Not Me Too Milestone

I am behind on a newsletter. Wednesdays make me anxious and unproductive, but I'm pushing through to say wow cause more than 100 people have read Not Me Too and that felt like a tiny moment to celebrate. I'll keep some of my favorite responses to myself, but thanks for stopping by. I see the reach. It's bittersweet learning how many women sympathize , sadder seeing how many more can relate.

There's so much to that story, so many stories that I couldn't find space to tell and a bigger story in the works. Kristen and I are working on a short based on some of it. Ash a good friend in publishing, and AJ my memoir-writing class teacher are pushing for me to reformat it as part of a larger written work, highlighting complicated relationships with love , friendship, family, abuse. I've been working on the abridged version for the blog: A to B to Abuse to CPTSD.

CPTSD robs me of joy most days , but these are some things that brought me joy this week.

A man at this coffee shop in Prospect Heights today. Please imagine in this photo a small African man with a large laugh and playful banter.

Bottom of my Bookself :

It's horrifically on brand down to the whopping 4 books on justice and books on psychology and love. All books here are great. White Rage, Hector and the Search for Happiness, Look Alive Out There are some of my favorites.

Not featured here : the Little Book of Hygge which lives on my coffee table, alongside my other conversation pieces - a Vintage 1972 Playboy and the Little Book of Zen.

Also not featured here , my future memoir - fingers crossed :

Bailey, in the sun at an hour I should've been working, but had chosen not to.

This song by Sara Bareilles :

Every few years, I rediscover this petty anthem and full belly laugh. She is rarely THIS petty, but here she goes for it in a silly and cleverly-worded Sara B way.

A voicenote from a friend where she sung to me asking if I'd want to go hiking this weekend to the tune of "Don't Dream it's Over" by Sixpence None the Richer.

Some articles on feminism, the objectification of the black female body, the usual.

Mental Health Professionals who practice what they preach.

John Wick on the staircase.

A message from a Shaman that I'm holding close to my chest.

Next posts to look out for : "Lucy is Homely" a short story based on women from support group, "A Promising Young Woman and Mythology around False Accusations" (re-watching some clips from the movie spurred a lot of interesting conversations on how we believe narratives about women ) , Mom Doesn't Like Dogs and eventually A to B to CPTSD.

The Libra Moon is giving me reprieve from the last few weeks. I'm appreciative of that. I appreciate you.

Thanks for Keeping Tabs