charminfoth

[charminfoth]

Wisdom on the Bathroom Wall

Here's the latest blog post.

Earlier this week I ventured down Jackson Ave. in the Old City section of Knoxville, Tennessee for lunch. I enjoy the architecture, variety, and places that make Knoxville feel like home. After lunch, I made my way to the loo, and while there, I noticed the writing on the stall door. It was one of those things that captured your attention. The funny thing about it is that days later, I’m still…

[charminfoth]

The Dastardly Ds

Throughout my life, I have struggled with letters, numbers, lefts, and rights. I have both Dyslexia and Dyscalculia. Many people see it as a defect or a disability, often treating those who think and see things differently as less intelligent. I have learned to see it as a different way of thinking and seeing the world. I believe it is why I excelled at art, sewing, woodworking, and a variety of…

[charminfoth]

The Curse of an Independent Woman

If you are a fan of my upbeat, inspirational posts, spoiler alert. This will not be that. The day is closing on my birthday. My first day of year 59. It began with a funeral and ended with a car wreck. Before you fret too much, everyone is okay, and so on with the story.Today has been an unusual mix of emotions, sweetness, sorrow, excitement, and fear. As I said earlier, I spent the morning at…

[charminfoth]

Living Someone Else's Dream

Have you ever been shaken awake and realized you were living someone else’s dream and not your own? In 2020, in the height of the pandemic, my husband of almost 25 years died from a massive stroke. He was 52 and I was 55. I was shattered into a million pieces. A middle aged woman who felt absolutely invisible. I had to figure out how to go forward alone. How do I do life? I was in shock, going…

[charminfoth]

Taking a Fresh Look at Deserving

You are never promised tomorrow. Life can change in an instant. When it is all said and done what do you long for? In the past four years of rediscovering myself, I’ve found things that are important to me and I refuse to settle for less. I think that is growth and deserving rolled into a package. Deserving is a cringy word for me. You hear I deserve this or that, and I’m worthy of this or that.…

[charminfoth]

Music and Me

Music has always touched a place in my soul that most of the world can’t reach. It touches that part of me that I try to keep under lock and key, the parts I rarely let others see. Music is the soothing of the savage beast and lifting of my spirit and setting it free. I am not musical in any sense of the word, yet I appreciate it in ways I feel in the core of my being. It seems strange to say…

[charminfoth]

Seasons and Sign Posts

Here's my latest ramble. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

Have you ever felt like you were standing at a crossroads and unsure which road to take? Have you noticed signs along the way? Much like trying to see a street sign in a snowstorm, I can’t see the direction in my life in this season. I’m standing still looking at the crossroad, scratching my head. Seasons of change are sometimes difficult, but that’s where the growth happens. I have survived so…

[charminfoth]

A Ghost of the Past

A poem by Charmin Foth Video Propelled back  Time stands still Shock Looking through the eyes of the girl I once was My brain is abuzz Reeling Venom and butterflies This feeling  Running through my veins Seems ill-advised A pull and a push A rush A Terror and Triumph A gut punch with an audible oomph I try to contain My spinning brain How Why now Thankful you were in my…

[charminfoth]

Perfection Is An Illusion

Here's the latest blog post, Thanks for reading.

When you think of perfection, what does your mind’s eye conjure up? Models, movie stars, mean girls, men climbing the corporate ladder, I could go on and on. Or maybe it’s the negative side of self talk you feed yourself. The I’m not pretty enough, thin enough, smart enough, tall enough, dark enough, light enough, whatever you tell yourself when you feel you don’t measure up. I think, as women,…

[charminfoth]

Laugh

I like to think that I got my love of life and people from my father. I enjoy being the first one at an event and the last one to leave.

The things I know about my birth father’s personality I can count on one hand. 1. His birthday was April 15 so, he was an Aries. 2. He was the life of the party. 3. When he smiled, he lit up a room. 4. He could laugh at himself. 5. He loved women (probably too much, it’s what caused his death, but that’s a story for another day). I like to think that I got my love of life and people from my…

[charminfoth]

Something New and Something Old - A Poetry Reading

The boldness in me is growing. I once again took the small stage at Central Cinema for the Knoxville Poetry open mic. It is such a welcoming place, a place to learn and explore who you are, where you are encouraged to speak your mind, your truth, your musings, and your dreams. It is a fun night filled with humor, encouragement, and acceptance. The second Wednesday of the month has become a sacred…

[charminfoth]

Strange Duck

I'm a strange duck. I always have been. Read my latest blog to see just how strange I am.

I am going to tell on myself. I am a strange duck. I always have been. I am a living breathing oxymoron. At the very least, I am a challenge. At most, with me, life’s an adventure that’s never boring. I am a strange contradiction in terms. I love to be with people, I love to be the life of the party, to be in the middle of what’s happening. However, I do not need to be the center of attention…

[charminfoth]

Quietly Vulnerable

Here's my latest blog post. I hope you understand my quiet vulnerability.

Why is it considered brave to weather the storm without breaking down? Countless times since my husband passed away I have been called brave. I don’t understand this concept, it is not as if I had a choice, I just had to move forward. For me, it isn’t bravery, it is a necessity, putting one foot in front of the other. Photo by Min An on Pexels.com I have struggled with writing this post for the…

[charminfoth]

Afraid of the Heart

A little poetry, I missed the reading this month, so I thought I'd share here.

Photo by Ave Calvar Martinez on Pexels.com Where are you coming from Where are you going Lost in the shuffle Feeling alone In the bustle Listening, waiting For the tussle You don’t know When the trouble Will come When it does It will be double That’s always been Your pattern Your past So you guard Your heart Thinking love Will never last You sit quietly alone Content to chew on memories Like…

[charminfoth]

An Open Book with Many Chapters

I'm not going to lie, I've got some boney skeletons knocking around in my closet. Much of my life is shared in this blog space, but there are more chapters to come. I am not perfect, but I am honest and open.

Anyone who knows me now knows I believe in the power of testimony. The following is an update of an older post called Darkest Days. I’m not going to lie, I’ve got some boney skeletons knocking around in my closet. Much of my life is shared in this blog space, but there are more chapters to come. I am not perfect, but I am honest and open. I’ve lived a lot of life so I have good chapters and bad…

[charminfoth]

I Did a Thing...

The Knoxville Poetry Slam is a fun, welcoming environment for poets and lovers of poetry to gather and support each other. I have been attending the monthly gatherings at Central Cinema for about six months.

The Knoxville Poetry Slam is a fun, welcoming environment for poets and lovers of poetry to gather and support each other. I have been attending the monthly gatherings at Central Cinema for about six months. I have friends who write and like me love the written word, so I have encouraged them to come out and participate. Their bravery in sharing their work and the supportive folks who attend the…

[charminfoth]

Building Bridges

Sharing your story can be one of the most powerful tools to cross the divide that seems too vast to navigate, building a bridge that crosses the divide and encourages reconciliation. I believe it is the building block of any good relationship.

Sharing your story can be one of the most powerful tools to cross the divide that seems too vast to navigate, building a bridge that crosses the divide and encourages reconciliation. I believe it is the building block of any good relationship. Be intentional. Listen. Treat people with love and respect. I love to hear other people’s stories. I need that in my life. When we share our stories and…