Write with Author NJ Miller

  Photo by kanenori from Pixabay I wear my heart tucked into my shell like a turtle who can pop out and then slide back in when it feels uncertain, when I meet someone I don’t know. I am ready to reach out if I feel accepted and then hide some of myself if I don’t feel comfortable. I wear my heart on my sleeve when I want to reach out to someone I don’t know well and show a very real part of myself. I might share a strength or a vulnerability to connect with the person. I share that I am happy we could get together for coffee and glad that person was willing to come to my neighborhood. I wear my heart like a sparkling pendant when I meet a close friend. I feel bright with joy and completely myself. I don’t need to second guess what I want to say. I can share my pendant, listen, and let my friend shine while we are together. I take a part of their heart with me as I press the pendant back on my chest.

  When I want to relax, I like to think about my breath. My breathing is so automatic I don’t even notice it although I would definitely notice if I quit breathing. When I focus on my breath to relax, I pay attention to my inhale to make sure I am breathing deeply while expanding my belly. When I need to relax from busyness or stress, I often breath too shallow not allowing enough to get in my lungs.  When I exhale purposefully, I can imagine my breath being a color. I can think about all of the things I don’t want in my mind being eliminated as I exhale. I breathe in new energy. I like to see energy as blue like the movement of the ocean. When I want to relax, I often think about places I have been or things I have seen that were beautiful and relaxing. We have a rose garden in the park near my home. When I stop and notice the light on the pink, white, and red petals, it takes my mind off of whatever might be stressing me even if only for a few moments. When I was anticipatin...

I always loved kayaking because I could glide along with my hand in the rippling water. Swiftly moving through the water close enough to touch it while feeling the breeze glancing across my face. Then coming home and taking a dip in the pool. A trip to our favorite beach house. We watched the sun set against the dark gray ocean. The roiling sea waved good night as the cold breeze told us it was time to find warmth, sip wine, and play a friendly game. A love gained. A love lost and with it the fond memories of things I loved to do. New memories of things I love to do fill my heart. A trip to Europe with my daughters store colorful memories of see the Icelandic ocean from a yacht, and London from the top of a two-story bus. The science of Dr. Who with my grandson and crafting with my granddaughter brighten neurons as old memories begin to fade. Trips to Colorado and heartfelt conversations over coffee fill me with things I love to do.

Sitting at a patio table, my hair swishing in the breeze, I look out across the blue sea and watch the yellow orb sinking into the ocean. I take a bite of rich salmon melting in my mouth followed by a sweet potato fry seasoned with salty air. My favorite place to eat my favorite food is by the water. I can conjure up an image of enjoying flaky white fish while feeling the energy of the roiling morning ocean waves a cup of coffee in hand. I can enjoy my favorite foods anytime and anyplace, but I cherish the moments when I enjoy fish by the sea. From past memories I can create visions of pleasure filling my imagination. Ah! The dark chocolate that possibly wouldn’t sustain me but definitely one of my favorite foods. I can imagine living on different forms of chocolate for a lifetime, but then I see images of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and what happens when too much is just too much. I might float up and burst from too much chocolate. Chocolate is delicious on its own or covering f...