The air has officially become crisp and I really want to write about fall :)

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This week, I have been listening to podcasts and reading about the idea of control. It’s such a complex notion. Losing it, gaining it, simply feeling like we can never get it - makes us feel many different emotions.

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Weaving a good story has been on my mind lately. In school, we have been learning that perception is reality. In a sense, that is true. A person’s perception of a particular event makes it reality for that specific individual.

Recently, someone pushed me to recall details in order to improve a project of mine. Show, not tell. It’s always a difficult task. You have to trust that the reader will understand the point you are making.

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This week has been full of happiness. One thing that has brought me immense joy is service.

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It’s been 19 years since September 11, 2001. Every year, this day reminds us to cherish life because everything we have ever known can be changed instantly.

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I have been taking time to relax before classes start up again. One way that I have been doing this is through reading.

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As of lately, I have been feeling all the aches. It's almost like everything is cracking and breaking right in front of me. Not a great feeling.

Lying down in the grass is one way that I have been decompressing. However, once I feel bugs, I get up rather quickly!

When I’m laying down, I often notice little patterns in nature and can feel Earth’s heart beating. It’s a soothing experience.

As humans, we like organization and patterns. Mother Nature seems to know this and brings patterns into many aspects of our lives.

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Have you had moments where you have been absolutely captivated? Almost like you are in a trance and can focus on that one thing? I think we have all been there.

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When I was younger, being an architect was definitely on the list of careers that I should pursue. Although that has not happened, I still admire architectural achievements.

The ways in which a building can be designed or re-imagined is quite astonishing. I am always in awe of those who are creative enough to think outside of the box. However, architecture goes beyond creating a physical form. It helps sustain a community and their way of life.

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I have been thinking a lot about sacrifices that people make. I like to think that I am a generous person who thinks beyond herself. I try to sacrifice time and money to help others as much as I can. But sacrificing is hard.

Yesterday was the start of Leo season aka the best season.

Just kidding but very Leo of me.

This year has brought so many challenges. Many of us thought this year was going to be full of excitement. Instead, it made us extremely grateful and determined to create change. And I am full of hope.

It’s no surprise that the news cycle has been very negative lately. But, what can we do? This is our new reality. I need to stay informed, but taking care of my mental health simultaneously seems next to impossible.

It is possible though.

I have been actively listening to my body even when my mind reminds me of all my tasks that I have to do or what is going on the news.

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Too many things are happening in the world and usually, I can find a way to communicate a certain theme through poetry.

But this week’s poem will be different. My head is not in the right space.

I am sure many of us have felt like we could not express what we wanted to express. So to combat my writer’s block, I am writing about writer’s block :)

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It has been raining constantly this week. Rain is interesting because it can be gentle, but also unforgiving. The air feels cleaner after it rains. But the sky also darkens.

These qualities make me believe that I have a love-hate relationship with rain. I enjoy rainy days, but too many dark skies make me feel sad and alone. Here is a poem that deals with the complexity of rain and emotion.

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June is Pride Month! I have always admired the LGBTQIA2S+ community because it takes courage to be so unapologetically yourself. These individuals define themselves and constantly have to defend that definition.

Today is Juneteenth, which acknowledges freedom and enslavement. As a nation, we have made some gains. But, there have been many losses as well.

New York State is beginning to reopen. In fact, I got a much needed haircut this week! Outdoor seating is now a reality as well. It is important for us to be cautious, but I am glad that restaurant and café visits are on the horizon.

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Black Lives Matter. It’s important for all of us to stand up for what’s right. This movement doesn’t go away once the topic isn’t trending. You can learn more here.

As an ally, I understand that I cannot understand. However, words allow me to form my thoughts in an organized manner so here is a poem that I wrote called “Resist.”

This past week, I have gotten back into running.

I am not particularly good at running. In fact, my high school self would honestly think that I have gone insane. But, what I love about running is that at a certain point, my mind stops thinking. It’s all about moving, no matter what.

One of my favorite memories is running on the Brooklyn Bridge. It was an instant high. On that day, an instant wave of gratification hit me and I always keep that feeling with me whenever I run now.