Harrowed Insight

I was inspired to write my first novel Inside the Skin (formerly The Sea Trials of an Unfortunate Sailor) by life experiences I earned back in the late ’90s, early ’00s while working as a navy Equal Opportunity specialist, experiences the focus of which centered around the harassment, abuse, injury, and sometimes sadly even death as a result of the hatred for and confusion of the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy which had recently been implemented throughout the military.

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Poetry is for Girls

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I may occasionally write the junk, but rarely do I read it.

And it is not because I don’t like it that I rarely read it…

It’s because it, the really good stuff anyway, is so durn hard to read.

I’m talking Poetry here…

Poetry with a big, bold capital P.

And it is so hard for me to read (And by read I mean read. I mean really digging into the poem and fighting through the initial confusion and the complicated and often archaic words. I mean, not just reading the poem, but studying it and trying to close the gap in time from when the poem was written to when the poem is being read by learning about the poet and where and when and why and how he or she is from and where and when and why and how he or she lived and then coming to my own understanding of what I think the poem means and then trying to apply that meaning to my own life and where and when and why and how I live it. That’s what I mean by read.) because it takes more than a little bit of effort to read it.

I certainly don’t have time for all that junk.

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GLITTERS OF BLISS! | A Relating to Humans Poetry Feature

GLITTERS OF BLISS! by Priyanki   If the clouds could come & give me a ride I would sit on them & sway away in delight And ask them to take me in their cozy coat Covering me all in the softness galore Ask them to take me in the world up away High up … Read more

Guiding Principles of a Daughter’s Dad

I’m not the smartest or greatest dad there is. Not even close. I have many faults and made many mistakes over the years that I regret. However, I do think I’m pretty good at understanding my faults and I work hard to minimize their impact to myself and others, especially to my family, as much … Read more

Should He Stay Or Should He Go?

Last year it was announced that the US Treasury Department was planning to remodel the ten-dollar bill by replacing its current male model, Alexander Hamilton, with a female model. That was before the Broadway musical “Hamilton” became a huge success… and the play’s creator and star and Presidential First Rapper, Lin-Manuel Miranda, had subsequently become … Read more

I CAN’T PICTURE YOU WITH A KID | A Relating to Humans Women’s Issues Feature

I CAN’T PICTURE YOU WITH A KID by asyarhein FROM THE WOMEN’S ISSUES ARCHIVE   “I can’t picture you with a kid.” “Neither can I.” I’m too spontaneous. My passion for writing and journalism was constantly competing with my passion for buffalo wings, rum and Steve Madden; there is no room for a kid in … Read more

THE WOMAN IN ME | A Relating to Humans Woman’s Issues Feature

THE WOMAN IN ME by Debolina Coomar When I was a daughter, I had dreams, I learnt that life is not easy, and nothing is what it seems. When I became a student, I had aspirations, I learnt that achievements are important, and learnings are an inspiration. When I became a professional, I had goals, … Read more

MY VIEW – A Women’s Issues Feature

When DotedOn submitted her essay My View to the Relating to Humans Women’s Issues feature, I could immediately feel its power and its truth, and the life lived as written, raw and exposed. When submitted, DotedOn initially addressed it to me. I wrote to her soon after and asked if I could take out the … Read more

WHO I AM – A Women’s Issues Feature

I am very honored and excited to share our very first submission to the new Relating to Humans feature. Before we get to the submission, however, I would like to say a few words by way of introduction. You know, I am a writer, which means…I’m insecure. I am. Every time I hit the “Publish” … Read more

It’s FTW! Because We Love to Win! – part 1

The only thing that I hate more than an annoying nitpicker constantly hounding for and finding and resolutely declaring over and over again the error(s) of my way(s), is knowing that my ways are errored and not knowing how to fix them.