Notes from the Red Bird House

The bludgeon rises Steady On knees Hands raised Weapon down I do not plead Beg Grovel Or Flinch Each blow taken Deserved Earned Harder Please harder Soul bloodied Tear-stained Unbowed Another Please another.

"People who wade into discomfort and vulnerability and tell the truth about their stories are the real badasses."  ~Brene Brown  Here is my story.... A few months ago, before my first phone date with a woman I'd met on a dating site, a good friend introduced me to vulnerability. I'd been freaking the f*** out about the upcoming call for days. Yes, it was just a phone date. I kept trying to tell myself that over and over, but the more I thought about it, the bigger it got. And the more nervous I got. You see, I hadn't dated anyone in years (YEARS) and I had never dated anyone like her. If her voice, I told myself, was half as awesome as her text messages, she'd be The One. But first I had to overcome everything I felt holding me back - nerves, fear, my past. In my mind, everything - literally the rest of my life - hinged on this phone call. After saying this probably a few too many times, my friend brought in the big gun, a Ted Talk by Brene Brown. Vulne