Ode for Immigrants Seeking Refuge (From a Person of Privilege)

I wrote this today to express my feelings on what it means, to me, to be an American. We must stand together.

I'm dying

I see those I love, dying

Born on the wrong side

Of an arbitrary line

I leave my homeland,

The dirt I poured my heart into

I flee to America

For safety, for food, for grace

I will do what it takes

I will do what is necessary

I will work non-stop

If it means more for my children

Their lives will be better.

They will have opportunity

They will dare to dream

Don't we all want the same?

No.

Mr. President wants to get richer

Lining his pockets

With the blood of my people

Imprisoning, deporting Americans

Making money off of

Our poor huddled masses

To our government, I say "get ready,"

because we are coming.

We are strong, and we are just.

For my grandchildren and yours, I rise.

We fight civil injustice. 

We, the people.

2/17/17

Megan Beckham

#ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike

Here we go!

I have suffered from "Generalized Anxiety Disorder" for as long as I can remember. My mother took me to the doctor as a teen because I kept passing out, and it turns out, I was having panic attacks that were just that bad. I don't talk much about my anxiety because, well, there is a stigma associated with mental illness. For some reason, people that face these illnesses head on and fight every day to stay on top of them are made to feel "less than." Well, no more! Thanks to @TheSarahFader, people are coming out of the online woodwork to help others understand exactly what it's like living everyday with an anxiety disorder. There is an outpouring of tweets with the hashtag #ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike, and they keep on coming. 

I took part in this because it is a hope of mine that, one day, having a mental illness will not be stigmatized in our society. If more of us talk about it, we can overcome the negativity associated with our illness. If you suffer from anxiety, please join in and tweet with the hashtag #ThisIsWhatAnxietyFeelsLike. I look forward to identifying with you.