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Abstract

ion>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@alfonsmc10?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Alfons Morales</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="4032"><b>Favorite novelist: </b>I’m a writer, I swear. And I also love to read. But I couldn’t name a favorite famous author to save my life. <i>However</i>, I enjoy reading biographies of my favorite bands, books on Mental Health (like the one I’m reading now, <i>Maybe You Should Talk to Someone </i>by Lori Gottlieb), and empowering children’s books (like <i>Strong is the New Pretty </i>by Kate T. Parker).</p><figure id="9ad0"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*Va4udqZVMZw8WVGt"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@sujeethpotla?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Sujeeth Potla</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="fe5d"><b>Favorite blue item: </b>My blue and black <a href="https://readmedium.com/p-o-v-t-l-c-9c534bc67713">Schwinn Mountain bike</a> that my dad gave me after I gifted my old purple bike to a friend. (Man, I love ‘<i>Dad deals.’</i>)</p><figure id="69e1"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*Br5LkDc47z2Ua1-O"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@alschim?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Alexander Schimmeck</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p id="91cb"><b>Favorite unhealthy beverage: </b>On<b> </b>average, a 16oz Pumpkin Latte has 50 grams of sugar — and every gram is freaking delicious!</p><h1 id="de90">Articles to Share</h1><ul><li>Your top piece last month</li></ul><div id="3462" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/camping-alone-in-the-redwoods-with-my-kids-made-me-realize-how-lonely-i-was-in-my-marriage-35a2bee66225"> <div> <div> <h2>Camping Alone in the Redwoods with My Kids Made Me Realize How Lonely I Was in My Marriage.</h2> <div><h3>And how grateful I was to stand in the eye of a hurricane for four days straight.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*RlIq8lWVvJSdCzEDoCvNYg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><ul><li>A piece that deserves more love by <a href="undefined">Galit Birk, PhD</a></li></ul><div id="15fd" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-working-single-mom-62bf38128f83"> <div> <div> <h2>A Day in the Life of a Working Single Mom</h2> <div><h3>When you’re juggling multiple roles, there is no typical day</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*gMvOLYren1nVa_7Q)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><ul><li>A piece that’s fewer than 3 minutes by <a href="undefined">Elin Melaas</a></li></ul><div id="818f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/peaceful-hiking-in-the-evening-f3a9dde8ea1f"> <div> <div> <h2>Peaceful Hiking in the Evening</h2> <div><h3>The woods are so soothing at night</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*Slu9cwb9CmjFrI6YAdsbxw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><ul><li>A long-form piece by <a href="undefined">Aimée Gramblin</a></li></ul><div id="5e2e" class="link-block"

Options

      <a href="https://readmedium.com/how-to-captivate-your-audience-when-you-write-a-personal-essay-6b6662e1117c">

        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>How To Captivate Your Audience When You Write a Personal Essay</h2>
            <div><h3>Creative Nonfiction tips from your honorary English Professor</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*O2kR4jYxt1ej4GAn6UUKtQ.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><ul><li>A poem by <a href="undefined">Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)</a></li></ul><div id="bc76" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/vent-art-7200ac69cc18">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Vent Art</h2>
            <div><h3>a poem</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*NYHb6wuQomqSHcBtrVfOFA.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="a854"><i>(I’m sneaking one more poem in here by <a href="undefined">David Rudder</a> because I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t — you know what I’m sayin’?)</i></p><div id="3704" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://davidrudder.medium.com/mirrors-of-light-9427cd1df596">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Mirrors of Light</h2>
            <div><h3>Into mysteries we both crave</h3></div>
            <div><p>davidrudder.medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*OZBZ9yYQmnj46au6W4LrWQ.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="4604">My son, Liam, is an epic gamer and an old soul at heart. He is twelve now, no longer my little boy, and lately, I’ve been working on navigating our relationship to connect with him in more creative ways.</p><p id="401e">Yesterday afternoon, I was standing in the kitchen making sandwiches for lunch when my son came flying out of his room, hurriedly slipped his shoes on, and bolted into the backyard like he was three again.</p><p id="0779">It was pouring rain, and Liam decided to take the golden opportunity to run around in a cleansing storm — as&nbsp;I continued to make our sandwiches absentmindedly. Every few moments I would look out the kitchen window and see him jogging around the backyard with a tot-like grin on his face and a squint in his eyes that only a downpour could bring. (Side note: Before going into the kitchen to fix lunch, I lazily got dressed on a stormy Sunday to make a quick trip to the store.) As I watched Liam play in the rain, my first thought was that I should go out there and join him. My second thought was that <i>I didn’t want to get my perfectly dry, comfy clothes soaking wet. </i>Moments later, I put the slices of sourdough down, rolled up my jeans, and ran towards my boy in the pouring rain. His grin was greater than ever before. He began to run from me, hoping I would give chase like I did when he was three.</p><h1 id="bcb8">I did.</h1><p id="afa8">Today, along with Lucy Dan’s pick-me-up, I learned to dance in the downpour of opportunity, even if it’s a bit overwhelming and uncomfortable at first. I’ve made a habit out of pushing myself into those energy-restoring moments in life that I know I’ll deeply regret if I don’t take action <i>promptly</i>.</p><p id="4bc2"><i>Thank you for reading. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for a Medium membership <a href="https://divinasrelease.medium.com/membership">here</a>. You will get unlimited access to thousands of soul-shaking writers, help support our writing journeys — and it will be the best $5 you’ve ever spent.</i></p></article></body>

WRITING PROMPTS, HUMOR, PARENTING

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring

And the ‘October Interview Questions’ are Energy-Restoring!

How do I say this? I’ll spill my guts the way I usually do and see how it all shakes out: I miss Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), and her virtual hearty hugs she generously doles out when I write for her publication, The Brain is a Noodle. Her soothing energy and writing prompts are like ‘piping-hot bowls of soul-healing noodles’ that salvage you on a stormy October day. And it’s precisely the pick-me-up I needed today (along with a five-minute jog in the rain with my son. But more on that later) to prepare for another unrelenting week. So, here are my responses to Lucy Dan’s ‘October Interview Questions’ jam-packed with visual aids!

[1] Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Both — it depends on the topic I’m spilling my guts over. I’m typically overly excited to share a piece on sex, self-improvement, working out, cycling, or mental health. But if I’m writing about the treacherous agony of losing my kids half the time and going through a divorce — well, frankly, I’m exhausted and want to die. Ah well — it’s all in a day’s work. At the end of that day, I’m energized from being productive, self-healing, hopefully helping others by connecting with them, and releasing a part of my story — whether it be a beautiful or a dreadful chapter ahead.

[2] What is one food that represents the country you are currently in?

Deep-dish Pepperoni pizza? Bacon cheeseburgers? Chicken tenders? Tater tots? This question threw me for a loop. Ooo! Onion rings!? Well, crap, now I’m hungry for greasy comfort food on this rainy October day.

[3] What type of friend would you like to be?

I want to be the type of friend I’ve always been but older, wiser, and with healthier boundaries. Wow, I didn’t think I could respond in one sentence, but I said all I needed to say.

[4] What have you given up on?

I’ve given up on trying to control life or anyone in it but myself. As one of my favorite bands once sang:

“To resist is to piss in the wind,

Anyone who does will end up smelling.” — “Out from Under” by Incubus

[5] What is one thing you’re committed to learning more about?

I’m focused on learning about my now twelve-year-old son, Liam, his airborne debut into adolescents, and how to continue to connect with him on more of a teenage level.

Faves?

Favorite soup: Tomato Bisque from Safeway stores. I don’t care if it gives me indigestion; it’s worth it.

Favorite stationary item: Anything Uniball brand. Best. Pens. Ever.

Favorite novelist: I’m a writer, I swear. And I also love to read. But I couldn’t name a favorite famous author to save my life. However, I enjoy reading biographies of my favorite bands, books on Mental Health (like the one I’m reading now, Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb), and empowering children’s books (like Strong is the New Pretty by Kate T. Parker).

Favorite blue item: My blue and black Schwinn Mountain bike that my dad gave me after I gifted my old purple bike to a friend. (Man, I love ‘Dad deals.’)

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

Favorite unhealthy beverage: On average, a 16oz Pumpkin Latte has 50 grams of sugar — and every gram is freaking delicious!

Articles to Share

Your top piece last month

Camping Alone in the Redwoods with My Kids Made Me Realize How Lonely I Was in My Marriage.

And how grateful I was to stand in the eye of a hurricane for four days straight.

medium.com

A piece that deserves more love by Galit Birk, PhD

A Day in the Life of a Working Single Mom

When you’re juggling multiple roles, there is no typical day

medium.com

A piece that’s fewer than 3 minutes by Elin Melaas

Peaceful Hiking in the Evening

The woods are so soothing at night

medium.com

A long-form piece by Aimée Gramblin

How To Captivate Your Audience When You Write a Personal Essay

Creative Nonfiction tips from your honorary English Professor

medium.com

A poem by Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她)

Vent Art

a poem

medium.com

(I’m sneaking one more poem in here by David Rudder because I won’t be able to sleep tonight if I don’t — you know what I’m sayin’?)

Mirrors of Light

Into mysteries we both crave

davidrudder.medium.com

My son, Liam, is an epic gamer and an old soul at heart. He is twelve now, no longer my little boy, and lately, I’ve been working on navigating our relationship to connect with him in more creative ways.

Yesterday afternoon, I was standing in the kitchen making sandwiches for lunch when my son came flying out of his room, hurriedly slipped his shoes on, and bolted into the backyard like he was three again.

It was pouring rain, and Liam decided to take the golden opportunity to run around in a cleansing storm — as I continued to make our sandwiches absentmindedly. Every few moments I would look out the kitchen window and see him jogging around the backyard with a tot-like grin on his face and a squint in his eyes that only a downpour could bring. (Side note: Before going into the kitchen to fix lunch, I lazily got dressed on a stormy Sunday to make a quick trip to the store.) As I watched Liam play in the rain, my first thought was that I should go out there and join him. My second thought was that I didn’t want to get my perfectly dry, comfy clothes soaking wet. Moments later, I put the slices of sourdough down, rolled up my jeans, and ran towards my boy in the pouring rain. His grin was greater than ever before. He began to run from me, hoping I would give chase like I did when he was three.

I did.

Today, along with Lucy Dan’s pick-me-up, I learned to dance in the downpour of opportunity, even if it’s a bit overwhelming and uncomfortable at first. I’ve made a habit out of pushing myself into those energy-restoring moments in life that I know I’ll deeply regret if I don’t take action promptly.

Thank you for reading. If you haven’t already, please consider signing up for a Medium membership here. You will get unlimited access to thousands of soul-shaking writers, help support our writing journeys — and it will be the best $5 you’ve ever spent.