I took the above photo inside La Sagrada Família, a bucket-list destination I visited with my grandmother and sister last May. When I first encountered architect Antoni Gaudí’s work, I liked the natural elements of his design–curves, color, and texture. No photo can capture the awe-inspiring atmosphere of being immersed inside light and sculpture, of […]
Onward and Forward
Joy in 2022 It’s 2022, and I keep thinking of the word Joy. Maybe I return to it to move past 2021—a reflex to the news cycle. Perhaps Joy is the mantra 2022 needs. Joy Joy Joy It’s a beautiful-looking word with the tall majestic “J,” the perfectly round “o,” and the low-hanging “y.” While […]
On Reflection
There’s no way around it: 2020 felt like walking blindfolded onto a roller coaster with no safety harnesses. How do I reflect on the year when I’m still holding on for dear life, and the roller coaster hasn’t stopped? I follow the advice of fellow Waterwheel Review editor, Claire Guyton: “I’m doing two things this […]
On Threshold
If memory serves, I have never written a holiday poem. I associate lightheartedness with holiday poems; if you know my work, you know I am not a lighthearted poet. And for reasons I won’t get into, holidays haven’t inspired me. But this year, prompted by an upcoming Christmas party with my writing group, I challenged myself […]
On Self Care
Instead of a new year’s resolution, my husband and I chose a motto for 2019. Yes, we want to tighten up the diet and solidify an exercise routine, but we’re striving for more. And that “more” isn’t simply more reps, more water, more sleep. We want to expand how we think about caring for our […]
On Resolve
To help my four-year-old boys’ learn how to make a resolution, I purchased, “Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution,” by Pat Miller. The core message is summed up when Bear, the librarian at Lonewood Library, explains a New Year’s Resolution to Squirrel. “A resolution is a promise you make to yourself to be better or to help […]
