- Gounded by Paper, Handwriting, Journal Therapy, Journals, The Starring Me! Journal, Twisted Plot Paper
Put It on the Page: How Journaling Reduces Stress
Some people reach for ice cream. Some people hit the gym. Me? I reach for my journal. (Okay, fine—sometimes I do the ice cream thing, too.) There’s something almost magical about stress shrinking down once it hits the page. It’s like taking the jumble of thoughts bouncing around in your head, giving them a seat, and saying: “Okay, let’s talk this through.” And here’s the good news: it’s not just me saying this. Research backs it up. Why Journaling Works for Stress When you write things down, you’re doing more than venting. You’re literally rewiring your brain to calm down. A few reasons why: How to Start Stress-Relief Journaling (Without…
-
The Page as a Mirror: What Being a Journal Therapist Means to Me
When I first discovered journaling as more than just “dear diary” entries about my day, I realized it could be a doorway. A doorway into memory. Into healing. Into possibility. Over the years, I’ve used my journals as a lifeline, a confidant, and a compass. So when I took the leap to become a certified journal therapist, it wasn’t just about adding a new credential to my name — it was about stepping more fully into what I know writing can do through journal therapy. Being a journal therapist, to me, means holding space for people to use words as tools, not just for recording their lives, but for reshaping…
-
The Spotlight Belongs to You (Cue Applause)
The film of life isn’t waiting backstage for you to be ready. It’s already rolling. The spotlight is warm, the audience (that’s your friends, family, co-workers, even your dog or cat) is leaning in, and the curtain is up. Are you prepared to take the starring role in your life, stepping into the role you were meant to play, or are you still hanging out in the wings? Embrace the starring role in your life, and let your unique script unfold. Taking center stage in your own life doesn’t mean being loud, flashy, or doing jazz hands at the grocery store (though I won’t stop you because no one stopped…
-
I Wrote About My Trip Before It Happened… and Then It Happened
Spoiler: It unfolded almost exactly as I’d written in my future casting journal. I wasn’t exactly counting down the days to my trip to Los Angeles earlier this year. In fact, “mild dread” might be the most generous way to describe how I felt about flying across the country. I was going to participate in a memorial service. Make no mistake, I was proud and willing to do so to honor my sister-in-law. However, it was weighty and daunting on top of an already devastating loss. That’s where the future casting journal came in handy, offering a sense of calm. I’d been doing some reading about future-casting — really, mental…
-
Gratitude: The Secret Scene-Stealer
Gratitude doesn’t always get top billing. It’s usually somewhere in the credits, slipping by while the spotlight shines on bigger emotions—joy, sadness, anger, excitement. But here’s the twist: gratitude has a way of stealing the scene every single time, and keeping a gratitude journal can help highlight its importance. I’ve found that when I pause long enough to actually name what I’m grateful for, the whole story shifts. Suddenly the “hard day” becomes a day where a friend texted at just the right moment. The “boring week” becomes a week where I finally noticed how the light through my window makes the walls glow in the morning. Gratitude zooms in…
-
Showing Up for the Stories That Matter
The other night, I got to do something I love almost as much as cracking open a brand-new journal. I showed up for a friend’s book launch to celebrate stories that matter. There’s something about being in a room where words take center stage. You witness someone you know pouring their heart into pages. They spent late nights and consumed probably a few too many cups of coffee. These pages are finally being released into the world. It’s like watching a dream materialize, one chapter at a time. It’s magical. Something created from nothing but the thoughts in someone’s head. Showing up matters–even if you don’t have any photographic evidence!…
-
Why You’re the Star of Your Own Life (And How the Starring Me! Journal Backs You Up)
You’ve probably heard it before: “Be the star of your own life.” It sounds like a motivational poster, right? But here’s the thing—it’s not just a cute saying. It’s the truth–because really you are the star of your life. No one else gets to live your story. No one else gets the script, the plot twists, or the supporting cast of characters that make your life one-of-a-kind. That’s all you. You are the lead, the director, the writer, and the audience—sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, sometimes throwing popcorn at the screen. Remember, you’re truly the star of your life story, and it’s important to realize you’re the star in your life.…
-
The Gift That Keeps on Giving: Journaling
We’re all pretty good at giving gifts to others—birthdays, holidays, random little “I saw this and thought of you” moments. But what about giving yourself the gift of peace? Not a gadget that breaks, not a sweater you’ll wear once, but a real gift. One that doesn’t get shoved in a closet or fade with time. I’m talking about journaling, of course, as it provides the gift of peace that stays with you. Yes, yes, I can hear the collective “oh boy, here he goes again.” But stick with me—because journaling is one of the simplest, most powerful gifts you can give yourself. It’s truly a gift of peace you…
-
Write On! 90-Day Challenge: Let’s Do This Together
What if you could write 60,000 words—or make serious progress on your dream project—in just three months? The key to achieving this goal is to build a habit of writing regularly. Sounds impossible? It’s not. It’s math. And it’s about to get a whole lot more fun. This October, I’m kicking off the Write On! 90-Day Challenge—a community-powered push to get words on the page, no matter what you’re writing. A novel. A memoir. Blog posts. Journaling. Song lyrics. A screenplay about a dog who secretly runs for mayor. (Hey, no judgment. If it gets you writing, it counts.) The aim is to help you establish a consistent writing habit…
-
Chicken Soup for the Pen
You know those days when you wake up just a little “off”? Maybe it’s a lingering headache. Maybe it’s the kind of fatigue that even three cups of coffee can’t fix (plus, I recently switched to decaf), or maybe you just feel meh for no reason at all. (Yes, meh is an official diagnosis in my personal medical dictionary.) On such days, I like to journal for health–physical and mental–for some relief. For some people, the comfort cure is a steaming bowl of chicken soup—the kind that warms you up from the inside out. It convinces you that maybe the world isn’t so bad after all. For me? My chicken…
