I’m forever thankful that Ni-Kahk (my paternal grandmother) gave me the tools of encouragement, confidence, and the ability to use a dictionary to strengthen my reading skills. Having caught up to my peers and eventually surpassed many of them, the next major tool I received came from my mentor, whom I’ve mentioned in my opening … Continue reading Boundaries, Books, and Survival: A Teenager’s Toolkit for Chaos
Author: DSDM
Knowledge is Power: My Grandmother’s Tools
I don’t doubt the school did everything they could to help me, this was the tail end of the 90s and the data and tools we have now didn’t exist. It was the summer before fifth grade, and I was being advanced while the reading tests showed I was two years behind my peers. Teachers … Continue reading Knowledge is Power: My Grandmother’s Tools
Nurturing Resilience: Unveiling My Childhood Struggles
During my stay with Mehi Mohto’s (fire carried on the head) family this past summer, I reflected on how various events positively shaped my childhood. This period allowed me to gain a new perspective on resilience. An insightful 2017 article from The Atlantic redefined resilience for me: “Current [American] culture thinks of resiliency as gutting … Continue reading Nurturing Resilience: Unveiling My Childhood Struggles
The Power of Tenacity: The Building Blocks of Resiliency
Tenacity as defined by Google; noun: the quality or fact of being able to grip something firmly; grip. The quality or fact of being very determined is determination. The quality or fact of continuing to exist: persistence. Staying with my friend's parents reignited many memories from my childhood because I could openly share adverse events … Continue reading The Power of Tenacity: The Building Blocks of Resiliency
Kwanzaa: A Journey into Cultural Pride and Controversy
As we move through the final days of December, I'm three days behind sharing my reflections on Kwanzaa. I didn't grow up celebrating Kwanzaa, a secular holiday from December 26 to January 1 that offers a moment to reflect, rejoice, and recommit to key cultural and community principles. Last year was the first time I … Continue reading Kwanzaa: A Journey into Cultural Pride and Controversy
Beyond the Pain: Finding Solace and Support in Unexpected Places
This past month of healing has been a period of inspiration filled with hopes and plans for the future. I'm eager to return to work, begin physical therapy, initiate several side hustles, and intensify my focus on inner self-work. In this solitude, I've found profound peace and comfort. Currently, I am about four weeks into … Continue reading Beyond the Pain: Finding Solace and Support in Unexpected Places
Breaking the Chains: The End is a Beginning
Have you ever felt completely alone, even surrounded by people? The last couple of months have been agonizing as I've realized that for 34 years, most of my relatives and relationships have been abusive. It hit me when I realized that I have no one to trust or who loves me unconditionally. I was left … Continue reading Breaking the Chains: The End is a Beginning
Selfish: My Journey to Self-love
This journey continues... Sharing one's story should never induce trauma, a concept reiterated in my therapy sessions. In the past, accusations of dishonesty or dismissals after sharing my traumas led to an intensified sense of trauma and silence. I thought I’d rid myself of behaviors that invited potentially harmful people into my life, yet I … Continue reading Selfish: My Journey to Self-love
Unraveling Codependency: Lessons from a Leaky Bucket
It’s a New Moon today, July 17th, 2023, officially at 11:32 am AZ time. New moons are about setting new intentions and giving yourself a fresh start. This is when you’d want to set goals and implement them for the next month. In astrology, the themes happening in Cancer this month are those dealing with … Continue reading Unraveling Codependency: Lessons from a Leaky Bucket
Make Changes NOW
Change the names back to their original INDIGENOUS names. They already have names. It's time for us to rise. The thunderbird will appear and it means a lot of different things depending on where you are... I suggest Squaw Peak be called Thunderbird Peak and Papago Peak changed to Segui Rise and "Sentinel Peak 'A' … Continue reading Make Changes NOW
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