Stop 1: Brooklyn Bridge The first half of the route is all up-hill. No matter how hard I peddle, my pace is slow and labored. I am breathing hard and fighting the voice in my head, the Resistance that matches the incline of the bridge. At the half-way point, Papi and I both stop for [...]
Category: Blog
Re(view): Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up
I was excited when I found the Intervarsity Press table at Book Expo this year. I don’t recall ever seeing such a large selection of faith-based books that talk about equity, race and social justice. Still, I dampened my excitement and managed expectations because I’ve often found myself disappointed with Christian literature and how even [...]
A Memorable Memorial Day Weekend
It’s been eighteen years since the Memorial Day weekend when I fractured a bone in my right foot. It's a funny story that ends with Mami not believing I was hurt as bad as I was. She hard-tissue massaged vaporú onto my injured foot and then helped me squeeze a swollen, purplish limb into my [...]
Trusting the Process
"I am a writer not because I have published a novel or made it into the most prestigious and elite magazines. I am a writer because I write. Because when all else fails I find that words and stories help me heal and help me share that healing." - Nia Ita Thursday, April 4th I [...]
Reflections on “A Return to Love”
In “A Return to Love” Marianne Williamson talks about how her negativity was as destructive to her as alcohol is to an alcoholic. She describes her negativity as “that hysterical woman inside [her] head.” I am all too familiar with that hysterical woman. I’ve been contending with her a lot this week and today she [...]
A Spiritual Adjustment: Slowing Down
This is my father. The man that I inherited my love for reading, writing + rainy days from. Whenever I see him, I ask for a blessing as is traditional in Dominican culture, “Bendicion Papi” and he always gives it. Sometimes he kisses my forehead and shines a crooked smile through thin lips. Other times [...]
All The Reasons
All The Reasons I Should Be in a Bad Mood I’m tired. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. Anyone who has ever said “do what you love and you will never work a day in your life” did not work with kids. Especially special needs kids. They probably didn’t write either. I [...]
Healing like Rain Without Water
Soundtrack: Algo Está Cambiando - Bomba Estéreo Quote: “Two or three things I know for sure, and one of them is that when change comes, it cracks everything open.” - Dorothy Allison Mood: Cloudy, with a chance of rain. There were many reasons not to go. It was a long, holiday weekend. There were obligations to [...]
(RE)VIEW: BLUE NIGHTS
I first heard of Joan Didion while excitedly discussing literature with an old colleague and friend. We were stumbling through authors and titles like two toddlers rushing to run before mastering walking. There was an air of joy and enthusiasm as we exchanged stories. Literature that had shifted something inside of us enough to warrant [...]
The Secret to How I Read So Many Books
I’ve probably been asked this question a dozen times in the last two weeks. “How do you find time to read so many books? Where/when are you reading?” My answer is pretty straightforward. You ready? I read. That’s it. There is no magic pill that increases my reading speed to superhuman tempo. I don’t sprinkle [...]