poem – JustLj.com

JustLj in October

The Learning Blog Post

As I settled into October, I couldn’t help but reflect on the theme of learning, especially having been immersed in teaching recently. It struck me how learning never really ends; it’s a continuous thread woven throughout our lives. A quick glance back at my previous posts reminds me that while I’ve touched on various topics, I don’t think I’ve dedicated a post solely to the importance of learning. So here we are, diving into the journey of learning and the profound influence it has on our identities as we grow.

Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” These words resonate deeply with me, especially as I navigate my role as a teacher. I’ve come to realize that learning isn’t just about absorbing information—it’s about the transformative impact of those experiences. It’s about cultivating connections, grappling with ideas, and ultimately growing together.

Throughout my recent teaching experiences, I’ve been reminded that the classroom is a microcosm of the larger world. Each student brings a unique perspective, and there’s an incredible richness in learning from one another. As I guide my students through their own discoveries, I find myself learning right alongside them. It’s almost a beautifully selfish endeavor, where I learn just as much—if not more—than they do.

Reflecting on my own journey, I realize that some lessons have come wrapped in struggles and challenges. I’ve faced my share of tough moments, but even in those, there’s been profound growth. It’s a reminder that learning looks different for everyone, and the path is often winding and filled with surprises.

The essence of learning is that it evolves. As someone who has always been a curious soul, I find that every experience—good or bad—adds to the tapestry of who I am. Embracing lifelong learning has been one of my greatest challenges and rewards. I’ve learned to lean into the discomfort of not knowing, welcoming the opportunity to grow and question without fear of answers. I’m more determined than ever to embrace this mindset—and I encourage you to do the same. Let’s light the fire of curiosity, seek out new ideas, and support one another in our individual journeys of learning. Be it in the classroom or elsewhere, every interaction holds the potential for growth.

What I’m Currently Working on

These days, between work and personal projects, my schedule seems to be a juggling act of teaching, writing, and refining my craft. I’m excited about the new poems I’ve been crafting alongside my students, capturing their voices and experiences, which parallel my own journey of learning. As always, to follow my progression or what I am doing, you can head over to the Works in Progress Page or follow the Facebook Page where I post updates and share fun tidbits daily.

Author Recommendation

Poem for the Month

JustLj in September

People should acknowledge the right to self-identity - Hillsdale Collegian

The Blog Post of IDENTITY

As I sat down to write this blog post with thoughts of Identity possibly being the topic of theme this month, I found myself shocked as I looked through my ten past blog posts dating back to November (which is crazy to think it has already almost been a year since I started this website journey), because surely I thought I had already written on the topic. Alas, though, I have not written one single blog on Identity solely, although it is at the forefront of all my writing. This website highlights the pure essence of my Identity and the importance of Identity as a concept to me.

However, since I have yet to write one, this eleventh blog will focus primarily on Identity, so let’s go! According to Oxford, Identity is defined as the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. Okay, Oxford! Way to simplify that (Ha). That’s the thing with Identity; it is not simple and is so so hard to define, so good effort, Oxford.

Defining Identity, especially one’s own Identity, takes time; we aren’t truly ourselves until we fully come to an end, so that’s the trick. Identity is constantly changing, adapting, and ever-evolving. The key to it is being aware of that. Noticing and grasping the pivotal moments of ourselves and who we are is important to self-awareness. Frankly, it is hard, tiring, and stressful, but ultimately beneficial to your life and success. My Identity has been a struggle pretty much from birth.

Born to two individuals who had previous marriages and already six children between them before they had me, though beautiful, was an instant thrust into difficult identity struggles. Unfortunately, being in a blended family causes a lot of pointing and staring. Then, on top of that, as a child, I had a speech impediment to which most people, even my mother, really couldn’t understand me, so I was in my head a lot from a very early day. Because of that, I already asked myself pivotal identity questions, but I really couldn’t ask anyone about them.

I also am and was raised Christian, so honestly, that didn’t stop the questions from stopping. Fast forward because of these important key factors in my Identity and the struggle with them up to that point, my major anxiety sneaked into me and introduced me shortly after to its friend and partner depression, which tried to but failed to have me meet its bride death. And now, here I am because of those major elements of my Identity and several more. I am here today as the person I am, JustLj.

What I’m Currently Working on

I have now been living in NJ going into three months now, with my year of service as a fellow with the GoFoundation in full swing. This new venture and opportunity currently has been taking up most of my time, but I am hoping as I adjust and the year progresses, it won’t take up as much time as it has, so I can continue my blogging and writing as I was before. I am still also busy submitting my poems and short stories anywhere and everywhere. As always, to follow my progression or what I am doing, you can head over to the Works in Progress Page or follow the Facebook Page where I post updates and share fun tidbits daily.

Author Recommendation

Poem for the Month

This month in the spirit of identity I am going to focus these sections on my self and share two poems. The first is actually one I wrote alongside my students at work during tutorial as we read a collection of three poems about dual identity from Annie Donwerth- Chikamatsu. The other was inspired from my attendance of a night out listening to poetry this past weekend at the Blank Studios.

JustLj in March

How to Cope with Change (and the Stress That Comes with It) - YouTube

The Blog Post of Change

Although change is inevitable, it is by far the most common struggle we all share. The process of change is hard for everyone, and we all have our methods of dealing with it, whether healthy or not. Like the brain in the picture above, many of us just choose to ignore the stress of the struggle while others spiral visibly and noticeably due to the anticipation of change. This month, this struggle of the anticipation and stress of change has been at the forefront of my mind.

I have always had a hard time dealing with and adjusting to change. Both at small and small volumes, change has been a trigger of stress in my chemically imbalanced and anxiety-filled mind, and I have dealt with change poorly on both spectrums of too much and too little. Change should not be downplayed or played. Change just simply is and should always be viewed that way, it is neither good or bad it just is. Change happens and is transitional. We all started as a change in this world. This is a hard concept to grasp, though, because we are human, and all humans are reactionary. So how do we really deal with change properly, then? How can we make it less of a struggle? How do we prevent the stress it usually always brings on?

Well to be relatable I googled searched those questions to share here, and the top result took me to The British Heart Foundation, where it had an article of twelve tips on coping with change: #1- Learn to accept what has happened #2- Pace yourself #3- Ask for help from loved ones #4- Look for new opportunities #5-Carry a self-help reminder #6- Have a strategy for dealing with stress #7- Have a story that you can tell easily #8- Give yourself time #9- Be involved with others #10-Get into a routine #11- Avoid self-medicating with alcohol or drugs #12- Don’t make major life changes. While that’s all well and good, and some of those are good suggestions, I honestly wouldn’t recommend searching Google for all your struggles (sorry for tricking you). Struggles are personal and should be treated as such, and the internet, while great, doesn’t solve everything but can be a helpful resource. At the end of the day, everyone is different and will need to do different things to cope with their struggles.

Currently I have been stressing with upcoming changes coming with my undergraduate career coming to an end next month. The stress of figuring out what to do next weighing heavy on me. As someone who knows my mental health limits, I have developed the ideal coping methods and tools for myself in these moments, but that doesn’t mean it’s any easier; it just means I have lived and struggled long enough to know myself; this was not always the case. I find, for me personally, writing such as poetry or journaling, reading, praying, and talking about the triggers of change and stress to others as my prime was of coping for mostly anything but especially in regards to change. More often than not, talking out and through your struggles to someone will give you a new perspective and reassurance about the circumstance. Friends and family are great resources to utilize so utilize them. Change can be scary, and that’s exactly why it makes sense not to do it alone.

That last sentence is also a good transition to discuss the flip of that in regard to friends and family. Just as you should utilize and lean on them in these stressful moments, remember that they should also be able to do so on you. Coping, seeking, and asking for help is more difficult for some. I know that for a fact. Sometimes, even the most independent people are the ones in the most need of help. I have had a few people currently in my life going through different levels of stress due to change or anticipation leading to change. Although it is inevitable, our support and awareness of change and the potential stress it may bring to ourselves and others should be just as reliable as that inevitability.

What I’m Currently Working on

Currently, I am in week four of eight of my last two courses at SNHU, Advanced Creative Writing and Popular Culture, instructed by Professor Molly Sutton Kiefer and Phillip Wagner. As always, to follow my progression or what I am doing, you can head over to the Works in Progress Page or follow the Facebook Page where I post updates and share fun tidbits daily.

Author Recommendation

What would you do to inherit a million dollars? Would you be willing to change your life? Jason Stevens is about to find out… | The ultimate gift, Book worms, Gifts

I was first introduced to this story by watching the movie adaptation staring Abigail Breslin years ago, but just recently bought the book at my local library’s book sale, and I think it is very appropriate to use it as my recommendation for this month’s blog post as it has been appropriate for me to read during this time. The story is told by a lawyer navigating a recently passed client’s nephew in following the client’s last will and testament. It is a story of the true meaning of life, meaning the small things. This story really puts life into perspective, and regardless of your age, race, gender, and beliefs, I highly recommend it.

Poem for the Month

A4 Size Parchment Poster Classic Poem Elizabeth Barrett Browning Change Upon Change : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

JustLj in January

The Birthday Blog Post

January is the month my birthday happens to fall in. To get a better understanding of how I felt about my birthday this year, I’ll share the poem I wrote for it. FYI, though, I already shared this on the Facebook Page, so if you aren’t following that yet, go do that now!

“Happy Birthday To Me”

Twenty-nine years today

have come and gone.

I can’t believe that I

have lived this long.

Eighteen years, I thought,

was enough. What will become

waits for us.

Eleven years more, I

have gotten past that.

Over four hundred bright

new days I have seen with

all their clumsy blessings.

Just shy of one thousand

hours I almost didn’t see.

I have decided to keep running.

All the endless possibilities and

beauty I never could see

before I truly started living.

Eleven. Eighteen.

Twenty-nine.

As you can see in the poem, my twenty-ninth birthday had me feeling more introspective this year than in years past. I woke up that day, January seventeenth, and instantly had this poem written in my mind. I thought of all the what-ifs and things I may not have gotten to see. Ultimately, I just felt blessed.

I should probably back up just in case you don’t know my story and I will do that by sharing another one of my poems.

“As I Lay me Down”

As I lay me down to sleep

One last post to

his Facebook feed.

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

He types, clutching a bottle of

pills ready.

But if I should die

before I wake

He hits post and

hopes for his end.

I pray God my soul

will take

He’d rather die than keep

making countless mistakes.

But if I should live for other

days, I pray

The Lord guide my way

And here I am still today.

I was Eighteen, a high school dropout, and a disappointment to myself. I didn’t think I could turn my life around, so I did what I did.

As I said, though, this year, on my birthday, I woke up just feeling blessed, utterly aware of how incredibly wrong I was back then and how fortunate and lucky I am. I am proud to say that even though I have not completely turned my life around, I am in the process. I am months away from graduating with a college degree with honors in April. I have made the President list at SNHU on multiple occasions.

I have just been taking that this month and thinking, WOW. If only eighteen-year-old me knew. I was not done then, not by longshot, nor am I even close to it now. That’s life, and that’s beautiful.

So often, I hear the phrase ‘just another day’ in regard to our birthdays, and while I understand the sentiment, I ask you to think of this blog the next time you say start to say that. Yes, it is ‘just another day,’ but that is amazing and wonderful. Let’s not let the fact that making it to another year of existence is miraculous no matter the age because who knows when our days are no more.

What I’m Currently Working on

Currently, I am in week four of eight of two courses at SNHU, Advanced Fiction Writing Workshop and Seminar in American Literature, instructed by Professor Abigail Rose-Marie and Jacqueline Smith. As always, to follow my progression or what I am doing, you can head over to the Works in Progress Page or follow the Facebook Page where I post updates and share fun tidbits daily.

Author Recommendation

As this is my birthday month, I am going to recommend my favorite author/poet and biggest inspiration, Shel Silverstein. I do not believe you are ever too old or too young for Shel Silverstein. It also just so happens to be Where the Sidewalk Ends fiftieth birthday this month as well too, so it’s appropriate. Several of Silverstien’s works celebrate milestones this year, so make sure to go follow the official Shel Silverstien Facebook Page!

Poem for the Month

Similar to Shel Silverstein, with it being my birthday month, I am going to share one of my favorite poets and inspirations here. Lucille Clifton. I also used these two poems as references for my earlier shared birthday poem, so go read both and see if you can find the references! birth-day and poem on my fortieth birthday.