Building a Gentler Life

Using my notebook to summon Dolly Parton

Hello, Forest Walkers!

Does anyone know themselves?

out of the deep woods
primal beacons echo from
my distant futures

Building a Gentler Life

I grew up in a social and religious culture that taught me that much of my identity was fixed—the term used by my church leaders was “eternal.” The idea is that I, as have we all, always existed in some form or another, even before I had this corporeal form, and I will always exist in some form.

I learned that my eternal destination hinges upon the degree to which I accept my fixed identity, and align my life choices to that identity.

I first suspected this was all bullshit as a teenager. I was discovering then that most of the institutions in my life, and the bureaucracies that ruled those institutions, were corrupt and incompetent.

Believing you have a fixed eternal identity leads to a harsh life.

The rest of this post is for paying members of Weirdo Poetry. These posts give you a more personal look into my creative practice—including pictures of pages from my notebook. Today, you will find a collage featuring Dolly Parton and a few haiku. Use the button below to upgrade your subscription or to get a free trial to read this post in full