It’s been a weird month. I just opened up my writing log for only the second time this month. Today, it is May 31, 2023. The last time I entered anything into my log, it was May 1st. In between my last writing session and now, my wife and I suffered a loss in the family. We also hopped on an international flight and took a two-week trip throughout Germany and into Poland. It’s been a few days since our return, and we’re just not finally settling into old grooves. 

I despise long gaps between writing sessions. Even if I only chip away with a few hundred words here or there, the consistency makes me feel accomplished. It reinvigorates my spirit and feels as if life flows through my veins, fingertips, and breath. This has been the longest gap in quite a while, but it’s been a gap overwhelmed with emotion — stress, pain, anguish, love, connection, and self-reflection. 

My wife and I have experienced utter exhaustion and grief, as well as jollity and that epiphanic sensation that comes with discovering something new about yourself. The gap brought us closer together — to each other, as well as with our family. 

I loathe long gaps, but this one was worth it. My one lament is that, if you’re subscribed to my monthly newsletter, I’m pushing back the next issue by a few weeks while I take this newfound surge of energy and pour it into some of my unfinished creative pieces. 

In the meantime, if you’re looking for something to read, I recently added a short story collection page, and I’m always updating my creative interview page with new guests I’ve featured over at TheBatmanUniverse.net podcast. 

Lastly, the image for this post is of a strangely manicured tree. I found a row of trees like this on a walk through Drachenfels near Konigswinter, Germany. Someone intentionally forced these trees to grow this way, and the result is alluring and mesmerizing. Isn’t that what we’re all doing with ourselves? 

If you want to see more pics from our international adventure, I’m posting batches regularly on my Instagram.