Vocal
Some Next Steps
Introduction Nothing is going to change majorly, but every so often, I have ideas, and the last few days have resulted in a lot of things to write about, which have included CRITIQUEs of TV series and films that I have watched.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred about a year ago in Writers
Contested. Top Story - June 2025.
And here I go again... June is here, and with it my yearly entry into the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)'s Poetry Contest. They also have ones for Non-Fiction and Short Stories, but I think most wistfully over the one devoted to poetry. First, the deadlines are always the same, this one coming just as summer is about to begin (one of the coldest days in Montréal, but still). Second, I feel like I do my best work at the end of the semester with the pressure of term work and grading taken away and placed on someone else's back.
By Kendall Defoe about a year ago in Writers
The Future of Real Estate with Robert Hasman: Trends That Will Shape the Next Decade.
The real estate industry has always been a dynamic sector, evolving with changes in technology, lifestyle, and economic trends. As we look ahead to the next decade, the future of real estate appears more exciting and innovative than ever. The industry is about to undergo a significant transformation, from sustainable communities to smart homes.Experts like Robert Hasman, a recognized name in luxury and residential real estate, believe that staying ahead of these trends will be key for investors, homeowners, and developers alike.
By Robert Hasmanabout a year ago in Writers
"Why I Called 911 at Daycare:
The weather was bright and sunny as I walked my last three children to the playground at the end of my workday. I worked at Westside Childcare Center, where I taught children ages three to five. In the late afternoon, all classrooms could come together outside on the playground. It made supervising easier and kept our child-to-staff ratio in check. That day, I was also covering in the office, something our manager had recently started assigning to me. She said I was the perfect fit for the job, and I often stepped in when she left early.
By Katina Banksabout a year ago in Writers
Summer Solstice At The Standing Stones - A Mikeydred June Dollar Prompt For All Vocal Creators
Introduction Every month, I set prompts in the Vocal Social Society and offer a dollar tip to five random creators who take part in it and ask them to share their stories in the comments and on the thread in the group.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred about a year ago in Writers
From Chaos to Clarity: My Journey Through Burnout and Rediscovery
There was a time when I wore busyness like a badge of honor. My calendar was booked down to the minute, my inbox never saw the bottom, and my nights were spent finishing work I couldn’t complete during the day. To the outside world, I was thriving — building a career, networking endlessly, always “on.” But inside, I was unraveling. Burnout didn’t come suddenly. It crept in like a fog, gradually clouding my focus, dulling my creativity, and stealing my joy. I ignored the signs for months — the fatigue that didn’t go away with sleep, the irritability I took out on the people I loved, the sense of dread I felt every morning. I kept telling myself it was normal. Everyone feels this way. Just push through. But one day, my body decided it had had enough. I was giving a presentation — something I’d done dozens of times — and halfway through, I froze. Words vanished. My heart raced. I could feel my legs trembling. I excused myself, walked out of the conference room, and sat on the floor of the hallway, gasping for air like I was drowning. That was the moment I realized: I couldn’t do this anymore. The days that followed were filled with shame and confusion. I took a leave from work. I turned off notifications. I avoided everyone. In the silence, I was forced to confront the truth: I had spent years constructing a life that looked good on paper but felt hollow in reality. I had achieved things — titles, accolades, promotions — but I didn’t know who I was anymore without them. The journey back to myself wasn’t linear or pretty. I started small. I began seeing a therapist. I journaled every morning, trying to make sense of what I was feeling. I reconnected with nature, going on long, quiet walks. I read books that didn’t promise productivity hacks, but rather presence. I talked to friends — really talked — and let myself be vulnerable in ways I hadn’t before. I discovered something I hadn’t expected: that the chaos I had been running on wasn’t just external. It lived inside me — fueled by fear, perfectionism, and a deep need to prove my worth. Letting go of that identity was terrifying. But slowly, space began to emerge. Space for clarity, for curiosity, for healing. I also started to create again. Not for work. Not for metrics. Just for the joy of expression. I wrote poetry. I picked up my old camera. I painted badly and danced in my kitchen. I remembered that there were parts of me that had nothing to do with my resume. Through all of this, community became a lifeline. I found others who had faced burnout, who had stumbled through similar dark nights of the soul. We shared our stories, raw and unfiltered. In doing so, we gave each other permission to be human — flawed, messy, resilient. Today, I’m still on the journey. I still have days when I fall into old patterns. But now, I catch myself. I breathe. I listen. And I choose differently. My life is simpler now, but fuller. I define success differently — not by how much I do, but by how deeply I live. Burnout broke me open. But in that breaking, I found the pieces of myself I’d long buried. And for the first time in years, I feel whole.
By Zeeshan Khanabout a year ago in Writers
Why I Keep Writing On Vocal
Introduction I often write about why I still write, and I loved the Ray Bradbury meme. Writers write, artists paint, sculptors sculpt, musicians create songs, but there are times when I think that I have reached the end.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred about a year ago in Writers
