quite a bit. I will also be reading Wonder Woman comic books.

Speaking of Wonder Woman, I am doing a Wonder Woman jigsaw puzzle. It’s a one thousand piece puzzle and love the challenge.

Thank you for reading. Have a good night everyone an Peace Out, World!!!