Writing a song doesn't heal things. Even if the song comes up with a solution, it's still only a theory. Going out and living my lyrics is a whole other deal. That takes courage.

...and what it all comes down to is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet.

What makes me feel alive is community, connectedness. Certainly family, parenting, relationships, friendship. All the way into colleague relationships and relationship with spirit, relationship with one's own self and inner child, and animals, earth, planet. Fostering and nurturing and really focusing on connection - connection in relationship with other and my own self and God. When I don't feel connected in all those three areas, life is not very good.

When I'm in pain and grief and despair, my throat is clenched and my heart hurts.

They're different kinds of challenges depending upon what phase of life I'm in.

How long before my dignity is reclaimed?

I felt like I was making a record under the radar, and that is my favorite way to do anything.