About Regan Burke
Regan Burke is an old Chicago hippie, retired political organizer, recovered alcoholic, and a compulsive writer. As a Chicago writer, she dreams up ideas for Skyline Village Chicago, sings in the Good Memories Choir, leads a meditation group, and organizes neighborhood sing-alongs. In 2014, when a physician prescribed expressive writing to help with her chronic pain, Regan began her writing journey and has been dedicated to it ever since. Each week, writing teachers encourage her to produce 500 words of edited prose, which she shares on her personal blog, backstoryessays.com. Her personal essays have been featured in the Christian Science Monitor, Sun Magazine, Chicago History Museum/In This Together, City Creatures, Safe 'n Sound, Easter Seals Blog, Writing Out Loud, The Center for Life & Learning Anthology, and Rise Up! Journal.
As a Chicago writer, I pen these truths from my window in an old high-rise anchored to Potawatomi land in downtown Chicago. Henry the dog sits at my feet while I observe crows cawing around the trees rooted to the shore of Lake Michigan.
Expressive writing has alleviated my pain from severe spinal stenosis.
Through personal essays, I have confronted the deep-seated anxiety that has stemmed from a lifelong feeling of not belonging.
"Because true belonging only happens when we present our authentic, imperfect selves to the world…" – Brené Brown
