New Poem: "Underage Drinking"

A new poem for class (first draft, just like the last one)

Underage Drinking

At twelve I had my first taste

A bottle of Jack in leather

With hair like honey bourbon

It bit and stung but still I drank it up

I was hot blood, head dizzy,

An alcoholic animal

Fighting blindly

For a taste of forbidden fruit on the tongue.

At fifteen I thought was ready

To hold spiced rum

Warm in my heart

To sing songs to Bacchus and Smirnoff

With lips like liqueur

Spilling over my glass

I gorged on the taste

Of bitters dulled in rich fruit flavors

At four I tripped in the morning mist

Alone, groping for home

Mouth open to find

The last dregs in my cup all drunk up

A churning, fermented ocean

Rising in my belly

The sweet turning sour

And drunken memories wretched up on the floor



This poem is property of Lissa Fulton and may not be used without written permission from the author

Home at Last

Staunton, Virginia has become such a home to me over the past three years. It's beautiful, and mountainous, and full of creative people. It is also the first place I have established myself independent from anyone else. My sheets are on the bed, my rugs are on the floor, my knives and spoons and forks are in the drawer, etc.
It's funny how mesmerized I get by the idea of my own independence, the physical manifestations of it that I see every day. It's also ironic, because obviously I'm not here living completely independent from everything else! I have such an amazing support group at college which I don't know if I will ever be able to find again. I have friends who will pick me up when my car breaks down (Emily saved my butt that night), or buy me a cup of tea (too many of you to count), or give me granola bars and cookies when I'm running low on breakfast food (thanks Layla!)

But I think that's how life should be: A healthy mix of looking after one another and being looked after.

- Liss

Staring Down Senior Year

It is the beginning of the end. I'm starting my last year of college tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited.

So, before I lose myself in the finale of Game of Thrones tonight and make preparations for class tomorrow, I thought I might step back a little and write down some of my goals for this year. This is a public blog, y'all are gonna hold me accountable.

Goal #1: Stay ahead of readings

Too often I put off required readings until a few days or a week before the due date. I need to stop doing that. I have a lot to read this semester which means I will need to bury my nose in a book as much as possible in my spare time and not procrastinate. This is always easier said than done, but there are things I can do to help myself, such as cutting off my phone during study time, not reading in bed (so I don't feel drowsy), and just generally not spending so much time on social media (except maybe this blog and my instagram).

Goal #2: Stay positive

I have a very bad habit of doubting myself, and over-analyzing situations. I also suffer from anxiety and mild depression and occasionally I am just overwhelmed with bad feelings no matter what I do, but there are a few things I can do to try and manage my emotions better, and I need to remember them and use them.

Goal #3 Leave some time for ME TIME

Only recently have I begun to take my own self care seriously. It is important to get sleep, lots of water, and do things that I enjoy such as reading a "just-for-fun" book, watching a tv show, sewing or photography. It's also very important to have days where I just hermit, and do not talk or see anyone if I don't want to. This helps me feel less drained when I have to pull myself back into social situations again.

Goal #4 Communicate

This is something I have a hard time with because, as I said before, anxiety is a thing. Regardless, I need to be able to communicate my needs and ideas effectively to others, and not let my anxiety inhibit me from reaching my full potential. I also need to make sure I allow myself time to talk to the people I love. I get very busy between work and school and I sometimes forget to talk to Jeremy, or my parents, or my friends for days and days. Human beings, even introverted, anxious human beings, need to emotionally connect with other people.

Goal #5 Put one foot in front of the other...

Looking at the big picture can be overwhelming, but take it piece by piece and it is surprising how much can be accomplished in a short period of time. I started making lists last year of every task I needed to accomplish during the day and not only did it help me keep track of what needed to be done, it also kept my anxiety levels way down which improved the quality of my work and my general mental/physical health too!


If you fine readers have any suggestions on how to keep on top of things during college, please share! I will probably add more goals to this list as they come to me, and I will be honest about my progress towards achieving them, even if I'd rather not say. ;)

- Liss