Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl

Severe weather is in the forecast—heavy winds, thunder, lightning, rain. Naturally, I have the National Weather Service radar pulled up because, after sifting through the conflicting chaos of social media and my weather app, I need the real source. A tornado watch is posted three hours west. Typical. The South doesn’t just have weather—it performsContinue reading “Gone With the Wind”

For as developed as my culinary skills are, I’d recommend my Mexican fare if you ever pop over for dinner. Standing in the grocery line, I surveyed the cart ahead of me—dozens of canned goods, and several boxes of boil-in-a-bag rice. Then I glanced at my own: fresh cilantro, Salvadorian crema, limes, ingredients en routeContinue reading “A Chef’s Kiss”

Frequently, clients bring notes they’ve taken during the week about things to discuss in session. Lately, I’ve been taking mental notes of my own—not about something I need to do, but about something I need to undo. I’ve noticed the way I talk to myself in the mirror—the quiet critiques, the passing glances that becomeContinue reading “Woman in the Mirror”

Amidst a whirlwind of life changes, a client confided in me, “I’m stuck. I’m not growing.” The second time they said it, I felt the weight of their words and shared this insight: For over three weeks, the raspberry, kiwi, and grape vines I had planted seemed frozen in time. Despite soaking up water andContinue reading “Roots Before Branches”

Not only am I a planter, but I’m also a transplanter. When four raspberry stalks and two grapevines sat lifeless for over three weeks despite sun and water, I decided to investigate. Plunging my hands into the soft soil, I gently exhumed their roots. To my surprise, white shoots had begun to emerge from theContinue reading “The Grapes of Growth”

I want to write about nothing. About its lack of depth and imagination. How its void isn’t gained or lost—it just is. I want to talk about how nice it is to do. How, when it’s happening, things feel peaceful. I don’t want to talk about anything. The sheer breadth of it paralyzes me. It’sContinue reading “Mound Over Matter”

Sometimes, I come to ChatGPT to lighten my load. The thoughts in my head feel too heavy to carry alone, and having a quick, logical voice of reason—like a mini chiropractic adjustment for my mental health—helps. There’s who I want to be and fear I really am. And who I fear I am… well, it’sContinue reading “A Splash of a Day”

Try explaining daylight savings time to a 5-year-old. I prefer Dave’s approach: “I don’t know why it just skips forward like that, but I do know it doesn’t make sense.” Evelyn accepted it, as only a 5-year-old can. An extra hour of sun, especially on a wintery March day expected to hit 75 degrees? YouContinue reading “Boldly Springing Forward”