Gratitude, for Michael, wasn’t simply about manners and nice feelings. After 25 years in prison, gratitude has become part of a larger emotional and spiritual survival strategy.

How do we maintain a sense of trust and confidence that, in the end, “all will be well”, as Julian of Norwich did even in the midst of watching people around her suffer and die from the black plague in the fourteenth century? Is it possible that hope fails us because we misplace the basis of our hope?

The best antidote for “toxic masculinity” is getting together and “blessing the hell” out of each other. It’s not complicated. Simply gather, share our stories, and listen to each other with kindness. Being together in this way helps move us from discouragement to soulful courage.

This seem to be at the core of our mission as writers: to use language for building up, drawing together, advancing the art of communication – even when it is necessary to correct or admonish. Being a good steward of language is anchored in attentiveness, to being present to fullness of an idea so that we might write that others might hear and reflect.

Given everything we’ve been through the past two-and-a-half years, it’s no surprise many of us are hankering to leave the Pandemic Era behind. But, given everything we’ve been through the past two-and-a-half years, I don’t think this era can end, unless we envision where we go from here and take an active role in that process – a ceremonial role.

It's unlikely that anyone who chooses to write would intentionally sling words without clarity and purpose. It's far more likely that writers are surprised when words don't seem to land with their intended meaning. Victor Klimoski has been a student and teacher of the writing process for decades and understands the importance of carefully chosen words. Whether you write poetry, letters, blogs, essays, or in another form, you will likely find his 5 Tips for Stronger Writing to be a practical and meaningful guide for your next piece.