Going On 40…

Learning How to Run

I’m reclaiming my space. Well, it’s not completely my space—I do live with other human beings who have their claims on it too—but let’s…

Evenings at Our House

I need two décor items that’ll sit on the left and right sides of the squared-out fireplace hole. Right now, there are two pillow…

Bring Me A Dream

I think everything’s good. Besides a mini fire ant ambush—the sizzling hot bites that lead to pus-filled mounds that ache for days—I’m not a…

Hoppy Day

The unlikeliest of pairs. Love, Jaclynn

The Dock of the Bay

I’m sitting on the floor of the garage. The door to the house is open, and one of the cats is exploring. It’s been…

The Fox in the Den

I feel pressure to be superhuman. Mostly from other people. When sometimes, just putting one foot in front of the other, paying a bill,…

Not About That Line Life

In the mornings, our household ambles. We saunter and shuffle, and get pulled into mini river eddies. We drink coffee for an hour, lay…

Because I Feel Like It

“I stumble into shame…” is what I was going to say — before I was rudely interrupted by an alarm-level thought that I needed…

If You Build It

Inadvertently, I pulled up a stunted azalea from the sandy circle at the center of the driveway. I’d planted it over a year ago,…

Lean Into It

Growing up in the country as a young whippersnapper, I loved summer nights. I’d lie awake and listen to the frogs in the pond…

Runner’s High Membership

I looked down at my Apple Watch, the screen bouncing like I was unbuckled on an off-roading ATV. It took three glances to see…

Rain Check Por Favor

I’m going to reschedule our time together for tomorrow if you don’t mind. Love, Jaclynn

Don’t Stop Believin’

I choose stocks I believe in. Not like the Jesus-or-Santa-Claus belief, but like the “my Seattle Seahawks would win the Super Bowl” belief. Spoiler: they did.Also,…

I Was Runnninnnng

There’s a counseling sentiment at the start of sessions that goes, “I don’t have anything to talk about,” and 99.9% of the time, it’s…

Gorilla Cart Success

“That’s enough to taste it,” is how I measure the heavy cream for my morning coffee. Grinch coffee cup in hand — the one…

What Guilt Really Needs

I have loose rubber chicken arms and legs now — where fat once was, and muscle hasn’t quite grown in to replace it. But…

Running Down a Dream

I took off running — out the fire exit door and across the blackened Great Wolf Lodge parking lot. The flip from 79 degrees…

Calming the Beast

“How do I take care of myself while carrying that much?” On the back patio’s rug, I feel it — a threat. Instability. Like…

The Anti-Social Club

Is it appropriate to roll into the Great Wolf Lodge with my military tank of a wagon — aka the Gorilla cart — this…

The Things We Avoid

I notice things in my clients that I notice in myself. One is outrunning — the quick-paced busyness of our days, counteracting the need…

Is That Okay?

Ohhh vooooiiice — where are you? I waited for it at dawn, and again at midday — this elusive, nebulous idea that the self…

TSA, You Listening?

It’s the witching hour — for my cats. I make a psst — like a tire losing air — when they chomp the plant…

Do Not Go Gently

For three years, give or take, I sat in church basements and event rooms and stood to say, “My name is Jaclynn, and I…

With Arms Wide Open

Writing in a journal-y, memoir-ish style, I toe the line between sharing and not sharing. Do I regret the abortion, or the “fuck Trump”…

Stick a Fork In Me

I need real advice. The thought hits hard as I press 10-lb weights, standing on my too-thin, cat-scratched yoga mat, lifting them fifteen times…

Protecting the Nervous System

I’m very good at hitting the unfollow button on Facebook. It’s a gift. I’ll be scrolling, absent-mindedly consuming, when suddenly I’m mentally arguing on…

Running Into Myself

After reading the line, “What is it like to be you?”—and the idea that it’s a question no one can truly answer because we…

Going For Gold

I wanted to mention, for a second, the divisiveness—the politicized, sometimes hostile way people push their beliefs. It’s easy to spot. It’s as if…

Seahawks Win, Baby!

After placing books back on the shelves, straightening pillows and cushions, and picking up several stray, hardened bunny turds from the carpet, I plop…

Take a Seat

I think I got burned. My lips have a jalapeño-seed-licked burn to them, and my face a thermostat turned up too high feel. I…

Smell Ya Later

Not in a writing mood. It’s not you, it’s me. I want the couch, a bit of TV, and a nice night of sleep.…

Silent Book Club

“I guess we got our social fix for the week,” I tell Dave as we stroll side by side down the ramp of the…

Off to the Races

Monday is an overflow day. Like a little country mouse, I beat the rugs and make the bread—English muffins, to be exact. My lacto-fermenting…

Sparkling Experimental Puzzlings

It’s 9:45 a.m. The coffee’s long gone cold, with about an inch of liquid left in the cup. This is the norm—I never drink…

Ice, Ice Baby

I’m tempted to do a segment called I Don’t Care. Taking the random things that show up in my social media feed—the ones I…

A Victory Lap

I took care of the bushy little upper squirrel lip of mine. I’m a baby. The too-hot wax, microwaved far too long, singed into…

Bippity Boppity Boop

I walk at a sixteen-minute pace, my heavy winter coat plunked by the hood on my head, as though I’m the coat rack. I…

You Lead, I’ll Follow

One problem I need to solve for my book is the hook. A hook is the thing a reader is actually reaching for —…

When Repetition Builds

It’s 1.15 miles to town. I came up with that number last week, and with my Apple Watch on Exercise mode, I confirmed it…

How I Outsmart Resistance

Why in the hickity heck did I create this goal for myself? To write. Every day. When I’m not in the mood. When I…

Sinners Be Sinning

I only watched 15 seconds of the opening monologue in the movie “Sinners”, and I’m invested. I can’t do two things at once -…

Letting the Road Decide (Book Part 38)

Previous Leaving Fargo, I had run out of options. Not the logistical kind—the deeper ones. The tricks I’d relied on were spent: the scanning,…

The Possibilities of Us

I’m sneaking up on writing in my book. I could be writing in it tonight, but my excuse — and maybe a good reason,…

The Darkness and the Light

I need a writing group. A small one. Is a duo — myself and one other — considered a group? Yes. The definition says…

Here Kitty Kitty

I’m in a “do the bare minimum” mood. Except when it comes to refreshing the house — there, I’m kicking dust bunnies’ butts. I…

Unbreaking My Heart

I told Dave I needed him today — another small step of my feet inching toward security in another person, toward trust, toward healing.…

A Day in Pictures

When I Think About You I Trust Myself

Every so often, I seek a teacher — preferably spiritual or philosophical — to swaddle me in the cushiony comfort of the inner psyche.…

How Close is Too Close

Damn, that Market Spice tea from Pike Place in Seattle is good. I’m not a fan of the cost, but semi-sweetened with orange peels…

Whittling Wood

It’s a cold day for a birthday. Being the house person I am, I stayed inside — working, helping Evelyn with her upper- and…

Another Trip ‘Round

Every so often, vulnerability in writing swirls together with a checked-out, ennui kind of feeling. It’s a blizzard. I’m less interested in the why…

Pink Pony Bath Bomb

I am in a bathtub filled with unicorn pee.Or strawberry Skittles vomit.The water is pink. Yesterday’s bath bomb experience—courtesy of a cross-country gift package…

A Stroll For the Soul

I’ve taken it upon myself to be our family’s concierge for our upcoming Disney World vacation. I am no expert. I do, however, have…

Right on Time

Is it possible to be kicking life’s ass while, at the same time, feeling like it’s kicking yours? If so, clip my ticket. I’m…

Operation: Toes, Treadmills, and Self-Control

Par for the course, I don’t know what to write about. That doesn’t stop me—nay, I must slay this beast. But the mental and…

It’s A New Car!

I’m hungry. Semi-tired. And doing an abysmally poor job of convincing Dave that we need a brand-new car. Perhaps I’m actually just procrastinating writing.…

A Moth at the Window

I write to get ahead of my thinking. Thinking tricks me. It reverse-engineers what’s true. It’s the white-van man with oversized lollipops saying, Come…

Noticeably Unnoticeable

I’m in my head, eking through thoughts about what to write. A welcome guest kneels beside me, pointing out page after page of warblers…

To My Loyal Listeners

Damn, I’m inspired. An author like Stephen Graham Jones doesn’t cross my eyes every day, and because he did, I want to write like…

The Sweet Potato Pendulum

It’s late. Close to bedtime. And my stomach is growling. One might think inserting food is the answer, but it’s not. Instead, I’m scrolling…

New Hunger Awakening

For hours now, I’ve had most of a rotisserie chicken lightly boiling over the gas stove. I’ve added two saucepans full of water during…

When Things Fall Into Place

Inspiration floods in like an atmospheric river in the Pacific Northwest. Never heard of an atmospheric river? Me either. But once you hear the…

A Mouth Watering Post

I’ve moved the yoga mat, the balance ball, and push-up grips into the bedroom. Oh—and a 6’ tall, 4’ wide mirror. I’d described the…

Onward Forward

We’re onto 2026. I’m ready! Buckle up. Love Jaclynn

Better Late Than Never

It’s 3am on the day before the new year. The cross country flight home went well, and now I need sleep. See you tomorrow!

“Feminist,” As An Accusation

“You’re a feminist.” The text from my cousin landed with a thud—damning, like a shameful Scarlet Letter pinned to my chest. I knew she…

A Quiet Tyranny: Meditating on Dostoevsky’s Work

It’s nearing the year’s end, and my mind is a blizzard of ideas and hopes for the new year. I flirted with the idea…

Inhabiting Ourselves: Kierkegaard’s Philosophy

As I’ve done for the past four days, I googled Søren Kierkegaard’s philosophy. He writes: “Of all ridiculous things, the most ridiculous seems to…

Sticking with Kierkegaard

Philosophical questions—and sitting with their meaning—are a priority for me as I look toward 2026. Regardless of a philosopher’s religious or ethical beliefs differing…

A Walk in the Woods

I pick up my phone. It’s already set to take a photo. I half-watch the scene I want to capture come into view and…

Noodling on the New Year

Around the corner is 2026, and with it the familiar knock of resolutions—polite at first, then increasingly insistent. They ask what you will fix,…

Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken

At times, I don’t recognize myself. Not physically—the face staring back in the mirror is mine—but emotionally. I feel like a bullheaded donkey, pulling…

Meeting Your Eye

You don’t know what you want from me. Writing authentically means I don’t care about you. But I care about you. Isn’t that a…

Santa Boat 2025

Unbelievably fun night with family and friends. Love, Jaclynn

I Tried

“You’re going to bed?” Dave said, moments after I stood and announced a general goodnight to the room. “Before your daughter?” he added, incredulously.…

Rrrrrr Matey

I’m too tired to write. Today was a long, lovely blur of jigsaw-puzzling Santa Claus and kitty cats, visiting my friend Kristen, dressing and…

Understanding Can Wait

I met Jakob. He’s a big, bad troll with endearingly prominent toes and fingernails, caught mid-lounging, casually gripping the two trees that flank him…

The Airport Roll of Shame

I monitor the pitch-and-roll gauge on the seatback screen in front of me. I’m impressed with Delta’s “command center” data screen—specifically the 510–530 mph…

When the Number Isn’t 100%

All my devices—Kindle, phone, laptop, headphones, iPad, and iPad stencil—are at maximum battery capacity. Their chargers are neatly coiled in a billfold-sized makeup purse.…

A Quiet Kind of Care

Years ago, I wrote a letter to myself from my future self. It’s handwritten and folded up to the size of a notecard. I…

Pretend I’m the Best

It’s December 13th. As Santa does last minute check and balance of the naughty and nice list and stuffs Donner and Blitzen with nutrient…

Sticky As Hell

I mimic other writers’ styles. I take a mini-challenge to the page, their a caricature propped on my shoulder, and I ask, What would…

A Masterful Woman

I had a cool story to share, but I forgot it somewhere between driving three laps through a festive country-home yard’s Christmas lights, reminding…

Internal Weather Patterns

This morning’s session was about a line—a boundary between when something genuinely needs addressing and when we’re slipping into unnecessary drama. We separated thoughts…

That Dern Ol’ Cabin

How hard it is to sit and be quiet for even a moment. Evelyn doesn’t know where to put a toy, Dave’s asking what…

An Unreasonable Person

I’m rooting for Georgia in the SEC Championship football game. I don’t feel bad about it either. UW has always been my college team…

Writing the Sweet Stuff

Not always, but authenticity is frequently the most important bullseye to me when writing. However, instead of target shooting out back for fun, I’m…

A Christmas Miracle

Ding dong. The doorbell rang. I wasn’t expecting anyone, so it was a pleasant surprise to see the gentleman who left his wood splitter…

Smooth As A Baby’s Bottom

Inside me, it’s pre-boiling time. Small bubbles form, and a beehive of activity buzzes. Anticipation. Of returning home. Home that feels like a well-worn…

Bananas Gone Wild

Life is often boring. So boring that our casual greetings, instead of “good” or “fine,” become “same ol’ same ol’” and “same shit, different…

Forgiveness: The Plate I Want to Throw

I cannot wrap my head around forgiveness—it’s the letting-go, non-attachment, monk-in-lotus-position vibe that makes my brain back up like a men’s toilet on Super…