There’s something strange, even years later, about having good news or good things happening and not being able to tell my mom. (For those unaware, she died nearly 15 years ago.)

Milestones she won’t see. Victories she can’t celebrate. Losses she can’t listen to me bitch and wail and cry about. Because, good or bad, she was there. Always. Even when I didn’t want her to be.

She had absolute confidence in me, even when I didn’t have confidence in myself. “I know you. You’ll figure it out.” These days, I am a much more confident person than I was when she was alive.

Do I still feel like a fraudulent grownup a lot of the time? Yes. But who doesn’t? We are all doing our best and trying our hardest, but life doesn’t come with instructions. (And if it did, would we really follow them? I think not.)

There’s something affirming about those in our lives who love us out loud. Who send texts with all the exclamation marks. Who share our joyful posts. Who tell us they’re proud of us.

There’s something incredibly touching about that particular kind of uplifting support. I miss the way my mother used to cheer me on, but it reminds me to show my gratitude to those who are around to do that.

It never goes unnoticed or unappreciated. I love shared joy. Truly. I love when I get to share joy. I love when my people share their joy in return. That is the marrow of life. A particular magick.

This year has already been a strange one. A lot never makes it into public view, and that’s by design. But I have several cool things on the horizon that I’m excited to talk about when I can. (I am pumped about appearing at St. John’s University next week! I am going to read things! My outfit is fantastic. It will be fun!)

There have been hard things, too. Daily life stuff can be a slog. Writing rejections have happened a lot. (That’s all part of being in the game! But ow.) I don’t often talk about those, except to occasionally whine. But this is your reminder never to compare your bad days with someone’s highlight reel.

And, as a particular incident has reminded me recently, we’re all under the same sky—and we’re all carrying an awful lot at the moment, given the world. It’s not easy. So, be gentle with yourself and give others a bit of grace. There’s not a soul in my life who couldn’t use it.

Also? Drink your water. Take your meds. Have some food. Go to the library. Or check out an ebook/audiobook. Libraries are awesome.

ALSO ALSO, ICYMI, you can order a signed copy of my forthcoming poetry collection, Offerings for Ordinary Gods (CLASH Books, July 21, 2026) from Inkwood Books in NJ! During the checkout process, there’s a box Instructions/Comments. Write in there that you’d like it signed and/or personalized (and how), and VOILA!

XOXO