TL;DR: Poem | Reflection. Crisis supports & ShelterSafe link in notes. Minimal edit; offered live and with care.

This episode is a poem I wrote in 2021. It’s short — under three minutes — and then I say a few things about what I hear in the poem now: someone trying to figure things out, sometimes getting it wrong, sometimes figuring it out a bit better.

Nothing groundbreaking, just a poem and a human voice you can fold into your pocket.

Trigger note: this episode includes mentions of my personal experience in an abusive relationship. If anything here raises alarm bells for you, please pause and reach out for help — you don’t have to do this alone.

If you need local help in Canada (or Toronto): call 9-1-1 in an emergency. For shelter/find-help tools and local services, ShelterSafe helps you find shelters and supports across Canada. ShelterSafeAssaulted Women’s Helpline (Ontario) offers 24/7 confidential support: GTA 416-863-0511 or toll-free 1-866-863-0511. https://www.awhl.orgVictim Services Toronto can help with immediate crisis response and referrals. victimservicestoronto.com

I believe in creating moments that make the world a little kinder. If you’d like to support that dream, you can do that through Ko-fi, where you can hear more, or commission something personal.

Today, more than 86% of the world’s population can read and write, a huge step forward. Yet at least 754 million adults still cannot—and two‑thirds of them are women. We’re making progress, and there’s still work to do. That mix of hope + effort is exactly why I share these practices.