I’m a picker, I’m a grinner, I’m a lover, and I’m a sinner. I play my music in the sun. — Hello! Buongiorno Bellezza! Guten Tag! Buenos Noches! I can’t think of a better way to introduce myself than to tell you what I’m wearing, the last ten songs I listened to on Spotify, what I had for dinner tonight, and what I did right before I ate that delectable dinner. Bare feet, fitted purple joggers, a soft…

Now what? — A lot of shit running through my mind. Too much. I need an outlet. Medium is my outlet. I am also hyper-aware of how fragile both my husband and I are right now. I don’t want to do any more damage than I already have. I don’t think I could…

I Love You, I’m Sorry, Please Forgive Me, Thank You, and F*ck You. — Dear Dr. Jekyll, I listened to our wedding song tonight. Do you remember it? “I can hear her heartbeat from a thousand miles Yeah, the heaven’s open every time she smiles And when I come to her that’s where I belong Yeah, I’m running to her like a river’s song She give me…

Six-Word Photo Story Challenge — Studying The Rest of My Life. On Monday morning, this was me savoring a large Peet’s dark roast Coffee and diligently studying for my National Phlebotomy exam. As I watched people walk in, spin in circles around me, and the morning sunlight hit my steaming cup of coffee just right; I thought, “It’s been a long…

In shortform — I came across my ex-husband’s favorite green sweater this morning. My daughter wore it to school yesterday, unbeknownst to me. She’s in that baggy sweater preteen phase, I suppose. Seeing my ex’s sweater hurt my heart a little. Not because I miss him or want to be with him again…

Invest in experiences — not material things. — Editorial Disclaimer: This article reflects the opinions and perspectives of the author. It does not represent the publication’s point of view. Illumination keeps a neutral perspective on this topic to allow diverse voices. I’ll manage to sort through the wreckage of my divorce one day at a time, but my…

November Six Word Photo Story Challenge: “Collecting Smiles” — Office view; something to buck about. Every morning when I arrive at my client’s house in the country, there are dozens of wildlife roaming the dirt road, foraging for their morning breakfast. I don’t know how long I’ll stay working as a CNA with my in-home care company. But if I’m brutally honest with myself, I…

In shortform — 5:45 AM — woke up sobbing uncontrollably about losing my family. 6:30 AM — fell back asleep on a wet pillow. 7:45 AM —opened my eyes to feel an elephant sitting on my chest. 9:01 AM — getting through the morning and trying to rebuild a life for us while…

#1. You don’t have to shave anything — ever. — Spoiler alert: I haven’t shaved in a month (give or take a month), and I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t enjoying every glorious, hairy minute of it. As I glared down at my peach-fuzzed tibias in the shower, the thought occurred to me how women are conditioned…