Writing prompt: self-doubt — When I call a halt On building self-esteem Where plans are But an empty dream It’s not my fault I want to scream Then I say, you see, Ego was right, You’ll never succeed Give up the fight You’re not enough So forget the thrill Of attempting stuff You don’t…

How the hell do I find the writers I follow — they’ve disappeared down a rabbit hole — I wanted to send a query to the Medium Help desk but thought it would be useful to share my concerns here first because I’m sure others are also pulling their hair out in frustration. Before I continue, I should point out the problems relate to the Chrome web version…

International protests happening on Saturday 13 August — Ha! I trumped you there, didn’t I? Does the lady protest too much on International Left Handers day? Methinks not. The founder of Left Handers International, Inc., Dean R. Campbell, created this holiday in 1976 to raise awareness of what makes left-handed people special, and the struggles that us lefties…

Just another sob story to promote the ‘came from nothing’ narrative — I won’t cry for you. Elon Musk grew up in white suburbia — a safe place for kids to play in the streets — far away from the burning black townships. The story about his being so badly beaten at Pretoria Boys High School in 1988 that he that he…

I need to vent — lament for an empty page — I pulled the plug, yet No ideas drained From this hapless brain. Nor did the gravity of the situation Cause any discourse To sink into my heart Where I could kick-start My writing engine. I think I’m on The brink of a breakdown. Now helicopter fingers Hover Over keyboard. These…

Rape is a social problem in South Africa because of toxic masculinity — National Women’s Day on 9 August commemorates the march of over 20,000 women to the Union Buildings on that day in 1956 to protest against the extension of *pass laws to women. * The pass laws applied to non-Europeans only. They had to carry a reference book on them at…

What are they doing about watts in a power plant? — After enduring five weeks of rolling power blackouts, South Africans heaved an enormous sigh of relief. Traffic congestion eased, our stress levels dropped, and we could get on with our work — in my case, writing — without running out of battery power. Although I know it’ll happen again, I…

Thrifty Words 100 #79: Anniversary — Neither of us remembers our wedding anniversary. We know it’s September but must haul out our marriage certificate to check the date — and year! We lived together for *many years before we did the dreaded deed. …

Don’t allow a toxic personality to batter your self-esteem — Acerbic wit Poor taste Bitter truth and sour grapes Hanging fruit on Windows of juicy gossip Dripping with sarcasm They sweep their audience Off their feet Beating the dust to the door A metaphor Their running shoes Reach the exit first Driven by thirst for bringing People down to their…