
Writing Prompt: Share three things most people don’t know about you.
Did you know I wear body glitter on the days I feel unenthusiastic? Most likely not if I never told you. I learned a long time ago people have this expectation of each other that we should be happy. Nobody feels happy all the time. It’s unrealistic. There are other feelings we can’t avoid. Sad, frustrated, confused, exhausted and so many more.
Even worse, they take it personally the times I don’t feel happy like, Why isn’t Erika happy? Well, because I’m not in the mood to be happy. I view happiness the same a content.
I think if I feel content I’m happy, but content often doesn’t fulfill the expectation. Wearing body glitter automatically increases people’s perception of my level of happiness. Outside of the fact that I sparkle, I have no idea why. It’s merely an illusion. It’s simply a different version of, Fake it til you make. Wear body glitter and appear enthusiastic.
Did you know I have a PhD? Most likely not if I never told you. Yeah, in Advanced Behavioral Science with an emphasis on Readiness and Response to Terrorism. I went to school for an accumulative total of seven years. I graduated Chancellor’s award recipient, Honor Society and after an absurd amount of testing and interviewing I was accepted into NASA’s Pathway Program. I never did much with my degree though. I mean, I did.
I worked in the field of violence and abuse prevention with both victims and perpetrators.
I had a chair thrown through my office window. I’ve been threatened by gang members. That’s right, they were going to kill me and my family in our sleep. I had two officers pull out their firearms in a room the size of a shoe box because a man was threatening to stab me in the heart with a hypodermic needle. It wasn’t a fun job although I might have enjoyed it more if I had actually made a difference.
Did you know I can be irrationally tough on myself at times? Most likely not if I never told you. There’s an utterly different person in my head saying, Do more, do better, go, go, go. I often wonder why this voice haunts me.
I have confidence. I’m a hard worker. I honor my values. I raised my children leading by example. I not sure what more I expect from myself. This voice tells me I’m wasting my time writing and creating art. This voice tells me I should be doing something more like saving the world or at a minimum doing something positive for others.
I’d like to believe I connect with others through my words, inspire them or in some way indirectly tell them everything will always be okay. I’m not convinced anyone is listening.
When I moved to Iowa I was aware there is little need for my particular occupation. I figured I’d get a part time job in town (never happened) will making a go at a full time writing career (still working on it).
What’s the definition of a full time writer? I’d like to think it’s readers who are fans of my work, but in reality I need to make money and sustain. I can’t eat my fans and neither can my family.


