Mostly, life is a series of days that resemble each other. We get up, go to work, see friends, watch TV, read a book. If it is a good day, we might go for a hike to a nice vista, travel somewhere new, attend a particularly fun party or enjoy some nice sex. If itContinue reading “Why I Commemorate the Anniversary of my Husband Leaving Me”
Author Archives: linabranter
A Personal Policy Brief on the State of my Reading
Background Since I could decipher the little swiggles on the page as words, I have identified as a reader. Reading was my thing, books my happy place and my comfort object, the thing I never left home without. I never felt too upset if I had to wait in line because I had a bookContinue reading “A Personal Policy Brief on the State of my Reading”
On the Loss of Old Dreams
On how the hardest part of divorce is letting go of the dream of happily ever after.
On My Life With a Dog
My puppy turned a year old yesterday. Please indulge me while I take this one post to talk about my dog and how he has changed my life. Not dramatically. Not ideologically. I have not found religion or quit my job to dedicate my life to PETA (though I am fully in favour of theContinue reading “On My Life With a Dog”
On Writer’s week: Lessons Learned
I have been in several writer groups in my life. All of the members of these groups (with the exception of my current one—but give it time—these ladies can write!) have been published, some several times and by major publishing houses. Some were published authors before they joined the writers’ group, while some had theirContinue reading “On Writer’s week: Lessons Learned”
Anatomy of self-sabotage: How to be artist-adjacent but never the artist
When I was in high school, I stopped writing. I had the mistaken notion I had to be canon-worthy right from the get go, an Amadeus-like figure whose brain bloomed a garden of perfect sentences ready to be plucked and neatly arranged like a bouquet. So when I did go to write something down andContinue reading “Anatomy of self-sabotage: How to be artist-adjacent but never the artist”
Staycation Writer’s Retreat
A few weeks ago, I had a drink with a friend. She is my age, 46, two young kids and is in the middle of studying for her LSATs. She’s decided she’s going to law school, come hell or high water and fulfill a lifelong dream of hers. What triggered this sudden fire under herContinue reading “Staycation Writer’s Retreat”
On my Ongoing Journey to Dismantle my Own Racism
I just finished reading a book called White Fragility: Why it’s so Hard for White People to Talk about Racism when all hell broke loose last week. I was reading this as part of an Indigenous Reads book club at work, where each month I get together with some of my colleagues and try toContinue reading “On my Ongoing Journey to Dismantle my Own Racism”
Why all the Bloody Selfies? An Explanation
Some of you may have noticed that I have been bombarding my social media with daily pictures of myself, after many years of rarely posting anything, let alone my own face. Why? Why am I doing this deeply uncomfortable thing? Here is my best attempt at an explanation. On a whim—seriously, the thought popped intoContinue reading “Why all the Bloody Selfies? An Explanation”
Honouring: An Exploration in Five Parts
I During my morning commute in Montreal, a homeless man regularly stood sentry at the bottom of the escalators in the metro station. Technically I guess he was begging, but he had such a genteel air about him, it felt more like he was graciously inviting us to donate. Whether I had change or not,Continue reading “Honouring: An Exploration in Five Parts”
