Not Easily Broken: An Essay

My eyes began to adjust to the darkness as I closed my laptop. I’d struggled to string together a few meaningful sentences. Damn, I’d been sucked into the abyss again. The block reared its ugly head, seeking to devour my creativity. For days, I’d barely touched my manuscript. I’d write a few words and close the computer, wondering where my energy had gone. The darkness reminded me of time wasted despite my sincere attempts to be productive.

I dragged myself to bed as the guilt taunted and prodded me. I wondered if I’d ever finish the story that has taken residence on my hard drive. “It shouldn’t be this difficult,” I mumbled under my breath. It shouldn’t be, but it is: this is the writer’s paradox. The struggling writers trope felt more like prophecy.

How can you write an impactful story when you’re reminded daily of an evil system that’s hell bent on disrupting the lives of your people? It’s difficult to plead ignorance and look the other way when things like the Voting Rights Act of 1965 are in the crosshairs of the Supreme Court. Those in power seek to make us more vulnerable.

Women’s rights are being violated by the day. Distressing thoughts of my daughter’s future in a world run by white men armed with ill intentions, deep hatred, and entitlement have taken up space in the back of my mind. They curate harmful legislation in the name of God. Misguided by their insatiable egos, their appetite for human suffering is sacrilegious. What kind of God relishes in the misfortune of the underserved? Their empty souls use religion to justify their ambitions. It’s theatre at best.

These are my musings. As a man who is deeply connected to his soul, I find solace in honesty and deep introspection. Each day is a new opportunity to push forward. We can’t always control what happens around us, but we can certainly choose how we’ll respond.