It's hard to believe that 2026 is only a few short weeks away. With that in mind, and as we approach that most wonderful time of the year, did you know that in the United States, we produce on average 25% to 30% more trash between Thanksgiving and Christmas? That's right, I'm talking trash. We all do it. Some people are more blatant about it, while others try to conceal it by distraction.

It’s been a very busy few months since I’ve written and posted my last blog post. During this time, I have been doing promotional readings for my award-winning poetry collection Live. Love. Leo. at several small independent book stores here in Portland, Oregon. I also participated in Open Mic events, I was interviewed and recorded a video for Flying Upstream Podcast…

Freedom Day - Reflections of Juneteenth is a personal admission to my lack of education and the consequences of withholding cultural knowledge.

A Lover's Story explores the serendipitous journey of two people destined to be together, no matter how long that may take.

The month of March has been an interesting month so far. Last week, I learned that my ex- partner passed away. I just happened to be scrolling through my social media feed that morning and came across a photo of a friend and an ex-suitor. Seeing friends together in photos isn't anything new, that's what these platforms are all about, right?

It’s hard to believe that we’re already looking at January in the rear view mirror. For many people I know, it has been a pretty rough ride. When things appear uncertain, I focus on the people in my life that bring me joy such as my family and friends. It’s only when I have the opportunity to reset, am I able to adapt and see things with fresh eyes to develop a new plan to keep moving forward.

Growing up, my mother would have described me as a curious kid. Because I was a military brat, my family moved around a lot. So when I met other kids from different parts of the country, I was always interested in talking to these kids and learning where they came from. So in high school, it wasn’t a big surprise when I got involved in our American Field Service (AFS) club.