What I want more than anything is for this world to be a kinder place. A more compassionate place. A more understanding place. Where hate and unkindness is not fashionable. Where love and empathy reigns. A world where every life that breathes in its surroundings is worthy of happiness and comfort. Where the word “illegal”Continue reading “Hope”
Author Archives: lamandabeesleyconrad
Happy Birthday, Shakespeare!
As I spent the day working on my novel, and drawing anxiously closer to completing my first draft, it occurred to me that my main character is Hamletesque in so many ways. Now, it occurs to me how quickly I am becoming comfortable with making up words like Hamletesque. But it works. Though I hateContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Shakespeare!”
A Brief Reflection on Memories
I was watching a home movie from my childhood, recently, and something my dad said has stayed with me for days, now. In the video, he was filming my bicycle in the front yard. He told the watchers of course whose bike it was. Then he said, “that’s my favorite person in the whole world.Continue reading “A Brief Reflection on Memories”
Frankenstein’s Monster
Bukowski once said that drinking is a kind of suicide. Throwing yourself against a wall and sort of dying. But returning afterward. I think there’s merit in that thought. How many suicides do we attempt on a daily basis? We kill everything that is real and truthful, in about a million ways. We kill ourselvesContinue reading “Frankenstein’s Monster”
Happiness v. Joy
What is the difference between happiness and joy? “That is an excellent question,” I said to one of my students recently when the question was posed. So, my class discussed a variety of ways to dissect these words and determine what they really mean. And then I left campus and drove home to my husband,Continue reading “Happiness v. Joy”
Who I am…
I am messy. And way too easy going about important things in life. When it comes to work I am incredibly devoted and can go above and beyond expectation. But in many other areas of life I can be messy. I can put things off until they can’t be put off any longer. I canContinue reading “Who I am…”
Almost
I often wake up in the middle of thoughts of you. Lingering from the night before. On those days, your memory consumes me. There is no logical reason why I hold on. There is no long list of ways you made me fall. There is no shortage of others that have come along that couldContinue reading “Almost”
Middle of the Week Musings…
Too many people are afraid of any emotions that aren’t happiness. And that is unfortunate. It’s okay to have sad days. It’s okay to just feel blah sometimes, for no real explainable reason: Maybe it’s because we live in a world that is tragic. Maybe it’s because we are surrounded by people that promulgate hateContinue reading “Middle of the Week Musings…”
Conversations with Milton…& Maybe God
In “Paradise Lost,” Milton’s rendering of the fall of mankind, we get a vision of Satan that is very interesting. He tells us, “Myself am Hell.” He also is capable of exiting hell (to make his way to Eden to tempt Adam & Eve), suggesting that he possesses the ability to leave hell. Why? WhyContinue reading “Conversations with Milton…& Maybe God”
End of Semester Musings…
“To allow the powers that be to govern one’s sexuality is to remove something from the private sphere and make it public” (Me, 2015). Revisiting an old research project this morning has me thinking really intensely about our current social climate and the ways we perceive the world and people around us. I am alsoContinue reading “End of Semester Musings…”
