Author: Hanlod

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 32

Day 32: “A Formula for Networking”

Hi

How are you?

*shake hand*

[Wait for response]

My name is [insert name]

And I work for [insert company]

We are a [talk about company]

[Wait for introduction]

It’s so great to meet you!

What are you thinking of the conference so far?

[Wait for response]

Me too!

I really enjoy [input new tidbit here]

[Wait for response]

So what do you like about your job?

[Or] how long have you worked at [insert company name]?

[Or] what are you working on?

[Wait for answer]

[Continue meaningful conversation]

[Continue meaningful conversation]

*Conversation fades*

*Turn around*

*Spot someone new*

[Repeat]

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 31

Day 31: “On Feeling Misunderstood”

Everyone hates feeling misunderstood

Why?

Why is it a collective experience?

An inkling of confusion

Sets off your temper

Annoyance and frustration

Seep into your tone

In a snap

A question

Becomes a curse

When I was young

Sitting at the family dinner table

Everyone would talk and talk and talk

And if could get a word in

No one was listening anyway

I felt unheard

Misunderstood

Undervalued

Unworthy

I guess I know why I hate feeling misunderstood

It takes me back to a feeling of not being listened to

Not worthy of being listened to

Not worthy of being understood

But that can’t be everyone’s experience

What’s yours?

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 30

Day 30: “Notes to Self”

What makes me feel unstoppable?

Working out

Sometimes not even working out but just putting on a cute workout set

Getting out of the shower

Finishing my chores

Napping

Not moving for a man when I’m walking down the street

Making him move out of my way

Writing

Organizing

Kissing my man

Hearing my cat purring

Watching “You’ve Got Mail”

Making a new recipe and it turning out delicious

A sunny day

A cloudy day

A rainy day

Depending on my mood

A South Block smoothie

Clear skin

New glasses

Reading a good book

Taking a break from social media

Trixie Mattel

Buying a new outfit

Wearing said new outfit

Going to bed early

Getting up early

Stretching

Sleeping

Drinking water

Drinking cold water with a mint in my mouth

Seeing my favorite artist in concert

Taking breaks

Interior decorating

When I finish putting together new furniture

Emma Chamberlain’s YouTube channel

Coffee shops

Doing my nails

Spring

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 29

Day 29: “Heaven Is”

What does heaven feel like?

To me, it’s cuddling

With my cat

With my stuffed animal

With my man

It’s listening to a new song from my favorite artist’s

Favorite artist

It’s the fall

And Christmas

It’s the sound of the waves crashing on the beach

It’s a hug from my mom

It’s my favorite comfort tv show

And a cozy blanket

It’s reading the new Hunger Games book

By the window

When it’s raining

It’s the smell of rain

The crash of thunder

The flash of lightning

It’s good food

It’s waking up on vacation

And staying in bed for hours

Because there are no responsibilities

It’s watching my favorite celebrities’ press tours on YouTube

It’s taking naps

It’s a cloudy day

It’s watching the sunrise

And going out for breakfast

It’s a farmers’ market

It’s the perfect date

April 25

Because it’s not too hot

It’s not too cold

All you need is a light jacket

It’s nostalgia

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 28

Day 28: “Growth”

If you told me a year ago that I’d be able to listen to myself

And take care of myself

Without thinking about it

Second nature

I’d say you’re crazy

My impulse was always to take care of others

Mediate

Put myself last

Be a good woman or girl

And leave my needs out of it

But recently I had a breakthrough

I took a moment to myself

I listened

I rested

I did what was best for me

That may sound simple

Obvious

But for me,

That’s huge

Because I didn’t have to convince myself to take a break

I just did what I needed in the moment

It was second nature

I guess therapy really does work

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 27

Day 27: “Life’s Joys”

One of my favorite things in life

Is the moving sidewalk at the airport

It brings me so much joy

I turn up the music in my headphones

And strut

And jam

It feels like freedom

Tonight, my flight was delayed by 3 hours

So I walked my ass down to the concourse between terminals

To walk the moving sidewalks in a loop

Hopping on

Hopping off

And back on again

This one even has a light show to make it that much more fun

I jammed

And I strutted

And I had the time of my life

A Poem a Day: a Series – Day 25

Day 25: “Anxiety”

My brain likes to make up stories

Not fun, heartwarming

Tuck-your-kids-in-bed kind of stories

No, they’re unnecessary

Disturbing

Wake-up-screaming kind of stories

Like why do I have a recurring thought that my cat will make it onto my balcony

And fall off

And why did I have a different thought today that my dog

(Who lives with my mom back home)

Would make it onto my balcony

(But in my head it wasn’t even my balcony—it looked different)

And jump onto my patio furniture

(That I don’t have)

And step onto the concrete ledge

(My balcony has steel bars)

And fall off

Horrifying

Unnecessary

Yet involuntary

I didn’t ask to have that thought

Yet it happened

I just have to pray I’m not psychic

And hope it’s just anxiety