March 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Dress Code of Spring
Dear Sunshine Stroller,
There was a bold, confident air about you today as you strolled down the street in the early spring sunshine. I’m not sure if it was because something great had just happened to you and life couldn’t be better, or if it was because you were on the verge of turning your dreams into reality and had just stumbled upon the missing piece as you were inspired by the coming of spring.
But maybe, just maybe, it was because you knew that you were the only person in town walking down the street with their shirt off only one day after it snowed. Your long, steady strides seemed to tell the story of a man who knew had big plans and places to go; neither of which were going to require any sort of upper body garment.
There wasn’t even a t-shirt tucked into your belt.
Driving passed in my car, with the windows up, wearing my thick leather jacket only one thought crossed my mind: Damn that dude looks cool.
– Dave
January 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Girl With The Eating Disorder (Contributed by Lindsay)
December 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
“We are a broken people…”
Today’s letter was contributed by Rachel, an extroverted twenty-something writer, reader, learner, and dreamer surviving off coffee and deep conversations. She believes in early mornings, live music, road trips, and finding the good. Follow her thoughts on Twitter at @_rachchristine and her writings at www.sincerelyrachelchristine.com:
To the drug-addicted brother from the sister who cannot save you:
I just want you to be okay.
I heard somewhere that big sisters are supposed to help quench the thirsty dreams of their younger siblings. I’m sorry that I did not do that for you.
It’s crazy to be a witness to the erosion of your spirit that’s taken place over the last few years. It’s hard to watch someone so close to my heart become the personification of statistics, symptoms, and stories. It’s safe to say that a drug addict is everything they say he will be; a liar, a thief, and a desperate shadow of a person.
You still have a spark every once in awhile, but I sometimes wonder what the size of the flame would be, had heroin not decided to try and squelch it. Would you be a businessman? A drummer? A teacher?
Some days I slide down to the floor and cry achingly and I press my palms into my eyes, wishing away reality. It’s like I’m homesick for what used to be, for who you used to be. I want to laugh with the young boy who wore fake glasses in his school picture because he knew “class clown” was in his birthright. I want to joke around with the teenager who will still play Nintendo 64 with me, and won’t laugh when I lose every time.
I long for your eyes to see the world through sobriety, through actuality, through redemption. Because the world is an incredibly beautiful place that is desperate for the spark of humanity to come alive.
I long for your arms to be pink once more, with signs of life instead of death, signs of healing instead of affliction.
I long to know why this is your story – but I don’t know that any of us ever will. It is no less beautiful, and you are no less worthy of hope than any of us. We are a broken people, each of us.
You are not alone in this, you are never alone. The fullness of love is attainable; you just have to look for it.
I love you.
Sincerely,
Rachel Christine
October 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Platforms Were Made to Change Lives vs. My Wife Makes Me Watch (I Swear)
October 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Your Time To Be A Crazy Misfit Has Come (Will You Answer The Call?)
October 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The story goes far beyond the cover
Today’s letter was contributed by Sara-Anne (@sara___anne). Her words remind me that stories are often deeper than what we initially perceive. It is these deeper stories that make humanity so beautifully diverse. Check out more of her writing.
Have a letter that you’d like to contribute? Send it here
October 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
If there was a return for our defective parts, we’d all be perfect (and lacking in character)
October 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Your day may have been shit but I bet you were wearing shoes
Today’s letter goes out to Fadra Nally (@allthingsfadra), a blogger from North Carolina who is taking the Flippin’ Good! Deeds Challenge. Let’s help her change the world and give her an opportunity to see it happen with her own eyes. See how you can help.