Blue Heeler was not Interested

'Rest Stops on a Journey' is a collection of some of the poetry throughout my life. Influences from prompts, whimsy, and reflection on a long life are shared in text interspersed with the poetry. This is my first published poetry collection, joining the bookshelf of academic and fictional books. I hope you enjoy it!

Tina Swithin's life was hit by a devastating storm in 2009. Tina had recently heard the words narcissistic personality disorder used to describe her then-husband by a therapist, yet she had no real understanding of how this disorder would turn her life upside down during a custody battle that spanned six years. In less than a year, Tina lost her home, businesses, cars, worldly possessions, and marriage.

Yes, Mindy Kaling is the genial Hollywood celebrity who posted twelve selfies from a single Oscar party, but that smile took work. In this hilariously honest essay, Mindy reflects on the social anxiety that she traces back to the slices of white cheese her parents served at her ninth birthday party. Little has changed in thirty years--least of all the fear of being judged forever. It’s probably best to just back away.

Although clinical research has been conducted on narcissism as a disorder, less is known about its effects on victims who are in toxic relationships with partners with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Individuals with this disorder engage in chronic devaluation and manipulation of their partners, a psychological and emotional phenomenon known as "narcissistic abuse". Unfortunately, the full extent of what narcissistic abuse entails is not taught in any psychology class or diagnostic manual.

Divorcing a narcissist? You are probably left feeling baffled and shaken by the communication that you receive from the narcissist. In my mid-20s, I contemplated learning multiple foreign languages. I envisioned dabbling in French to successfully make my way around Paris or Irish Gaelic to explore the rich history of Ireland along with my deep ancestral roots in that country. My day dreams about learning new languages always went hand in hand with the imagery of world travel.