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Weekly-ish stories for humans seeking depth and meaning.

I'm Janelle Hardy and at some point you signed up for this 3-4x/month newsletter on memoir-writing, somatic (body) healing and stories. If you'd like to unsubscribe, just click the unsubscribe link at the bottom.

I'd just spent two days and a night at my family's cabin and sauna, a rugged 45-minute drive out of town, on the banks of the Yukon River.

Not by myself but with my mom, my sister, three of her children (ages 8, 4 and 3) and three dogs.

The night before that, I'd flown up from my home in Vancouver for my annual summertime visit, and for an old friend's wedding.

Right before I took this selfie I was buckling my seatbelt. I glanced up at the rearview mirror and saw my face, glowing back at me.

I smiled, then started laughing. I thought "wow, I look so good. So happy, so joyful! So much like myself."

So I took this self portrait to continue to delight myself. Wouldn't you?!

I've been cultivating a joy and delight practice for a while now, and I feel like this picture is the fullest, truest expression of how that's been moving through me lately.
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In our healing and creative journeys, noticing and lingering in joy and delight is a big deal. It's a practice worth prioritizing. I do it for myself, but I also encourage my students and clients to do it too.

Because it helps us navigate the tougher stuff, and from that point of view, it's the furthest thing from frivolous.
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When I say this, I'm talking about setting the bar for delights super low. Low and mundane. Because then you get more of it!!
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Let yourself be delighted by touching new leaves. Smelling flowers. Noticing clouds. Enjoying the people you're with. Choosing not to rush. And more, and more, and more.

Delight begets delight.
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Poet Ross Gay's The Book of Delights sparked this for me.
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And, if you want support with these practices and healing in general, I've got you.

In my Keep Writing Circles I aim to delight, to charm and to spark joy with my writing prompts.

To cut through any tendency towards perfectionism, criticism or judgement (self and other).

To step into the creative flow, and trust the process. Marvel at the results. And enjoy your writing even when it feels humbling, embarrassing or murky.

I lead these 12-session writing circles once a year in the autumn, and we start in three weeks.

​Click here to learn more and sign up.​

xoxo,

Janelle

🌻 🌱 Work with me 1-1🌻 🌱

🌻 One-on-one somatic healing and/or creativity coaching sessions with me. 3 spots left for 2023. Learn more and sign up here.​