I can be a terrible procrastinator. Monday comes around, as it does every week, and I sit scrolling through my photographs looking for the next one for a writing prompt. Usually, I can select one with ease. Not because I think all my pictures are amazing, far from it.

It's official. I am now a Canadian citizen! The scheduled date for the in-person citizenship ceremony clashed with the day I arrived in Australia with my sister for a two-week trip to visit family. I received an email for a new date for the ceremony via Zoom. Not the same thing at all.

Finding our authentic self is a lifelong process trying to ignore societal judgements and embracing our multifaceted identities. Here are some thoughts for anyone navigating life’s complexities.

There’s a man, an angry man, older, not from here. He hates it when we park here — park at the back of his shop. Sometimes we sit longer than we should, waiting for our children — blocking the spaces for customers. Most of the time, we try to be quick. Five minutes max. That’s what’s been asked of us.

M is for: mingle, mangle, mad, mongoose, made, make, mock, millipede, mother, mum, minute, margarita, microphone, moisture, McDonalds, myth, magic…

When I was very young I only ever wore dresses. Not skirts. Dresses. I can still remember some of them. At least I think I can. There was the short, purple, flowery one with long sleeves that I loved to wear when I was about 3 years old.