Journal writing – Reflections

To write, or not to write

I have decided to work my way through Suleika Jaouad’s book, The Book of Alchemy. Each of the 100 chapters, written by a variety of writers, contains an essay and a prompt for journalling. I started following Suleika, the creator of the online community The Isolation Journals, back in April of 2020 during the Covid-19Continue reading “To write, or not to write”

Blank pages

This morning I stayed home to participate in The Hatch, a monthly gathering of over 200 people who are connected through their interest in journalling. Many people, like the founder, Suleika Jaouad struggle with chronic illness; others have joined (as I did) shortly after its start during the Covid shutdown. Today I chose to writeContinue reading “Blank pages”

Sucker punch

The physical pain was real. It was sudden, gut-wrenching and mixed with a tidal wave of emotions. Why did my sister have to mention his name in a random text, letting me know that he was at my grandmother’s funeral 24 year ago? Some things are better just left unsaid. The abuse started even beforeContinue reading “Sucker punch”

What do you hear?

What do you hear when you listen to a piece of music? What is the first thing that pops into your mind? A few minutes ago I listened to about 20 seconds of a new song, and was quite surprised at my response. Of course, as usual, I follow the melody along the staff, paintingContinue reading “What do you hear?”

Be Chill

If you look very closely at the buoy you will notice black birds. They are scattered around the base as well as on the scaffolding. The white paint is not paint at all but the sign that these birds come to rest on this buoy regularly. Perhaps there are birds on it all day long,Continue reading “Be Chill”

Lesson learned

While working through a separation and divorce, my lawyer suggested I figure out a way to show the judge that I am trying to improve my own situation and provide a good life for my children by obtaining more training. I registered for the Provincial Instructor Diploma which would qualify me to teach my specialtyContinue reading “Lesson learned”

Dream Day

Even without Toffee here to wake me early in the morning, I find that I am usually wide awake by 5. This morning I slept in an extra hour, possible because of a late night phone call with one daughter who just experienced a very stressful week and needed to decompress. I was reading throughContinue reading “Dream Day”

5 hens 4 eggs

My neighbours are away again on vacation and asked me to check on their hens and collect the eggs each day. They asked me shortly they left town, about 1 hour after I went to the grocery for two dozen eggs. This morning when I went to find the five eggs, I was disappointed thatContinue reading “5 hens 4 eggs”

Challenging masks

Yesterday evening I played at the first in-person service since March 2020. At this particular church the congregation have a strong faith in healing; firmly believing that God’s love heals. I am hired to provide piano and organ music on Wednesday evenings. For the first year of the pandemic the music for their Zoom servicesContinue reading “Challenging masks”

Home

The question was making it’s way around Facebook not long ago — “how many different homes have you lived in?” I ran out of patience to answer that question, but today I decided to attempt an answer. There was the first house where we lived until I was 6 years old. I remember the backyardContinue reading “Home”