Stronger Than Fire

You Can Be More Than One Thing

This is something I’ve wrestled with since high school. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Maybe it’s been longer than high school. It’s probably been since whatever age people start asking you that question. I went to a high school for the arts and studied visual art. If you’ve ever seen…

How I Wasted My Vote

This is not a political post. You can put your guard down. Let me be VERY clear. The only wasted vote is a vote not cast. I repeat. The only wasted vote is a vote not cast. I’m not very vocal about politics. I feel like everyone else is yelling loud enough. However, I pay…

It’s ok to not be ok. Also, self talk.

It’s ok to not be ok.I repeat.It’s ok to not be ok. It’s what you do with not being ok that makes a difference. The past weekend/week I have not been ok. There have been growing pains and struggles at work. I went with a friend to have her dog put down. There are personal…

Oh Hey Pandemic

First off, it’s been quiet on here. I’ve been writing a lot on the side, things you don’t see, because, well, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes, but that’s for a different post. Now we’re in a pandemic. And somehow watching my house burning down nearly 3 years ago prepared me a little…

Beep Boop Beep, Just One Door = Progress

I am a doer, a strategizer. When I’m presented with a problem my brain goes in to this weird computing mode. If it was a 1970s SyFy show there would be little lights blinking and beep, boop, beep sounds going off all while a motorized, monotone voice repeatedly said “computing”. Then the plan of action…

Our Current State, Plus A Few More Fire Engines

I’ve been writing this in my head for weeks. There’s actually a file called “writing” on my computer that’s well over 2,000 words, were I’ve started it several times. Each time is different. Sometimes the writing is fueled by anger, sometimes despair, sometimes exhaustion. It’s taken several weeks, but this is the first time I’ve…

Dear Yoga, I’m Sorry by Chris

This weekend will mark the anniversary of our house fire, truly a life event that propelled us onto a completely different course and altered the timeline of our lives. I haven’t written in a long while. Harvey happened and my entire city felt like I had been feeling for 8 months, lost and sad and…

Dear California, There is Hope by Chris

One thing I learned in therapy during the last 8 months is when there is tragedy, no matter the cause, the emotional response is always the same. During Harvey I knew how the victims felt, not because our house flooded, but because I know what it feels like to loose everything suddenly. I know what…

A Photography Project From My Heart by Chris

Before the fire I wasn’t sure I’d be continuing with photography in the same scope I had done in the past. My heart wasn’t there. It had become work. I was frustrated and tired. As I dug through the rubble of my home, I entered what was left of my office and searched for my…

When Panic Attacks by Chris

I thought I was done with panic attacks. It really has been months since I last had one. If I think on them hard enough I can still feel the remnants of the feelings, they linger in my mind and in my heart. After a very full day of volunteering I received the following email.…