People Like Us: A Memoir in Prose and Poetry

In this work I piece together my story in a hybrid format through narrative, essays, vignettes, poetry, and photos. This memoir describes how early experiences, environment, and seeking affirmation shape our beliefs of who we are and what we can become. "People like us," a phrase used to describe social status, haunted me as I struggled to determine who I was. Not being "good enough", experiencing defeats, balancing reality with one's convictions, career adjustments, chronic illness, and tragic losses all presented challenges as I strove to find my standing in life. After realizing it was my own self-validation I needed, I turned these setbacks into redirection and finally live at peace with myself. I now know I am fulfilling my mission as a writer to empower strong women through the written word.