Growing pains are the crucial symptom of normative development. Normally we think of these as physiological aches, but rarely as emotional struggles. In fact, it seems that the most impactful growing pains are within our own minds. These are the psychological and emotional aches of coming to realize what we want and need from our lives and the work required to bring those concepts to fruition. But, just as the physical growing pains lead to a stronger, sounder body, the mental ones lead to a more whole emotional self.

I've been thinking more clearly and concretely about my goals and needs for my life to be my vision of a happy one. In fact, I even wrote it down during some quiet time at work today. It was a very relieving and empowering exercise-to feel like I can make it tangible. Before it was just an abstract, which is too plastic and vulnerable to the sorts of influences that would destroy it. Now, it is there, on paper, like a contract to myself and those who intend to be in my life.

I guess this is the only place I write poetry these days-I've grown out of it in many ways, but every so often something comes around.

I am the shelter
for myself
the womb for my own world
whatever that will look like
when my life reaches its end

"I'm sure that at some time in the course of history there were two snowflakes that were alike."
-Rob Kent (the guy in the office across from me.)

The windows are shattering
The floors peeling up and
The doors only hanging
From broken hinges

The bulldozers are on their way
To clear the bustling city that was built
Upon “us.”