Peace

Photo by Parker Galloway

I’m three months into drinking Mushroom Coffee and a lot has happened in my life

And somehow

I don’t feel fazed

More things

Cool

There’s always stuff

My partner has to deal with stuff at work

Now that he is fully responsible in title and salary

It’s only been a few weeks but that’s really helped to normalize this life

He’ll tell me about the crazy shit that happens over there and

The things I share don’t seem so outlandish

It’s nice

It’s comforting

We are both managing all sorts of chaos in pursuit of sales goals and

Good service

I’m not alone anymore in this

And I have all these friends and acquaintances who also run businesses and get it

As I step into my new store

Corner of a store but still

It feels organic

I’m ready

I’m mentally prepared

No more hourly rate

Ah

But the skies the limit in terms of what can be earned in a given day

And somehow I feel

Peace

Peace be with you

Like during Catholic Mass

When we shake strangers’ hands

I will be shaking SO many strangers’ hands

All of the time

Constantly

And it’ll feel just like that repetition

Day in and day out

There will be no spare income

Everything will go to my bills and the business and making sure I can eat

Buy groceries every week and go to the gym

We’re back

I didn’t realize how hard I left but God

I did

I needed that break

I see so much more now

New Orleans isn’t so strange anymore

I have a much better sense of what I can rely on myself for

And what I should ask others to help me with

Steady progress has turned into steady rewards and the most valuable currency of all

Good will

Towards others

Always

It doesn’t matter if they wish me ill will or not

I remain grounded in generosity

And heart

Today is one of my very good friend’s birthday

He has a huge heart

He’s more selfless than anyone I know in fact

He practically disappears

Every ounce of his energy is in service of his mission

It inspires me

I wouldn’t live the way he lives but I am not him

And he is not me

But our spirits and missions are complimentary

We bring out the best in each other as people and in the work

More of that all around I hope

A snowball effect

More media people kindred spirits

Especially these Virgos

They are my opposite and my

North and South Node Transformation buddy as indicated by the tattoos on the back of both my arms

Almost two years ago

Me and all the other Pisces and all the other Virgos embarked on a journey

We had one thing in common

We desperately hoped for peace but the kind that comes only after you’ve done something extraordinarily brave

And survived

Standing on the other side

This piece is in honor of all the Mountains we each of us climbed

And everybody who is still among us here on Earth

Who made it

To those who didn’t

I am sure your presence was required elsewhere

And I hope to see you again someday

It’s crazy

What it’s like living only on your own energy

Plus Mushrooms

And not coffee

I’m only serving coffee for a living for a few more weeks

Onward and upward but first

Down below

French Quarter Style

Wild Artist Style