There have been a lot of dog food recalls lately, and a lot of dogs getting sick and dying. I know that what I see in news stories looks worse than it is. Most dogs are fine with commercial dog food. They thrive even. My own dog has been fine…

When my grandson was born, I weaned off my medication. I moved from Minnesota to North Dakota for a year and lost my health insurance. I was helping my daughter while she was in school and the Adderall I was taking for my ADHD was making me feel irritable and…

In all of 2020, I made exactly $33, and I joined in 2019. I’ve written about 2020 going down the tubes for me. I was trying to survive. I am glad to say 2021 has been a bit kinder. I am not getting rich, but it is still good to…

You spread your arms out Lean back and fall And I catch you Over and over Each time you sail Less hesitant, less resistant To gravity and all its force Sometimes it takes more than trust to make the catch And I learn this as my arms go numb and my…

She’s Up Sh**’S Creek in a Whole New Way — Like many other people, I didn’t start watching Schitt’s Creek until after the final episode aired. The show took home nine Emmy awards in 2020, which included Annie Murphy’s prize for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Alexis Rose, a socialite stripped of her money…

Joy rumbles like thunder Off my skin Through my veins and capillaries My air passages And all that makes me alive After the heatwave Paralyzed by the sun turned enemy I welcome the storm I could hear the thunder in the distance Even before the first drops of rain Sits suspended in…

I was more impressed with the Downton Abbey Movie — I don’t always have HBO, but I had a slight case of FOMO, so I decided to get it for a couple of months. Among the supposed “must-see” shows was the highly anticipated “Friends Reunion Special” hosted by James Corbin. …

There is no sword as sharp as silence The serrated blade twists Inches from my heart And will not let me let go Every scrape stings Like vinegar on an open wound And will never heal All I hear is your laughter Maniacal giggles Singsong gotchas As I swallow my tears And my screams for more of the dark side try Paint the Wall With Pain Life isn’t always a pretty picture; paint it anyway.medium.com Gretchen Lee Bourquin obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature/Creative Writing in another life. She worked in disability care, customer service, and education administration — and as a single mom of two, now grown, kids- before delving into freelancing as a content writer. She’s enjoying the opportunity that Medium provides to get a little more personal and put the creativity back in her writing. Follow me on my Facebook Writing Page, Twitter, or my blog.

Having ADHD often means being unsure or which way to go or what way to turn. It can aggravate depression and anxiety and bring out bouts of forgetfulness and general brain fog. All of this is sometimes better with medication, but the challenges never really go away. Over the past…