I began the moment I stopped hiding from where I came from. Written by Dennis Harvell The Day I Stopped Being Ashamed There was a time when I carried my past like something I needed to hide. Growing up in the Mott Haven Houses felt like a mark I had to outrun, a story I… Continue reading The Day I Stopped Being Ashamed
Tag: Bronx Stories
Forging Strength in the Forge
Written by Dennis Harvell Forging Strength in the Forge We often speak of resilience as if it’s an armored coat we put on, but true, sustainable Strength is forged internally through the very experiences we wish to avoid. Consider a blacksmith working steel: the metal is heated, folded, hammered, and cooled, repeated dozens of times.… Continue reading Forging Strength in the Forge
The Mirror in the Gym: Finding a Brother in Jacinto Bonilla
Written by Dennis Harvell The Mirror in the Gym: Finding a Brother in Jacinto Bonilla They say everyone has a doppelgänger somewhere in the world, but I never expected to find mine in a viral photo of a legendary athlete. When someone first showed me a picture of Jacinto Bonilla, I had to stop. I… Continue reading The Mirror in the Gym: Finding a Brother in Jacinto Bonilla
The Symphony of the Unseen
A memory of the Bronx years when music erased every boundary and turned strangers into family. Written by Dennis Harvell The Symphony of the Unseen The Unusual Arrangement People think they know the sound of the Bronx in the late 70s and early 80s. They imagine a drumbeat, a microphone, and a block party. But… Continue reading The Symphony of the Unseen
The Power of the Soft Reset
Written by Dennis Harvell The Power of the Soft Reset In a world that pressures us to push through fatigue, the ability to recognize when we need a “soft reset” is actually a sign of sophisticated strength. A soft reset isn’t a long vacation; it’s the 10-minute walk, the full minute of silence, or the… Continue reading The Power of the Soft Reset
The Energy of Forward Motion
Written by Dennis Harvell The Energy of Forward Motion Spring is characterized by an undeniable, buzzing energy—the surge of life pushing upward through the dirt. This is the season for Forward Motion, converting your internal winter planning into external action. If the last few months were about surviving the cold and mapping your route, this… Continue reading The Energy of Forward Motion
Emerging into the Light
Written by Dennis Harvell Emerging into the Light After a long season of protective retreat, Spring calls for emerging into the light. This is a vulnerable transition. Just as a new sprout risks exposure to the elements to reach the sun, we must eventually risk showing our true selves, our new ideas, and our progress… Continue reading Emerging into the Light
The Gentle Art of Shedding
Written by Dennis Harvell The Gentle Art of Shedding Spring is nature’s great decluttering effort. As the world shakes off its winter dormancy, we are reminded that new growth cannot take hold in soil that is choked by last season’s debris. Shedding the Layers isn’t just about putting away the heavy coats; it’s about examining… Continue reading The Gentle Art of Shedding
The 1977 Blackout -The Day the High-Rise Became a Cave
True power doesn’t come from a socket in the wall. It comes from the person standing next to you Written by Dennis Harvell The 1977 Blackout – The Day the High-Rise Became a Cave The Vanishing The night of July 13, 1977, began with the hum of the 20th century. In our Bronx high‑rise, we… Continue reading The 1977 Blackout -The Day the High-Rise Became a Cave
The Great Blizzard of ’26: A Bronx Northern Watch Dispatch
Written by Dennis Harvell The Great Blizzard of ’26: A Bronx Northern Watch Dispatch The Calm Before the Betrayal This is a historic moment for New York. As I write this, the storm has officially “bombed out” into a full-scale Bomb Cyclone. The National Weather Service has issued its first Blizzard Warning for the Big… Continue reading The Great Blizzard of ’26: A Bronx Northern Watch Dispatch