Leafy Den

A leafy den is a place of solace and serenity, safe from the rest of the world.

When I was a child, I found a sanctuary in the hollow part between the branches of a large willow tree. With a blanket and flashlight, I built a fort there and it became my place where I was safe to think my thoughts and speak my mind, even if only to remind myself that I still had a voice. 

Some of these stories are ones deep inside, etched on my soul that I have carried for years. These are the hardest to tell because others have worked so hard to keep me silent.

I was born into a dysfunctional, pentecostal family. From birth and throughout my childhood and teen years, I was forced to attend an equally dysfunctional church, the experience of which came very close to driving me to suicide.

Much of my writing is about or related to that experience and my emancipation from that existence, regaining a sense of spirituality and finding a sense of purpose in life outside of religion. I believe that if one has religion, it should be life-affirming, nurture the soul and uplift the spirit. At the very least, it should certainly not be a life-squelching source of emotional and psychological damage as it too often can be. Read my story here: The Box of Just How Things Are

Among these writings, there are also various poems, creative writing and articles on various topics.

Thank you for visiting and to all who read my writing.