Members Home

Overpowering our kidnappers

By Shay | December 6, 2023 | Comments Off on Overpowering our kidnappers

Last night, I had a lucid dream. It was quite terrifying, given that I was fully aware that I was dreaming but could not wake up. In my dream, I was being driven in a car to the airport. At some point, we are carjacked, and the carjackers kick the driver out but keep me in the car. I ask …

Read more

Tending to our gardens: Stress and burnout

By Shay | November 19, 2023 | Comments Off on Tending to our gardens: Stress and burnout

Several days ago, I received an impassioned plea via Instagram to use my platform to talk more about what is happening to the Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli military. My initial response was one of irritation at being asked once again to do something in addition to all I’m already doing and, in a moment of irritation, I …

Read more

Monday mind droppings

By Shay | November 13, 2023 | Comments Off on Monday mind droppings

I don’t know about you, but last week totally kicked my ass. The human mind, body, and spirit is not designed to go nonstop with no meaningful pauses. I haven’t had a truly restorative and meaningful break from the daily grind since the summer of 2019, when I went away to Kripalu. Sure, I have taken a few days off …

Read more

Angry Black woman and perimenopause (or, Destruction abounds)

By Shay | November 9, 2023 | 1 Comment

I am taking a detour across all my platforms today to talk about aging—specifically, this journey we call perimenopause. For the unknowing, the Cleveland Clinic describes perimenopause as “…the transitional period before menopause. During perimenopause, levels of estrogen, a key female hormone, start to decrease. You may begin having menopause-like symptoms, such as hot flashes or irregular periods. Perimenopause can …

Read more

When hatemongers get uncomfortable: A small victory

By Shay | November 2, 2023 | 1 Comment

In this season of despair, it is easy to get sucked into feeling that we are without hope and that we lack power and agency to create change. Especially as we intake a daily diet of the horrific, which only seems to be ramping up.  I was reminded, though, of the power of our voices and how—when we come together—we …

Read more

Bearing witness: A Maine mass shooting

By Shay | October 26, 2023 | Comments Off on Bearing witness: A Maine mass shooting

I have called Maine home for the last 21 years, and certainly I have often been ambivalent about this state for a number of reasons. Today, though, I write as a Mainer with a heavy heart. One of the state’s nearly one-and-a-half million residents now linked together in our collective sorrow, as we find ourselves grappling with the horrific reality …

Read more

When our anti-racism work lacks authenticity

By Shay | October 22, 2023 | Comments Off on When our anti-racism work lacks authenticity

I turned 50 in January, and the months leading up to my birthday were riddled with angst, as I envisioned myself dying several days after turning 50—just like my mother did. My fears may have seemed overblown unless you knew that my her father died at 54, and my mother had long feared that like my grandfather, she too would …

Read more

BGIM Media needs your help: Fall support campaign

By Shay | October 20, 2023 | Comments Off on BGIM Media needs your help: Fall support campaign

Since 2008, Black Girl in Maine Media has been a Maine-based blog and resource for anti-racism work. Over the years, we have had a number of talented writers as part of our crew, including internationally known bluesman and storyteller Samuel James. Until late last year, Samuel was a regular BGIM Media staff writer, who you now see periodically as a …

Read more

Welcome to your dystopia

By Shay | October 19, 2023 | Comments Off on Welcome to your dystopia

Before I begin, a few words from a George Carlin routine that I have cherished for years (here’s a link to a 2006 performance of it, if you want to get it all in context)… “They don’t want well informed, well educated people capable of critical thinking … That doesn’t help them … You know what they want? They want …

Read more

There are no winners, only a collective pain

By Shay | October 15, 2023 | 1 Comment

Since the news of the horrific attack upon Israel broke, I have been at a loss for words. That loss has only been compounded by the global response and the unsettling realization that whatever happens next is going to be ugly. And that loss of life, devastation, and global collective toll upon all of us will be something that many …

Read more

Are you a member?

Be in the know. Members gain early access to new posts.

Are we gonna “ride or die” all the way to regional war or worse?

By Shay | April 17, 2024

Look, I understand the “ride or die” concept. There are people who have my back or whose back I watch over who qualify as ride-or-die—either the way they feel toward me, me toward them, or both. But like so many sentiments and philosophies, when it’s taken to a certain point, it loses positive meaning and …

Read more

Are we gonna “ride or die” all the way to regional war or worse?

By Shay | April 17, 2024

Look, I understand the “ride or die” concept. There are people who have my back or whose back I watch over who qualify as ride-or-die—either the way they feel toward me, me toward them, or both. But like so many sentiments and philosophies, when it’s taken to a certain point, it loses positive meaning and …

Read more

Round Up

A curated list of relevant articles & a peek into what Shay's reading

What's Shay Reading?

Members only get a peek into what Shay's reading and wants to share.

Sample Round Up

By Shay | May 29, 2022

Happy Friday! It’s a gorgeous day up in my corner of the world and way too beautiful to be writing a blog post today. So I present you with the Friday Round-Up a list of blog posts this week from other bloggers that blew my mind. Perhaps if you need to kill some time or have a quiet moment you can check them out. http://ravingblacklunatic.blogspot.com/ Check out this cat, I have been a fan of his work forever. http://www.whataboutourdaughters.com/ Good stuff here as well http://sweetersalt.com/ A Maine blogger who talks fashion and food…the best of both worlds http://paganchild-starmommy.blogspot.com/2011/03/keeping-focused.html A new blog that offers words of wisdom for all of us. http://mscleaver.com/ Another Mainer who for Lent is giving up pants, she is also a crafty gal If you have any links to good blogs, feel free to leave em. It’s my hope to make the Friday Round Up a regular feature at my new home specifically I would live to shine some light and love on smaller bloggers. It’s hard out here in this blogosphere with so many good blogs to choose from and so little time so let’s help everyone get a slice of the pie. I will be back on Monday, at that time I will unveil some ideas I have around monetizing things but You May Also Like: No related posts.

Member Only Posts

Are you a member?

This content is available to Members Only. If you are already a member, you can upgrade to the next membership level for immediate access to this content.

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

Private Online Community

Are you a member?

This content is available to Members Only.