Personal essays are my way of dealing with something that weighs on my mind. It is usually when I know things are connected–people, events, art, life/death–but I cannot see or understand the weave or pattern until I write about it. I’ve heard it said writing shouldn’t be used as therapy, but over the years I’ve started to think that’s a lie. After all, don’t all writers use writing as a way to explore how different actions could lead to different outcomes, or why people do what they do?

The following two essays are examples of writing my way into understanding.