By Lindasusan UlrichSeptember 4, 2024“There was once a man who decided to become a Buddhist monk. Upon entering the monastery, he made a vow not to leave until he had learned something significant enough that he could teach it to others to relieve their suffering. Finally, after 30 years, he announ
By Martha Durkee-NeumanJune 26, 2024“Will considered what to do. When you choose one way out of many, all the ways you don't take are snuffed out like candles, as if they'd never existed. At the moment all Will's choices existed at once. But to keep them all in existence meant doing nothing. He had
By Vanessa TitangJune 19, 2024“Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world, our sense of belonging can never be greater than our level of self-acceptance.” —Brené Brown, in Daring GreatlyI never perceived myself as “queer.” Growing up, what littl
By Lynette Yetter June 12, 2024Editor's Note: The following reflection—published with the assistance and consent of Lynette's spouse—refers to the tender subjects of suicide and homophobia; we encourage you to take care of yourself as you engage this story. While some readers might find it difficul
By Mare MartellJune 5, 2024“Fitting in is becoming who you think you need to be in order to be accepted. Belonging is being your authentic self and knowing that no matter what happens, you belong to you.”—Brené BrownIn 1978, I was in the sixth grade in West Michigan at a public school. We had a stu
By Paige GettyMay 29, 2024… queeras inalways becoming;as inless “this or that”and more “multilayered, multidimensional, and complex.”as inintimately experienced,and beyond definition…—M Jade Kaiser, enfleshedAt Capital Pride last year, a vendor was selling tote bags with simple, bold declarations:T
By Julie Yeeun KimMay 22, 2024“In our bodies we carry the blood of our ancestors and the seeds of the future generations. We are a living conduit to all life…. We are strengthened by who we come from and inspired by those who will follow.” —Sherri Mitchell Weh'na Ha'mu Kwasset, in Sacred Instructio
By Aaron Stockwell WismanMay 15, 2024"Our memory is made up of our individual memories and our collective memories. The two are intimately linked. And history is our collective memory. If our collective memory is taken from us—is rewritten—we lose the ability to sustain our true selves." —Haruki Mu
By Sarah PirtleMay 8, 2024“It is essential to allow yourself to know what you know, instead of driving yourself to be”—Grandmother Rita Pitka Blumenstein, Yup’ik Elder and first certified traditional doctor in AlaskaI washed my hands carefully before entering the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where
By Karen G. JohnstonMay 1, 2024“We are swimming in this stream together / Some in power and some in pain/…We’re all swimming to the other side.” —Pat Humphries, "Swimming to the Other Side”Here I am again, stopped at a traffic light, a sea of cars surrounding me, a handful of vehicles ahead of me.
