Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Journal.
What Happens When You Whistle in the House
Has it ever occurred to you that a famous song came to your mind and you suddenly had the urge to swing the melodic line whistling? If so, and you have had an older grandmother or aunt, it is possible that one of them stopped you dramatically, desperately, in the full artistic act. "It's not good to whistle at home": that may have been the only explanation given to you.
By Sarah Salinger3 years ago in Journal
The JOMO of my New Year's Eve
To begin, Happy New Year, to all of us. I can tell you how my New Year's Eve was going to be. It was going to be with a woman, in Costa Rica, with fireworks, in a lush forest setting overlooking a volcano. New Years Day would be hot springs, suspension bridges, and waterfalls. However, that relationship ended some moons ago.
By U.B. Light3 years ago in Journal
Public Speaking
The temperature in that library had to be reaching 100 degrees. Oh, that’s right, they turn the air off in the summer to conserve money. Every possible fold in my body was dripping sweat. I know my face and neck had to be “Fifty Shades of Red”. At least as red as a cherry red Firebird. Of course, I had to inherit rosacea from my mom and every time I get the least bit stressed, I tend to light up like a bright red-light bulb, lucky me.
By Sara Lindsey3 years ago in Journal
Letter To Past Self In 2021
Dear Amanda, Your life is going to be a struggle, but do not let that get you down. You are going to face trials and tribulations, but they will not keep you down. You will fall, but you will not stay down for long, you will get back up. You are a survivor, and you will be able to get through anything. You will find love and you will get your heart broken. It will also heal, and you will be better than ever. You will have kids and find a career that you love, and you will have a following you never dreamt of. You are your mother’s daughter for sure. You have her strength and her determination. You have her love and spirit. Do not run away to your dad's house because you feel that it is the only way for you to have a dad. If he really wants you in his life, if he really wants to be a dad he will be, and if he does not then it is his loss, not yours. Do NOT defend your dad to your grandpa, it is your dad’s job, and you are a kid, let your parents be the parents and you be a little girl. Do not try so hard to follow around your sisters, if they want you around, they will let you know, and if not, not your loss. DO NOT put up with in-laws and do not marry a mommy’s boy! You will never be happy if you do. Let those you love know you love them. ALWAYS stand up for yourself, even when you think you should keep your mouth shut. NEVER BACK DOWN, NEVER STAND DOWN! Never forget to be yourself. Do not be controlled. Do not let someone lie to you. Do not accept defeat. Amanda, you can do wonderful things. I see so many things in my dreams that I know will be achieved one day. Keep dreaming, because you have a long life to live and once you stop dreaming... you stop living! One day you will be a married woman, you have a wonderful daughter, you will have a handsome son. You will be an author, a singer/songwriter, a lawyer, a mom, a wife, a podcaster, a journalist, and so much more. You will have a full life. You will always want to look back on pictures so make sure you take many pictures, and you take care of them, back them up, so you can always look back on your fond memories. You will want to always keep pictures of your mom, your kids, and your life with your kids. Holidays like Mother's Day and your birthday will become just another day to you and as much as you wish that would be different it will not be any different. You will fight with your husband, sometimes you will wonder if things will really work out in many of your relationships, especially when it comes to your marriage and family issues. You will have to think about what happens to you, your home, and your kids if you get divorced. And what happens to you and your kids if you do stay together. You will always think about and worry about what happens to your kids. That will never be something that changes. You will be a proud mom for the rest of your life. Nothing will ever change that. You will always have a very close relationship with your kids, they will never be far from you.
By Amanda J Mollett3 years ago in Journal
Betty White Has Died
On the eve of the old year and the cusp of a new, the unimaginable has happened. Betty White has passed away — only 18 days from her 100th birthday, which just recently she'd been looking forward to celebrating. 100 years. Imagine that. I know there have been a fair few who have reached that age and beyond, but not many. And Betty was one of the special ones. She was a beacon of....everything being right with the world. Or at least if not right, then okay. Everything was okay because we still had Betty. We may have lost so much the last few years, especially the last two. But hey, Betty was still alive and kicking so, we had that to lean on in our collective times of struggle and despair. Betty had made it through.
By Caitlin McColl3 years ago in Journal
All Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy
Probably the most famous iteration of the saying “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” is that in Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. The film features a writer with writer’s block who takes his family with him to an isolated hotel where he has taken a position as the off-season caretaker. He is working on a play but when we finally see the words he has typed, it is that phrase repeated over and over and over again. Jack descends into full madness as he attempts to murder his family.
By Marco den Ouden3 years ago in Journal
Love Is Part lV
I’ve been told on countless occasions that, because I’m a black woman, I would never be able to understand what it’s like to be a black man. That I could never relate to the struggles black men face daily in love, family structures, society and the breaking of generational curses overall. I’ve been told that I cannot understand how a black man thinks or feels. That I would never know what it takes to assist and guide a black man to heal. Perhaps there’s truth to these statements. Then again. . . perhaps that isn’t the fullest truth.
By LOVE IS SERIES . 🌹3 years ago in Journal
Expect Interest Rates to Rise This Year
Recently a Federal Reserve official indicated that the US central bank could raise interest rates by early March. This is in response to “alarmingly high inflation rates,” according to a recent article in the Financial Times.
By Mark R Hake3 years ago in Journal
Seriously, Stop Complaining About Doing Your Job
I started officially working at the age of fifteen. My first real job was at Dairy Queen as a cashier. I say “real job” because I had been working at my dad’s office during weekends since I was 12 years old, and so I had already gained some basic office and customer service skills.
By Jade Cinders3 years ago in Journal