Waking up to a productive day means starting fresh and full of energy. I love the early morning hours just before sunrise. I sit at my desk, working and watching the dawn break in the east through a large bay window. The world has rested, and some third-shift workers head home to recharge after finishing their shifts. I begin to thrive once again. The beauty of an ambitious nature lies in its harmony with the universe, and I immediately feel Mother Earth's energies awakening

The proof of Calhoun Mane’s participation in troublesome behaviors came down to his mimicry. If popular peers acted immaturely, Calhoun went along with them despite his conscience telling him the ramifications. His mentality led him to a symbolic debate stage. The angel on his right shoulder encouraged him to turn the other cheek. A devilish character left him seeking a different way forward. Starting high school made life hard. Calhoun spun the dial on his combination lock,

As a reader deeply immersed and engaged in my interests in books, the personality of an author has always stood out most to me. If I read the back of a book and find it compelling, I have sincerely committed to the entire literature from cover to cover. I understand that algorithms and targeted keywords drive traffic to my store and website, and that word choice influences digital visibility. Technology has made salesmanship a brand awareness challenge I accept.   My new phil

A dollar wasn’t much money in 1979, but for Calhoun Mane, that single bill turned into a profitable enterprise. Every day on his walk to Shawnee Elementary School, he stopped at Brewer’s, a convenience store for people living in downtown Xenia, Ohio. Sure, other townspeople shopped at larger stores like Fulmer’s and Kroger, but for children like Calhoun, raised on the Eastside, the selection of candy at Brewer’s made this small shop special. Calhoun usually bought 101 pieces

To be completely honest about my journey through life, I grew up in a family of tricksters. My parents worked as carnival performers, enticing patrons to toss rings over pop bottles sprayed with cooking lubricants.   We weren’t diabolical thieves heisting jewelry, robbing banks, or even burglarizing the rich. We performed simple acts that entertained the public, all in an effort to help people part with their nickels and dimes.   I adopted a moral code to stop using a deck of

I have failed; it’s inevitable. I understand the feeling; it’s a cognitive process. Success is a modeled behavior that fits into a box. I, however, do not conform to any one shape. A business management professor once told me that right-brain people must stay free to create without the burden of stress. In response to his suggestion that I am creative, I am equally analytical when the situation demands it. In the center of my mind, I decide what comes next. I am the quintesse

When I lived near the beach, the sight of those vast bodies of water meant one thing. I had reached the edge of the Earth on journeys that led to endless possibilities.   I remember the uniqueness of each seashell washed ashore. I would pick one up, feel its texture, admire the colorful patterns, and make it a keepsake. I once lived my life that way. I sought adventure at destinations that promised something new. I have always wanted to explore what the world has to offer.  

Gerry Mane turned every opportunity into a competition, especially with his younger brother, Calhoun. In just a few months, Gerry would graduate from high school and join the Air Force, making the chip on his shoulder even larger. When Gerry challenged Calhoun to a race around the block in opposite directions, he sprinted off without giving his brother a fair start. Calhoun sped off seconds after Gerry reached the first corner.   Gerry’s ego kept him jogging at a quick pace,

Beth and I held hands as we walked through the tunnels beneath the gymnasium. The locker rooms and offices were empty during the games, so I led her to a bench where we started kissing. My hands explored areas that could risk our suspension if caught by an adult. I desperately wanted to go beyond just touching. When she led me into a closet where a stack of wrestling mats made a perfect spot for us to go all the way. Our pants slid down to our knees, and we became more than j

King Solomon once said, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it" (Proverbs 4:23). I had to confront the elephant in my life. For many years, I could not love properly according to God's teachings, seeing prosperity as a barrier. I naively protected a heart that deserved much more than the stubbornness I showed. When my personal transformations occurred, and God revealed Himself to me, I saw the need for the unconditional love He offers. At first

God placed me in darkness so that the light of His presence would remain recognizable. I walked upon Him in one of the darkest times in my life. He wanted me to suffer and to realize the truth about how those who endure according to God’s will are His chosen people. I collaborated with my foster mother to capture the emotional responses driven by human nature and to prove that, in certain circumstances, selfishness is closer to selflessness. My birth mother tried hard to have

A realm of pure consciousness I hid within my victimhood hindered my growth during adolescence. I took no responsibility for the events that kept me trapped in immaturity. The convenience of blame and shame only complicates things; healing requires a bold declaration that human nature does not overpower the empowered human Spirit. Our natural energy provides a refuge in our efforts to manage emotional triggers, helping us reconnect with a renewed sense of life after experienc

As an ode to a traditional choir, driven by a passion for perfection, a resounding hymn is a message to God.   Apostle Paul wrote, “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:18b-20).   A Christian choir harmonizes, exemplifying the Lord’s fellowship, faithfully expressi

“In our minds, the August heat turned the shade into a cool retreat as Ricky and I sat under a pavilion at the beach. Caesar’s Creek Lake was this prime teenage weekend hangout, considering we were a bunch of spoiled hillbillies hankering around Ohio. Our beach was a luxury most locals took advantage of weekly during nice summer days. The hot pavement had burned the bottoms of our feet while even walking such a short distance from Ricky’s car. We hopped over the sand in leapi

The early morning appeared cloudier than the day before, but Calhoun Mane hoped for a bigger catch. After working a twelve-hour shift as a rigger on a loading dock, the hours he spent crabbing with his friend Poopy, also known as Craig, provided him with extra income and enjoyment. On a day when they caught five or six crates of blue crab, Calhoun earned around $250 to $300, and that money added up after three or four trips out on Keith Lake. He made $1,200 a week operating e

The parking lot had just one remaining spot before reaching full capacity, and everyone was waiting for a delivery truck to bring fuel. Calhoun pulled in and turned off the engine. Kameron, his girlfriend, sat impatiently in the passenger seat, fussing about the inconvenience. Calhoun leaned over the center console, asking for a kiss, only to find her resistance heightened their anxiety. Kameron watched an older woman sitting in her automobile, worried about the effects of th

Beth arrived with her parents at Calhoun’s house early on a Saturday evening. Her parents socialized with Calhoun’s family. Bob and Chloe often visited a nearby bar several times a week. Gary and Cheryl also spent a few evenings at the same place after long workdays. When they left the two youngsters in the care of Gerry and Meredith, Calhoun’s older siblings, a game of hide-and-seek kept the four kids entertained. Calhoun and Beth, both eleven years old, instantly became clo

Calhoun Mane had a mischievous streak rooted in his sense of humor, but he had rarely done anything so destructive. When his mother, Chloe Le Coureur, disappeared from the house for two weeks, he had a gut feeling she had abandoned him once again. The pattern of her coming and going weighed heavily on a mind already burdened with grief. He believed she must have had reasons to leave her children repeatedly. Whenever she returned, Calhoun and his siblings, Meridith and Gerry,

When the distance grows between siblings who have experienced abuse, the emotional pain can feel much more intense than the physical aspect of the ordeal.   Calhoun Mane lay in his corner of the living room without a blanket. His stomach growled from lack of food in the small one-bedroom apartment. At least Michael Wheeler, one of the eighteen-year-olds who aged out of the Ohio Veterans’ Children Home, had a recliner. Chico Morena, the other man who aged out, slept in the bed

When I truly began prioritizing wellness, meditation introduced me to a realm of peaceful harmony. My success depended on a quiet mind that could experience the rhythm of calm within my consciousness. The medication I prescribed developed when self-love gained enough self-respect to guide my sense of self-worth. An empty mind, reminiscent of a blank canvas, has many uses, both for well-informed knowledge and for its application. When I began writing professionally, my talent