Write for Joy

Hello Dear One,

I began this letter trapped on my sofa. My dog Hope occupied on my lap as soon as I sat down and, in moments like that, when she’s all curled up and pressed in, it’s difficult to move. Mostly because I’m content. 

Hope arrived after I’d burnt out. A month prior, signed off work, I’d stripped my life right back, praising myself for getting out of the house. From her first morning, we established a routine: I’d sit cross-legged in front of the radiator and she’d curl up on my thigh; I’d stroke her and watch the trees outside my window. The stillness felt spacious. Despite my depression and fear, I was overwhelmed by a sense of peace.

Now in a time of transition, boxing up my flat and getting ready to move, she brings the same sense of calm. 

Yet, this past week has been joyous. I spent the afternoon in a beer garden with my sisters, watched my nieces and nephew play, had dinner in a friend’s actual house and swam in the sea. Things feel possible now in a way they haven’t for a long time and it’s a warming, beautiful feeling. Let’s bottle it.

You can do this prompt soon after precious moments, or simply when you have some time. Our brains find it hard to distinguish between real and well-imagined experiences, so good memories and strong visions have the power to sustain us through very dark times. When we feel low it can be hard to believe it’s possible to feel good again: having this in your toolkit is a way to prove it. 

I hope it helps. You can keep your memories in a special section of your journal, or write them as letters and put them in envelopes.

I’m ending this letter in my overgrown garden, having realised my wifi stretches (three years after I moved in). A few hours have passed since I began writing and I have a thought to add: we go to Instagram to see the highlight reels of other lives and forget to rely on our own. Perhaps this practice is a start.

One final note: I’m offering a mid-year Write to Reflect workshop because it’s easy to go into a year full of hope and optimism, or - as was perhaps the case with 2021 - experiencing fear and dread. Then life happens. We learn, we grow, we move and shift. This space will give voice to your experiences and help you express all that you want the next six months to be. Whether you choose to join or do something on your own taking time to look back and honour yourself is powerful.

Thanks for being here and being you.

All love, 

Jo 

---

Write to Reflect: The Mid-Year Edition - Thursday 24th June, 7.30 pm 

Join me for nourishing journalling designed to help you check in with yourself, celebrate achievements and create a roadmap for the rest of the year. This is writing for you, no experience required, and nothing needs to be shared. All the details can be found here.

AND, as always, if this post made a difference to your day like it, share it with a friend, comment or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi. See you next week!