I needed to reclaim my headspace, not lose my mind. — My Eating Disorder Self jammed a post deep down in the most valuable space and staked its claim. As an 11-year-old, I wondered who permitted that space to be claimed by anyone other than me? Is this permanent? Why won’t it pack up and move, no longer welcome here? This space once held my dreams, ideas, curiosities, even fears and struggles where they had the freedom to roam.

Let the art speak. — Reaching through the mirror of a wounded heart You’ll never see the pain I see not even in my own reflection You say you’d rather play but your host has turned her back White knuckles gripping scissors calling your round an immediate forfeit Razored tips on fragile fingers dent the window…

You can mentally feel like you are disappearing at times, but what if it physically manifests truth? — I squint to see remnants of breath set up against a mirror I dismiss the mind games to hold my view My vision clouds, now hard to pick out the lines I knew My silhouette fades into a rusty hue Dissipating mist of tears and sweat Nowhere to land or…

Sometimes taking a leap of faith happens every day to get you to your next. — Believing tomorrow will be better than today Carrying a backpack full of worry and uncertainty I pull out items one by one before the clock strikes midnight Too heavy to drag through time into another beginning I rise higher, out-stretched on my tip-toes, raising my arms in the air Ready…

Take a step back to see your entire playing field and work through your moves in a positive direction. — The orchestra of environment entertained and soothed my elevating blood pressure and racing thoughts. Inaudible conversations hum in the background ping-ponging the walls around our cramped local coffee shop. Sharp screeches of chairs being pulled out or pushed in break the rhythm of my fluid worry, Live-streaming in my brain…

When you speak to someone right in front of you, do they look in your eyes or direction or entertain every other option besides you? Are they down the hall in another room before you can breathe? — No obstruction in your eyes No masks No lies No wall to hide behind I’m standing here Am I alone Holding in the tear No voice lost in the pain I yell through your fog Throats a mess Treated less than a dog No words land on the target

What do you fill in your spaces of empty silence? — In the vacant hours of a quiet afternoon the clock ticks with a monotonous beat I measure my breath in a reactionary time the space between fill and empty grows wider The period between welcomes release and relaxation a new cycle where the mind travels and the body follows I…

Suppose you follow your doctor’s advice to the letter on optimally caring for your heart but disregard or minimize the same priority when nurturing the emotional function of your heart. Can the strength and purpose of it still hold up? — OH, THE HEART February is designated as American Heart Month. I have a check-up with my cardiologist in a couple of weeks. It would have been a lot sooner, but considering I didn’t see any of my specialists or primary doctors since before the pandemic, I sadly was demoted to…

Agreement, acceptance, approval, and satisfactory but not exceptionally good are all definitions of okay. — Not too good, not too bad Yesterday, today, or existing sad A reach, a stretch, and one foot out the door How low can you limbo till you’re flat on the floor Agree to be and accept your luck Sleepwalking, tired from letting it suck Dulled responses, a familiar pattern This…