“Be like water …”
“The idea
of being like water
is to attempt
to embody
the qualities
of fluidity
and naturalness
in one’s life.
Water can adjust
its shape
to any container,
it can be soft
or strong,
it is simply
and naturally
always itself,
and it finds
a way
to keep moving
and flowing.”
– Shannon Lee, from her book “Be Water, My Friend,”
honoring her father’s legacy
She Loved Barbie
i don’t know
but
this whole Barbie
thing
has brought back
unexpected emotion
and i haven’t even
seen the movie
yet
there are so many layers
to it
I can see it all
now
looking back …
books and Barbie
were an escape
from reality
too much to process
day-to-day
my reality wasn’t pretty
there were things
happening
that i never talked about
to anyone
it was not an easy
go
for a kid
who felt so much
and held it in
i’d just pretend
everything was ok
i’d just smile
and go about my way
staying positive
despite it all
only as an adult
have I been able
to process
my past
I’m grateful
i had my books
and my Barbies
and my unwavering faith
that it would be ok
somehow
some way
it would be ok
and I wouldn’t have to pretend
it was
it would just be ok
for real
TL
The Magic of Movies
empty theatres
blank marquees
locked doors
no lights
no lines
no popcorn
no candy
no drinks
no tickets
no anticipation
no animation
no action
no drama
no comedy
no love story
no nothing
nada
but in the Summer of 2023
Barbie
brought it all
back
TL
Barbie
when i was
a little girl
i escaped
to a perfect place
far from monsters
my inner child knew
there was a world
waiting …
where life could be
whatever you wanted it
to be …
TL