NYC, Philadelphia (2), San Antonio- City photos by the author, Laelia Watt The Allentown, PA Symphony Orchestra was performing Ralph Vaughn William's cantata, Dona Nobis Pacem, when I recalled my first impression of war. The piece was written between WWI and WWII as a plea for peace and using lyrics pulled from scripture, Walt Whitman'sContinue reading "Eyeless Buildings and Soulless Bodies"
The Worst Walk
The Offending Park- photo by the author-Laelia Watt The weather cleared enough after a few weeks of cold that I decided to take a brief stroll before heading to the grocery store. There is a park at the bottom of a hill in town with a pleasant path that follows a creek and a smallContinue reading "The Worst Walk"
Water Buffalos and River Dreams
Wissahickon Valley Park- view near the covered bridge, by Laelia Watt 2024 Wissahickon Creek flowed imperceptibly in the area I chose to relax. I found a large flat boulder, perfect for sitting to write in a small notebook I brought along to work through ideas. The trees along the river mirrored on the surface ofContinue reading "Water Buffalos and River Dreams"
Why Mental Health and Empathy Matter to Me Part 3
Lighthouse near San-Tropez, France (2018) photo by author Laelia Watt- taken while on a ferry boat with my beloved French-American aunt, on a trip that my friend generously invited me to join her when I couldn't have otherwise afforded to go. Reggie* sauntered by the homeless shelter window wearing a McDonald's bag on his head.Continue reading "Why Mental Health and Empathy Matter to Me Part 3"
Why Mental Health and Empathy Matter to Me Part 2
Photo of a dried piece of wood in the mountains of Arizona that looked to me like an animal skull. *Trigger warning- suicide ideation mentioned briefly* The nightmares were unbearable. They plagued me from childhood through my early twenties, but I attributed them to an active imagination and a fearful personality. Even at twenty-four whenContinue reading "Why Mental Health and Empathy Matter to Me Part 2"
Why Mental Health and Empathy Matter to Me Part 1
My first work study job in college was in 2002 as the secretary of the counseling office in a small Christian liberal arts college, smack dab in the middle of what we call the "Bible Belt" in the United States. Even though May was designated Mental Health Awareness month in 1949, there was still aContinue reading "Why Mental Health and Empathy Matter to Me Part 1"
FRAGILE HUMAN is now a Registered Trademark!
Over ten years ago, the seed of an idea started to grow in my imagination. I drew a bumper sticker design (more on that another day) on a piece of paper while bored at work one day, and the idea eventually expanded to include a blog featuring creative nonfiction essays, social media posts, and aContinue reading "FRAGILE HUMAN is now a Registered Trademark!"
Five Books that Promote Empathy
One of the many reasons I love creative nonfiction and chose to create this brand with creative nonfiction essays at the core of it, is because hearing stories of other people's worldview and experiences widens the reader's worldview too. It is easy to paint an entire group of people with a wide brush and dismissContinue reading "Five Books that Promote Empathy"
We Are Like Trees
Fall tree in the author's New Jersey neighborhood, 2023. AUTHOR'S NOTE: This essay was originally written in 2015. I was dancing in the hall with my coworkers at the end of the day, when reality hit: "I'm THIRTY years old!" I said as I did another jig of joy at the reminder. I had beenContinue reading "We Are Like Trees"
Dream On, Fragile Human!
Author with sculpture "Little Nis" by Danish artist Thomas Dambo in Kentucky's Bernheim Forest- summer 2021 Dreams are not only fanciful imaginations that flit through our ever-fickle minds. They are a beautiful part of humanity. Each person is born with varying gifts and desires in their heart. Most people nurture those desires over the yearsContinue reading "Dream On, Fragile Human!"
FRAGILE HUMAN 