You know I’m obsessed with trauma—understanding it, digging into it, identifying what it is and isn’t. Earlier in a session, I stumbled upon a subtle distinction, like noticing the difference between hazel and brown eyes. It’s nuanced but meaningful, and here goes… Wound and vulnerability are entirely different animals. Maybe they’re part of the sameContinue reading “A Subtlely Mindful Distinction”
Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl
Unwrapping Myself
I feel parts of myself are opening, like the little doors on an Advent calendar. Not all the cheap sugar chocolates have popped into my mouth yet, but we’re getting there. I haven’t announced my book club choice to the group yet, but if you promise not to ruin the surprise, I’ll tell you. IContinue reading “Unwrapping Myself”
Nervous System Hack
On accident, I had my webcam turned on while sitting at the kitchen island. Front and center was my spectacular face, and in the background was the glowing Christmas tree, a cozy mantle, a brick fireplace, and the comforting touches of my mushroom blanket and large tropical plant. The backdrop through the wooden pocket doorsContinue reading “Nervous System Hack”
Wandering Wall (Book Part 26)
Previous Why isn’t she in Hollywood? I wonder. Her pixie-like frame, the soft slope of her nose, and her white-blond hair that moves as though it’s one with the wind all suggest someone larger than life. This far above civilization, she seems like an actress seeking solace at the mountain’s highest point. A small photographContinue reading “Wandering Wall (Book Part 26)”
Reason for the Season
I meant to write in my book—really, I did. But the funniest things popped up instead: cooking masaman curry and Mexican rice, Facetiming Paula, tackling progress notes, watching Klaus, and playing chess. Oh, and let’s not forget the ever-creeping stress of the holiday season. With just 17 days until Christmas, my biggest worry isn’t giftContinue reading “Reason for the Season”
Lost in Translation
I search for words I can’t grasp, like an early-onset dementia patient. Sometimes, sentences come at me like a salad without space, thrown in my face, and I stutter, saying, “sí, uh, sí, uh, sí.” It’s week two of studying conversational Spanish with Mercedes from Spain. Knowing how my Spanish-speaking self operates, I have aContinue reading “Lost in Translation”
The Woman Near Custer (Book Part 25)
Previous Stepping out of the Crazy Horse monument’s museum, the sauna-like heat blasts away the lingering chill from my skin. As I walk to my car, weaving through a parking lot filled with Harley-Davidsons, I glance to my right, soaking in the final moments with the mountain. Custer State Park is nearby, but paying theContinue reading “The Woman Near Custer (Book Part 25)”
Picasso Impersonator
Nobody willingly reaches for the Honest Company Pink Lemonade juice box from the beverage fridge. Its sad, boxy self collects dust on the bottom shelf like goths gravitating to black, while hands eagerly snatch grape, apple, and fruit punch. I’ve made it the only option to give the unpopular lemonade a fighting chance. Stacked eightContinue reading “Picasso Impersonator”
Protecting Your Peace
Belly breathing—or diaphragmatic breathing—calms the nervous system. A fact I was reminded of in an educational video. So here I am, filling my lower abdomen with air, releasing it gently, and repeating. Because on nights like this, when writing feels de-prioritized, and the space for it seems nonexistent, that panicky voice creeps in. The oneContinue reading “Protecting Your Peace”
Self-Sabotage’s Sinkhole
I am no master of mental health. The thought hits as loud as a gong as I tread barefoot—lightly but quickly—across the super-fluffy bath mat, searching for a towel. It’s in moments like these, alone and freshly showered, that I find myself at war with my own thoughts. This realization comes as a defense, anContinue reading “Self-Sabotage’s Sinkhole”