Pam Parker's Blog
June 6, 2020
Marking a Big Birthday during the Pandemic
I had one of those birthdays coming during the pandemic. A big one that ended in a zero. Before the arrival of the nasty-ass-virus, I’d…
March 16, 2020
Make a Plan-demic
With unexpected at-home time, make a plan for how you will spend that time. You have choices. Make them.
March 10, 2019
New post at the Writing Cooperative
Perseverance matters, always, but especially for writing. Hoping you’ll hop over to the Writing Cooperative for my latest post, Never Ever Give Up.
At Time Out Cafe in Glasgow’s West End.
New post at the Writing Cooperative was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
October 10, 2018
June 19, 2018
May 31, 2018
Lessons from a Stagnant Season
From the English Oxford Living Dictionaries online“Showing no activity; dull and sluggish.” Dull and sluggish describes my brain function well this year — often. I’m able to do many of the things I expect myself (and others expect of me) to do. The grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking, laundry, bill paying — they’re all getting done, sometimes half-heartedly, sometimes later than they “should” be, but they’re happening. It’s extremely challenging for me to get much done beyond those things — especially to continue sorting, tossing, recycling and packing the contents of thirty years in our home. And my inability to proceed there seems to have blocked my progress in many areas of my life. Thankfully, I don’t feel like crawling in bed and never crawling out, but I feel stuck. Like a “body of water…having no current or flow,” though I don’t have the “unpleasant smell as a consequence.”
Photo by Chloé Lam on UnsplashSince I can no longer tolerate this stagnant season, I’ve had to reflect on why I’m stuck and what to do about it. So many questions arise. Why have I let this go on so long? (Thank you, depression.) Why have I become an unreliable friend? Emails and texts can go unanswered, or answered very late. Neglect of others is not something I’d choose, is not the person I want to be. (Thank you, depression.) I’ve grown accustomed to these stuck feelings in late winter, to battling the clouds in my head. So why has this year been different? What am I to learn in this stagnant season of my life?
I’ve learned I can hide my sadness and feelings of worthlessness from others, but not from myself.
I’ve learned that writing can help, but not completely vanguish the darkness.
I’ve learned that trying to ignore uncomfortable thoughts, feelings and fears does not erase them.
I’ve learned that my ongoing commitment to regular exercise, writing and taking my anti-depressants are not enough this time to keep down the depression demons.
I’ve learned (again) that depression lies. For when I can sit back and objectively evaluate this year, I see actions, connections and writing of which I should be grateful and proud.
I’ve learned that I can’t live well when constantly comparing my concerns and problems to others who always seem to have worse problems.
I’ve learned I need more help to truly step out of these muddy waters.
After many years, I have returned to seeing a therapist. I need some guidance and encouragement to fully embrace the blessed life I’ve been given. I am ready to kick this stagnant season farewell and I have to believe therapy and my commitment to being honest with myself will lead me where I want to go: to live with joy and purpose, to be able to BE a blessing in this world.
Lessons from a Stagnant Season was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
May 16, 2018
Radio — Making the Invisible Visible
We have an incredible radio station in Milwaukee, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee. I listen to them often and loved them before I ever read their mission statement — which I looked up recently because they FEEL like a radio station that loves its city and is on a mission to support, promote and improve it. Here’s what they say:
“ Through music and stories created for a culturally open-minded community, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee is a catalyst for creating a better, more inclusive and engaged Milwaukee.
— Mission Statement, 88Nine Radio Milwaukee
We love Milwaukee.
Our city isn’t perfect. What city is? But we believe in Milwaukee — as it is today, and in its potential to become even better.”
They have created a multimedia series “Invisible Lines.” Again, here’s what they say about it:
I attended a preview of these “conversations about race, segregation and prejudice” Monday morning at Radio Milwaukee. And, here’s what I say — every one in this country needs to see this series, but especially those who deny that white privilege exists. We need to get this series into college conversations, human resources offices so they can determine how and where to share in their workplaces, police departments, bouncers and the folks that hire them at night clubs, hospitals, teachers for all ages.
Everywhere.
Why are these videos so incredible? They are eye-opening conversations, unscripted, about experiences of racism, prejudice and segregation in one city in the United States. One city that is very divided. I’ve written before about my own inexperience with people of color, and if you’d like to hear more about that, please have a short listen to my 3 minute audio-essay on WUWM:
Essay: My Legacy Won't Be White-Washed
The Invisible Things We Must Bring to LightThese conversations bring to light so many things that I’m ashamed to say had never occurred to me. A few moments that are lingering for me: a black man having to ask a young police officer to calm down during a driving-while-black pull over. A black man kept out of a night club by an ever-changing dress code, adapting to black fashion trends. A hispanic woman in college being called a dirty bitch by someone who had dropped his litter in one of the communal campus spaces. There are many, many more. Please watch the series. And then, share it — far and wide.
https://medium.com/media/be4c30dffa275724745a93c4d71f130c/href.
Radio — Making the Invisible Visible was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
May 11, 2018
I have a story up at The Writing Cooperative — though it’s written especially for authors, it has…
I have a story up at The Writing Cooperative — though it’s written especially for authors, it has relevance to all readers. Hope you might take a look there and if it speaks to you, could you give it some hand clapping love? (FYI — the clapping there is more helpful than clapping here or on Facebook. :-) ) ❤ Link is below, above the graphic.
I have a story up at The Writing Cooperative — though it’s written especially for authors, it has… was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
April 16, 2018
Hop On Over…
Hope you’ll hop over to Invisible Illness for my piece — Furiously Funny. Recommended reading about mental illness — whether you struggle or not.
Thanks for shouts over there if it speaks to you.
Hop On Over… was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
March 19, 2018
Social Changes
Dear Followers,
For those of you in the United States, you can feel it too, can’t you? There are movements brewing, stirring, percolating. #BlackLivesMatter has been ongoing for five years and the country still needs it. We need to assist that movement wherever and whenever we can.
More recently though, #MeToo and #NeverAgain have risen up. I hope you’ll read my recent post Invisible and Silent No Longer Thanks to Women’s History Month. I have strong feelings as I see women raised after Women’s History Month came into being (and encouraged the addition of women to our social studies text books and curricula) speaking out, powerfully and visibly, for these movements.
We owe a debt of gratitude to all who worked to see Women’s History Month become a reality — and we owe a thank you to Ronald Reagan, who signed it into being in 1987.
Would love to hear your thoughts and comments on the article if you have a chance! (Clapping too, perhaps? :-) )
With hope for the future,
Pam Parker.
Social Changes was originally published in Pam Writes on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
