We’ve all healed from something – whether it be a stubbed toe, a fractured bone, romantic heartbreak – or the loss of a loved one. We’ve mourned and we’ve grieved. And most often, we heal.

If you remember, at the start of September 2014, I signed on to a writing challenge. BlogHer established a theme of HEALING for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo), under the premise that “America needs to heal after the events of Ferguson, Missouri.” On August 9th, 2014, a police officer in that Ferguson gunned down and killed an 18 year-old, unarmed black male teen, sparking outrage and protest around the nation. The county autopsy shows the cop inflicted Brown with six gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

• So I rose to the challenge, penning I Need a Healing For My Soul on September 2nd.

This case of yet another unarmed black male killed by a police officer just reminds me that I’m always making progress in the midst of heartbreak. Finding joy – in the midst of heartbreak. Pushing forward – in the midst of heartbreak…

• On September 6th, I laid out my expectations for healing from the murder of Michael Brown – answering a question from BlogHer: How did I process the events of Ferguson, Missouri in terms of healing?

Anyone who’s had their hearts busted open with grief – anyone who’s lost a loved one at the hands of violence, is suffering – to a degree, from post traumatic stress disorder.

• I wrote about the loss of friendship on September 7th, in Shit That Happens Behind the Scenes. (And isn’t there always some shit going on?)

Twice in my life – yes, I was very young – I found myself on the floor, holding on to someone’s ankles, and being DRAGGED in my attempt to make them stay. The first time, I was sixteen and begging my boyfriend not to go sell crack cocaine. He had just broken the news to me about his business venture – riding his bicycle around Bed-Stuy streets peddling drugs.

• Bat Shit Crazy – The Road to Healing (September 3rd) is about healing from a broken romantic relationship. (Last two bullets are related.)

Emotional healing comes with time. Mine started when he called me to announce his status as “dad-to-be.” We were are friends. He trusted me. Of course he told he impregnated this woman overseas. Of course I cared. Of course I felt like someone punched me in the chest and knocked the wind out of me.

• And lest we forget, on September 8th, I contemplated abandoning the challenge altogether in Should I Abandon The Challenge? I received one comment – from Quentin, an avid reader of my blog. SO very appreciated. He wrote this:

You’re a gifted writer. You have this innate ability to convey your thoughts, impressions, feelings, and emotions in a way that a lot of people aren’t able to do.

• Idris Elba served as eye candy in I Think I Might Be a Man Watcher (September 17th). I couldn’t go a whole month without updating you on my status as a single woman. Read the article to find out all about what I love about men. Clues: – chocolate skin and masculinity. Swoon!

I’ve become a man watcher. When I was in a relationship, I really didn’t see other men. Like, they existed, but not in my head space. They’d speak and I’d barely speak back. So being single has been sort of a de-conditioning process. A well-defined, broad back turns me on. And I won’t name names, but this one man I know has the best hamstrings I’ve ever seen in the flesh during my time here on Earth. They must protrude about five inches from the back of his thigh. (Deep breath.)

• And just to backtrack, I shared this picture of a Beautiful Black Woman on September 16th.

And then some… I got off topic, as I noted that I would – and I skipped a few days of blogging. But all in all, I offered some key perspectives on healing. Right? Thanks for rocking with me. I hope you find something in these articles that resonates with you! Let me know if you do.

Categories: Blogging, NaBloPoMo

Tags: Blog, BlogHer, Ferguson Missouri, Healing, Michael Brown, NaBloPoMo, Writing, Writing Challenge, Writing Life