(originally posted in an edited form on A Life Overseas) “It’s not fair,” I whined in the backseat of the car, my sister next to me. “It’s not fair,” I moped from the end of the line. “It’s not fair,” I mourned, overlooked for a role I wanted. “It’s not fair,” I gasped, taking the fall. “It’s not fair,”…
It is a cultural value that elevates objectivity over subjectivity. I distinctly remember people speaking poorly of soft sciences because they lacked the quantifiable objectivity of hard sciences, real sciences. Hard and soft skills were painted with the same brush. Disdain offered for the soft skills while priority was given to “real” skills. But more…
“And then after my bath, you commanded me to give you a kiss.” My three-year-old’s innocent statement sent a jolt through me. “Command” wasn’t a “bad” word in our house, but in that context, it held a power dynamic neither of us wanted. This wasn’t the first time this seemingly harmless word took an unexpected…
Dear Friend, I’m so sorry I didn’t write you sooner. In the summer of 2020, I was fired from my life’s work, while we were at a counseling center in Fresno. I remember knowing it was coming. I remember the counselors telling me that would be illogical, irrational, unthinkable. They were wrong. Within 30 seconds…