A De Gama Vanilla Chai Got Me To Stop Recently
Poetically Powered! A De Gama Vanilla Chai Got Me To Stop Recently
Welcome to Poetically Powered Newsletter! I am so grateful for you to want my words in your mailbox.
I don’t realize how much I’m doing, moving, getting done, working until I really stop, settle, and just take that moment to breathe, not move, maybe sip something beautiful. I saw and took a picture of this jacked stop sign that looked too artistic not to. I didn’t realize that stop sign was actually telling me a silent thing that I really haven’t listened to lately.
In past lives, what I did had a lot of down time. I worked, and was busy, but consistently not busy certain days of the week. These days I’d try to get shit done but, it’s hard to concentrate at work and whenever you’re working on something, reading, getting other work done suddenly everyone is interested in what you’re doing.
I stuffed a credit card in my sports bra. I’m carrying something to protect myself, it’s safe here, but you never shed the hyper vigilance especially when you have been followed so many times you can’t count anymore. I was walking my fast pace, moving at a good clip, feeling so good about getting so much distance down within a good amount of time and then I stopped in my tracks.
I saw the coffee place that I have been eyeballing every damn time I hike. Hiking in Houston we don’t have much inclines but we do have a lot of dirt paths, paths you can walk next to wildflowers and some blue bonnets. I was going to my most favorite path that no one knows about and never uses and I was like well. Hell. We gonna stop for once.
I stared at the menu, I hate making decisions and usually do it days before I do something. I chose the Vanilla Chai. I kept walking with it until I hit the bench over by my most favorite hiking trail. Well, two of them to be honest… or three. The reclusive areas no one really knows or uses much.
I sat. I drank this Vanilla Chai by De Gama and I was overtaken by damn this is the best shit I’ve had for a chai in Houston. There was a moment I sighed and felt my perspective, my attitude, my let me walk so hard my mental health has nothing BUT to give in to me.
I felt myself shift. Smiled at people passing me. Enjoyed more so the people watching then I have for forever. A Chai slowed me down, and I felt the sun, and I listened to the compost area near the Bayou, and I was present before, but not as present as then.
I was asked this recently, am I ready for WOWPS in Baltimore?
Are you ever ready for anything? But, I’ve done my homework religiously, immersed myself in poetry, and I am so so excited to see my friends in person and to be in this beautiful poetry.
Some heads up to some projects!
Catalysts is back! We are doing Tuesdays instead of Thursdays at 5pm CST. April dates are up, next one is April 5th, Sign up is: https://sarahbellummental.com/poeticworkshops/
The March shop is live! Ah! https://sarahbellummental.com/merch/ I’m so jazzed and also nervous? Here’s the link. I love the poems turned into shirts. We’ll be having more. I offer too—just the beginning. Also, my logo image that Shane Mainer made for me is one of the creators of Guerilla Poets.
I have a Patreon! It starts at $3 and has homemade, handmade, cards and goodies, full length poems, prompts, and the highest tier gets you into Poetic Catalysts once a month! https://www.patreon.com/sarahmentalpoet
*What I’m Reading: The Body Keeps The Score. *What I’m listening to Underwater, Porches
*What I’m getting ready for WOWPS, a feature on Sunday, having more memorized pieces
*What I’m writing: Random lines I’m connecting from my hikes. I love writing while in movement.
*What’s haunting me: How many times did I not slow down?
To all those who hear me, thank you. To all those struggling with kindness or self-compassion for yourself, I see you, I am you, but I know you’re magnificent. Be kind always to your mind.