WELCOMING A NEW SEASON

Although fall began a couple of weeks ago, October 1st always feels like the true start of autumn.  I’m a summer girl – I love warm, sunny days, beaches, and boating – but something about transitioning into a new season feels revitalizing to me, almost like a new chapter. As I watch the leaves change and feel the temperatures cool down, I think about all of the opportunities this next season holds.

The more I think about it, autumn really is fascinating.  The older I get, the more I seem to embrace the beauty of the changing leaves; their bold colors and varying characteristics.  It is wild to think that every single year these same trees change their colors, lose their leaves, and grow back into fresh, full-of-life beings.  I like to think of us humans in this way.  Ever-changing, unique, and resilient; able to take on the harshest of seasons and experiences, always coming back stronger and more beautiful than before.  I mean just look at us – 2020 has been a whirlwind with immense ups and downs, yet here we are; growing, learning, and pushing through. 

My hope for myself, and for you, too, is that we welcome this new season with the goal of contentment and happiness.  That we choose ourselves first, nurture our souls, do what makes us happy, give each other grace, and love harder than we ever have before.  Life is hard, and it can be messy, scary, and uncomfortable; but, when we focus on the moments that make our hearts flutter inside our chests, the moments where we smile so big our cheeks hurt, and the moments that we never want to end, we can make this life the most beautiful thing we’ve ever witnessed.

With that, I have came up with five ways that I am going to hold myself accountable for making this a transformational, beautiful season.  Five ways that I will create contentment and happiness within my life. I encourage you to try these out, and maybe they’ll spark joy in your life, too!

1.     Create Time For Yourself

Don’t get me wrong, I am pretty good at self-care.  I exercise, I take a lot of baths, I do a lot of face masks, I read poetry, and I spend quite a bit of time doing what I want to do {which is usually watching Netflix or scrolling through TikTok on my phone}.  In this new season, however, I am challenging myself to spend more time with myself doing things that will help me grow.  I plan to wake up earlier, read more books, practice more yoga, and meditate every single day.  These are all things that I tell myself I want to do, or should do, but then, before I know it, I’ve either slept in longer than I wanted to, or the day has passed me by.  My hope for you is that you, too, can spend time with yourself doing whatever it is that helps you grow and find the love and power within you.

2.     Get Outside, Every. Single. Day.

I can tell such a difference in my overall mental health and attitude if I spend time outside.  Getting fresh air, especially the crisp, fall air that we have right now, is so crucial for me and my happiness.  With that said, I am encouraging myself, AND YOU, to get outside every single day.  Be active, even if it’s just a short walk.  I would challenge you to go for some hikes, to go on bike rides, and to walk around a nearby lake.  Also, get outside and breathe!  Sit outside and read, start a campfire, go camping!  Snow will be here before we know it, so let’s take this season to fully enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

3.     Start a Passion Project

I talk to so many people who have goals and dreams to do something outside of their 9-5.  Either they want to take up photography or open up a store or learn a new skill.  I encourage you to take this time to do it!  I, for one, am going to encourage myself to write more and post more here in The Hygge Journal.  This is my personal passion project, and although I took a little time away while feeling discouraged about the world, I am designating this season to transformation, and that includes being more present right here. 

4.     Nourish Your Body

Seriously.  Let’s do this together…  I love the way I feel when I eat foods that make me feel good.  I love learning new recipes and trying new foods that just so happen to be absolutely delicious (and healthy)!  I encourage you to find new recipes, to make them, and to share them. What we put into our bodies is so important, and if we are focusing our ourselves this season, food is absolutely a key part of this!  So please, share your recipes and your tips in the comments. Stay tuned for a post of some of my go-to recipes!

5.     Create Your Dream Moments

I saved this for last because, of course, it ties into our magic word — HYGGE.  My dream moments are when I am most at peace.  When I am happy, when I am cozy, when I am surrounded by those I love doing the things that spark joy within me.  I encourage you to take a moment to pause and think about what your dream moments consist of.  Is it The Lumineers Pandora station, hot black coffee, pancakes, and candles on a chilly Sunday morning?  Is it Oktoberfest out of a glass, sitting around a campfire, Love Your Melon beanie on, listening to some Neil Young – Harvest Moon with your friends?  Maybe these are just two of my dream moments, but you get the point.  My hope for myself, and my hope for you, too, is that we create more of these moments this season.  Stop saying yes to things you don’t really want to do, and instead plan for the things that set your soul on fire.  Sure, that may seem a little extreme for Sunday morning pancakes, but I’m serious!  This life is too short.  We get a limited amount of time to create the lives we dream of, so let’s start now.  Right here.  This season.  Despite whatever else is going on in the world, we must create our own lives that we are excited to wake up to every single day.

There you have it, folks.  My ideas of how we can best welcome a new season while focusing on ourselves.  I appreciate you for being apart of this journey and reading what I have to say, and I hope I’ve encouraged you to do at least one thing for yourself this fall.  Although I said I am a summer girl, I will admit fall is the most “hygge” season of them all, so I am here for it and ready to take it for all it has to offer!  Cheers to this fresh chapter.

 xx, jamie

A ROUNDUP OF MY FAVORITE POETRY BOOKS

Hi everyone!  Long time, no talk.  It was a little difficult for me to get back to writing considering all that’s been going on in the world.  The last time I posted about Speaking Your Truth, it had been a very emotional couple of weeks.  Looking back, it feels as though we were living in an alternate reality.  We saw such deep sadness and anger.  We watched buildings get looted and our city burn.  We also watched our community come together in ways we had never before witnessed.  It was grounding, inspiring, humbling, and also very raw.  We stood at 38th & Chicago, where George Floyd was murdered by four Minneapolis police officers, and paid our respects on multiple occasions. I learned, I unlearned, I thought hard, I reflected, and I cried a lot.  I marched.  I prayed.  And I will continue to do what I can to become an ally and end racial inequality. 

Throughout all of this, while at the same time being in a global pandemic, I knew it was important to continue taking care of myself.  I am really good at letting my emotions get the best of me, but one thing that has always helped me through tough times is reading poetry.  Something about the way words flow together to spark meaning and resonate with people in different ways is inspiring to me and can help me overcome, or at least accept, most emotions I am feeling.  I spent many days and nights turning to poetry to help center me, calm me, and motivate me.  In this post, I plan to share with you my favorite poetry books as well as some of my favorite lines from a handful of them.  I hope it will inspire you to pick up a poetry book and read, too. 

I bought my first poetry book in 2015.  I was living in a house with six roommates.  I was navigating being a full-time college student, a full-time nanny, living in the cities for the first time in my life, and really trying to figure out what my future held and who I was going to become.  I didn’t have any friends, besides my roommates, that lived close to me.  Looking back, it truly was one of the hardest times of my life, but it taught me so much.  When I got my first poetry book, I sat on our deck and read it front to back.  It provided me with so much inspiration and gave me the understanding to focus on myself to become the best version of me I could be.  I still go back to this book often, five years later, and always feel a connection to the words on each and every page.  This book is:

1. Words From a Wanderer by Alexandra Elle

One of the things I love most about this book is the “Dear Self” poems.  Here is one of my favorites:

Dear Self,

Please do not be foolish.  People treat you how you allow them to.  If you want different results, stop settling with the same people and for the same things.  If you want to see a change in your existence, be the change.  Life isn’t as complicated as we make it and love isn’t as hard as we claim it is.  If you want something, work for it.  Be honest in your actions and give the world great reasons to love you.  Smile at yourself every once in awhile just because.  Continue being great, generous, and grand.

Love, Self

 2. Milk And Honey by Rupi Kaur

Rupi Kaur is an amazing author + poet, and this book is filled with tons of great poems for different seasons of life.  It’s hard to pick just one, so I am going to share two.

most importantly love

like it’s the only thing you know how

at the end of the day all this

means nothing

this page

where you’re sitting

your degree

your job

the money

nothing even matters

except love and human connection

who you loved and how deeply you loved them

how you touched the people around you

and how much you gave them 

__

i want to apologize to all the women

i have called pretty

before i’ve called them intelligent or brave

i am sorry i made it sound as though

something as simple as what you’re born with

is the most you have to be proud of when your

spirit has crushed mountains

from now on i will say things like

you are resilient or you are extraordinary

not because i don’t think you’re pretty

but because you are so much more than that

3. I Am Her Tribe by Danielle Doby

This is my most treasured poetry book.  I was gifted this book from a friend for Christmas.  Earlier that year, shortly after meeting, her and I went to a wine tasting at an animal sanctuary.  It was a really great event; we got to meet the animals, drink wine, listen to music, and have a lovely little night out.  Afterwards, we came back to my apartment and found ourselves sitting on my bed reading poetry to each other.  In that moment, I knew our souls were good together; I knew she was one of my people.  So, when she gifted me this book for Christmas, it was really special and meaningful to me. 

The moment I began reading, I couldn’t put it down.  So many pages of relatable words that I fell in love with.  I continue to read this book cover to cover often.  I am incredibly inspired by the author, Danielle Doby, and I have purchased a couple of these poems on print so I can frame them.  I have decided to share an excerpt from one of the poems I purchased on print titled: 

“a hymnal to my younger self”

my hope for you

is that you greet your reflection with kind eyes.

that you never look to someone else for your belonging.

always moving from a space of worthiness,

longing for nothing of addition or subtraction.

my hope for you

is that you never stifle in your own power.

may you always carry the belief that your words matter.

unafraid to sing your truth at the tip-top of your lungs.

my hope for you

is that you honor each moment in its entirety.

that you choose your feelings over being numb + disconnected.

owning every curve of life’s light and shadow sensations.

for you understand that in the present moment is where your

happiness is found.

this.

this is my hope for you.

3. Heart Talk by Cleo Wade

Another incredible author.  Another incredible book.  Whether you’re into poetry or not, I would recommend reading this.  Not only are there great poems throughout the book, there are also many lessons.  There are so many things from this book that I’d love to share, but I am going leave it at one piece that I really love:

Love yourself enough to walk into only the rooms and situations that show care and love for you.  Love yourself enough to walk out of the rooms that harm you in any way.  Love yourself enough to hold the people who harm you accountable for their words and actions.  Love yourself enough to express your wants, your needs, and your desires.  Love yourself enough to tell the truth.  Love yourself enough to keep yourself safe.  Love yourself enough to say enough is enough when enough has become enough.

    A love like this moves mountains.

4. The Sun And Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur

Here’s another Rupi Kaur book.  One of my favorite pieces is simple.  It reads:

You do not just wake up and become the butterfly

- growth is a process

5. Where To Begin by Cleo Wade

This is Cleo Wade’s second book, and it’s equally as amazing as Heart Talk.  However, this book is formatted more like a story.  It focuses on encouraging us that we are powerful and that we can change the world.  I’ve read this cover to cover many times and always feel connected to it and motivated by it,  especially over the past couple of months.  My last blog post, Speaking Your Truth, was inspired by a story from this book.  Here is another piece that I love:

__

we were happy

there is a poem by Haviz hanging in my house that reads, 

ever since happiness heard your name, it has been

running through the streets trying to find you. 

it breaks my heart a little every time I look at it.

it makes me think about who we were when we were young

before things

started getting

explained to us.

things like

gender, race, religion, and sexuality.

things like

fear, rejection, and shame.

before that we were happy

because we hadn’t been taught (yet)

not to accept others.

we were happy

because we hadn’t been taught (yet)

not to accept ourselves.

every

day

I work to get back to that place

the place where there are no walls between you and me.

the place where

vulnerability is real and beautiful.

the place where

I am happy and you are happy too.

I hear it calling our names.

__ 

6. Wild Spirit, Soft Heart by Butterflies Rising

This is my most recent book purchase.  I bought it because I kept seeing excerpts from it on Pinterest and knew I needed to have it.  It is longer than I expected it to be, so I haven’t read the whole thing yet, but here is one of my favorite pieces so far: 

__

we honor the

people around us by taking

responsibility for our own energy.

we honor ourselves

by choosing to have people around us

who are willing to do the same.

__

And with that, here are a handful of other poetry books I own and love.

7. All Along You Were Blooming by Morgan Harper Nichols 

8. Neon Soul by Alexandra Elle 

9. Love In My Language by Alexandra Elle

10. Storyteller by Morgan Harper Nichols

There you have it – a roundup of my favorite poetry books!  If you’ve read all the way to the end, thank you.  My hope is that you’ll check out one or more of these books and resonate with the words like I have.  I truly believe reading poetry can be so powerful, so centering, and can teach us a lot about our feelings.  So, like I said earlier, grab a cup of coffee or a tea, light a candle, relax, read one of these books. And I promise you’ll find your hygge.

xx, jamie

SPEAKING YOUR TRUTH

As I sit here this morning, feeling mentally and emotionally exhausted, I can’t help but to think about what it means to have a voice in this country and to speak your truth.  As you may know, I launched this blog a week ago on my birthday.  I had a whole list of topics to write about and things to share, and just when I thought I’d start writing a round-up of my favorite poetry books, this happened.  George Floyd was murdered in the streets of our city just a few minutes away from where I live.  I questioned whether or not I wanted to write about it.  Do I want to set that tone for my new blog?  Do I want to potentially steer people away from reading my posts?  And then I read this quote by Cleo Wade from a poetry book I have next to my bed.  It reads:

—

“Silence is not the answer to your pain.  I believe that we make the world safer when we speak up.  I believe that bravery is contagious and others speak up when we speak up.  And perhaps most important, I believe that every time we speak up, we tell the world who we are instead of letting the world tell us who we should be.”

“My friend Maud once said, ‘There are times when we must speak, not because you are going to change another person, but because if you don’t speak, they have changed you.’”

“Silence doesn’t change the world.  It changes us.  It shrinks us.  It takes our stories and feelings away from us and buries them alive.  Unearth what is buried in you.  Free yourself in this way.”

—

With that, I reminded myself — This blog is for me, this blog is my journal, this blog is an extension of my heart space.  And in order to remain authentic and pure to who I am and what I stand for, I knew it was important to write.  This post isn’t about the tragedy in itself, this post is about using your voice and speaking up.  If you can connect to these words, know that you are my person.

I have never been one to be quiet about things that are important to me, things that invoke some sort of feeling within me.  Sometimes it’s to my detriment.  I’ve been reprimanded for speaking my truth on several occasions.  I’ve been told to be quieter, to not be “so much”, and to worry less about others.  However, I always find myself back in situations that I simply cannot ignore; situations that make feeling and emotion burst from my chest that creates a need in me to either speak up, write, or do both. 

Over the past few days, as tragedy has unfolded in Minneapolis, I’ve been filled with mixed emotions and spent a whole lot of time thinking.  I’ve thought about white privilege {which I acknowledge}, about racism in our country {which is alive and well}, about police brutality, about history, about what the future holds, and everything in between.  I have spent time alone, time in conversation, time in peaceful protest, and, to be honest, a lot of time on social media.  Social media can be really tricky.  It can become an extremely toxic place and, for me, can really weigh down on my mental and emotional health.  This week has been no different; however, the way I’ve decided to use social media and move forward on my platforms has shifted.

I have known the importance of speaking my truth, but now more than ever the world needs to hear us.  The world needs us to speak up for those who feel unheard, to stand firm in what we believe in, to be an advocate for our neighbors, and to be a spot of light and community in a world that can feel so dark and alone.  I have learned that there are a handful of people I will probably never see eye-to-eye with, and that is okay.  More importantly, I have learned just how many people truly hold the same beliefs and values that I do and want to see forward-thinking, progressive shifts and changes in our country.  Those people are my people.  Those people help inspire me and make a difference in not only my life, but the lives of others as well. 

I have done what I can to stand firm in my truth, to share my views, and to do what is in my power to help others understand.  Fortunately, I have been able to shed light on a few topics and conversations and help to shift the mindset of a handful of people.  That felt like a major win to me.  I have removed toxicity from my platforms – people and accounts that don’t align with who I am or where I am going.  That felt good.  I have also connected with so many people, some of who I have never talked to before, who thanked me for my videos, for my photos, and for my words.  That made everything worth it.

In turn, I have found a whole new level of respect for the community I call home, the businesses I drive by daily, and the people that make up Minneapolis.  These people, these business owners, and these citizens are using their power and their voices to demand change, to support one another, and to share their truths with the world.   Although we are going through a very dark, ugly, and complex moment in time, I’ve never felt more connected to this community.  

Sometimes speaking your truth can be uncomfortable.  It is hard to be vulnerable, especially in a world that passes so much judgment and hate, but I can promise you this -- there WILL be someone who will hear your words and feel inspired.  Maybe you will give someone the bravery and courage they needed to speak their truth, too.  Throughout the years, new experiences and life lessons will reshape you and your truth may look a little different.  The amount of change and growth I’ve gone through in just five years is exponential.  My truth has shifted but my heart has always remained the same.

Whether you are in conversation with a stranger, at home around the dinner table, or on social media, it is imperative that we speak up, that we speak our truth.  It allows us to be a voice for the voiceless and a place where others can seek information, inspiration, and solitude.  We were born in a country that allows us the freedom of speech.  We need to use that privilege.  The world needs us.  Stand strong, stay informed, and at the end of the day, speak your truth even if your voice shakes.

xx, jamie

WELCOME TO THE HYGGE JOURNAL

I have thought long and hard about my life; what I aspire to do my entire life and who I aspire to be.  I’ve thought about my phases of life and how I hope to grow as I get older.  I’ve thought about who I want to be as a daughter, sister, and friend.  I’ve thought about who I want to be as partner through life’s highs and lows.  I have even thought about who I hope to be as a mother someday, God willing.  Throughout all of this, there are a few things that remain consistent.  I want to be a light for the people in my life, both those I know and those I pass by.  I want to help people where and when I can, I want to provide people with advice and support and a listening ear whenever able, and I want to continue to learn and grow myself in all aspects of my life.  I never want to stop trying to become the best version of myself, most importantly for me but also for those around me. 

One thing I know for sure is that I, like a lot of people, can express myself through writing and storytelling.  For years, I have contemplated starting a blog.  {A funny fact is that I started two different blogs when I was in elementary school and junior high, but I had no idea what I was doing or how they worked.   I would write the most random articles and earned a whole $1.27 using Google AdWords}.  I’ve even thought about writing a book.  I learn through other people; through their words, their songs and lyrics, their books and poetry, their blogs and podcasts, and through the way they make me feel when I am around them, listening to them, or reading their work.  I guess you can say these people have inspired me to write, and in turn have helped inspire me on this journey.

Why a blog, though?  Why not write in a journal at home?  Why do the one thing SO. MANY. PEOPLE. are doing?  These are just a few questions I imagine running through peoples’ minds when they see this introduction.  I have sat and wondered what people would think.  Will they roll their eyes and think it’s a dumb idea?  Will they think I’m crazy?  Will they think I’m just trying to be another “influencer”?  Then I stopped myself.  Because most of the time, people aren’t even thinking about you.  YOU are thinking about you and worrying about things that don’t matter.  And if there’s one thing I am determined to do as I get older, it’s to embrace all of who I am and take steps towards my goals and dreams daily.

At the start of the new year, I listened to an episode of Jenna Kutcher’s Goal Digger Podcast, and she emphasized the fact that all markets are saturated, so don’t let that thought get in the way of doing what you want to do.  Just because there are lot of doctors in world doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go to med school.  She talked about acknowledging that we all have our own unique experiences that shape us into the people we are; therefore, we all have our own set of stories and lessons that we bring to the table to share with the world.  This helped me a lot.  It reminded me that my experiences matter; and if one of my stories, daily habits, tips and tricks, or opinions resonates with another human being, that, my friends, makes this whole thing worth it.  Because, at the end of the day, I am doing this blog for me; to express myself, to share my thoughts and ideas, and to build connections.  I am doing this because it makes my soul happy.  And if being happy goes hand in hand with helping someone else, I may have really struck gold. 

“And if being happy goes hand in hand with helping someone else, I may have really struck gold.”

Next, why “The Hygge Journal”?  This was quite honestly the hardest part about creating a blog.  I didn’t want to name it after myself, and I had the toughest time coming up with words that made sense for my overall idea, mission, and voice.  Then, after a workout, in the middle of drinking a protein shake and painting my nails at 8pm, I thought of The Hygge Journal.  For those that don’t know, the word HYGGE (hue-gah) is a Danish word meaning, cozy and comfortable surroundings that invoke an inner sense of contentment or well-being.  Below are a few examples of hygge from the Merriam-Webster dictionary to help paint a picture of the word’s meaning.

You need candles. It's about making sure people are welcomed right away, with something to eat and drink, unless you've invited them to help you cook… It's not about making sure everything is perfect. It's about gathering together and finding fellowship in our imperfect humanity. — Deena Prichep, NPR.org, 21 Dec. 2017

Hygge is all about being in the moment, feeling completely relaxed and centered, letting go of the hectic world around you, either alone or with loved ones.  — Ole Henriksen, quoted in Vogue (Australia), 12 Aug. 2018

When you're settling in for a hygge evening, everything you're wearing should be comfortable. — Michelle Dozois, The New York Times, 7 Dec. 2017

To me, this word is the ultimate.  Who doesn’t love to be cozy, comfortable, and content?  I am such a sucker for cozy moments.   Whether that be curled up, coffee in hand, listening to good music and reading poetry. Or snuggled up, a tummy full of good food, ready to relax and watch a movie with those I love.  I live for the moments where I can spend time being comfortable around those who mean the most to me.  The same type of energy is what I put into this platform.  When I write, it is the same practice as journaling in bed.  I am cozy with my coffee or tea, candles lit, I probably have a blanket nearby and slippers on my feet, I most definitely have some of my favorite music on, and I am expressing myself so I can share it with others and build connections with those who read it.  In return, when you read my posts, my hope is that you are in a similar situation.  I hope that you are comfortable, I hope that you have a coffee or tea, and I hope that you are feeling content.  I hope these posts resonate with you; I hope they inspire you; and I hope they help you.  And at the end of each day, I hope you find your hygge.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for stopping by and reading my very first post in The Hygge Journal – A cozy spot for authentic conversation.  I cannot wait to share more!

xx, jamie