The Leaving

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I want to leave.

Pack a bag with only the barest of needs,

The freeware essential for survival,

Fill my car with gas,

And head in one direction,

Far, far, far away from here.

Away from this so-called home,

Where my heart shattered,

Where my mind fractured into countless shards.

Away from the toxic dysfunction

That clings to the walls like damp mold.

Away from the strange comfort

Of being so profoundly alone.

This place where I currently stand,

It no longer holds.

No matter how many boundaries I set,

How many times I try to reinforce them,

It all collapses,

over and over again.

So, I’ll take my bag,

Slide into the driver’s seat,

And press the pedal down

Until the miles dissolve behind me.

I’ll drive and drive

Until the road runs out,

Until my car surrenders

To the edge of the unknown.

When I arrive,

Wherever that may be,

I will dig.

I will carve a labyrinth into the earth,

A sanctuary so deep,

So twisted and hidden,

That no one can find me.

And there,

I will sequester myself,

Silence the noise,

And perhaps… just perhaps,

Find a new place

Where safety grows like roots

And broken things

Can begin to mend.

Star Gazing

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At night, I would lie on the roof of my house, or nestle in the grassy fields at the park or along the side of the country road outside of town. I would look deeply into the night sky. Before the sun sets to when the sky is full of stars, I would look into the vastness in complete silence. Removing myself from my fears, my worries, and sound itself.

I want to believe there is much more to life than where I stand. I spent so much of my life toiling about relationships that have not been created, anger that has no meaning, and problems that have been past and solved. I worry so much because I am stressing over trivial things. New galaxies are being formed, life is beginning to experience time, and nature reintroduces itself in a unique, rich, and vibrant way. I wonder if others are looking at the stars and thinking the same thing. Thinking about what life would be like 5 years from now: will we eventually get that job you have been asking for, will love ever come to you when you least expect it? Or will people be kinder and compassionate to each other and humanity will be restored from those kind acts?

There are many things I ask of while connecting with the stars.

What does it mean to be human?

What does my life mean to others?

Will we ever know the truth?

Only the stars in the sky know.

What Is A Good Death?

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We often speak of death as a singular, defining moment. A punctuation mark at the end of life’s narrative. Yet, what if death isn’t a final destination, but an ever-present companion? It is a shifting moment that redefines our essence as we journey through life.

To me, a "good death" is the realization that death is not foreign or frightening. It is a force woven into the fabric of my existence, not bound by form or finality. It lives within every goodbye, every metamorphosis, every chapter closed. Each time I shed an old version of myself, I experience death. And each time I choose to step forward, to embrace change, to live fully. I rise again.

Death isn’t a measurement of loss, but a marker of transformation. From the subtle endings of seasons to the abrupt ruptures of relationships, death whispers its truth: you are always becoming something else. It’s not a moment to be feared but a transition to be embraced, for it carries within it the essence of life itself.

Living, then, becomes my testament to death. By choosing to live, I choose to confront the inevitable with curiosity, creativity, and courage. Every joy, every struggle, every decision to love despite its risks is a declaration of defiance against the fear of death. It is a celebration of the constant rebirth that defines existence.

Ultimately, how I die is irrelevant. What matters is how I live. In every full-hearted embrace of life, I honor death—not as an ending but as an ongoing rhythm, a partner in the dance of becoming.

We all experience many deaths. Some small, some seismic. But in those departures, we find our power to transform, to grow, to begin again. And in that, we discover the truest meaning of life

Beyond The Lens: Details

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Photography has a special place in my heart, There is something about using a device like a camera to capture a particular slice of time that holds a moment along with an environment that encapsulates it. It can be a building in mid-day, your favorite food on your birthday, witnessing a wedding as you pass by to work, a funeral of a loved one, or even a protest fighting for human rights. I enjoy stolen moments of people as they live their daily lives in spaces that the ecosystem supports. Photography is a magnificent tool that has become a grand presentation of art as it inscribes humanness and the landscape it resides.

When you look at a photo, oftentimes there is a primary focus. A subject that is framed with supporting elements like light, composition, depth, texture, and contrast. But even in the grandeur of a subject, there are little things that create and cultivate a setting. it supports a moment where a story is being told and at times holds more validity than the subject itself. The little detail is the unspoken hero that provides the elixer to display a vision. When I think of details, I think about my brother Dontrius “Donnie“ Williams

Dontrius has been doing photography for over a decade with a main focus on film photography. He has spent a significant amount of time capturing moments in Fort Worth. from the vast to very intimate of events. If you ever have the opportunity to meet him he is always with his camera. It would be an anomalous day to not see him with a camera on hand.

His work is currently being presented at Zona 7 in a solo exhibition called “Details“. where he showcases some amazing photography taken in downtown Fort Worth’s Sundance Square. His work opens a lens to the beauty of Fort Worth culture and the community it serves. Some of his portraits on display are also taken in his studio.

I urge you to see his work at Zona 7 and take your time with each photo. You will be left in awe and graciously inspired. There were moments where when I looked at his work, I stopped breathing. His work is breathtaking!

You still have time. His work will be on display until February 29th

His work is available for sale along with his photography book. “Product. of the Block“