I am in a Season of change. Physically, emotionally, creatively, and an entire host of other ways........turning 60 has a way of doing that to a woman.
So I’ve been thinking a lot about balance lately…
particularly the kind that sneaks up on you.
And honestly? I’ve been struggling with it a little. Balance, Imposter Syndrome. Comparison.
You know those moments…
Like when you’re doing yardwork and your mind wants to go on but your body does not.
Or when you’re telling a story and halfway through you forget where you were going with it. It’s not that the thing itself is bad. It's just the season of change that I need to adjust to.
But sometimes even good things need to… simmer down a little. Whether it's in the kitchen, in the yard or in my craft room.
I need to make room for everything else on my plate. My proverbial plate has gotten a little smaller but all the things I want to accomplish has not.
And Then There’s Junk Journaling…
This is exactly where I found myself with my junk journaling.
If you’ve spent any time scrolling Pinterest or watching journaling videos, you know what I mean…
The layers.
The textures.
The colors.
The tiny details tucked into every corner.
And they are STUNNING.
Like… stop-you-in-your-tracks, how-is-this-even-real kind of beautiful.
So naturally, I started comparing.
Because that’s what we do, right?
I looked at my pages and thought:
“This is so simple.”
“This feels… boring.”
And for a second, I almost believed it.
For my 60th Birthday, my daughters contacted friends and family and asked them to actually write me a letter for my 60th birthday. I was so surprised!! It was a beautiful idea and reading these letters gave me all the FEELS! Most of the contents will remain private but just know that they all had a few recurring themes and they all made me laugh and cry.
This past Sunday, I took all my letters and cards from my 60th birthday and arranged them in a soon to be Simple Journal.
But Here’s the Truth I Didn’t Expect
I loved my pages.
Not in a “trying to convince myself” kind of way…
but in a real, calm, this-feels-like-me kind of way.
So I did something a little different.
I left it alone.
No adding more.
No fixing.
No trying to make it look like someone else’s version of “better.”
Click the image to see a flip through
These simple spreads greet me.
They feel peaceful.
They feel personal.
They feel like a quiet little exhale.
It don't need more ephemera, more ribbon, more ripped pages, more pockets
I just need to let it be.
Click the image to see a flip through
My 60th Birthday Pages (And Why They Matter So Much)
This week, I leaned into that feeling.
I took a deep breath, let go of the pressure to “do more”…
and created a set of pages using all the cards and letters from my 60th birthday.
And you know what?
They are minimal.
Click the image to see a flip through
There’s space.
There’s simplicity.
There’s not a million layers or embellishments.
But I LOVE them.
Because every card holds a memory.
Every note tells a story.
Every page feels like me.
Click the image to see a flip through
That spread didn’t need to be the “main character” in a loud, over-the-top way…
It became something even better.
A quiet friend.
A collection of moments.
A piece of my life, exactly as it happened.
Click the image to see a flip through
Maybe Your Style Isn’t “Less”… Maybe It’s Just Yours
Here’s the thing I’m learning (and maybe you need to hear this too):
Your style is not wrong.
It’s not too simple.
It’s not too plain.
It’s not “missing something.”
It’s just… yours. and this is mine.
Click the image to see a flip through
And the goal of junk journaling isn’t to impress anyone.
It’s not to win some invisible creativity contest.
It’s to feel something.
To remember something.
To express something.
To give yourself a moment of calm in a world that feels a little too loud sometimes.
Let It Be Enough
So if you love the full, layered, beautifully busy pages…
go all in.
Click the image to see a flip through
But if your heart feels happiest with a little space, a few meaningful pieces, and room to breathe?
That is just as beautiful.
Maybe even more so.
Because it’s honest.
This week, I’m choosing to be okay with my style.
Actually… more than okay.
I’m choosing to love it.
And I hope you do the same.
A Little Nudge for You
Next time you sit down with your journal, try this:
Don’t add anything extra.
Just pause… look at your page… and ask yourself:
“Do I like this?”
Not “Is this good enough?”
Not “Would someone else like this?”
Not "What else can I add so it looks like......"
Just… “Do I like this?”
If the answer is yes?
Close the book.
You’re done. 💛
Click the image to see a flip through
-teresa XO
