Remember those old Choose Your Own Adventure books?
I made one—for your soul.
✨ It contains a little fun, lots of support, and it's totally free.
Start here: adventure.explorethemeadow.com
Share if it stirs something.

Remember, romance comes in many forms and from many places, even yourself. And it doesn’t always have to lead to the deed, it can be platonic. 💞

I figured it out. You know the total sensory assault that is an indoor pool at a low end hotel? Echoey, stinky, viscous, humid, dense? That what my body/mind feel like when I’m overstimulated. Like an indoor hotel swimming pool…

Remember Eatonville from yesterday? It is the hometown of literary icon Zora Neale Hurston, whose works capture the town’s rich culture and folklore. Her 1937 novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, was turned into the 2005 movie starring Halle Berry.

I live about 3 miles from Eatonville, Florida. Incorporated in 1887 it became the first self-governing all-Black municipalities in the US. Led by visionary leaders the town was established as a place where residents could own land, govern themselves and thrive.

I got blood drawn last week. This got me thinking about Dr. Charles Drew the surgeon and medical researcher who pioneered methods to preserve and store blood in the 1940's. He resigned from the Red Cross when they insisted on segregating blood donations.

Riding an elevator anytime soon?
While you awkwardly avoid eye contact, you can thank Alexander Miles for your safe journey from one floor to the next.

In 1887 he patented his invention that allowed elevator doors to be automated through a series of levers and rollers. It is still used today.

We often talk about “leaving the shadows behind,” but stepping into them can bring comfort when life feels overwhelming. Our shadows aren’t something to erase—they’re part of who we are. The real practice is navigating both light and shadow, finding the balance that serves us best in each moment.

Nurture hope. As you reach for that Angel Tree or pick things up for a holiday drive, remember that poor people get to dream too. If you think that those who need help to make the holidays magical should only be asking for practical things, I invite you to consider the dichotomy of that.