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)”
Author Archives: Jaclynn Loibl
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”
Cat-Like Reflexes
I read an article with a heartbeat. Its author made me feel the morning’s chill, cutting from image to image, pulling me into her world. She detailed hooking a finger into an overflowing trash bin, exiting her apartment, and meeting a neighbor for a moment of shared laughter at the bottom of the stairs. IContinue reading “Cat-Like Reflexes”
‘Round Here
Today was a nice, relaxing day, full of little moments that made me smile. I spent part of it planting basil, sage, and cilantro in my cute roll cart, labeling each spot with my trusty label maker. My green thumb is still a work in progress, but remembering what I planted and where has neverContinue reading “‘Round Here”
A Side of Lazy
That 55-minute phone call really lit a fire under me. A five-minute per language in Spanish and English, with a woman from near Córdoba, Spain, pushed me far outside my comfort zone into a space of frustration and desire. The relief I felt when we switched to English was like coming home after a longContinue reading “A Side of Lazy”
Fumbling Forward
How in the heck did I forget to hit that publish button last night? I’m sorry about that! I wrote yesterday’s post on the drive home from Thanksgiving, feeling all proud of myself for finishing early. But my quality control team—also known as Dave—dropped the ball. I really wish I could just sit down andContinue reading “Fumbling Forward”
Gratitude on the Go
A belly full of eight scoops of gravy, mushroom dressing, turkey, and mashed potatoes is settling as I sit in the passenger seat, lulled by the darkness of car and freeway. The rhythmic bumps of the road and the red headlights, punctuated by the occasional orange-yellow blinker, create a mesmerizing scene. They hover like firefliesContinue reading “Gratitude on the Go”
Dang That .1 Percent
I assume the worst of others. Not all the time, but some. When I do, it feels like I’m hiding behind the couch, flashlight in hand, a colander perched on my head, bracing for impact. Nine point nine times out of ten, though, they’re only wielding a Nerf sword, their most dangerous weapon a laugh-inducingContinue reading “Dang That .1 Percent”
Going On 40 