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Who Am I?

I’m Josh Carlton—an American poet, essayist, writer, artist, painter, musician, game designer, and podcaster currently living in Benton, KY.

My words have reached readers in 154 countries, and I’ve had work published in The Aviator, Drinkers With Writing Problems, The Mighty, Bag of Games, and more.

I’m a pretty simple guy. I’m happiest when I’m making something. My favorite pastime is reading.

My favorite writers (in no particular order) are Neil Gaiman, David Foster Wallace, Kurt Vonnegut, Mark Z. Danielewski, Sylvia Plath, Ernest Hemingway, Philip K. Dick, William Gibson, Roberto Bolaño, Haruki Murakami, Neal Stephenson, H.P. Lovecraft, Gene Wolfe, and Kazuo Ishiguro.

I love fantasy and Sci-Fi, horror, and anything that transports me to a new world and makes me feel something. My favorite stories ask big questions and reveal hidden truths I never knew about myself.

I suffer from depression.

If you’re reading this now and you suffer from that terrible darkness, know that you are not alone. I’m here, and I’ve been through it all. I’ve seen what rock bottom looks like, trust me. If you want to share your story, talk to me. I will listen. I will share with you, too.

I would love to be your friend. I mean that.

Any time you want to talk, the best way to reach me is by email. I respond to every single email I receive. I respond to every comment here, too.

If you want to share my work, simply reblog it or share a link on social media, whatever works best for you. Stealing is caring, these days. I don’t often share my own work. It’s not here for everyone, just for you.

I end most of my work with a simple message:
I love you.

I do that because it’s true. I do love you.

I love you for being beautiful, unique, complex and imperfect. I love you for giving me moments of your life, moments you’ll never get back. I love you for being you, and I’ll never ask you to change.

That may seem odd to you. How can you love someone you’ve never met?

We may have never met face to face, but at some point, you and I were made of the same stuff. We came from the same point of matter in the universe, and whether it was god or a tiny particle that put us out here and brought us to life, you and I are one. We are connected.

We are all connected.

If you think about it, that means I don’t have to meet you to love you. You are already a part of me. I see you when I look in the mirror, and I love what I see. Maybe that’s the definition of true vanity.

Thank you. I can’t say it enough.

Thank you so much for being a part of this journey.

Thank you for letting me touch your life. Thank you for touching mine.

Today and every day, I love you.

20 thoughts on “” Leave a comment ›

  10. I am fascinated by your blog. Your “about” page is rich with information and emotion. I, too, have suffered from depression all my life. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2004. I unfortunately suffered silently for a very long time because I spent 37 years drinking and getting high. I have been sober since 2008. I started my blog in order to share ruminations on recovery, spirituality and creativity. Frankly, I needed to start blogging in order to have a regular writing routine. I look forward to hearing more from you, and I hope you will visit my blog again.

    Liked by 1 person

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  18. What a wonderful world that has such people as you in it. Really lovely. I’m glad to have met you. Thanks for coming by my blog! I think we’ll find many things in common along our shared paths through Bloglandia.

    My best to you!
    Kathryn

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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