Seeing Myself

When times have been tough in the past and I’ve been way down on myself, I’ve adopted a practice which has seen me through, which has allowed me to see myself again with grace and compassion and love. Some people might call them selfies but me I call it self-portraiture.

For the next five days, I’ll be sharing images I’ve taken of myself over the last few months while in hibernation as a means of support to get me back to myself. And it’s a process, a never ending process of becoming but I’m here documenting it, allowing it to be seen because that’s part of the process also. Being seen on my one terms.

Learning Vulnerability

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

Longsands, Tynemouth

After Krista O’Reilly-Davi-Digui

Learning to move from head to heart,

moving into greater vulnerability,

everyday feels like the first day.

There is the risk of doing or saying

the wrong thing. Hurting others

as I learn to express myself,

what I want, what I need

makes those close uncomfortable.

And yet,

as I step deeper into fugitivity,

linger in the edges, skin prickly

with expansion. I trust.

Take self-authority and do not hide

from this becoming, this vulnerability.

Offering myself and others grace

and compassion, I walk on, slow,

with heart in hand.