Uncategorized

a manifesto for courageous authenticity

Home
Book
Essays
About
Contact

A Nasty Case of “the Februarys”

About a week ago, I sat quietly with my coffee in the early morning, preparing my heart for the day…
Read More

A little about me

I am a family-prioritizing, coffee-drinking, truth-telling, authenticity-seeking, list-making, God-following, world-loving, ambiverted closet writer… [read more]

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address

recent musings

Burn It All Down

I began journaling in my teens. It was always

To Dump or To Drink?

I’ve been disgusted with humanity in the last

Reclaiming My Garden

In my corner of the world, flourishing

Categories

Essays
Gratitude
Growth Zone
Identity
Poetry & Spoken Word
Process
Reflection
Relationships
Seasons of Change
Spiritual Growth
Uncategorized
Wholeness
Writing

Book Launch Sign up

Be the first to know when the book is released

let’s connect

looking for something?

my instagram

Oh, these true friends. So thankful. #girlsnight

Oh, these true friends. So thankful. #girlsnight #authentic #friendshiplove #curryfeast #indianfood #winetime #honesttalk

Winter walk yesterday afternoon with Ingrid (the d

Winter walk yesterday afternoon with Ingrid (the daughter) and Heidi (the dog)
.
#sunset #wintersky #riverview #kennebecasisriver #home #outsidetime #nofilterneeded #shortdays #beautysky

Winter Solstice has long held significant meaning

Winter Solstice has long held significant meaning for me; a profound reminder that our darkest times will not last. These longest nights are part of the natural cycles in our world, and they give way to brighter days.

May it be so for all of us this year.

Blessing for the Longest Night

All throughout these months,
as the shadows
have lengthened,
this blessing has been
gathering itself,
making ready,
preparing for
this night.

It has practiced
walking in the dark,
traveling with
its eyes closed,
feeling its way
by memory,
by touch,
by the pull of the moon
even as it wanes.

So believe me
when I tell you
this blessing will
reach you,
even if you
have not light enough
to read it;
it will find you,
even though you cannot
see it coming.

You will know
the moment of its
arriving
by your release
of the breath
you have held
so long;
a loosening
of the clenching
in your hands,
of the clutch
around your heart;
a thinning
of the darkness
that had drawn itself
around you.

This blessing
does not mean
to take the night away,
but it knows
its hidden roads,
knows the resting spots
along the path,
knows what it means
to travel
in the company
of a friend.

So when
this blessing comes,
take its hand.
Get up.
Set out on the road
you cannot see.

This is the night
when you can trust
that any direction
you go,
you will be walking
toward the dawn.

- Jan Richardson

#wintersolstice #winter #longestnight #longestnightoftheyear #darkness #darkestnight #metaphor #meditation #spiritual #midwinter #peaceonearth #faith #ritual #december2020 #hopeforthefuture #brighterdays #brighterdaysahead #blessing #yule

This unabashed quote nerd is in heaven right now!

This unabashed quote nerd is in heaven right now! I’m literally giddy with choosing favourite quotes to begin each chapter in my book 🤩

Please share your faves with me!

#quotes #love #lfe #wordnerd #wordnerdsunite #inspirationalwords #quoteoftheday #motivationalquotes #ilovewords #ilovequotes #mindsetmatters #quotestagram #quotestoinspire #motivationdaily #inspire #quotesofinstagram #quotesaboutlife #quotesaboutlove #wordsoftheday #writinglife

Today is the “Christmas Market” at RNS, put on

Today is the “Christmas Market” at RNS, put on by our Grade 10 students for our students, faculty, and staff to raise money for the Christmas Exchange 🎄❤️🎄

#givingback #christmasforeveryone #beautifulstudents #rothesaynetherwood #teenagerswithheart #generosity #covidchristmas #joy #covidchristmas2020 #santashelpers

I regularly fall in and out of love with social me

I regularly fall in and out of love with social media, but lately…I’m truly enjoying the interaction that happens when I ask you questions. Maybe it’s the human separation because of Covid and I’m lonely 🤷🏼‍♀️

Whatever the reason, here’s another one:

Media and tradition tell us we’re to feel a certain way during this “most wonderful time of the year,” but often, it’s a little more complicated than that.

Seasons when we’re “supposed” to feel a certain way can further highlight the disparity between the ideal and reality. The “SHOULDS” can serve to amplify our loss.

How do you really feel during this holiday season?
.
A) I love it. Truly joyful.
B) Joyful, but with a tinge of melancholy.
C)I really enjoy it, but it’s a sad time for me.
D) really down. Have to grit my teeth & endure.
E) extreme longing.
F) Other (if so, what is it?)

Write your answers in the comments. Love you, friends.
.
#holidayspirit #expectation #polling #askafriend #christmas2020 #covidchristmas #disparity #covidchristmas2020 #longing #joyinthejourney #holiday #honestanswers #questions #mostwonderfultimeoftheyear

Sporting our new Christmas masks 😷🎄❤️ .

Sporting our new Christmas masks 😷🎄❤️
.
#puschadvisorfamily #rothesaynetherwoodschool #covidchristmas #covidchristmas2020 #highschoolteacher #highschoolteacherlife #lovethemtopieces #schoolfamily #boardingschool

You guys, here is an embarrassing admission: I’

You guys, here is an embarrassing admission:

I’m quite certain I have watched EVERY Christmas movie ever made!
.
My palate typically prefers movies like “Love Actually,” but I find that this year (maybe bc I’m needing a sure-thing-happy-ending), I’m all about the Hallmark cheese 🤷🏼‍♀️

What are you watching? 🎄comment below🎄

#christmasmovies #xmas2020 #countdowntochristmas #christmasjoy #escapism #holidaymovieseason #hallmarkmovies #noshamehere #polling #askafriend #favoritechristmasmovie #favoritechristmasmovies

Copyright © 2021 · Ellen Pusch · Site Design by DejaPeterson.com · Market Theme · Log in