Welcome back readers. So I’ve been gone for awhile….for those who’ve been following me on social media (ie IG and Twitter) you know what I’ve been into.
For those of you who are unaware...I’ve published two collections of poetry!! (Exciting right?!) That’s the reason I dropped off back in ‘19, but am back for the ‘20.
- In recognition of the New Year--Happy 2020!!
- In recognition of the cray of the beginning of the new year--Stay Safe & Healthy
- In recognition of the Coronavirus (Covid-19)--Read Books & Enjoy Your Fam!
I’m back to posting because I was recently inspired to write about inspiration, and some of the inspirations that got me to this point. One of my writing teachers always told me to write what I know. Much of the inspiration for one collection was that of mental health. Why? Because I’ve worked on a psych ward for the last three years.
Working in a psych ward, or in a psych hospital is unique, but based on relationships like many other fields. It’s challenging work. Sometimes rewarding. But challenging every day. Many would think its the patients or population which is the most challenging--but many times, that just ain’t the case. Many times it has been the patients who keep me going when things go off-track, or admin gets “mo’ cra’y than our patients”
In speaking of our patients, these last several weeks with the state of the world, the untimely death of Kobe, our nutty president, and now Covid-19--our patients have displayed extreme resolve, and reason. It feels like when the world goes to the dogs, our paranoid schizophrenics walk them with balance and care. Every night they watch the news, and have little to no reaction.
They appear focused on the right now, the immediate; the fact they’re in the hospital with no way out. The goal is still to get out.
That is focus. That is inspiration.
To be that focused when seemingly everything around you crumbles is admirable for the average, and dare I say magnificent for the mentally ill. It has been inspiring to write the book, and come to work, and watch our people recover.
And granted our staff has been great. Love the people I work with. It is comradery, it is social, it is problem solving with sober and sophisticated minds. It has also been rough, muted listening, and administratively frustrating. That too is inspiring, it is catalyst, and coke bottle being shaken waiting for the cap to give way--boom!
The writer returns, fresh and foul, inspired with the indigent, being insulted by the insulated and in-charge. The promoter is waking up alongside the poet looking for life permuting possibilities. It can be difficult but like helium we rise, refusing to recognize the pain until goals are accomplished and the pain is gone.
--Till we meet again--
