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The Soul of Humanity

January 23, 2025 Leave a Comment

I wrote this at 2 AM with a fever of 104 last month (pneumonia is a beast). It's one of the many pieces I've written with no intention of sharing publicly. I often fight with myself -- wondering if my words have the meaning I intend, feeling as though I'm robbed of eloquence, or that I'm simply not good enough as a writer.But I feel it's important to share this one -- that if my words manage to move even one other person, then I've done my job well. So, I share "The Soul of Humanity" on the eve ... VIEW POST

a_charming_mess

Jan 26

Hello, Moody Mortals - Jess, here (it’s always Jess, here). Taking a few moments to pivot, rewind, and remind myself (and you) of who I am - why I’m here.

Perhaps you’ve been hanging around for a while or maybe you’ve recently stumbled upon this space. Regardless, I like to think of you all as a part of the moody mortals club — folks that feel deeply, laugh loudly, that appreciate and understand the evanescence of life — that it is brief, magical, and also tragic — that all of those things help shape our existence and that existence is most meaningful when we share it.

You’ll find that I’m a mixed bag. I am a writer, an artist, a photographer, a musician, a parent of 5, a cat-enthusiast, a lover of animals, an educator, a counselor, and a humanist. Here, I share a whole lot of moody home inspiration, funny and meaningful stories, my art and musings, and a general attitude of compassion mixed with snark (oh yeah, I also tend to my skeleton garden).

Let’s see (flips through My Little Pony notebook)…I feel most at home in the woods and have been canoodling the neighborhood murder of crows for the past year (I like to believe I’m a bog witch). I live with fibromyalgia, hyper-mobile joints, anxiety, and major depressive disorder (all of these things contribute to my dazzling sense of humor). Nature is healing, the outdoors call to me daily — I love hiking, biking, running, dancing, and tripping over my own feet (I made really great friends with a prickly bush during my last bike ride).

At my core, I’m a passionate person. I love and feel deeply. I’m also committed to being an outlandishly supportive and safe space for my LGBTQ+ community, I am always learning how to better advocate for BIPOC as a white woman, and know that I have growing to do — I hope to inspire growth in others. Being open and willing to learn in the face of discomfort is part of growth and the betterment of humanity. I do not tolerate intolerance. Hate has no home here. I am protective over this oddball community of moody mortals.

If you’re reading this and any of the above resonates with you, welcome to the club. I hope you feel a sense of belonging 🖤

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a_charming_mess

Jan 25

•• Just over here losing myself in episodes of Queer Eye while the puppy tries to noodle in on my bowl of pretzels. ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 21

•• Ethel Mertz definitely didn't just pee on my slippers, poop in the cat bed, and destroy a jumbo roll of paper towels. Like, that's not the face of a criminal...right? ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 20

•• I'm feeling a lot like this stuffed alpaca today.
...anyone else? ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 20

I often fight with myself -- wondering if my words have the meaning I intend, feeling as though I'm robbed of eloquence, or that I'm simply not good enough as a writer.
But I feel it's important to share this one -- that if my words manage to move even one other person, then I've done my job well. So, I share "The Soul of Humanity" on the eve of MLK day -- a day to celebrate activism and truth -- and to encourage sitting with an uncomfortable reality.

The Soul of Humanity

Censor the artist and you’ll drown the soul of humanity.
Banned, burned, ripped, torn by the wretches of sane insanity.
Minds closed, eyes gouged, we must surrender to faux conformity.
Starving out new ideas, acceptance, and diversity of the true majority.

As they stomp their feet and raise a cross where the soles of Native feet once stood.
Cultures forced to conform, raped, tortured, killed by those in uniform, plain clothes, shaved heads, a white hood.
Choking out all that don’t fit their agenda that is evil cloaked in verbiage that sounds good.
I’m uneasy and feel uncomfortable writing, do you feel discomfort while reading? If not, then maybe you should.

Because they laugh and cheer believing they’ve won over all of the fools.
Promising prosperity, greatness, and a quick fix if only we follow their rules.
Raising toasts to their guns and their flags and their god while children are murdered in schools.
“Freedom, guns, and the Lord” is a weird fucking flex when Ms. Rousseau’s class’s blood is in pools.

All while the rich become richer, the poor become poorer, and the middle class desperately begs,
For someone to care and make living affordable without cutting off both of our legs.
But we’ve put our lives in the hands of billionaires who’ve promised to drain Washington’s dregs.
Hungry for power and serving themselves — you think they give a shit about the price of your eggs?

Meanwhile, the Earth cries out as cities burn and towns are left with no water.
Our soil poisoned by chemicals and nitrates as we lead millions of animals to slaughter.
The science be damned as environmental health has become political fodder.
With zero-fucks-given for the world we will leave our sons and our..

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a_charming_mess

Jan 20

•• Finishing up the faux tin ceiling in the Haunted Mansion reno. The room will be dubbed "Master Gracie's Gaming Parlour. •• Cats, Kids, Glue, and all that.

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a_charming_mess

Jan 19

Wearing my favorite croppy today "Black Death European Tour 1347-1351"

Also here to remind all the people that "age-appropriate-clothing" is an invention. Wear whatever the hell makes you happy & comfortable.

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a_charming_mess

Jan 18

•• time to lose yourself with me ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 16

•• My 10 year old gifted me this cup. What a little gem, eh? Tell me your favorite gift from this holiday season 👇••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 15

A glimpse into our week at Children’s Hospital with Molly. We are home with oxygen as she continues to recover from Flu A and Pneumonia. I spent little time sleeping and a lot of time cuddling, watching monitors, and thinking.

I thought about how grateful I am for my kids and their health (though they’ve been hit hard since November), for Derek and his calming presence, and for family that goes above and beyond to make us feel loved every day we were sick, sad, and tired (my parents deserve a vacation after taking care of the rest of our ill kids, animals, and a new puppy — Jeff & Tina were heroes with pizza — my sis kept a smile on my face — thank you).

I watched and listened to the doctors, nurses, and support staff. There is a certain determination in the way they hold themselves along with a weariness in their eyes that speaks to the gravity of their responsibility. Life-altering and life-saving decisions made day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

I heard the whir and throttle of the life-flight helicopter, felt the rumble of its engine through the walls as it took off and landed right above our heads on level 9. I felt anxiety for the children transported by air and a nauseating gut-punch knowing that there are children who will never leave — their families left hollow with the gaping, wretched void that is grief.

I thought about my selfishness at pushing aside my flu/Covid vaccinations this year — always meaning to get it done this week or the next…not realizing that weeks turned into months. Prioritizing convenience over health — decisions that come with consequences. While I can never know if it would have made a difference — I do know that if you have the chance to protect the vulnerable along with yourself, you should do it.

My thoughts circled around our ease of getting the care we needed and how difficult that is for so many — how healthcare should be accessible and affordable to all and that it’s not — how that’s not just a damn shame but a disgrace to the betterment of humanity.

Now, I sit here in a daze — tired. Tired of feeling the heaviness of the world and sitting comfortably without doing much to change it. I have work to do.

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a_charming_mess

Jan 8

•• 2025 vibes ••

Eat. Drink. Breathe. Kick ass. Repeat. .....and....goooooooooo!

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a_charming_mess

Jan 6

•• Would you put an espresso machine in your bathroom? ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 6

•• "Let me see, what are my other shortcomings. I get in the dumps at times, and don't open my mouth for days on end. You must not think I am sulky when I do that. Just let me alone, and I'll soon be right." -- Sherlock ••

Same. Saaaaame.

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a_charming_mess

Jan 4

•• So. How's your year going so far? ••

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a_charming_mess

Jan 2

•• The four year old is snoring next to me, snuggled into my side. I'm busy dreaming up all the weird, moody, and beautiful things I want to share this year. It's going to be a ride. Hope you're ready. 🖤••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 31

•• Tell me your intentions for the new year. I'll share mine this week. ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 29

•• All around me are familiar faces
Worn-out places, worn-out faces ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 28

•• "to the ends of the Earth, would you follow me?" ••
@lordhuron at Red Rocks in May. I'll be there. Thanks @mrcharmingmess

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a_charming_mess

Dec 25

•• If they gave me a choice, if they left it to me, I know just what my present would be.... ••

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a_charming_mess

Dec 24

•• Precious moments ••

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I wrote this at 2 AM with a fever of 104 last month (pneumonia is a beast). It’s one of the many pieces I’ve written with no intention of sharing publicly. I often fight with myself — wondering if my words have the meaning I intend, feeling as though I’m robbed of eloquence, or that… [Continue Reading]
“Whoa! That’s so cool,” my kids gasped, breathless in their excitement as they saw the colors stream through my camera lens. What looked to be a faint line of pink quickly burst into a blend of dark pink, purple, blue, and green. Photography is magic. The human eye is fairly weak, really. We’re just not… [Continue Reading]
A handful of weeks ago, I thought about writing this post – and I want to add that it also had a great title at the time (I specifically remember thinking, “WOW, that’s a BOMB title!”). As it happens, I can’t recall it (*pulls out hair in frustration*) and this post remains title-less until it… [Continue Reading]
“Autumn’s Fire” fine art print available here Leaf peeping is at its height here in the mountains of Colorado and I feel like there is a renewed interest in learning to appreciate nature and its gifts. We were lucky to be able to drive up Guanella Pass — one of the most popular aspen-viewing drives… [Continue Reading]
My brain is currently in Halloween mode, obviously. As I was collecting my favorite finds for the week, I stumbled on several great pieces from Antique Farmhouse. Antique Farmhouse is a longtime favorite of mine — and they recently featured product photos of mine for their Sleepy Hollow promotion event. Weekly Seasonal Favorites The Sleepy… [Continue Reading]