by Bela Johnson | Sep 16, 2024 | climate change, growing up, people, perspective, Uncategorized
Outraged at articles portraying stark realities of Venezuelanimmigrants among others, desperate to depart the dearestcountries of their birth, as our ancestors did, onceupon a not too distant time; Freedom is what we all long for, not the liberties seizedby the...
by Bela Johnson | Feb 7, 2024 | growing up, healing, inspiration, philosophy, sense of place, Uncategorized
Do we take in the good, or still believe, when presentedwith it, that it’s simply not there, not real? I was raised with my fair share of negativity; product, I think, of a heavy-handed religion which diminished any female’s needs, never mind wants, and...
by Bela Johnson | Jun 28, 2023 | awakening, freedom, growing up, human interest, lifestyle, Uncategorized
We know the slate is wiped clean at birth,but I doubt any of us knows just how thoroughthe purge, and it has taken most of my lifetimeto discover who, exactly, my authentic selfmight be, I cannot blame earnest teachers,controlling parents, there is no one but myselfto...
by Bela Johnson | Jan 12, 2023 | consciousness, family, growing up, human interest, perspective, Uncategorized
I could tell you a version of my lifethat would be intriguing, but would it betrue? In just under seven decades,memories are viewed througha prismatic lens of dazzling colorsor in black and white depending,and I think it has perhaps alwaysbeen thus; To retrieve fodder...
by Bela Johnson | Oct 17, 2022 | forgiveness, growing up, nature, perspective, Uncategorized
Are we really meant to impose shame,humiliation, mortification upon ourselvesand others in this life? Is this really thehigher road our spirits wish us to take;in other words, is this the desire in the mindof the creator of stars, of galaxies,of worlds too vast for...
by Bela Johnson | Mar 8, 2022 | community, growing up, lifestyle, nature, Uncategorized
I always had dirt between my toes, beginning when I was old enough to toddle, and my parents did not care, having come out west from Chicago, land of the freezing, and I do not remember any scolding for it, surely I would if it existed, walked on blistering...
