Tag: writing

  • A New Year, A Lighter Heart: Learning to Let Go

    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…

  • The Glory of Looking Back

    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,…

  • Finding Joy Again: What Christmas Softly Reminds My Heart

    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…

  • Meet Gratitude’s Twin Sister, “Attitude!”

    Meet Gratitude’s Twin Sister, “Attitude!”

    If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. ~ Maya Angelou At times, life may seem daunting, causing us to complain about our circumstances. Certain situations are beyond our control- illness, the weather, the actions of others, situations at work or school, devastating events like earthquakes, 9/11 or…

  • The People Who Carry My Heart

    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…

  • The love that outlives you

    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…

  • What Courage Really Looks Like (It’s Not What You Think)

    What Courage Really Looks Like (It’s Not What You Think)

    There’s a kind of courage that doesn’t roar.It doesn’t stand on a stage or wear armor.It’s quieter than that—gentler, even. It’s the kind that wakes up each morning and says, “I’ll try again.”Even when yesterday hurt.Even when fear still lingers.Even when the future feels like fog. Courage Isn’t Loud — It’s Honest We often picture…

  • The Last Thing That Got Me Excited

    This past weekend, I stumbled across a story I had written years ago. It was a fantasy about someone I had a crush on back in college. As I read it, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of longing wash over me. The writing was good—better than I had even remembered. It carried so…

  • what brings me peace

    Daily Writing Prompt: What brings you peace? Peace, to me, is more than just the absence of chaos—it’s a feeling that fills every corner of my heart. It begins with knowing my loved ones are safe. That simple assurance becomes the anchor that steadies me, no matter what’s going on in the world. Sometimes, peace…

  • The Tender Work of Receiving

    The Tender Work of Receiving

    By Nayerie Youssefian I used to find comfort in giving. It made me feel useful. Capable. In control.I was the friend you could cry to at 2am, the one who remembered your favorite tea, who showed up with soup and softness and the right words when life got hard. Giving made me feel needed.Receiving made…