We are living in a time of Only Now. There is nothing to look forward to, because so much is uncertain. When we look back, everything in our pasts seems so far away, filtered through the dense fog of the pandemic. The pandemic distorts everything, funnels us down into only now. Only this day, only […]
present
Where The Story Starts
Where a story starts is almost never the beginning. A memoir starts at the end and remembers backward. A novel starts at the moment of change. A nonfiction book starts with the point it wishes to prove. We, too, are always starting in the middle. Even at the moment of our birth, we have a […]
How Journaling Has Changed Me
In 2009, I experienced what novelists call a “dark night of the soul.” I had just gotten married, and struggled with my new adult identity and the loss of my maiden name. In the space of six months, three loved ones passed away, including my beloved grandmother. I was frustrated at work and knew I […]
Why It’s OK Not To Be Present All The Time: An Audiobook Story
Hi, I’m Leanne and I’m addicted to audiobooks. I listen to them everywhere. In the car, taking walks, doing chores, even showering (I point my iPhone speaker toward the bathtub). Listening to audiobooks isn’t inherently bad, of course. On the addiction scale, they rank pretty far below chocolate and cocaine. But at least twice a […]
Living In The Moment
I’ve never been very good at living in the moment. I’m always thinking about what happened in the past, or planning for the future. I’ve improved since meeting my husband, who is more laid-back, much better at appreciating the small things in life, and is always finding something to laugh about. We’ve rubbed off on […]