It's always so funny when you feel that you're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, when all this time you felt like it was eternally far away.

Starting this 30 day journaling journey, I did not realize how tough it would turn out to be! I didn't think it would be easy -- but it was certainly harder to show up here everyday than I thought. I am quite proud of myself now.

I guess it is like moving into a new home. You look around you and it still feels a bit unfamiliar. You feel a bit tentative, though this is technically your home now. Even pets get disoriented and scared when moving to a new space. It's normal that humans do too. This digital space is the same. It takes a while for us to feel at home, even if it is not a physical space.

To feel comfortable that we can speak up and share our intimate thoughts and secrets, is not easy. Many of us have been judged or ridiculed or criticized our whole lives. It's hard to trust others when that was our experience when we were little and open. I certainly get that. I didn't have an easy first few years. My first dad was scary and violent. A terrifying environment for a kid or anyone.

I still have a lot to learn, to grow and open up. I started a new relationship during this pandemic year. I've slowly opened up to a new person. Sometimes I feel I've opened up a lot. And then I realize how much I am holding back, in trying to protect myself. No criticism there, just being really gentle and loving with myself as I try to open up more and more.

QUESTION FOR YOU: ❤️

Where do you hold back in trusting others? Certainly, there is a time and place for when we should be cautious, especially as women. But with those close to us, have you noticed when you hold back even when you'd like to open up more? What is that like?

Join us inside the community for a safe, intimate community of sharing and inspiration on your journaling journey! Click here.

I know I'm not the only one that feels like I just don't have time to exercise during my hectic day: I'm in the middle of a bunch of work emails. Then it's past lunch time. Now I'm too full to exercise. So many excuses -- so little time!

I am a huge fan of "Yoga with Adrienne" videos on YouTube. Maybe you've heard of her? She only has like a billion fans (or so) so it's very well you have. From Austin, Texas I really enjoy her fresh, down-to-earth, silly way of sharing her yoga teaching. And the best thing of all? Her videos are an average of 20 minutes at the most! There's a perfect range of videos from 15 minutes to 45 minutes. So you can pick and choose whatever you have time for in that moment. She may well have 11 minute videos! I know I definitely have 10-15 minutes to move my body on any certain day. 

And as I often say about journaling -- you only need 10 minutes! Set a timer. And write!

QUESTION FOR YOU:
What will you do next for your next short form of exercise? Inquiring minds want to know! Share in the comments!

And if you want to hear more, join us inside the community!

I just rewatched this Spice Girls video of "Wannabe." Actually I'm not sure I ever watched the music video, or only heard their song a million times. This song popped up in my head today because of a recent incident that's got me thinking about when you really want something, what do you actually do about it?

A lot of times when you hear people talking about wanting to make some changes -- whether it's getting a new job, losing weight, or decluttering their house -- they want the end result, but not necessarily the many, many, tiny steps it takes to get there. They don't really want to do the work it entails.

And I'm not just pointing fingers either -- because I too have realized that I am a huge sucker for this type of thinking. Get-rich-quick, impatient schemes. I wrote recently about where my impatience comes from in my childhood. I am a lot better than I used to be. But I can certainly still improve. It's this urgency, this need to be somewhere else, farther along than where we presently are that is doing the biggest disservice to ourselves. We think we are simply being productive, hurrying ourselves along. We don't want to be slackers, now do we? But actually, the most important thing is slowing down, enjoying the flowers and that will actually lead us to more success-- in whatever it is we're trying to achieve-- by enjoying our daily lives. It truly is the means, not the end.

Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want
I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want
So tell me what you want, what you really, really want

So take some deep, meditative time -- a month-- whatever you need, and really think about what you really, really want. How bad do you want it? Why do you want it? And then what are you willing to do to get there?

Here are a couple resources to help you on your journaling journey:

So it's been a crazy stressful time. As if the pandemic wasn't hard enough, and dealing with US topsy-turvy divisive politics, and systemic racial injustice & violence against Black people-- then what threw me over was on March 16th, the shooting and deaths of 6 Asian women at their workplace in Georgia by a young white man who had been their customer previously.

So much tears, so little sense.
So much rage, and so few ears.
Feeling so helpless, and not enough allies.
To say the least, it's been a difficult time. Never mind for the victims' families themselves. You can learn more here and donate to to Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta here.

I held a very successful online journaling workshop last weekend: Journaling for the Total Beginner! It was great to get together with sisters from the US and even UK! We started off with a guided meditation that I wrote on being powerful women and it was my first time saying a dedication as well. I dedicated it to the 6 Asian women that were killed in Georgia. It meant a lot to me to pause and acknowledge the importance of the loss of their lives and the terrible result of violence against women and Asian women. And for all of us to notice and appreciate the preciousness of our lives and how much we matter.

Oh it's been quite a while since I posted here. I've been busy holding live journaling workshops though and writing my weekly cheery newsletter with my own personal updates and journaling inspiration tidbits. (You can sign up on the home page and click on the subscribe button on the left.)

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Other than that, just trying to stay warm and keep my spirits up! During these days, that's what most of us are trying to do I think?

I have been trying to feed my creative mind lately and get some more inspiration and motivation. I've found a couple inspiring souls and kindred spirits that have really boosted my spirits, just knowing they're out there doing their passion and craft and putting it out there. I'm so grateful.

The Travelling Bookbinder is one such kindred soul I've found, across the ocean and on an island. Rachell Hazel is based in Edinburgh, Scotland and the a small magical island, Hebridean of Iona.

She teaches workshops on how to make books, sew books, and all sorts of other awesome crafty things you can make with paper and a couple tools.

The other kindred spirit and delightful soul I've found is The Unexpected Gypsy. Wendy is also in the UK area, but lives in the very small city of Wells. She has beautiful videos online of her art-making process -- she has a very popular Etsy shop -- and I personally love her journaling-scrapbooking-collage methods and ways.

Wendy really is a beautiful soul and creates gorgeous commissioned art filled with fairy like creatures sprinkled with magic, and also has lovely videos online of her creative and crafty journaling DIY process.

I really appreciate the inspirational and helpful videos showing the step by step breakdown of Wendy's process. There's mod podge and awesome quotes and mermaids, of course. I knew we were kindred spirits when I first noticed she had the same Peter Pauper Press journal I have!

I did promise some snow day journaling prompts! Here you go!

** What is your favorite hot drink and book you'd like to curl up with to read right now while watching the snow fall?

** If you could invent a new snow sporty activity what would it be? It can be as silly or realistic as you'd like!

** If you were a snowflake, what would your biggest dream be? Write out a paragraph long story. What's your name, favorite place in the world and hobby?

Speaking of deer -- a new friend recently told me a deer story. He had a friend who always saw deer on the side of the highway. He was impressed, "Wow-- I never see deer on the highway..."
"Well, do you ever look?"
"Um, no..."

I love this story. There are so many things in life that we don't look out for. But are there for us to see and appreciate if we just paused to look. Whether it's wildflowers by the road or friendships we might take for granted --- I encourage you today to think about what might you see if you paused and took a look?

Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates!

To change things up a bit this week and do something more lighthearted and fun -- which I think we could all use a bit more of these days --- I thought I'd share with you a few fun resources during this quarantine time!

Let's jump in !

Some girlfriends of mine did the Louvre virtual tour (there are a few on their site) and did it as a group zoom! Check it out here:

https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne

 I've really been enjoying the articles on the Mindful.org site lately. It's filled with daily practices and guided meditations -- one of my favorite! Click here to check it out.

Diane von Furstengberg is a force to be reckoned with, and not just in the fashion industry.  She has overcome so much in her personal and professional life. I was excited to "be" with her in her home to catch this brief interview during this time. Here are a few quotes: