Journaling
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Over the Moon in Opera Alley: My Favorite Restaurant and a Love Letter to Romance
What is your favorite restaurant? Some places feed your body. Others feed your spirit.And then, there are places like Over the Moon Café, where the food is unforgettable, yes, but the feeling? That’s what lingers. Tucked away in Tacoma’s Opera Alley, Over the Moon isn’t flashy or loud. In fact, you could walk right past Continue reading
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Dear INFJ: Letter #3 – You Were Never Meant to Be Small
Dear INFJ, You’ve spent so much of your life folding yourself into quieter versions of who you are. You learned how to dim your light, not because it wasn’t bright, but because it made others squint. You learned how to carry other people’s pain without them even asking, like it was your job, your purpose, Continue reading
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Dear INFJ: Letter #2 – Your depth is a gift
I see you. I see how the world looks at you and whispers that you’re “too much.” Too intense. Too deep. Too emotional. Too serious. Too… something. And maybe, for a while, you believed them. Maybe you tried to tone it down, to laugh a little louder at jokes that didn’t land, to nod along Continue reading
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Success Isn’t About Showing Off
For as long as I can remember, the idea of flaunting success has never resonated with me. Designer logos, luxury cars, extravagant homes – none of that has ever felt like success to me. While I can admire quality craftsmanship, I’ve never found fulfillment in accumulating things just to show the world I’ve “made it.” Continue reading
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Woven in Black: The Threads of Trust
I stand in a small, dimly lit room, surrounded by mismatched chairs and the smell of coffee and incense.The gentle rhythm of a bongo drum hums in the background. I’m dressed in all black, the fabric heavy against my skin, but I feel light, as if the beat is carrying me forward. It’s my turn Continue reading
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In the Quiet of What Was
There’s a peculiar kind of space that exists now, neither empty nor filled, but suspended in a way that feels both unsettling and inevitable. It’s strange how something so dynamic can shift into something so intangible, and yet, it lingers. Like a theory untested, or an idea that hasn’t quite reached its conclusion. It’s not Continue reading
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Friday Night Reset: Digital Painting & Sushi
Some weeks just drag, and by Friday, I needed a reset. So, I ordered some sushi, curled up with my dog, Chewy, and opened Procreate to paint the stress away. While I enjoyed my food, Chewy happily lounged beside me, probably hoping for a bite (he got a treat instead). In the span of a Continue reading
art, Blogging, creative, Dachshund, deep-thoughts, digital art, Enneagram 4w5, food, Inspiration, introversion, ipad, Journaling, Mindfulness, painting, procreate, technology, Wholeness, Zenart, artist, Authenticity, calm, cuisine, Dachshund, food, hobbies, Inspiration, ipad, Mindfulness, painting, procreate, reflection, writing, Zen -
A Portrait of Light: Painting Myself Into the Aurora
There is something about the aurora that feels like a language I almost understand. It moves with a kind of knowing, a silent rhythm written in color, never still, never fully graspable, yet undeniably real. It exists in the space between darkness and light, between earth and sky, between what is seen and what is Continue reading
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My Digital Self-Portrait Journey on the iPad
I’ve been working on a self-portrait on my iPad lately, and it’s been such a fun experience. I love how the digital world lets me experiment without any of the mess. No worrying about ruining a canvas or using up all my supplies. I can just jump in, sketch out a rough idea, and then Continue reading
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A Love Letter to Spice
I didn’t grow up with spice. My mom, born and raised in Germany, considered a lot of black pepper too bold, a reckless gamble on an otherwise perfectly balanced dish. Our meals were careful, deliberate, steeped in history. Vinegar for brightness, cloves for warmth, paprika for depth. Butter melted into broth, softening the sharp edges Continue reading
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Finding Strength in Connection During Uncertain Times
Lately, it feels like the world is more uncertain than usual. Every day seems to bring a new set of challenges, making it harder to predict what will come next. Whether it’s political shifts, societal changes, or personal struggles, there’s a heaviness in the air that’s hard to ignore. We’re all trying to make sense Continue reading
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Why I Bought an iPad: A Return to Drawing and Self-Expression
Recently, I decided to treat myself to something I’ve been thinking about for a while – I splurged on an iPad. It might seem like just another piece of technology, but for me, it’s so much more. It’s a step toward rediscovering a part of myself I’ve let drift away: drawing. When I was younger, Continue reading
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The beauty of the small things: embracing the hidden depths of everyday life
There’s a quiet magic in the world that most people overlook, the kind of beauty that doesn’t shout to be seen, but quietly whispers to those who know how to listen. It’s in the warmth of the sun on your face as you step outside in the morning, the way the breeze dances gently through Continue reading
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The Home I Carry With Me
Home. It’s a word that holds so much meaning. For years, I thought it was simply a place like the house I grew up in, the rooms that felt familiar, the roof that kept everything out. I thought it was a fixed thing, a physical space that defined where I belonged. But over time, I’ve Continue reading
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Slow Mornings: A Quiet Ritual of Solitude and Reflection
There’s a certain stillness I’ve come to cherish in the early hours of the morning, a time when the world feels paused, and I can exist solely with my thoughts. These slow mornings, spent in the quiet company of Chewy, my little dachshund, have become a vital part of my day. It’s during these precious Continue reading
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The Courage to Be Authentic in a World That Pushes Conformity
Authenticity has always been like a quiet whisper inside of me, urging me to show up as I truly am. It’s a knowing that runs deep in my chest, one that tells me I should embrace who I am, no matter how much it feels like I might be “too much” for the world around Continue reading
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Metacognition: Unraveling the Layers of Thought and Self-Awareness
Metacognition is a concept that resonates deeply with the nature of introspection and self-awareness. At its most basic level, it is the act of thinking about our thinking, an awareness of the processes through which we form thoughts, solve problems, and make decisions. For individuals like myself, whose internal world is rich with reflection and Continue reading
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Unveiling the Self: My Journey to Understanding Through MBTI
Growing up, I always felt like a shadow at the edges of the world, never quite fitting into the spaces that seemed to come so naturally to others. While many of my classmates were surrounded by vast circles of friends, effortlessly navigating the social currents of youth, I stood apart. I wasn’t popular. I wasn’t Continue reading
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Today. Today is the day!
I’ve been waiting for the perfect moment, the right words, or the right inspiration to spark this journey. But the truth is, there will never be a “perfect” moment. I realized that the time to start was now—today. Today is the day to step into this space, to share the thoughts, the feelings, the questions Continue reading
The Dreamer's Pen 