Catharsis

By Dr. Rachelle Stevens

This book was written with the premise that our thoughts and lives require no theoretical defense. It is our intrinsic dissertation of life. God determines all outcomes. Catharsis speaks quietly to the commonality and hidden experiences held internally and encourages the opportunity for discussion and debate. It addresses a few of the many complex humanistic contemplations we reference and make relatable by introducing alternative perspectives for resolve during a productive conversation.

The text within these pages expresses a sincere recognition of appreciation we hold for the blessings in our lives while also addressing some of the challenging situations that can occur daily, inconsequently providing significant lessons learned and unique takeaways for each individual.

You will read eclectic anthologies, prose, and poetry that creatively discuss relationships and familial ties while boldly resonating with the continuous message that it is not only important to know how to use what you have but to intuitively use what you know! Keeping in mind that sometimes revisiting our perspectives with respect to slight modifications can lead to the positive change we need. The results, however, have the potential to be the transformative catalyst you require, a pivotal moment for turning the tides in your favor.

Catharsis encourages people to manage cultural differences and merge together through the simple process of cathartic thought when jotted down or put on paper during productive doodling or, as described in this book, the transcription of "literary art." Additionally, this book advocates that a therapeutic purge is just as necessary as a healthy detox to rid oneself of mental and emotional toxins that can play havoc on your overall daily quality of life.

In this journal-style compilation, you will definitely find a unique, thought-provoking literary collection that parallels life encounters pondered and perhaps never discussed with the ultimate purpose to convey a basic message of inclusivity and inspiration to the reader. It provides a message that is intuitively repetitive and heartfelt that simply says, "You are not alone." How you feel about your journey in life is important and perhaps more relatable than you've ever imagined once you decide to share the ink!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781639858620

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Acknowledgments

Foreword for Catharsis by Henry Cisneros

Preface

Forethought

Chapter 1: Anthologies (Collection of Short Stories)

A Palette for You

Discussion: A Palette for You

Ashes Have Purpose Too

Cactus and Weeds Are Flowers Too!

Can't We Just Be American?

Maybe Sangria

Mind the Gap

Discussion: Mind the Gap

The Law of Passive Passion

The Mirror of a Woman

Discussion: The Mirror of a Woman

The Perils and Pearls of Family

Tide

Winkleman Eindhoven

You Blow Me Away

Chapter 2: Windows of Life (Experiences)

Art of My Soul

Compression

Discussion: Compression Pt. 2 (Adaptive Anger)

Conservatively Grey

Even Limitless Have Conditions

Everything Has a Cost

Freedom

How Do You Judge a Book by Its Cover?

I Wasn't Thinking

If

Imagination

Innate Sense of Maturity

Let the Sun Rise before I Fall

Discussion: Let the Sun Rise before I Fall

Psychologically Stagnant

Suspended Life

The Exaggerated Sensationalism of Perception

The Gift and the Treasure

The Silence Heard

The Undisclosed Oversight of Parental Guidance

When Did We Transcend?

Discussion: When Did We Transcend?

When Your Investments Yield Regrets

Chapter 3: Affirmations (Encouragement)

Exhausted before Completion

Facebook

Hidden Treasures and Gifts

I Am Hopeful: Part 1

I Am Hopeful: Part 2

Imagine a Starring Role

Real Pain

The Black Woman

Weekly Defibrillator Report (WDR)

Whew!

Discussion: Whew

Chapter 4: Religious Society (Societal Perspectives with Religious Influences)

Catapulted

Discussion: Catapulted

Distorted Angel

Gratitude for the Gravity of Blessings

Discussion: Indebted to Sacrifice

Prayer, the Promise for Relief

Query of Emotional Displacement

Discussion: Query of Emotional Displacement

The Appointment of Ministry

The Portrait of Awe

Discussion: The Portrait of Awe

Chapter 5: Disenchantment (Pain, Frustration, and Disappointment Abstractly Vented)

Back to You, Bob (Hey Mister)

Discussion: Back to You, Bob

Blues

Can Today Be Tomorrow?

#Emotionally Flatlined

Not This Word

Note: Say to Yourself, I'm Sorry

Discussion: Note: Say to Yourself, I'm Sorry

Prejudice Is Not a Hobby

When Darkness Speaks

Vicariously Spoken, Precariously Seen

Chapter 6: Love Diminished (Subtly Displayed)

Between the Shuffles I See Your Face

Disinherited Trust

Do You Know My Favorite Color?

Love Lifted Me

Martial Art Queens

Real Friendship

With All of My Heart

Chapter 7: Love Dominant (Fondly Conveyed)

Love Is

Discussion: Love Is, Part 1

Discussion: Love Is (Translated), Part 2

The Theory of Love

Chapter 8: Love Augmented (Passionately Prominent)

Essence of a Good Woman

Love as an Alternative Algorithm

The Anticlimactic Disposition of Love

When I Was Present

Conclude with No Apologies

Addendum: Productive Doodle Journal (PDJ) (Your Thoughts Creatively Expressed)

Productive Doodle Journal

About the Author

cover.jpg

Catharsis

Dr. Rachelle Stevens

Copyright © 2023 Dr. Rachelle Stevens

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 978-1-63985-861-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88731-978-0 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-63985-862-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Love is a unique language however expressed, that can be compared similarly to musical chords which can be given tones that are passionately prominent, obviously stated or fondly conveyed.

—Rachelle Stevens

This book is dedicated to my amazing and relentless grandparents Nellie (1912–1998) and Leeander Hilliard (1902–1984), who instilled confidence and invincible courage daily. I am simply human and indelibly excellent because of my Granny and Grandpa. I love them for guarding my childhood, preparing me for adulthood, giving me unconditional love, and providing essential life tools. They taught me that success is not found in assets but access, by ascertaining the right opportunities.

Acknowledgments

To my mother, for teaching me when making decisions to stand by them. For encouraging me to select what I desire most and leaving the rest.

To my covenant friends who have made it their mission to support me without reserve and for defining the real meaning of friendship.

To my husband, who promised me the moon but showed me the world through extraordinary travel.

To my two sons and grandchildren, my daily doses of sunshine.

I would like to extend a special acknowledgement to The Honorable Henry G. Cisneros, Former United states Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and a prominent leader in urban development and community empowerment. Dr. Cisneros is a passionate advocate for affordable housing and has dedicated his career to advancing social justice and diversity.

I am deeply grateful for Dr. Cisneros' encouragement, support and contribution to this book. Dr. Cisneros served as an inspiration to me years ago when I had the privilege of working as an intern in his office while he was Mayor for the city of San Antonio.

During my time as an intern, I witnessed firsthand Dr. Cisneros, then Mayor Cisneros" unwavering dedication to public service and his commitment to improving the lives of those in his community. His leadership and vision left a profound impact on me, and it was through his example that I discovered my own passion for the humanities.

I am deeply grateful and honored to have him contribute to this book. His insights and expertise have been invaluable, and his continued dedication to social justice and diversity serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that one person can have on their community.

Thank you, Dr, Cisneros, for your inspiration and for the impact that you have had on my life and the lives of countless others.

And also to my family members known and those yet to be discovered.

Inclusively, to those whom I have loved and have loved me, I say, thank you and ubuntu, meaning, I am because of who you are!

Foreword for Catharsis by Henry Cisneros

We live in a world in which the pace of events is disorienting, the digital tsunami of communications is dehumanizing, and the coarseness of our transactional society can be painful. It feels sometimes as if the essence of our humanity is a poor fit for the electronic, technological, synthetic, and cynical environment that surrounds us and, too often, dominates us. In such a world, it is refreshing to find an oasis of gentle understanding, spiritual grounding, and practical affirmation.

Dr. Rachelle Stevens has provided us with such an oasis with all the essential attributes; she offers us a refreshing, peaceful, and secure respite in a world of swirling madness. Catharsis is well-conceived, well-written, and well-titled.

My initial reaction on first reading the book was that it is an accessible and modern philosophical handbook for people of all ages, backgrounds, and orientations. It is a timely anthology of personal philosophy for twenty-first-century humanity. Traditionally, philosophers across the ages have sought answers to some of the largest questions of the human experience: Why are we here? What is our place in the metaphysical universe? What should be our duty to each other? How do we live a good life?

In her own way, building on her family bonds, amassing insights from around the world, and drawing on her own deep well of ideas, Dr. Stevens has written a book in which every page presents a perspective that invites the reader to think more intensely about the important questions of life. Section by section, she uses language in original ways to first set a welcoming tone of awareness and then to stimulate contemplation on the deeper truths she seeks to convey. She lures us in with the artistry of the scene she sets and then reels us in with the power of her core ideas.

Catharsis is a book that a reader can absorb one section at a time and put down for the moment benefiting from the life lessons and marveling at the gifts of the author. Every section has the unique imprint of Dr. Stevens's experience and displays the discernment which results from the keen mind she has devoted to interpreting her voyage. She curates and enriches lessons concerning family, love, womanhood, spirituality, imagination, judgment, growing older, parenting, Blackness, prayer, disappointment, emotion, and life in all its dimensions.

Dr. Stevens has written a book that is more than pages to read and remember, as powerful as it is. Beyond that, this is a book that will stimulate discussion, serve as a guide, open up dialogues on heretofore unspoken subjects among families and friends, and will provide affirmation and support for people trying to make sense of our confounding times and find solid ground for their lives. Dr. Stevens assures that Catharsis will serve that purpose by posing provocative questions for discussion at key points in the book. This is not a book that will sit on library shelves. It will be annotated, underlined, marked, and passed on. Its well-thumbed pages and well-worn covers will be treasured in many a household.

Dr. Stevens clearly has a gift for finding uplifting meaning in events and interactions that most people see only at face value and then move on. She brings the questioning temperament and unearthing power of a classical philosopher, but she applies her narrative and poetic skills to examine our contemporary dilemmas and to reach our modern souls. I believe, with deep conviction, that Dr. Stevens's gift of discernment, through this book, will touch many lives.

Preface

Why this book first?

Because sometimes we need to explore our feelings creatively before we can analyze them critically. Although while I have not really delved into telling my story yet, I am amid my own personal catharsis. Some very important factors are still unfolding in my life and the lives of the many whose paths have crossed mine both in similar and dissimilar junctures.

And while some people prefer the transparency of social media first, I have refrained from the presence of such platforms initially and decided to follow Jesus instead. So through my poetic journey, I will unfold my story unfiltered, unbiased, and organic to you first.

I was scheduled to write about my experiences traveling and living in other countries that are less privileged than America and to unravel a few of my adventures and experiences that changed my life forever. However, it dawned upon me that sometimes on so many levels we can allow our so-called privileged lives to hold us hostage to a third world mentality! So before I discuss how I successfully managed without, I wanted to share the difficulties I have had managing with in virtual abundance.

As I introduce myself and allow others the opportunity to understand me better through both relative and vicarious lenses, we can doodle our thoughts together. To begin, you should know that I am an aspiring art connoisseur, a structured individual as well as a creative soul. I take great pleasure in analyzing art, especially abstract art. In my opinion, abstract art is resemblant of the many layers of our diverse lives. Standing from a comfortable distance, the longer we observe, the more we discover.

A definition that I extracted from the Tate Modern Museum during one of my often-frequented visits while living in London over a period of eleven years simply says this: Abstract art does not attempt to represent an accurate depiction of a visual reality, but instead uses shapes, colors, forms and gestural marks to achieve its effect. In other words, in our multifaceted lives, we evolve from a myriad of experiences, teachings and/or upbringings, perceptions and religious affiliations, people, places, and the acquired affinity of things that have inspired the form of life that we are at present living.

Oftentimes, when guests visit my home, it is of my greatest pleasure to entertain inquisitors of my paintings. Usually, I never give anyone the known or intended revelation suggested by the artist. Personally, I've always enjoyed engaging in exhaustive conversation with the artists at the galleries during exhibitions prior to some of my most treasured acquisitions.

Beyond measure, I enjoy sharing tidbit lessons on understanding how to observe abstract works to perceive the underlying messages. My brief lesson initially informs the admirers not to get too close to the work because it would distort their view. Then subsequent to careful observation, I point out the elusive details for elaboration, further collaborative discoveries, and discussion.

Again, I thought I would explore my reason for writing this book, which I would be better prepared to tell my story.

I know that the reoccurrence of issues requires a thought process that provides reassurance to validate that what you feel is not psychologically motivated by nonrealistic perceptions.

The elimination of external forces and factors is a necessary precursor for resolving matters of the heart, insecurities, and miscommunications in general.

Henceforth, it is my endeavor to paint a literary picture of my experiences, encounters, and near misses in life to openly explore and empathetically engage with the intent of encouraging individuals with the same or similar encounters. My writings are written in the form of what I call abstractive analogies. My life views have been collected and showcased on a canvas filled with visual as well as literary art.

My