Category: Excerpts
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A New Year, A Lighter Heart: Learning to Let Go
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ~ Lao Tzu Clarity Cookie: The pain of the slap was still present. It was a rainy day, the 7th anniversary of her mother’s death in September. My friend Grace had decided to forgive her sister for all she’d done wrong…
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The Glory of Looking Back
As the year folds itself gently at the edges, like a page turned with care, I find myself pausing—hands still, breath deep, heart wide open. We made it. Another year lived. Another chapter completed. Another sunrise won. There’s a quiet kind of triumph in simply arriving here. And so, at the edge of this year,…
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Finding Joy Again: What Christmas Softly Reminds My Heart
There’s something about Christmas that softens even the toughest parts of the year.Maybe it’s the lights. Maybe it’s the music. Maybe it’s the way December seems to whisper, “You made it. Breathe now.” Growing up, I always loved Christmas — not because everything was perfect, but because for a moment, the world slowed down. Even…
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The People Who Carry My Heart
Family is such a simple word, but somehow it holds the weight of our entire lives. It’s the laughter that fills the house on holidays, the quiet understanding in the middle of chaos, the familiar faces that remind us we’re never walking this path alone. For me, family is the thread that stitches my life…
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The love that outlives you
Lately, I’ve found myself thinking about death—not in a morbid way, but in that quiet, reflective way that sneaks in when the world slows down. Maybe it’s the stillness of a late night or the way memories surface when you least expect them. It’s strange how death, though so certain, still feels like something we…
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Religion and the Quiet Ways It Shapes Our Lives
Religion is not just a matter of doctrine or ritual—it is a pulse that runs through human history, a current that carries stories, traditions, and the longing of the human heart. It is the rhythm of prayer beads slipping through fingers, the sound of hymns echoing through old stone chapels, the muezzin’s call rising with…
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The Quiet Power of Hobbies: How Writing (and Yours) Can Help You Communicate and Heal
There’s something quietly revolutionary about picking up a pen, a paintbrush, a crochet hook, or even a gardening spade. These simple actions might seem small, but they’re profound—they carry a language of their own. Hobbies speak through the heart, not the mouth. They tell your story without you having to shout it into the world.…
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🌿 The Strength of Fragile Faith: When Cracked Hearts Hold God’s Light
By: Nayerie Youssefianwww.phoenixjourney.com Clarity Cookie: My faith deepened not when life was predictable—but when it shattered. I used to think faith looked polished. Perfect. Like a Sunday best with hands lifted high and prayers spoken with confidence. But my real faith? It was born in brokenness. I coach today not because I know all the…
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🌿 You’re Not Broken — You’re Becoming
“Healing is not about fixing what’s broken. It’s about tending to what’s hurting with tenderness, patience, and truth.” Clarity Cookie: The word healing means a lot to me.Not just as an idea. Not just as a process.But as a sacred part of my life story. You see, I survived a near-fatal accident in my early…
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The Shaman Lover and the Fire That Freed Me
Reflections after reading “Broken Open” by Elizabeth Lesser Some stories don’t just live on the page—they live in your body.This reflection on Broken Open by Elizabeth Lesser isn’t just a book review.It’s a confession, a witnessing, a walk through the fire with a guide who never planned to lead. If you’ve ever loved someone who…
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