Personal Musings
Though I love to make things up and be creative, sometimes I just want to write about my life, experiences, perceptions, travel blogs, and the like. This is a space to get to know me on a much more personal level.
This is also a space where my friends are free to write as well, when they have something to say!
When You Edit Your Truth with AI, You Stamp Out Your Spiciness and Culture
Nothing makes me genuinely sadder than neurodivergents and marginalized people normal-washing and white-washing their writing to be more appealing to the masses. This is exactly what AI does to voices, by scraping white, Western, neurotypical voices. Please, my friends… no more masking.
I Don’t Care if You Use AI as a Tool, But Please Stop Letting it Replace Your Voice
I’d wager that — if the writers are honest, at least — I can tell with 90+% accuracy if you’ve edited your writing with ChatGPT. It’s not because of em-dashes, but rather, the voice and cadence. This is my way of asking… begging even… you to use your own voice. And there’s a Chat-edited version of the article at the end to show you exactly what I mean.
You Were a Great Liar, Kid… Not a Great Actor
After my adoptive son’s death, it was easy to believe he hated me and our final estrangement was the truth. But the deeper parts of me protested. This piece is a deep, messy, human excavation of what really happened: the fights, the near-reconciliation, the betrayal, the grief, and ultimately, the truth that never stopped living underneath. This is for anyone who’s lost someone during a hard chapter, and still wonders if it was real.
You Could Have Done Everything Right, But They Still Would Have Died
This is the second chapter in a series about love, loss, and learning to stop carrying the weight of someone else’s story. It’s heavy. It’s honest. And if you’re grieving, I hope you know there was probably nothing you could have done.
My Son Died Because of Me, And It Was Entirely Not My Fault
He was my bear cub. I was his mamabear. This is the story of how I loved someone too deeply for the world he came from, and how he died, not because I failed him, but because he couldn’t believe he deserved to be loved. A true story about grief, guilt, forgiveness, and the complex truth of losing someone to trauma and addiction. Thanks for reading.
Cry of Melian, International Edition
When music becomes the map, unforgettable adventures follow. Kathy Criswell recounts her latest journey from the US to Zwolle, Netherlands, to see ethereal fantasy act Eye of Melian in concert. Joined by international friends who share a love for Johanna Kurkela, this heartwarming travelogue captures the joy of connection, the beauty of Zwolle, and the power of music to bring people together across borders.
The Book of Balance Begins
In a world currently addicted to polarization, I’ve found one truth that comes up again and again: balance. Between identities, beliefs, opinions, and even grief and peace. This first chapter of Bear’s Book of Balance explores what it really means to hold two truths at once.
Healing Is a Journey, Not a Destination
What if healing isn’t a goal, but a lifelong relationship with pain, growth, and understanding?
Language Is Power, Not an Excuse to Dodge the Point
Words matter, but so does the message. This article explores how we balance linguistic precision with emotional honesty in conversations about patriarchy and justice.
I Was in a Patriarchal Relationship with My Body (So No Wonder it Fucking Hates Me)
Part 2 of the Broken Body series: an honest yet painful reckoning with how patriarchy shaped my relationship with my physical self.
My Broken Body & How Western Medicine Failed Me Completely
Part 1 of the Broken Body Series: From negligence after whiplash through a few years as a CrossFit athlete, and landing in spinal spasms, my physical health journey explores just how little Western medicine really gets us and why it failed me completely.
There and Back Again (pt.4)
The fourth and final installment of my travel blog from my week in the USA, covering January 19th-21st, 2025
The Jersey Shore & Beyond (pt.3)
The third installment of my travel blog from my week in the USA, covering January 18th, 2025
Atlantic City Bay-bee! (pt.2)
The second installment of my travel blog from my week in the USA, covering January 17th, 2025
Coming to America! (pt.1)
The first installment of my travel blog from my week in the USA, covering January 14-16th, 2025
How to Be a Respectful Fan When Meeting Your Heroes
So, you’re finally meeting that artist who changed your life—amazing! This guide covers how to be a respectful fan, make the most of the moment, and not ruin it (for anyone).
Happiness Is Only Real When Shared
A guest travel blog from Vantaa, Turku, Tampere, Lappeenranta, and Helsinki from Kathy Criswell
Miten pieniä me ollaan
A guest travel blog from Dordrecth & Zwolle in The Netherlands from Kathy Criswell
How to Interact with Music Medias & Bloggers
Wondering why no one’s covering your album? This professional media owner, editor, and journalist shares how to pitch to music magazines and bloggers without getting ghosted, or worse, remembered for the wrong reasons.