Journal Reflections

When my grandmother died, I felt a bit of guilt. Not because I had necessarily done anything wrong, but because I spent so much time doing that, I didn’t feel I’d spent enough time just being with her. Between working full-time, juggling three teenagers (my sister’s kids that lived with us) and my mother battling…

This morning I was sitting at my desk doing some work, and my niece walked in. She walked across the room and sat on my bed. “What’s up?” I asked. “I’m tired.” “Aren’t we all?” We laughed. She leaned back. “Stretch out,” I said, still laughing. She shook her head. “I’ll be ok. I have…

When Love Grows When the kids were small, everything seemed to be urgent. Between working a full-time job, caregiving for an ill parent, and kid projects, there seemed to always be a whirlwind of activities that needed my attention. It was a super busy time. Now that the kids are young adults, my parents are…

When you sit down with the intention of writing, but nothing quite forms the way you expected, it can be frustrating. Writing doesn’t always come easily. Here are three simple ways to help guide you through the process of getting started. 1. Try writing for several minutes without stopping Like a brain dump, this process…

Have you ever stood in an ice cream shop, surrounded by dozens of flavors, and still couldn’t decide what to choose? You have the money to pay, the options are right in front of you, and yet you stand there, frozen by the choices. Figuring out what to write while staring at a blank page…

Sometimes the hardest part of writing is simply beginning There is a gentle pause that shows up when it comes to writing. Not because you don’t want to begin, but because you may not know what to say or where to start. What if your writing doesn’t make sense?What if you fail?Maybe you don’t have…

There are moments in the day that pass quietly, almost unnoticed. Gratitude doesn’t always show up as a strong feeling. Sometimes, it begins as a simple awareness. A noticing. It might start small. Noticing that your eyes opened in the morning. Hearing the birds outside your window. Taking a deep breath in the middle of…

Emotional weight isn’t something that happens suddenly. It often builds slowly. It can be layered, developing through fatigue, sacrifice, busy days, and small frustrations. It’s the feeling of being “on” all the time. It can lead to moments when something feels off, but you can’t quite figure out what it is. It just sits, quietly…

The 4th of July has always been a big family day for us. It was one of my grandmother’s favorite holidays. The city has a huge 4th of July celebration every year downtown. It overlooks the river.  They block the streets, and people gather to watch the fireworks light up the sky. My grandmother lived…

Writing in a journal is not something that I have always done. Honestly, I don’t write in my journal every single day. That may seem funny for a person who creates and sells journals, but the truth is, journaling, for me, is more about a process than a routine. My friend journals almost every day.…