Honest storytelling as a form of healing.

Tag: writing

  • The Emotional Junk Drawer

    We all have one.

    Not the drawer filled with dead batteries, mystery keys, and pens that stopped working in 2017 although we probably have that one too. 😂

    I mean the emotional junk drawer.

    It holds the conversation we keep avoiding, the boundary we haven’t set, the grief we promised to revisit, the dream we keep postponing, and the need we keep calling “too much.”

    We tuck things away because sometimes we genuinely don’t have the energy to deal with them.

    But not right now can quietly become never.

    Eventually, the drawer stops closing. An old resentment gets tangled around a new disagreement. A buried need shows up as frustration. One small moment produces a much larger reaction because it was never only about that moment.

    It was everything already inside the drawer.

    With the full moon and lunar eclipse approaching, perhaps we can allow a little light to reach one thing we’ve kept tucked away. Not because the moon is magically reorganizing our emotional lives if only but because awareness gives us somewhere to begin.

    You don’t have to clean out the entire drawer today.

    Choose one thing.

    Name it. Write about why you tucked it away and what it needs from you now.

    Does it need a conversation? A boundary? Rest? Grief? Or simply an honest acknowledgment that it still exists?

    What we tuck away doesn’t disappear.

    But we can decide what deserves our attention, what needs a proper place, and what we are finally ready to throw the hell out.

    Journal Prompt

    What needs to come out of my emotional junk drawer?

    Begin with:

    I keep telling myself I’ll deal with __________ later, but…

  • 8 Things to Do Before 8/8

    8/8 is almost here, and whether you believe in the energy of the day, use it as a reset, or simply like having a reason to pause and reflect, I think it’s a good time to check in with yourself.

    And no, this does not mean you have to completely change your life before August 8th. 

    These are just eight small things you can do to clear some space, quiet some noise, and think about what you want for the rest of the year.

    1. Declutter one space

    Just ONE. A drawer, your bag, your desk. Pick somewhere that needs a little attention and clean it out. Sometimes clearing a small space makes you feel lighter without even realizing you needed it.

    2. Unfollow what drains you

    If an account constantly has you comparing yourself, questioning yourself, or just feeling blah after you see it, unfollow it. Your social media should not make you feel worse about your own life.

    3. Donate 8 things you don’t use

    Find eight things sitting around that you haven’t used in months and let them go. Someone else may actually need what has just been taking up space in your home.

    4. Sit in silence for 8 minutes

    No phone. No music. No distractions. Just sit with yourself for eight minutes and see what comes up. You might be surprised by what your mind has been trying to tell you.

    5. Write down 8 things you’re proud of

    We spend so much time thinking about what we haven’t done that we forget what we HAVE done. Look back at this year and give yourself some credit. Big or small, write eight things that make you proud.

    6. Reach out to someone

    You know that person you’ve been saying, “I need to text them” about? Do it. If they’ve been on your mind and the relationship feels good and safe, send the message.

    7. Do something your future self will thank you for

    It can be something as small as saving a few dollars, making an appointment, filling out an application, or finally doing something you’ve been putting off.

    Nothing huge. Just one thing.

    8. Choose one intention for the rest of the year

    What do you really want to give your energy to from now until the end of the year?

    Write it down.

    Then ask yourself:

    What is one thing I can do TODAY to move toward it?

    That’s it.

    No pressure to magically become a different person because it’s 8/8. This is simply a chance to pause, clear out some things you don’t need, appreciate how far you’ve already come, and decide where you want to go next.

    Sometimes a reset doesn’t have to be huge.

    Sometimes it starts with one drawer, eight quiet minutes, a journal page, and one decision to keep moving forward.

    Small shifts. Big transformation.

  • Week 32 of 52 : Whose Voice Are You Hearing?

    Week 32 of 52 : Whose Voice Are You Hearing?

    First, can we take a moment because we made it to week four!

    Thank you to everyone who keeps coming back each week to reflect and write with me. Whether you have answered every prompt, skipped one, or saved them all for when you finally have a quiet moment, I appreciate you being here.

    There is no right or wrong way to do this. The fact that you are taking a moment to check in with yourself matters

    This weeks Prompt:

    Whose voice do you hear when you criticize yourself?

    I came across a shadow work prompt that made me stop and think about the way we speak to ourselves.

    We can be so hard on ourselves without ever questioning where those words came from.

    That voice saying you are not good enough, you always mess things up, or you should be further along by now, is that really your voice?

    Or is it something someone said to you so many times that you eventually started saying it to yourself?

    That is the part that gets me. Sometimes the person is no longer around.

    The moment has passed. We may even believe we have moved on, but their words are still living inside us and showing up whenever we feel insecure, make a mistake, or try something new.

    After a while, their voice starts sounding like our own.

    And because it sounds familiar, we believe it.

    This prompt is not about blaming anyone or forcing yourself to suddenly think positively. It is simply about paying attention.

    When that critical voice shows up, pause and ask where you first heard it.

    You may realize that some of the things you believe about yourself were never yours to begin with.

    Maybe your own voice has been buried underneath everyone else’s opinions for so long that you are not sure what it sounds like yet. That is okay too.

    Perhaps it starts with something simple:

    I am trying.

    I am learning.

    I deserved more kindness than that.

    The goal is not to silence every negative thought overnight. It is to recognize which voice belongs to you and which one you are finally ready to stop believing.

    Be gentle with yourself as you write. Some voices have been with us for a long time, but that does not mean they get to speak for us forever.

  • 31 Journal Therapy Prompts for a More Intentional Month

    31 Journal Therapy Prompts for a More Intentional Month

    Some months begin with clear plans. Others begin with exhaustion, uncertainty, or the quiet feeling that something needs to change, even when we cannot name what it is.

    These 31 Journal Therapy prompts were created to offer one small moment of reflection each day.

    They are not about forcing an answer, fixing your entire life, or filling several pages.

    Each prompt is simply an invitation to pause and notice what is happening within you and around you.

    You can write for five minutes, fill an entire page, or answer with a single honest sentence. There is no correct way to complete the challenge.

    Begin on the first day of the month, choose the question that speaks to you, or move through the prompts at your own pace.

    I’ll be sure to share my own progress,as of course I’ll be is in the prompts myself.

    31 Days of Journal Therapy

    1. What deserves more room in my life this month?
    2. Where have I been spending energy without noticing?
    3. What feels easier than it did a month ago?
    4. What part of my routine needs a small adjustment?
    5. When do I feel most present during an ordinary day?
    6. What have I been making more complicated than necessary?
    7. Which feeling have I had difficulty naming lately?
    8. What is one choice I can make without explaining it?
    9. Where could I use more structure in my life?
    10. What has been quietly helping me lately?
    11. What do I need before I can fully focus?
    12. Which responsibility feels heavier than it should?
    13. What am I currently making space to learn?
    14. When did I last feel pleasantly surprised by myself?
    15. What would make this week feel more manageable?
    16. Where am I asking too much of myself at once?
    17. What conversation keeps continuing inside my head?
    18. Which part of my day feels most like mine?
    19. What have I recently discovered that I genuinely enjoy?
    20. Where could I be more specific about what I need?
    21. What does my body seem to be requesting today?
    22. Which decision would benefit from more patience?
    23. What am I doing out of habit rather than intention?
    24. What would I like to experience more often this month?
    25. Where have I noticed a change in my reactions?
    26. What am I ready to approach differently?
    27. Which small task would give me the most relief today?
    28. What has my attention but not my commitment?
    29. What boundary would make my days feel less crowded?
    30. What did this month reveal about the way I live?
    31. What do I want to remember as I enter the next month?

    Before You Close Your Journal

    You do not need to leave these 31 days with every answer figured out.

    The whole point of these prompts is to go within.

    The value is in noticing what appeared on the page: the thoughts that repeated, the needs you finally named, and the small truths that became clearer as you wrote.

    Let the final page be a beginning rather than an ending. Return to any prompt that still has more to say.

    Which question are you beginning with?

    Journal Therapy is a reflective writing practice and is not a substitute for professional mental health care.

  • Week 31 of 52: What Has Your Body Been Trying to Tell You?

    Week 31 of 52: What Has Your Body Been Trying to Tell You?

    I am very good at telling myself to keep going.

    Tired? Keep going.
    Overwhelmed? Handle what needs to be handled first.
    Something feels off? Deal with it later.

    Except “later” has a way of becoming never.

    Sometimes the body notices what we are carrying before we are willing or able to put it into words. The jaw tightens. The shoulders become heavy. The stomach feels unsettled. Breathing becomes shallow without us even realizing it.

    Meanwhile, we are still walking around saying, “I’m fine.”

    This week’s prompt is not about assigning an emotional meaning to every ache or physical sensation. Sometimes discomfort is simply physical and needs proper medical attention.

    This is about pausing long enough to notice yourself.

    This Week’s Prompt

    What has your body been trying to tell you lately?

    Before you begin writing, take one quiet minute and notice how your body feels.

    Where are you holding tension?

    What feels heavy, restless, warm, numb, or unexpectedly calm?

    Do not immediately try to fix it. Do not worry about whether your answer makes sense. Simply begin with:

    If my body could speak, it would say…

    Maybe it would ask for rest.

    Maybe it would admit that something has become too heavy.

    Maybe it would tell you that you feel safe, loved, or finally at peace.

    Maybe it has been trying to say something you have been too busy to hear.

    And maybe you will sit with the page and hear absolutely nothing at first. That is okay too.

    Noticing is still a beginning.

    We ask our bodies to carry us through so much. This week, let’s give them a moment to speak.

  • Week 30 of 52: Writing our way back to Ourselves

    Week 30 of 52: Writing our way back to Ourselves

    Please forgive me I thought I had posted this earlier in the week. It’s been an interesting one, but I’m back on the groove. I hope you enjoy. Thanks again for stopping by.

    Back with another reflection for you.

    Some weeks ask us to dig deep.
    Others simply ask us to notice.

    Growth doesn’t always arrive with dramatic breakthroughs.

    Sometimes it appears in the quiet moments: the conversation you almost avoided, the boundary you finally honored, the feeling you allowed instead of pushing away.

    This week’s prompt is an invitation to pause and listen to the version of yourself that’s emerging now.

    Take your time. There are no perfect answers here.

    Only an opportunity to meet yourself with honesty and compassion.

  • Week 29 of 52: Writing Our Way Back to Ourselves

    Week 29 of 52: Writing Our Way Back to Ourselves

    We are officially in week 29 of 52.

    And I don’t know about you, but that number made me stop for a second.

    We are more than halfway through the year.

    Remember those goals we wrote down in January? The promises we made to ourselves? The things we swore this year would be different about?

    Where are we with them?

    I’m asking myself the same question.

    This isn’t about beating ourselves up for what we haven’t accomplished. But I do think it’s time to buckle down. To be honest with ourselves. To look at the year so far and ask:

    What have I actually done with the goals I said mattered to me?

    So, I’m making a conscious effort to share one journal prompt every week.

    But I don’t want to just throw a pretty prompt onto the internet and disappear.

    I’m going to work with the prompt too.

    Throughout the week, I’ll sit with it, write through it, and see what comes up. Then, at the end of the week, I’ll come back and share some of what I wrote.

    I’m doing this alongside you.

    For week one, I’m asking:

    What part of yourself have you been quietly trying to return to?

    Will you give yourself those 5 minutes?

    Maybe week 29 is the week we stop waiting for January to try again.

    We still have 23 weeks left.

    Let’s buckle down.

    Let’s get honest.

    And let’s write our way back to ourselves.

  • What I’m Carrying vs. What I’m Choosing

    What I’m Carrying vs. What I’m Choosing

    There is a misconception that before we choose joy, creativity, adventure, or growth, we must first set down everything heavy.
    As if life hands us a clean slate and says, “Now you may begin.”
    That has never been my experience.
    What I am carrying right now is not light.
    There are bills that do not care how tired I am.
    A deadline that sits in the corner of my mind no matter what else I am doing.
    Early mornings that begin while most of the world is still asleep.
    Conversations that are still unfolding inside my life.


    Questions that have not found answers.

    Responsibilities that do not pause because my heart needs a moment to catch up.
    Some days it feels as though I am carrying an entire house on my back.
    Yet somehow, I keep choosing things.
    I choose the poetry class.
    I choose to sit among strangers and talk about words as if they matter, because they do.
    I choose to keep building Lines Between Living even when no one is asking me to.
    I choose to write blog posts before dawn.
    I choose therapy.
    I choose difficult conversations.
    I choose hope when cynicism would be easier.
    I choose to make plans for a future that has not proven itself to me yet.
    The strange thing is that none of these choices make the weight disappear.
    The inquiries still exist.
    The bills still arrive.
    The uncertainty remains uncertain.
    The grief still taps me on the shoulder when I least expect it.
    The tension lives on.
    Maybe that is the lesson I keep resisting.
    Perhaps life is not asking me to become lighter before I move forward.
    Perhaps it is asking me to carry what I must and choose what I love anyway.
    I don’t know if that is strength.
    I don’t know if it is stubbornness.
    Most days I cannot tell the difference.
    What I do know is this:
    Tomorrow morning the alarm will ring long before sunrise.
    The responsibilities will still be waiting.
    And so will the poem.
    Both are true.
    I am carrying one.
    I am choosing the other.

  • Summer Solstice: A Season of Light

    Summer Solstice: A Season of Light

    Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.

    While we are gifted more daylight, summer always feels fleeting. We wait for it through the cold, welcome it with open arms, and before we know it, the leaves begin to change and the winds of autumn remind us that another season is turning.

    Perhaps that is why I love summer so much.

    It reminds me not to wait.

    My heart wants to experience more light.

    More mornings spent outside before the day grows busy. More walks beneath blue skies. More moments feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin and the breeze moving through my hair. More reminders that life is happening now.

    This season, I want to travel, explore, learn, write, and continue building the life I dream about.

    I want to finish my Journal Therapy certification. I want to continue writing and creating. I want to collect experiences instead of postponing them for “someday.”

    Because summer teaches us something important:

    Nothing lasts forever.

    Not the cold.
    Not the storms.
    Not even the longest day of the year.

    So while the sun lingers a little longer, I intend to linger with it.

    To enjoy every bit of light available to me.

    To say yes to adventure.

    To step outside more often.

    To breathe deeply.

    To be present.

    My soul is calling for sunshine, fresh air, new memories, and the kind of joy that can only be found when we fully participate in our own lives.

    So this Summer Solstice, I am making a promise to myself:

    To seek the light.
    To follow curiosity.
    To embrace the season.
    And to remember that life is meant to be experienced, not simply endured.

    Happy Summer Solstice.

  • June: Stay Focused, Follow Through

    June: Stay Focused, Follow Through

    Here we are half the year already gone. Six months behind me, six ahead. That stopped me for a second.

    I’m not making a list of twenty things this month. I’m making one promise: stay focused, follow through.

    This year has been full of beginnings. June is where I get steadier with them.

    Three things I’m holding onto:

    Focus. Less scattering, more finishing. Doing the one thing in front of me instead of the ten I could be doing.

    Self-care. Not the bubble-bath version the real kind. Rest that actually restores. Saying no so I can mean my yes.

    Showing up here. Communicating with you more consistently on this blog, not just when life is loud. Steady, honest, present.

    Not louder. Just steadier. That’s the whole goal.

    So tell me what’s the one thing you’re following through on this June? Name it. Saying it out loud is how it starts.