Creative Life Midwife

Inspiring Artistic Rebirth

Belonging in the Classroom of Life: Day 25/31 of (Self) Belonging

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With 67 more days in 2023, I feel a strong call to be more intentional with the time I have both introspectively and in action as I integrate what I have learned and discovered this year in this wildly wonderful classroom of life.

Yesterday I did some early research about belonging in the classroom as a part of my 100 Days of Belonging project. Since I currently work in a school and spend 21 hours a week in classrooms and have a deep caring for the students I serve, this feels exceptionally important.

Unlike many of my peers at the school, I don’t have the pre-Covid/post-Covid experience to longingly look back towards.

Instead, my focus and my independently operated “course of study” and assignment from Harvey Milk – even though he has been gone from the planet for years – is to work from the inside to discover as much as I can about belonging from my experiences with these students.

It’s kind of like yesterday, when I had a huge a-ha about my body and belonging in my body and realizing the significance of shoes in my overall life experience.

More than one of the students I work with show up at school declaring they want to be at home. “I want to go home,” they say. “They want to go home?” says my curiosity.

Instead of what some of my peers do – marginalize the student’s spoken desire – I do some research to see what it means most often when students make such proclamations. 

When students say they want to go “home” it is evidence of being overwhelmed, perhaps a bit of languishing – maybe not being engaged…here we are stepping even more clearly into belonging territory.

As I continue to focus on my self-belonging, I am challenging myself to see where my exploration of self-belonging will help me reach out to students differently. 

On Monday at the end of day, I linked arms with a student who was going through a rough time emotionally mostly because she felt alone and unheard in the classroom. I created a space for us to be together and for her to be heard, to know she was safe saying whatever she needed to say with an adult who would listen, consciously, to what she felt was missing that lead to her upset.

I went home feeling grateful for that connection and looking forward to returning to the workplace as more than just a place to do my seven hours and get back to my “real work” as a creative entrepreneur.

This week has been rich with a-ha’s. I look forward to seeing what’s next.

What has been your biggest a-ha this week?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

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Belonging In The Body, Part 2: Day 24/31 of (Self) Belonging

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With a week to go in October, I am starting my monthly ritual of preparing my documents for November.

I like having physical journals and checklists and files, but I also do a lot of my work here at the keyboard. I always begin with the beginning of the previous month, copy and paste.

On October 1, I was recounting a trip to Middletown, New York to look for new shoes. 

New shoes have been a big deal since childhood AND believe it or not, the experience has been primarily unpleasant since around 2019.

A-ha just now – as that coincides with when I first had Valley Fever and Sepsis and spent 13 days in the hospital recovering from my body shutting itself off.  I haven’t been comfortable wearing heels since then. I haven’t worn “cute shoes” since 2019 and have mostly lived in a succession of nearly identical wide width running shoes – wide to make room for the tailor bunions on my left foot – 

On October 1, I purchased three pairs of shoes. Two bootie style, one with a heel (!) and a pair of Mary Janes – perfect for casual dresses. 

On Sunday, I wore the Mary Janes all day – and I was on my feet a lot, and my body did not hurt afterwards.

My body did not hurt.

MY BODY DID NOT HURT!

This morning I woke up and noticed my knees weren’t complaining.

On one of my walks from the kitchen to my desk, I did a exercise I have been trying to incorporate into my routine. It looks easier on the Instagram Reels than it is for me – and once again noticed the stability in my feet and although tired, my body simply felt good. Grounded. Like I belonged within it, like my body and I are joyful companions, not two disparate beings with conflicting agendas.

Huge.

And it all began with belonging.

Allow that to sink in. 

My body simply felt good. Grounded. Like I belonged within it, like my body and I are joyful companions, not two disparate beings with conflicting agendas.

It all began with belonging.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

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Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Books Reflecting the Longing to Belong: 21/31 Days of (Self) Belonging

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Last night I finished the book “Lessons in Chemistry.” I loved it all the way along, but the last 100 or so pages I found myself so deeply connected to the characters and the messages and the story I could not stop the tears.

I kept flashing to messages from “Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown. It was uncanny, how the two connected.

The story itself – one of not fitting in and only feeling a smidgeon of belonging to oneself and only a smidgeon of belonging to a small group of people – it hit home so squarely. The author even used similar phrases that Brown uses. 

As I neared the end of the book, I cried even harder when I realized my favorite books of 2023 had similar themes: grief and belonging. Belonging and Grief. My top four fiction reads this year so far are “Take What You Need” by Idra Novey; “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin; “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus and “Hello Beautiful” by Ann Napolitano share a stunning similarity that the book I am currently reading “Playing the Witch Card” also shares.


Struggles with belonging to oneself and the connection of that to true belonging with others.

I write those words and a part of my nervous system says, “Go to sleep.”

Interestingly enough, when reading “Playing the Witch Card” today I almost shut the book when a scene hit too close to home. I didn’t want to read more. The desire to stop reading wasn’t  to process what I had just read, it was to push away what I had just read.

I wanted to forget the truth reflected in my own life from what I just read.

Ouch and YES!

I kept reading. I will continue writing.

I will grow in belonging with and to myself. I will continue to use this spiritual practice of awakening and notice the connections that are popping up everywhere because in saying YES to belonging, it is also saying YES to synchronicity, even those moments that feel painful at first.

What are you saying YES to in your life today?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

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Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Spread the Love: Day 20/31 of (Self) Belonging

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I wrote a long post and decided not to publish it. Instead, I am offering the opening line from my original post. a belonging quote, a prompt and a short road map to creating your own (self) belonging community.

Yesterday started badly (and processing and choosing to step away, mindfully, helped me to present something more aligned with who I am as one who belongs with you today.

“When you know and respect your Inner Nature, you know where you belong. You also know where you don’t belong.”

Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

What was a moment in time in the last three months where you felt like you absolutely belonged, without a doubt?

Take three minutes to write about this experience in detail.

If you can’t recall a moment in the last three months when you felt like you absolutely belonged, consider a small action you may choose to take so that three months from now you will be guaranteed to have an experience where you felt the deeply transformative feeling of belonging.

Ways to Create a (Self) Belonging Community

  1. Ask one to three people to help you with your own belonging project. Invite this person or people to be mutual believing mirrors – look at one another with authentically open eyes and reflect back what you see about each other that is remarkable, unique, significant – and back that up with tangible evidence and witness because concrete visions of “remember when” bear a great deal of meaning, more so than vague concepts. Tune into developing ways to see your inner nature through other people’s perspectives.
  1. Choose to add an action-step to daily times of quiet time. One of my quiet times of the day is driving without the radio, a podcast or playlist going. It gives me space for my mind to wander. This is when discovery deepens – and adding action to those insights questions  like “With whom do I feel the most sense of belonging and satisfaction? Reach out to one of those people via email or actually make that phone call.” These quiet times followed by action will be another tangible way to make friends with your inner nature and your highest self.
  1. Notice the features and qualities of people in your everyday life that you would like to emulate. I have a co-worker who sets the treadmill to walk uphill for twenty minutes a day, for example. I may say to him, “Your walking uphill on the treadmill reminded me I could do that, too, in order to become a better hiker. I won’t start with 20 minutes, I will start with two minutes and work up to ten to start.” Not only does this help you, it helps the people in your life feel a sense of belonging, too. 

Spread the (Self) belonging love!

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

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Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Belonging Appears in the Strangest Circumstances: Day 18/31 Days of (Self) Belonging

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After writing from a deeply emotional space yesterday, I am stepping into a more lighthearted arena today. I will be back in the deep zone in the next couple days – and I have found my healing works best when I recognize it and give myself pause to remember the times when belonging came easily.

There is a reason I enjoyed driving for a rideshare company: I am primarily openhearted and the instant connections I made with people as I drove them to their destinations was such fun.

This wasn’t true with every single person I drove, but it was uncanny how many people would be 100% vulnerable with me shortly after they got into my car. I gave away free books and some decent conversation as well and sometimes referred to myself as a bartender on wheels without the alcohol.

Yesterday at work I had two separate episodes where I felt instant belonging with new people I met who also work at the school. One I had met before but never had a conversation with until yesterday.

In the first conversation we bonded – connected – felt a sense of belonging when we both confessed to appreciate skunks, up close and personal. 

The second person I had emailed but never met. I have actually seen him but didn’t know who he was. We connected over the Camino de Santiago. Hiking and walking with a soul purpose.

If you have been following me for any amount of time, you know I have been hiking regularly as an adult since 2020 but have loved being on trail since I was a very little girl. It was my father who introduced me to the Appalachian Trail and since moving to New Jersey in 2022 so close to “The AT” I have been fascinated with long hikes. 

The second person was thrilled to talk about “The Camino” and when my excitement matched his, we stayed late after school. I apologized – but he reassured me he loved talking about this and I thought, “Wait a second. This energy feels so familiar.” 

His parents also watch his toddler like I watch my grandbaby. With so many instantaneous belonging key points including him loaning me a book about a Grandma Hiker and me exuberantly telling him to look into Peace Pilgrim I realized this could be an ongoing friendship.

If this sounds foreign to you, remember what it is that creates belonging: In this series we are looking at belonging as an experience of living, working, playing, creating and growing vulnerably with others within a community who are committed and devoted to care for one another – even if it is a temporary, 5-minute community. With belonging, we don’t just talk about caring for one another, we act with care towards one another in a context of transparency, acceptance and openness. All emotions are welcome.

When we see, hear and listen closely to the people we are in relationship with, we are forging a space of belonging.

A smile, a greeting, an extra awareness and kindness all cultivate an environment that says, “I am glad you are here, on this planet.” Everyday, surprise moments of belonging can be great practice for offering compassion and love to those we share our lives with everyday.

The bonus is the ripple effect of each person walking away from an interaction smiling.

Can you remember a 5-minute time of belonging? Please tell us about it in the comments.

Woman (Julie Jordan Scott Julie JordanScott) seeming to burst through a broken wall on an abandoned home.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

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Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Hold Space for the Process: Day 17/31 of (Self) Belonging

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This morning I wrote a mish-mash of notes and I decided to share them here because sometimes the growth towards belonging includes a lot of messy, cluttered, uncomfortable thoughts and examination that doesn’t fit nicely into carefully curated containers.

Last night I forced myself to write a poem about what happened after my mother died and I experienced an episode of extreme anti-belonging. The antithesis of belonging. Another variation of not being seen, not being heard and as a result, being left out of the services for my mother.

I really didn’t even want to write that here.

I didn’t want to put it in black and white.

I wanted to sidle into that reality sideways, not telling the whole truth and instead leave context clues but my fingers on the keyboard forced me further.

Last night I forced myself to write a poem of the extreme pain of the aftermath.

I wrote a sentence and then wrote a poem using the words of the sentence as the beginning of the poem. 

I found it difficult to finish. It most likely won’t be shared, but there is a high value in the process of shaping those words meaningfully.

Sometimes belonging to myself means guiding myself down a cragging unsettled path, like when I walk on the rockiest parts of the trail. The trail hurts my feet and my ankles as I balance and move slowly, methodically, my eyes on the ground to steady myself. I wonder in these moments why do I proclaim how much I like to hike? 

Who cares about hiking and healing and belonging if it feels this tortuous to get here?

Sometimes belonging means I must do the things I want/don’t want to do.I must face the most painful aspects of my stories.

Slowly and methodically I am picking up the pieces of grief and examining them and in order to do that, I need to dust and vacuum away the aftermath – the pain I experienced after Mom died, indirectly as a result of Mom’s death that was and wasn’t about Mom’s death. 

The pain is an echo of my core life stories that have caused me the majority of my sadness, my off-and-on-again relationship with depression and the internal battles I have fought for decades.

In order to heal the pain, I need to give myself room to examine it with not only love and compassion and hope. I need to allow the red hot coals of anger to be at the metaphorical table, too. Tthe difference is, perhaps for the first time only. I am recognizing anger directed toward the outside instead of deflecting anger back into myself – which is what reflects the adage from Sigmund Freud, “Depression is anger turned inward.”

In reading an article from Downtown Somatic Therapy’s blog post, I read “love” and “anger” in the same breath. Anger is love? Anger has a component of love? 

For now, at this stage, I am going to engage with anger and let it help me find my way into a deeper sense of belonging to and with and for myself.

Even as I write this, I brace myself for people who will say some variation of “get over yourself and move along” but what is vulnerability if not knowing people may not understand the value of the work and the healing I am doing and going forward, anyway? Isn’t this an example of belonging as opposed to fitting in?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Grief & Belonging: 31 Days of (Self) Belonging

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Belonging in Grief: Grief is among the most difficult periods of life. We often shy away from talking about grief or death because our culture has norms that are more accepting of thriving, health and youth than “failing”, not being well and aging.

This is exactly what makes belonging within the context of grieving so difficult.

My mother died in mid-August and my grief has only just begun – and complications due to feelings of not belonging have made it even more difficult than it might have been. 

There are times when grieving helps create more belonging. From an unlikely source today, The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, we read about NFL Football coach Tony Dungy, who built his team to be successful from having habits to help them win. When Dungy’s 18-year-old son died from suicide, the team became a space of belonging and used that longing to triumph.

This is a bittersweet story. 

Then there are the words of meditation teacher Tara Brach who writes, “A sacred space of true belonging allows us to thrive. We feel seen, understood and valued. We are free, safe and held in love. In this place of true belonging, we have some protection of the darkness found in our world.

“We feel deep grief when this sacred place of true belonging is severed.”

Claire Bidwell Smith, in her book “Anxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief” discusses “Designing Your Own Resilience Plan” which is easiest in the company of at least one understanding, trusting person with whom you share a feeling of belonging. Use the planning to attract more people who may become your circle of belonging during this challenging time,

Start with one person, baby steps, and allow yourself the room to go slowly. 

You may have a team or organization, a church, a club who may gather to support you in a larger way like the Indianapolis Colts did. You may prefer your experience of belonging to be quiet during your experience.

If you love someone who is grieving, overcome your discomfort in small steps, too. The best step is by letting them know you care about them enough to be uncomfortable. Offer several choices for your friend to choose how to be supported: “Would you like to drive through Starbucks with me or would you like me to drop off a coffee?” might work for some people.

Grief and Belonging don’t naturally seem like they are likely to intersect and it is critical to cultivate belonging after a loss, whether you are the person who is grieving or if you care about the person who is grieving.

This barely scratches the surface AND I think it is important to bring up and talk about, together.

What are your initial thoughts?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Belonging in My Body: Day 11/31 Days of (Self) Belonging

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This may sound strange, but since when does my world experience not sound weird?

Yesterday, I felt how marvelous my body felt when I was first out of bed.

I had done an early morning stretch, taken the time to feel into my joints and muscles and as I prepared for my day, I felt my body with gratitude from a space of gratitude.

Considering I have been at odds with my body for more of my life than I have been partnered joyfully with my body, this is a big thing.

Remember, belonging is to live, work, play and grow vulnerably with others within a community who are committed and devoted to caring for one another. Not just talk about caring for one another, but acting with care towards one another in a context of transparency, acceptance and openness.

When I belong in my body and with my body, is to to live, work, play and grow vulnerably with my body. It is to stretch, to exercise, to move, to go places physically I didn’t know I was capable of going.

Here is one way I felt belonging in my body that will give you some context.

About ten days ago, I did the shocking activity of going to the mall to find a pair of shoes.

Cute shoes, with actual low heels.

I haven’t worn heels for such a long time because my feet hurt. They have bunions and the podiatrist told me I had deformed feet and basically had to live with my feet as they were.

I have worn the shoes in small bits and chunks, preparing to wear them out in the world.

I didn’t want my feet to get shocked by me insisting on wearing them for a full work day or a night out without walking around in the comfort of my home.

I was acting with care towards my feet – my body – in the context of what has been, what is now, and I was transparent with my feet (and the rest of my body) in a space of honesty, acceptance while open to a future of wearing them comfortably all day.

I tried to put a supportive sole inside, but when it was inside my foot could not fit.

I slid my foot in and stood up and the shoe and my feet felt like heaven.

I walked around the manse tall and strong, my vertebrae lined up, a smile on my face, there wasn’t pain.

I chose not to wear the shoes to choir practice – and I know and recognize I can wear them next week and who knows where else?

I was belonging in my feet, belonging with my vertebrae, belonging in the smile that stretched across my face.

This is how belonging feels in my body: a miracle, a doorway to joy and a means to an even more glorious future.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Feeling Invisible: Day 7/31 Days of (Self) Belonging + 85 More Days of 2023

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Feeling like we don’t belong and are disconnected at work or at home hurts. Have you felt this disconnection, this anti-belonging? It pops up when we feel unseen, unheard, unimportant.

Yesterday I felt this, loud and clear. It started almost as soon as I got to school/work and felt disconnected from belonging which was ironic because I started in my home so happily and intentionally.

Invisibility doesn’t feel like belonging

The best part of the day was at the end when I told one of the most effective teachers I work with, “It’s been a strange, uncomfortable day today – and that’s alright, we all have days like that. I figured I filled my quota and can now move along.”

It is interesting in the aftermath of the day, I can see how a lot of that disconnection happened because instead of staying mindful and open hearted, I fell into the swirling confusion and my self talk was immersed in not seeing the facts as they were, instead my inner dialogue which was blended with me telling myself a wide variety of ways I didn’t matter, how I was unimportant, how no one likes or appreciates me anyway and then, right before I felt better, this happened.

Yes, it came into clarity when a kid almost knocked into me and didn’t notice. “Hey, you almost walked into her!” one student scolded another student.

“Who?”

I mumbled to the first kid, “He didn’t see this invisible woman walking around the hallways.” I wasn’t being seen nor was I being heard.

Wait: wait, wait! Not only did one student see me, he requested the other kid pay more attention. I failed to notice that…..instead I felt body’s natural response to the invisible rather than the visible as my shoulders hunch and my body sinking into my feet.

This being invisible – my sadness over not feeling as if I was seen – could have been a refrain for the day if I let it continue. 

In the next and final class of the day, things turned because I spoke up about it and began filling in the missing pieces. Writing this, today, is like finishing the puzzle making.

I ended the day in a favorite book store and took some photos of a very cool building.

When I got home, I “was craving” a sugary treat. I did not give in to that craving as I have found part of my belonging work is creating healthy boundaries with myself based on my hightest self rather than following past self destructive patterns.

Before I wrote this, I thought it was going to be seen as negative and people might be discouraged from the content and stop following me, never comment or like or engage again.

That was the hangover from the not-so-great of yesterday. Through writing, I was able to remember and discover how I negotiated around the tangled emotions and come out with my sense of self-belonging and self-visibility intact.

We have 85 days of 2023 left: how will you invest your days to bring this year to a satisfying conclusion?

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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Day 6: 31 Days of (Self) Belonging toward Forgiveness

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Friday Check In: A Weekly Recap of Discoveries in Belonging.

This week has been rather astounding when I sit at my desk and dissect the week in words. What came into my mind and heart as I wrote that sentence was looking at the week both with a magnifying glass and a wide lens I see how much work I have done to get closer to both a sense of self-belonging, but also create a deeper context of belonging here in this world and body I inhabit.

Maybe it is in the elasticity that grief may allow us to create within – or maybe it is the elasticity of being comfortable with loss after loss after loss… I am thinking about a photo I saw of a group of dancers in Martha Graham’s troupe that might illustrate elasticity visually, to help show what I am trying to communicate.

I found the image I was meant to find only to discover the costume created the context for a dance titled “lamentations” about grief. To read more about it, visit here when you finish reading this post.

Martha Graham’s dance was not about the growth of grief – well, I ought not say that until I watch the dance closely, and maybe do some form of my personalized iteration in the best way I can.

Some key takeaways on Self-Belonging this week:

  1. I started sharing celebrations of self-belonging in my instagram stories at night before I go to sleep. I have no idea how these will go over, but the requirement to catalog my experience already feels important.
  2. Divine delivery increases when I opened the door to self-belonging. The level of synchronicities multiply and expand. 
  3. Self-belonging has a strong element, at least in my case, of re-parenting. Somehow now that both of my parents are gone, I don’t feel disloyal in claiming aspects of their parenting that wasn’t well suited to me – just like I know and will admit my parenting wasn’t always suited to my children. Samuel has been brave enough to tell me this and because of his blunt honesty, I have grown both as a parent and as a human.

I am invigorated and excited to continue with this project of discovery, forgiveness and love – which is a bit of the bridge into next week as I live into the question:

What is ready to be forgiven (or ripening to forgiveness)?

I invite you to join me engaging with the question. Any thoughts are welcome in the comments.

Julie JordanScott is a Creative Life Coach, an award-winning storyteller, actor and poet whose photos and mixed media art graces the walls of collectors across the United States. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Best Sellers List, the Amazon best sellers list and on American Greetings Holiday cards (and other greeting cards). She currently lives in a manse in Sussex, NJ, where she has recently finished her most recent book project, hugging trees daily and enjoys having random inspirational conversations with strangers.

Follow on Instagram to Watch exclusive reels, videos, stories and posts about writing and the creative process.

Let our Words Flow Writing Community: the only one missing is you! Join us in the Private Writing Group

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