This month, July, we confront the big obstacles in life For the reformed, this conversation may feel dead on arrival, but reminders never lose their value. They keep us anchored to the reasons we choose to change Self introspection and self respect carry us farther than we admit.
Mistakes, and trusting the wrong person, are not a death sentence But repeating the same mistake becomes disabling. A revolving door only works if you step through it with intention. Timing matters Awareness matters Courage matters
This issue strengthens the strong at heart. It examines what is least attractive about being human: the impulses we hide, the emotions we deny, the shadows we pretend not to carry These sensibilities are necessary for a balanced life
Sincerely
Sambulo Kunene Editor-in-Chief
Anger
Here is a refined, tightened, and more cohesive version of your piece. I preserved your metaphors, your layering of the skin, and your emotional logic, while sharpening clarity, flow, and tone:
Anger begins with something annoying It can be big or small Sometimes it arrives involuntarily, a surge of emotion that feels almost biological in its force. A sound, a sight, a memory, a careless remark any of these can spark irritation that grows into anger Threats can provoke it Disappointment can provoke it Even flippant behavior can ignite it How we move past anger says more about us than the anger itself. The familiar warning “Don’t do it again; I’ll be even angrier next time” reveals how quickly emotion can escalate
Some anger is fleeting. Burning dinner in the oven can trigger a momentary flare, but it fades as quickly as it arrives
Other anger sinks deeper Hurt feelings left unattended slip past the surface and enter the dermis the place where the soul feels nourished Being overlooked for a promotion, dismissed, or undervalued can strike at this level. For some, it is an epidermal irritation; for others, a dermal wound shaped by upbringing, temperament, or even birth order A firstborn, accustomed to yielding to younger siblings, may absorb such slights differently than someone who has always fought to be seen.
Then there is anger that penetrates the deepest layer Physical harm such as losing a limb because of someone’s carelessness creates a subcutaneous anger that tears through connective tissue and comfort It is not simply emotional; it is existential The loss of a limb is a loss of self, a permanent alteration that cannot be undone. This kind of anger permeates a lifetime One learns to cope with its rhythms, its reminders, its sudden returns
And yet, human beings are resilient. We survive anger the way we survive a compound fracture painfully, slowly, but with a will that refuses to collapse Perseverance and the instinct to live outlast even the deepest angers When the quality of life has been altered, seem to continue forward, carrying what we must, releasing what we can. What choice do we have?
Sometimes, we sit at the table with our IDs and iPads, ready for business, moving past the "if" and straight to the "how" of online banking A deposit hits, and the bills are lined up like soldiers But then, a realization settles in: even a large check doesn't stretch as far as it used to The extras have become unaffordable, and for the fourth month in a row, the pattern is undeniable.
First comes the fright, then the worry, and finally, a somber "I thought so " There’s no need for discussion; the alarm has sounded. It is time to pare down.
Paring down is a transition It’s a process of rediscovery, unearthing clothes from storage that were once too small or too large, and tolerating the fading colors of a wardrobe worn longer than intended. It’s choosing the fast-food counter over the restaurant splurge and watching the "cheap change" slowly accumulate The clincher? In the midst of this shift, a single pair of high-quality jeans and a leather purse become more than just items, they are the armor of a coping mechanism Change is looming, but you meet it looking like yourself
Filters are membranes Permeable, and something passes through. Impermeable, and nothing gets in
A foundation must be strong enough to bear the weight of the world and the noise of it. We choose to practice selective listening, but the body still records every impact We choose to survive it
Our systems remember well: the negativity, the ill will, the lies, the careless behavior, all that hurt us and how we hurt ourselves, unwittingly. The residue remains
So how do we move forward with only the pieces worth carrying?
We choose to grow strong. We choose to acknowledge the power of the Other without surrendering to it We recognize the Order of the things, unwritten, unsaid rules of a game we were destined for We choose to trust that witnesses, those who see clearly, will stand with us. We choose to trust that every false storm dies its own natural death We choose life, love, liberty and goodness 6
We choose to say no more, Because we are that important to ourselves and to the universe Hearsay notwithstanding.
Trees
In honor of the legendary Barbara Walters and her timeless question "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" we dedicate this month’s issue of DONE to the enduring nature of the trees that surround us.
Trees embody the cyclical journey of life They reflect the turning seasons: the vibrant full bloom of summer, the warm turn of brown and orange in the fall, and the quiet, stripped-down beauty of winter Even as many trees stand bare, they remind us of resilience and the promise of renewal
Trees offer more than just aesthetic beauty; they are vital to our existence As a crucial part of our ecosystem, they cleanse the air we breathe, releasing the oxygen that sustains us Beyond their biological role, trees are a fundamental part of the human experience. Their rings hold stories, mapping the years they have lived years that often exceed our own mortal lifespan
Throughout our lives, trees have been a place of refuge and a source of joy. They provide shade for restful moments where we can lie down, look up, and dream of the blue sky For some, they offer shelter in the quiet fear of a gentle snowfall In childhood, they are nature's playgrounds The exhilarating challenge of climbing branch after branch, testing their strength, and striving to reach the very top is an unmatched adventure And even the unexpected descent, a sudden downward pull of gravity that brings us back to earth, is a lesson in resilience, often turning from a moment of surprise into a memory.
Birds find a home on their branches, singing to us and adding a soundtrack to our days The wind dances through their leaves, a reminder of the dynamic world we share.
As we celebrate the strength and beauty of these magnificent companions, we ask you to reflect: In the vast forest of your own life, what kind of tree would you be?