Finding Joy in the Journey

Hi everyone,

It’s been so long since I posted on my blog, I had to take a quick look at the new features. I had to do the same with the Weight Watchers app too, but that will be a whole other topic for later.

Life has changed so much for all of us since 2020, and from the time I first started this blog. Sometimes God can lay plans and a purpose on our heart, but detours and distractions can sidetrack us or throw us off course. Since I’m not the only one to experience such things, I thought writing about the revival of my journey may help others as well. 

It has been phenomenal writers like Anne Lamott, Sue Monk Kidd, and Delia Owens, who inspire me. Dr. Brene' Brown found inspiration in Dr. Maya Angelou, and it is Dr. Brown’s work that has enabled me to explore my own life’s journey and work with depth and passion, that I may not have uncovered if I hadn’t taken time away from writing on my blog. During this time, I continued to write for a local digital magazine, 318Central.com and even tried my hand in other creative endeavors, like art. I also took an incredible leap and made a drastic career change after almost 20 years, and I think this wonderful move has also gotten me to this place, to this moment in time, where I am ready to make more significant changes, and get back to creative endeavors.

“Curiosity Cottage ~ A place to embrace and explore my curiosity of life…”

Someone once told me that Curiosity Cottage wasn’t just a website, it was me. And while this is true, it truly has been my place to embrace and explore my curiosity of life, I have also used it to build a fortress or shelter to try and avoid the hurts and disappointments that life has brought my way. Learning to set boundaries, so that I can let people in has been instrumental in getting me to this point where I want to take my work back out into the world. Plus, I now have adorable grandbabies to share my creativity with, and this has made all the difference.

I am also learning to find joy in this journey as I set out to bring my original vision of Curiosity Cottage to life. It has been like a very long marathon, and I look forward to sharing more with you in the future.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

XO,

Jen

A Walk in the Woods

Hi everyone,

The fall semester is back in full swing and that often means I have to put my creativity aside for a while. Of course this is common for most of my friends as well and with my "baby" a senior so much more is added to my plate. I'm trying to find a way to work both into the equation of my life, because to create is to breath for me. The fall weather draws me to the outdoors. I find it helps me clear my mind and focus.

In a world that so desperately seems to be searching for something, I find that my quiet devotion time brings more to my life than money could ever buy. This time lets me not only reflect about life, but also look at the world around me, to try and see what He sees so that I might be able to use the gifts that He has given me to help others. The saying, "You can't see the forest for the trees" seems to come to mind, which is kind of ironic since I am sitting outside enjoying the trees that surround me. To me personally, what this quote means is that sometimes we can be so close to a situation that we can't see how best to maneuver our way through or how best to help others that may be going through something. For me, it is in this quiet time that I can read, write, pray, and reflect to see what I can do.


For me this sacred time in the midst of a very busy season of my life sometimes involves singing and dancing, cook outs with kids, and laughter with friends. For me it may mean marveling at the deer that appear out of the wood line in my back yard or cheering for my child as his last football season passes by so quickly.

Though I know without any certainty where I want to take my creative career, I am at peace with the pace that this journey is taking. I have reached an age where I know what it means to bloom where I am planted and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Until next time...

Hugs! Jen