My top pick of the month is Solace in Misery - a Truth No Longer.

What does it mean to be miserable? Misery feels like an out-of-body, out-of-our-control emotion. This poem explores the manifestation of misery. Sadness, or any "negative" emotion, tends to be dismissed, but I believe we should recognize and celebrate the wide range of emotions that make up the human condition. I find power in writing about sadness just as much as in my "uplifting" poetry. To write about sadness is to understand it, and to understand your emotions demonstrates intelligence. Of course, no one wants to exist in sadness forever, but experiencing momentary blips or even prolonged exposure to it is inevitable. I'm an advocate for feeling your feelings instead of suppressing them—for existing in your emotions rather than hiding them. By allowing yourself to feel, you unlock a path to recovery. You cannot heal from traumas if you don’t validate them, and validation must come in the form of internalized empathy. In short, if you feel sad, feel sad! Exist in whatever emotion you feel so that you can turn a new leaf.

The flip side of this is knowing how much sorrow is healthy. There is comfort in making something a habit, and the same applies to emotions. Falling into the habit of being sad without doing the work to process and tackle its origins is dangerous. Like any other habitual vice, it can consume you, stripping you of autonomy and taking you as a prisoner. This poem touches on the power misery can have and the importance of relinquishing its hold over your will. Being introspective and actively working to resolve the roots of misery is essential in preventing it from becoming a habit. Do not let your emotions rule you by leaving traumas as unresolved wounds.