Practical traction after a hard hit—field notes and tools for rebuilding without performative positivity
Some words arrive late but sound as though they have been with us all our lives. “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” —Rocky Balboa Those words come from Rocky Balboa, released in 2006. That creates a wrinkle in my memory: the exact … Continue reading The Stories That Taught Me How to Take a Hit
There is a particular kind of sinking feeling that comes with opening your pay and realizing that something you were counting on simply isn't there. Not because you misunderstood what you were being paid. Not because you forgot something. You did the work. You submitted the hours. Somebody just didn't pass them along. This month … Continue reading When Extra Work Doesn’t Show Up on the Paycheque
What Silence Hides Content note / disclaimer: This post discusses suicide, grief, and warning signs surrounding the death of a friend. It is a personal reflection based on my own memories and understanding of events, not a clinical assessment of anyone involved and not an attempt to assign responsibility for another person's death. Some details … Continue reading After the Candle
Later today, I am going to light a candle. Brandon “Gypsy” Birch. Brendan Roche. Brendan Myers. Chris Benson. Lisa Rondeau. “Parsnip” Thomas. And there are others whose names I know are there, somewhere in the back of my head, refusing to come forward at this particular moment. That bothers me a little, but perhaps it … Continue reading A Candle for the Unfinished Goodbyes
Hey, Standing on the Ledge. How are y’all today? Today has been a strange mix of victories, frustrations, and the usual business of trying to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Let’s start with the victory. Organizational Behaviour is officially done. Final weighted grade: 94%. A+. Yay! And I am going to … Continue reading An A+, a Bank, and Another Step Forward
When Everything Is Wearing You Down Hello, Standing on the Ledge. How are we today? I am not having a particularly good mental health day. There really isn't a more elegant way to put it than that. Sleep has been uneven for about the last three weeks. I can't seem to get myself onto anything … Continue reading Today Is Today
Standing on the Ledge now has 57 subscribers. That is not a huge number by internet standards. Nobody is calling me from a publishing empire, I have not become an influencer, and I am reasonably certain there are house cats with larger online followings. But that number means something to me because this whole thing … Continue reading The Next Step Is Not Another Book
Well, This Explains a Few Things Apparently I have chased another rabbit. This one did not begin with work, money, relationships, rebuilding my life, or trying to make sense of something that happened to me. It began with four letters, two numbers, a wing, and another pair of letters that looked suspiciously like somebody had … Continue reading ISFP 6w5 so/sp
Today, I Don't Give a Crap Hey there, ledge walkers. How are you all today? I hope you're having a better day than I am. I wasn't sure whether I was going to post this. Part of me thought maybe I should just keep it to myself, let the mood pass, and come back when … Continue reading The Give-a-Crap Tank Is Empty
It has been a strange day. At some point today, without thinking about it, I found myself fiddling with a wedding ring that no longer exists. I was turning it with my thumb, feeling the texture of the metal against my finger. I could almost hear the faint clink as it moved. For a moment, … Continue reading The Ring That Wasn’t There
Standing on the Ledge 