Day One - Gather the Good Things

 What do you have that you love? 

My children and my dogs, of course. These seem like the obvious answers. But I don't want obvious today. Today I want to focus solely on possessions. My material things. 

And if I'm being honest, the list starts with my rosaries.

I love my rosaries. There’s something about them that captivates me—not just in their design, but in what they represent. They’re beautiful in both form and significance.

I look for them when I travel, and though it may seem like an odd souvenir, it has become a tradition of sorts. Those I picked up in Rome hold special significance. There's something special about holding a rosary that has been blessed by the Pope. You hold that on a little closer to your heart. Even long after leaving the church, that remains special. You don’t have to be Catholic to feel its weight. It's a quiet connection, a sense of reverence that stays with you.

Write about a golden moment from yesterday:

Yesterday, I sat down with my brother to talk about Mema. We laughed, we cried (he shed more tears than I did), and, well, we may have gotten a little tipsy—maybe more than a little.

Talking about her always feels good, but what I loved even more were the tangents we found ourselves on. There were plenty of those. There always are when we’re together. The recorder ran for two hours and fifty minutes, and I can't wait to listen. There may not be much substance to be found, no hard hitting journalism. But that recording is full of us laughing together. It is a recording of love, and that is something to treasure. 

Stories Await

Writing is a deeply personal act for me. And while I do enjoy sharing my writing, the process is very private. It has always been my way of reflecting on my life, a way to process my thoughts, emotions, and experiences. As I write, I find myself shaping the chaos of my everyday life into something clearer, turning fleeting moments and internal struggles into narratives I can understand and revisit. Writing forces me to slow down and pay attention, to examine life in a deeper way. 

I believe what English teachers say about writing being a window and a mirror. It has served each purpose at various times in my life. When I don't understand what I see while looking in or looking out, I put it on the page. It has always helped me untangle my thoughts and begin to understand who I am and where I’m headed. Not to mention, it often gives me a good giggle. 

It gives me the space to look at past experiences with fresh eyes. It lets me have a quiet conversation with myself, offering clarity I might not find in the noise of everyday life. But it's not just a way to process the past—it also allows me to envision the future and to explore different possibilities and paths I might not have considered. Most importantly, I’ve found that writing helps me be more compassionate with myself, offering the chance to embrace my own journey with love and laughter. It helps me give myself grace. And we all need a little grace. 

I began an online guided writing course today. It's a 30 day course. I am committing to write every day for 30 days. The course title is "Following the Thread" (which I love) and the framework is this:

• Week One: Gathering
• Week Two: Attending
• Week Three: Mining
• Week Four: Weeding
• Two Bonus Days: Dreaming 

I have several writing projects in the works. I have few that are finished. I'm hoping this course will help rejuvenate my writer's soul. Today, I end with a line from my instructor that spoke to me. 

"Writing helps you become friends with your life." 

Yes. 

It does.