I want to take a second to talk about the sunset, how it’s beauty bends in waves with the sky, bringing a new beginning for the moon and the stars that make up the very universe we are a part of, the constellations weaving the different parts together into the blanket of the milky way galaxy. I think that’s beautiful.
Today marks my one year milestone of being clean from self-harm. I simply can’t express the weight lifted off my shoulders by what this year has given me. The perspective I gained provided the insight that I needed to heal myself. The work I have done to get this far was hard, no doubt about it, but the reward pays off in ways I couldn’t have even began to imagine one year ago. The love I now feel towards myself, my body, and others is a new beginning. The past year was one of growth and healing. From throwing away toxic friendships to gaining the best relationship of my life, I choose to shape my own story and I couldn’t be prouder of myself than I am today.
My therapist gave me these journal prompts- most of which were cheesy and predictable, but I somehow found one that I thought was worth the effort. The result was more of a poem than a journal entry, in my eyes at least. I figured now is the perfect time for some self-reflection and something positive as well. So, here are the journal pages of the poem I wrote titled “a thank you letter to my body”
In addition to the positivity I am lucky to have right now, I have some pictures to share from some bike rides Hannah and I have done recently. There’s one particular trail that we’ve been loving. It has all of these signs with things spray painted, drawn, and carved into them. It creates art in the last place you’d expect it. I think that’s a pretty good definition for beauty.
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Finally, I wanted to take a second to share some petitions to sign to help end police brutality and systemic racism. All of these petitions have the same general goal: to hold police officers accountable for their actions. It only takes a few seconds to sign each petition- by clicking on the bolded text- and it can make a difference in this continued fight.
The Hands Up Act would punish police for harming unarmed citizens
The Justice For Breonna Taylor petition has the goal of holding the officers responsible for Breonna Taylor’s death accountable for their actions.
The Justice For Ahmaud Arbery petition has the goal of gaining justice for the young man who was chased and gunned down by a father and son.
The Ban the use of rubber bullets for crowd control petition would help ban the use of dangerous rubber bullets on protestors.
The Buffalo Police Department: Fire Police Officer Aaron Torgalski petition has the goal of holding the officer who pushed an elderly man who was trying to return an officers helmet to the ground while protesting accountable for his actions.
I thank you for taking the time to read through this and sign the above petitions.
Together we can bring change.
Wishing you all good health and justice,
Stan
Long Drives in the Dark 