November 17, 2025
Substack

Tangling with the Place I Come From

A big part of my healing journey has been re-engaging with the complex place I grew up.

I’m grateful for Lauren and Rooted Magazine to provide a space for people like me to tease out our relationships to this complex yet hopeful place, much like this country as a whole. Her valuable platform allowed me to put some thoughts to words, as a Mississippi Expat.

Me and my Zen teacher, Tony Bland, who I started working with at nineteen, and recently returned to practice. This photo was taken at Shorinji Zen Association dojo in 2022, which Tony built.

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