It never gets old seeing my name published alongside something I’ve written. While I haven’t tried every drug (or really any drugs) I can’t imagine that they’d give me a better high than being published. Which is why I can’t thank the Santa Fe Reporter enough for publishing my essay, “My Happy Place” as the third place winner in their 2020 Writing Contest. It’s really an honor when a publication sees value in my work. It’s always a bit scary, as I just don’t know what people might think. But that The Reporter used a topic that I love to study and discuss (fear and anxiety and ways to cope with them) was a gift of an opportunity and I am grateful beyond words.
The story itself was difficult to write and share. Exposing my background isn’t easy and it can be sad to remember my jefito. But, I’ve always written and explored difficult circumstances in my life as a way to understand and eventually moved past the pain they may cause. Because of writing, I’ve been able to reduce fear that I feel because I feel pretty confident that I can effectively get to an emotional place where I can manage the fear. That’s basically what the essay is about and I hope people read it and that it provides some value and insight.
Therefore, THANK YOU to Julie Ann Grimm and her editorial staff for holding this timely and important contest. CONGRATULATIONS to Kimberly Gotches and Joan Brooke Baker for their first and second place pieces. Lastly, THANK YOU to Julia Goldberg for a remarkable job judging. It can’t be easy to collect, review, and judge a bunch of essays and the topic was so intensely timely that I really believe that this contest was intended to provide some relief to what are fearful times. The Santa Fe Reporter is an important part of our community and I hope it lasts forever!
photo courtesy of The Santa Fe Reporter
