Given the year we lived through, it’s only natural that everyone wants answers fast. 2016 was a banner year challenges, tragedies, and triumphs for so many people. I’m not referring to the political climate. I’m referring to interpersonal challenges, financial challenges, unemployment (sudden as well as longterm), deaths of
Author: Clay Rivers
Author & optimist. Editor, Our Human Family. Writing about equality, racism, and faith. "Embrace all that you are and strive to become all that God created you to be.”
Adventures of a Former Christmas Elf
Here’s a long and rambling yarn of Christmas cheer from a long time ago and cities far, far away . . .
The days after September 11, 2001, I sat riveted to the images on my television like the rest of the nation. The thought of flying across the country was unnerving, but when October 17 came, I boarded a plane at LAX with enough clothes to survive autumn in New York and Atlanta, and a December in Cleveland. En route to New York, I stopped in Orlando to drop off my dog, Jack, at my mother’s for a three-month vacation.
I Got Nothing to Write About at All
Image by Luis Llerena, unsplash.com
I’ve got nothing to write about in this post, gang. Nada. Nichts. Ne rien. Nothing. In the midst of the holidays being in full tilt, I’m up to my eyeballs in reindeer poop, holiday cheer, and a little bit of angst about the state of our union. And I’m still tightening up (re-plotting) the outline for my fourth book due out next fall. I’m not one of those guys who can sit down and bang out a short story with all the bells and whistles in no time. That ain’t me at all. I have to have a road map to know where I’m going.
Never Give Up. Ever. Why Writing (and Talking) About Racism Matters.
Writing is not easy. Like any other skill, plucking just the right nouns, verbs, adjectives, and the occasional adverb to express one’s thoughts in a clear and unique voice takes time and energy to develop. My own writer’s journey has been and continues to be a circuitous one, full of fleeting highs and recurring lows … more on that at another time.
“Who Wants to Be the Leader of the Free World” Season Finale and Moving On
Wow. That season finale of
“Who Wants to Be the Leader of the Free World”
was a shocker.
I, for one, certainly didn’t see that coming.
Am I disappointed? Yes. I’m disappointed in several of my Democratic, Republican, and Independent friends who displayed unbridled
Staying Human: Self-Care in the Face of Those Who Would Deny Your Humanity
Image by Clem Onoieghuo, unsplash.com
Over the past few years, we’ve witnessed numbers of black Americans and law enforcement officers killed in shootings. A lot has been said about the black community, our families, the police, and the system; but there’s one subject that is rarely addressed: the affect these shootings on black Americans and what coping skills we should employ.
A Word of Thanks: As in Gratitude, Not the Holiday
Guess who.
Whether you’ve just discovered my writing today, a couple of months ago, or have been reading my mad ramblings for a few years, thank you. Your comments, likes, shares, mentions, retweets, highlights, and recommends mean a lot to me. Know that I do not take for granted your decision to invest a few moments of your time with me, not to mention making others aware of my writings.
It’s Not Them. It’s You.
Image by Jack Fusco.
Social media is a wonderful tool. In an instant, Facebook, Twitter, Medium, Instagram, and a host of other social media platforms can put you in touch with dozens, hundreds, or in some cases thousands of people you’d otherwise never know existed. The magic of discovering communities of like-minded individuals with whom you can exchange ideas is the validation that gives social media its enthralling glow.
A Cowboy and a Christmas Elf Walk into a Bar …
A couple of days ago, Sarah read my Understanding versus Empathizing post and asked a very interesting question, “how can we engage with people and persuade them to see that change is their individual responsibility?” The night before, the following true story of staying human, finding common ground, and change came to mind as a possible answer.
Understanding versus Empathizing in Regards to Racism
Image by Annie Spratt
Referring to a recent essay, a question arose regarding my goal of getting people to “understand” what we black Americans are going through versus getting people to “empathize” with what we are going through. It was suggested that I “go for empathy rather than understanding.” The difference between the two is a subtle but major one that needs to be explored.