I was born in 1991, the kind of year that felt like a world rebooting itself, all at once, all loud, all inevitable… like a guitar riff that hits the heart before the brain even registers the sound.
End of the Cold War and Dissolution of the Soviet Union
By late December 1991 the Soviet Union dissolved into 15 independent republics, ending almost half a century of Cold War tension and reshaping the global order.
Gulf War and Operation Desert Storm Ends
The Persian Gulf War’s combat phase, Operation Desert Storm, began in January 1991 and by late February coalition forces had liberated Kuwait, effectively ending major combat operations.
Rodney King Beating Caught on Camera
In March 1991 Los Angeles police officers brutally beat motorist Rodney King, and the videotaped footage ignited national outrage and conversations about police violence that still ripple through history.
Croatian War of Independence Starts
The Croatian War of Independence began in March 1991 as Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia, kicking off years of conflict that lasted until 1995.
Apartheid Laws Repealed in South Africa
In June 1991 South Africa’s Parliament repealed key apartheid legislation, a pivotal step toward majority rule and multiracial elections later in the decade.
World Wide Web Goes Public
August 1991 saw Tim Berners‑Lee’s World Wide Web become publicly available, planting the first seeds of the internet age that would grow into the network that now scribbles our lives together.
Music and Culture; Rise of Grunge
In 1991 Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” broke out of the underground and dragged grunge music into the mainstream, giving voice to a generation… and maybe explaining why I still love flannels and angst‑with‑a‑smile so much.
Movies That Dominated Theaters
Films like “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” dominated screens that year, each in its way defining what blockbuster storytelling could feel like.
Super Bowl XXV: Giants Over Bills
In sports, the New York Giants beat the Buffalo Bills 20–19 in Super Bowl XXV, one of the closest finishes in football’s biggest game.
Volcanic Power: Mount Pinatubo Erupts
In June Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines erupted, one of the largest volcanic events of the 20th century, cooling global temperatures and reshaping the landscape around it.
Fun Archaeological Curiosity; Ötzi the Iceman
While discovered in 1991, around that time the Alpine mummy known as Ötzi the Iceman was being studied and captivated scientists with his 5,000‑year‑old secrets.
1991 was a year that felt like an exhale that never quite faded… geopolitically, culturally, technologically. It’s a year that rewired the world, and here I am, walking out of its echo.
What is something others do that sparks your admiration?
Admire What Matters
There are people who make you stop, just a little, because of the way they move through the world. They are the ones whose actions are impossible not to notice, even if they’re subtle. I’ve spent time thinking about what sparks my admiration. Not romantically. Not something to flex for show. All that will fade .
Artistic talent
I admire artistic talent, especially when it looks to come effortlessly to them. I can barely draw a stick figure, and my doughnuts barely hold their sprinkles, yet I watch people wielding brushes, pencils, or clay and feel a quiet awe. There’s something about creation, the courage to put something out there, that’s magnetic.
The knight in tin foil
I admire people who stand up for others, especially those who can’t or won’t defend themselves. When someone is being targeted for things beyond their control, the courage it takes to speak or act on their behalf is something that stays with me. It’s messy, it’s human, but it is real bravery in action.
Patient People
I admire patience, even if it’s just a performance, a practiced calm in the middle of chaos. There’s a rhythm to waiting, to tolerating, to letting things unfold. I will never understand how some people make it look effortless. I know it isn’t for me for sure.
idgaf
I admire those who don’t care what anyone else thinks. No not the kind that says it repeatedly but still hesitates. We hate a broadway wanna be. People who actually move through life free of that weight, making choices for themselves. It’s not easy for everyone. But it is a quiet rebellion that inspires without needing to shout.
Kind Souls
I admire quiet kindness, the kind not everyone will notice. It is given to injured wild animals, stray dogs or cats, and even the people society pushes to the side. There’s an authenticity in those moments, in lifting up the “underdog,” that leaves a mark longer than any grand gesture ever could.
Indie
I can’t forget the admiration I hold for indie creatives, the people who wake up, make, and try. And not for instant fake fame or clout. People who just feel they have to. The ones who experiment, who fail, who rise again, and who light the way for others in the process.
These traits, these actions, these quiet strength. They remind me for one that admiration isn’t about perfection. It is witnessing integrity, courage, creativity, and generosity in motion. And the more we notice, the more we can embody them in our own lives.
What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?
Finding Joy in Movement: Why Physical Activity Matters
Staying active doesn’t have to mean being uncomfortable in a crowded gym. Especially if you’re like me and they make you feel like everyone is staring right at you. For me, the joy of movement comes from freedom, fresh air, and the quiet satisfaction of feeling my body work in ways that make sense. Some days, that means exploring the wilderness, gliding across water, or feeling the burn from resistance bands at home. Each activity has its own rhythm, its own kind of therapy, and its own reason I keep coming back.
Hiking: Walking Into Calm and Clarity
Hiking has always been my escape and my reset. The perfect blend of adventure, exercise, and self care. Trails lined with autumn leaves, the crunch of snow beneath my boots, or the earthy smell of the forest after rain. It ismore than just cardio. This is meditation in motion. Every incline challenges my endurance, every rocky path tests my balance, and reaching the summit gives a sense of accomplishment that no treadmill can replicate.
Hiking connects me with the outdoors in a way a gym never could. The open air, the sun on my face, the sound of water running or birds calling. The ability to collect rocks too! It really is a full-body experience that nurtures mind, body, and soul.
Swimming: Strength and Mindful Movements
Water has a magic of its own. Swimming isn’t just exercise; it’s a rhythm, a flow that eases tension and strengthens muscles without pounding joints. I love the quiet isolation of a pool or a calm lake. Letting your body feel the water engulf it. It’s a workout that also clears the mind, letting thoughts drift as easily as my body through water.
Plus, swimming teaches patience, timing, and breath control. It’s a meditative discipline, one that makes me feel strong, centered, and refreshed all at once.
Kayaking: Power, Peace, and Perspective
Kayaking combines strength, coordination, and a little bit of adventure. Paddling through calm waters or along river bends is meditative, but it also gives a satisfying upper-body and core workout. I love the tactile feedback of the paddle slicing water. The rhythm of each stroke, engaging my entire upper body in unison.
Being out on the water is also a perspective shift. There’s nothing like seeing a familiar landscape reflected in a river or lake to remind you that exercise can be about more than calories. It’s also about wonder, movement, and presence.
Home Workouts: Resistance Bands and Freedom from Gym Anxiety
I’ll admit it gyms aren’t my favorite. There’s something about the feeling of everyone watching, or that subtle pressure to “perform,” that drains the fun out of working out. That’s where my full-body resistance band set comes in. You can anchored to doors, a bar, or different hand/ ankle straps. Providing me a total-body workout at home, in private, and at less money than a gym membership for just two months .
Bands aren’t just convenient they’re versatile. From squats to rows to chest presses, every muscle gets attention without the intimidation of a crowded gym. It’s empowering to feel strong and capable while keeping my workouts entirely my own.
Moving Forward: Finding Your Flow
The truth is, the best exercise is the one that makes you want to keep moving. Whatever one you enjoy. Hiking, swimming, kayaking, and resistance band workouts are my favorites because they blend physical challenge, mental clarity, and a sense of freedom.
If you’ve been hesitant to try something new, think about what excites you outside the gym walls. Maybe it’s a trail you’ve never walked, a lake you’ve never paddled, or a quiet corner at home with bands ready to stretch and strengthen you. Movement is personal, and your perfect routine might surprise you.
Ready to Move With Me?
Poeaxtry_ isn’t just about poems and crafts. We are also about living fully, creatively, and intentionally! With that in mind, we’d like to extend an artist, author, or creator spotlight offer, as well as a second spotlight to showcase your work. Submit this form or email poeaxtry@gmail.com and ask for more information on Indie Spotlights. Free!
We often think of major historical tragedies… such as the transatlantic slave trade, the treatment of people of color during and after the civil-rights movement in the United States, or the Holocaust, as distant. Important. Horrific. But past. What is less comfortable: the patterns they formed still echo today. And we may be witnessing a new chapter of systemic threat. But this time, not abroad or in previous years , but in our own country right fucking now.
From Slavery to Civil Rights
The oppression of not white Americans through slavery and the trail of tears (and many other horrible historical events) created generational trauma, economic disparity, and social exclusion. The civil-rights era sought to dismantle legalized segregation and voter disenfranchisement. These struggles were about identity, dignity, belonging, equality of rights. Americans rightly look back and say: “Never again.”
But “never again” only works if we recognise the signs when they return. Never again only works if we are not continually doing the same damn shit just in other ways.
The New Frontline: Rights Under Fire
Transgender Passports & Identity Documentation
In early 2025, the Donald Trump administration issued Executive Order 14168 titled Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government. The order declared that federal documents must align with “biological sex at birth.”
As a result, the U.S. Department of State suspended changes to gender markers on passports and revoked the “X” gender designation option for many applicants. Which affects many people who aren’t trans but are intersex and left to figure it out.
Legal action followed. A federal judge blocked parts of the policy that prevented transgender and non-binary Americans from obtaining accurate passports, recognising the policy was likely unconstitutional.
But the damage is real. People have been forced to use documents that mis-mark their gender, creating risk and exposing identity. In other words: state-sanctioned mis-identity.
SNAP Cuts and Food Insecurity
Around 42 million Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for basic food security. The government shutdown and refusal to allocate contingency funds means SNAP payments risk being withheld starting November 1, 2025.
When we compare this to historical deprivation of rights and access, for example: poll taxes or economic exclusion of minorities, the parallel is stark. Denial of sustenance is denial of dignity. Most Snap recipients are your friends, the workers, the disabled, and the elderly. As well as the children the party that is causing this is so quick to claim they care about.
Deployment of Troops and Erosion of Checks & Balances
In 2025 the Trump administration has explicitly floated deploying the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines into U.S. cities, bypassing traditional guard & civilian limitations.
Cities led by Democratic governments have seen National Guard troops deployed despite objections from local authorities. For example, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Portland, and even West Virginia?
Legally this raises questions of federal overreach, the Posse Comitatus Act, and state sovereignty. When the military becomes an instrument of domestic policy without proper checks, the separation of powers erodes.
Moreover, framing transgender people, activists, or political opponents as domestic “threats” or “Antifa” emboldens the machinery of suppression, another echo from historical oppression.
Why This Matters
When identity is controlled (who you can say you are, what documents you carry), then belonging becomes conditional. When access to sustenance (food stamps) can be politically withheld, then the social contract falters. When the military is repurposed to internal enforcement without clear guardrails, then the rule of law and democratic accountability are at risk. When these issues disproportionately target minorities: trans people, racialised communities, the poor, it reflects the same structures that enabled slavery, Jim Crow, Nazi bureaucracy.
Who’s Affected
Transgender and non-binary people facing documentation that erases or mis-represents them, as well as intersex people. Low-income families reliant on SNAP who may lose assistance, elderly, working class Americans, and people with disabilities. Not to mention the cut local economy will face without snap being pumped back into it. Communities in states where federal troops may intervene despite local governance. Allies and minority voices who stand for change, inclusivity, and equity.
What We Can Do
Raise awareness: Highlight these issues in your networks, your blog, your community. Support legal advocacy organisations: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Lambda Legal, etc. Document personal stories and amplify minority voices who are most impacted. Push for structural policies: Transparent oversight on troop deployments, secure funding for social programs, identity-affirming documentation rights. Build inclusive publishing forum to centre voices that are excluded, silenced, or under-represented.and most importantly create community and help one another when you can!
Don’t Be Silent
The historical parallels are evident. This is not hyperbole, it’s reality. And if we don’t write it, publish it, challenge it, then we risk letting history’s darkest chapters repeat. Use your voice. Raise the spark. Let every word matter. What side of history will you look back and be able to say you were on.
Because when the lines blur between democracy and dictatorship, when troops march where civilians should walk… we have to ask… where is fucking NATO?
What’s the biggest risk you’d like to take — but haven’t been able to?
What’s the biggest risk I’d like to take but, I haven’t yet?
Walking away from the time clock for the most part and toward the trailhead.
See, I’m an STNA (that’s Ohio’s term for CNA everywhere else. We just had to be the different one). I love what I do. Yes we all need money to live in this hellscape. But I love it not for the paycheck, but for the people. The elderly deserve care from those people who care to be there. However, I also dream of caring for my own future with the same hands that hold theirs.
The risk?
Transitioning from working full-time and then some weekly for someone else’s company to working full-time for myself for Poeaxtry_.
My goal is that with-in the next five years, I will flip the ratio.
I want Poeaxtry_ to sustain me, not the other way around.
I can only imagine being able to wake up and know that my “job” is carving smiles into stones, engraving good karma into keychains, and polishing perfect statement pieces. All from rocks I’ve hounded myself.
To be able to sell handmade spell bags, wands, tinctures, sprays, and charms born from dirt and devotion not just in my spare time.While I also publish solo poetry collections (mine and other people’s) and community anthologies that spark conversation, change, and creativity not just sales.
Having a designated divination room, sounds so good almost too good to be true. A place for friends and new folks to get readings: pendulum or tarot. Readings set-up virtually or through local appointments.
Imagine being able to travel, explore, hike, forage, and rockhound in the wild. While sharing accessible adventures for those who can’t get out there. Or can, but need the guidance to do so safely.
Hosting open mic nights that echo through real and virtual rooms along with silent art galleries that speak without sound. Creating and collaborating under The Prism, where inclusion and artistry collide.
I will not wait for retirement to live.
I want to be able to grab my tent, my dog Luna, and my laptop, (other essentials obviously) and just go.
I can just see it now: a few nights backpacking through forests, collecting stone from stream, writing wildly under the moonlight. Where the only deadlines are sunrise and the next cup of coffee.
The poetry I’d write out there untouched, unbothered by society’s static crust.. would probably make my current work look like warm-ups. Honestly, I’m so ready for that.
The biggest risk I haven’t taken yet isn’t quitting, but it’s believing, fully, that I can.
Five years from now, I plan to look back and laugh that I ever questioned it.
One thing I am no longer willing to do is give more of me to the “man.” The shackles that have me captive to society and cities are becoming loose.
Lately, my days have been stitched together with rhythm, motion, and momentum. Between writing, wandering, and building, I’ve been in constant creation mode. Trying to push Poeaxtry_ forward piece by piece, letter by letter, and stone by stone.
Poetry in Progress
Poetry remains the pulse of everything I do. I’ve been refining collections, experimenting with new mediums, and returning to the unfiltered edges that started it all. Some pieces are bound for ebooks or zines, others will live on new mediums but, all of them carry my usual mix of grit, grace, and rebellion.
Hiking Content & Nature Notes
When I’m not writing or working, I’m outside gathering stories and stones in motion. My hiking content is growing. With new trails, new reflections, and new emotional field notes. Every step through the Red River Gorge or along Ohio’s riverbeds feeds my words and connects the wild to the written. Expect more field journal-style posts, rockhounding creations, and unfiltered snapshots of nature’s poetry.
Publishing & New Places for My Books
I’ve been exploring new ways to publish, both traditionally grassroots and digitally independent. I’m expanding The Prism’s reach and testing new outlets for my books to be seen, shared, and supported without compromising creative freedom. Accessibility and inclusivity remain my core goals: every voice deserves space, and I intend to keep building those spaces.
New Mediums Still Under Wraps
Some projects are still secret… new mediums, new blends of voice and vision that don’t fit in any current box. Let’s just say they’ll connect the poetic, creative, and digital in unexpected ways. When they’re ready, you’ll know.
Consistency & Community
I’ve been working on showing up both consistently and intentionally. Whether it’s posting, crafting poetry collabs through The Prism, or connecting with nature, every move is about growth that stays rooted. I’m not just building a brand… I’m building a movement.
All of this ties back to my purpose: to create spaces for minority and ally voices, to protect and publish truth through creativity, and to keep Poeaxtry_ alive as more than a name. And as a living, evolving community of creators.
It’s been a season of creation, collaboration, and quiet groundwork. Every poem, hike, and idea adds another layer to what’s coming next. And a stronger community, a louder voice, a deeper impact.
Want to grow with me?
Follow Poeaxtry_ for prompts, collabs, and updates on the next wave of releases, and if you’re a creator looking for a home for your words, The Prism is always open.
So now I ask you what are you working on? Where are you showing up for yourself or others?
So here’s a revelation that’s about as obvious as the sky being blue: anything you haven’t done before is, by definition, something you could try for the first time. I know, mind-blowing, right? You don’t need a bucket list, a guru, or a weekend retreat in the Himalayas to achieve “first-time” status. You just need to pick literally anything you’ve never done and… spoiler alert… do it.
Think about it. You could try eating a weird flavor of potato chips.
You could try talking to that stranger who looks vaguely judgmental at the coffee shop.
You could try balancing a spoon on your nose like a toddler on a sugar high.
Anything.
It’s new.
It’s fresh.
And it counts.
There is no “too small” or “too silly.” If it’s something you haven’t done before, congratulations: you’re officially a pioneer of your own life.
Why does this matter? Because we spend so much time overthinking, planning, and waiting for the “perfect first-time experience” that we forget how incredibly simple the concept is. The magic isn’t in the grandeur; it’s in the novelty. Trying something for the first time. Yes, even something absurdly minor, activates curiosity, forces your brain to pay attention, and gives you bragging rights without needing a medal.
Let’s be real:
If you weren’t already,
life is mostly mundane, repetitive, and slightly disappointing. Trying new things is how you trick the universe into giving you a little spark of fun. And if it goes horribly? Even better, you now have a hilarious story that no one else has.
That, my friends, is first-time glory.
So stop overthinking it.
Look around. Pick something.
Anything. That sock you’ve never worn on the other foot.
That podcast you swore was “not your thing.”
That weird dance move in the grocery store aisle.
If you haven’t done it yet, it counts.
It’s your first time. And yes, doing it makes you smart, funny, and slightly rebellious. Yes, all at once. Or whatever your aim is to be.
The takeaway?
Life doesn’t need to be complicated. First times don’t need to be epic. You just need to try something new, even if it’s something small, ridiculous, or completely unnecessary. Anything you haven’t done before is officially fair game. So go ahead and embrace that inner smartass. Then go make the ordinary feel like a first.
Even if you’re just climbing a rock wall for the first time, eating sushi, or self-publishing. All firsts matter no matter how small or big.
A stranger offers you one wish, but it must be selfless: what do you wish for?
Answer / Reflection:
If I could make one selfless wish, it would be for equality, freedom, and equal rights for all humans everywhere. In a world so divided by wealth, power, and privilege, imagining a reality where everyone has the same opportunities, protections, and freedoms is not just idealistic… it’s essential.
Equality isn’t about giving everyone the same thing; it’s about removing barriers that prevent people from living fully. Freedom isn’t just the absence of oppression… it’s the ability to pursue one’s passions, speak one’s truth, and exist without fear. A selfless wish like this could ripple across generations, changing lives in ways no single person could imagine.
This wish may not be simple, but it’s universal. It’s for the person struggling in silence, the family denied rights, the communities still fighting for recognition. It’s for the world we can choose to create if empathy, justice, and courage guide us.
Selfless wishes force us to look beyond ourselves and consider the collective good. Asking, “What would I wish for if it weren’t about me?” challenges us to imagine a better world, and more importantly, to work toward it in our everyday lives. Today, my selfless wish is equality, freedom, and equal rights for all. And a reminder that change begins with vision, empathy, and action.
If a stranger offered you one wish but they told you it had to be selfless what would you wish for? Make your own list and tag me or tell me here in the comments.
National Coming Out Day isn’t just about one announcement. It’s about every version of ourselves we’ve had to reintroduce to the world and to ourselves.
This is Part 2 of my coming out story. The first time, I came out as a lesbian. This time, I came out as me.
The Second Time Someone Saw It Before I Did
I was 19 when I met an out trans man for the first time. It was at a wedding, and he came up to me like he already knew something I didn’t.
He said, “Oh my god, it’s so cool to meet someone like us in public.”
I glitched. I remember thinking, What does he mean, “like us”? I didn’t think he was right, but I also couldn’t stop thinking about it. I wasn’t aware he was trans I just saw a cis man and I was so confused.
It was one of those moments that doesn’t make sense until years later.
The Quiet Realization
Fast forward to when I was 21. I was in an online community space surrounded. This man was filming a Q&A video, answering random questions, when it just… hit.
I started asking the influencer questions about t and transitioning etc.
And I thought, Wait a minute. Maybe that guy was trans at the wedding.
I laughed it off at first. Said thing to myself like, “No, bro.” But, Deep down, I knew something had shifted.
That’s when I realized: I wasn’t a lesbian who looked masculine. I was a trans man who had finally found the words for what had always been there.
Transition and Transformation
At the time, I was in a long-term relationship with a lesbian partner. I didn’t say anything right away. I didn’t feel like I had the space to explain myself.
My identity wasn’t up for debate, and it didn’t need validation to be real.
A little while later, I moved to Las Vegas, started testosterone, and began living fully as myself. Two years after that, I got top surgery.
Now, I’ve been on T for almost 11 years, and post-op for nearly 9.
No spectacle. No huge reveal.
I just made a post, changed my name everywhere, and kept living.
Coming out as a trans man wasn’t some cinematic event. It was quiet, steady, necessary.
It was me updating my social media, me existing without apology, me living a truth that had been simmering under the surface since long before I even had the language for it.
Every year on National Coming Out Day, I think back to both moments. To the young girl who came out as a lesbian, and the man who came out as himself.
Both were acts of courage. Both were survival. Both were me.
Coming out isn’t a one-time performance. It’s a lifetime of peeling back layers until you recognize yourself: fully, completely, without shame.
I came out twice.
Once for who I loved.
Once for who I am.
And both times, I chose to live.
Because that’s what coming out really is. It is choosing life, truth, and freedom, again and again.
