Reaching December always stirs up a lot of thoughts for me. As I write this, I’m imagining myself sitting under the moonlight with the year’s lessons rolling past me like movie credits. One thing that keeps coming up is what I want to move on from.
I want to move on from the version of me that holds too tightly to experiences that hurt. I’m ready to let them go now. I want to learn what I need to learn — and then let go just as gracefully.
What’s something you want to move on from or let go of?
Write a free verse reflection poem about a core memory.
A “core memory” (a phrase popularized in part by the 2015 movie Inside Out) is a significant moment or experience that stays with you and shapes you in some way. Core memories often connect to strong emotions — joy, fear, love, embarrassment, pride, belonging — and become experiences you can recall clearly even years later. They might be impactful conversations, milestones, turning points, once-in-a-lifetime adventures, difficult truths, important relationships, “firsts,” flashes of clarity, or life lessons.
Here is my poem:
The Tears that Shaped Me
The hallway glowed a bright yellow. It was dark outside, and I carried a faint excitement that maybe it would be a good night for me.
My long dress — my favorite color — that exact shade of sky blue you see at noon on a cloudless June day with a soft, warm breeze.
Only then did I realize I had no idea how to move in this space, how to belong here.
I walked into the lunchroom, strange and unfamiliar in its new arrangement. I missed my mom the moment she slipped away, leaving as quickly as she arrived.
Two hours, then three. I watched, a puzzle piece that didn’t fit, a quiet spectator taking notes, seeing everything through a microscope.
I wasn’t “picked” that night. Invisible.
A dance — a tiny stamp of approval — was nowhere for me. This chapter of my life ended right then, ushering in a transition I didn’t ask for.
Was I even there? Did it even happen?
Tears soaked the dress until it became its own rainy day. My chest tightened. Regret and sadness painted my heart in black, burgundy, and navy blue. The sunny June afternoon turned into a December midnight storm — cold and unwelcoming.
The unchosen. A title I still carry, a backpack glued to my shoulders.
Share your poem below. 📜
You can also find this post in the Mighty Poets group on The Mighty here.
For a long time, I wondered why I compared myself to others so often— both consciously and unconsciously— questioning whether I was falling behind, and if I would ever catch up.
I would look around and find myself alone— the only one, a spectator watching as I could no longer see the silhouette of those who seemed so far ahead of me. I’m at the bottom of the hill.
I now realize and acknowledge: this is what grief feels like for me. Something I’ve been carrying for a long, long time— a weighted blanket that’s become part of my body. No one sees it, but I feel it.
Today, I allow myself to feel sad. It’s OK to feel sad today. I give myself grace. I don’t push my feelings aside, or try to force positivity. I feel my emotions— and let them pass through. They deserve space, too.
Write a message to your teenage self about a lesson or truth you’ve learned that you didn’t know back then.
Something I find helpful for understanding the shame and grief I carry is writing messages, notes, and letters to my younger self — whether that’s my inner child or my inner teen. These are parts of me that endured so much and didn’t know how to cope with those intense experiences at the time.
Lately, I’ve been connecting with my inner teenager and allowing her to finally feel everything she wasn’t allowed to back then. I’ve noticed how angry, crushed, and betrayed she still feels from all the things she wished she could experience but couldn’t, and how much she wasn’t able to process or release because she didn’t understand what was happening.
Here is my message to her today:
Dear teen Nina,
It’s OK to feel every emotion coming up right now — anger, resentment, shame, frustration, betrayal. I know those feelings are scary for you. You don’t have to perform anymore or try to be perfect for everyone around you. It’s OK to make mistakes; that doesn’t make you a bad person. You deserve to be loved and accepted every day without having to do anything to earn it. You can move slowly and take your time — no one is pressuring you anymore. You are free to be your wonderful and beautiful self.
Oh, and one more thing: other people’s suffering or struggles are not your fault. You are not responsible for their emotions or reactions.
I love you, and I’m here whenever you need me.
— Adult Nina (sparklywartanks)
Also find this prompt in the No Shame group on The Mighty here.
1. I wouldn’t call these “business” cards since I don’t see what I do as a business. Instead, I’ve designed and ordered my new connection-to-community cards! Yay SparklyWarTanks! 🥰
2. I finally sat down to write in my journal. I didn’t expect to write so much, but I’m glad I could let go of everything I’d been holding in. I feel so much lighter now! 🌻
It’s taken me some time to gather these thoughts, mostly because energy and motivation have been hard to come by these days. Sometimes, I wish there were an easier way to collect all the ingredients needed to create my best work. That, plus the procrastination and perfectionist blocks that make me feel like I have to know exactly what I’m going to write before I even start. And yet, here I am, still not 100% sure what I want to say.
2025 has already been overwhelming. The world is in pain, and there’s so much fear in our collective energy. As for me, I haven’t been feeling well. The problem solver in me wants to make everything better—for both myself and others—but I’ve been feeling lost and out of control.
A few weekends ago, I facilitated my first expressive arts workshop of 2025. One of the activities involved writing a series of personal notes reflecting on our values, what’s important to us, the habits that benefit us, and what we will let go of this year. In my notes, I wrote down my words and phrase for the year: my words being love and freedom, and my phrase being “I’m not doing that.”
This year, I want to take back my energy from the spirals of negativity I often find myself in and explore what it feels like to let go of the expectation of failure and missing out. I want to let love in—and even though I’m scared—be willing to work through the discomfort of change because I deserve to experience something different from what I’m used to. I want to feel free enough that making mistakes or feeling embarrassed doesn’t make me a bad person. I want to be able to make choices that are right for me and not feel guilty when I say no or set boundaries that keep me safe.
These are my intentions for the year. As I begin to feel better and safer expressing and receiving love while navigating freedom, I hope to find others who are doing the same for themselves.
Well that’s what I have for now. Thank you for reading. 💌
I’ll be honest 😔, I haven’t been feeling the greatest. Navigating life has been weighing on me and I would really like to catch a break. I haven’t written anything in a long time, so I’d like to reflect with my sparkly fam today 🩷.
For our reflection, let’s explore the moments where we’ve experienced relief (even if only temporarily). What does relief feel like to you? What makes those moments important?
For me, I’ve experienced relief when I don’t have as many responsibilities and I can sit in my room and relax. Knowing I can prioritize my self-care helps me to feel more free in myself.
Share your moments below 💌!
You can also find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.
We’re 30 years old already. Can you believe it?! We made it this far. And, yes, we still have big emotions that feel overwhelming sometimes. But, I’m still working on our goals and I’m continuously redefining what success looks like every day.
We were going through some old pictures with mom a few weeks ago and I finally remember. I remember how you felt most of the time. I remember the moments where you didn’t feel seen or loved by anyone. I remember when you started to use perfectionism and people pleasing to try to get people to notice and prioritize you. I remember when self-hate seeped in, too. I’m unlearning all those things for us, though. You are lovable and don’t need to be perfect for anyone to realize how valuable you are. We don’t need to go above and beyond anymore, hurting ourselves by doing too much, just so people can be happy that we’re around.
I remember when we didn’t know how to identify our emotions and were confused a lot of the time from our sensitivities. I know how often we cried from being overstimulated. No need to worry though. I’ve created safety for us now. You can feel your feelings and no one will get mad or yell at you anymore.
Little Nina, there is nothing wrong with you. There was never anything wrong with you. Our big emotions make us extra special. Our brain gets sad and anxious sometimes now, and sometimes we have bad dreams, but I promise I’ll take care of us.
I know that there were things you really wanted to experience, especially when we were a teen, and it hasn’t happened yet, but that’s OK. We still have more life to live and people to meet. I’m trying my hardest not to give up on certain things. I know how much we value love and want to bask in it as much as possible. But, I can’t say I don’t struggle with that idea still.
I’ve grown in loving US, though. I love you so much and want you to feel safe to be you. You are amazing, talented, funny, and beautiful. Your light is sooo bright and it’ll only get brighter as we get older. You don’t have to be scared anymore. I put boundaries up to protect us, OK?
We are helping other people who felt like you did growing up now. I’m sharing our story so we can help other people feel loved and seen, too.
We’re doing a great job and walking in our purpose. It started with you, though, because you did your best with what you had. I got it from here.
I love you so much 🩷 Big hugs and kisses from 30 year old you, Adult Nina
Finish this sentence: Instead of ________ I choose to _______ this week.
Oh my goodness! I’ve had so many shifts and changes in my life this year already 😅. Honestly, I can barely keep up with it all. Despite all the changes, though, I still want to set intentional time to prioritize myself, my goals, and my needs.
For this week’s reflection let’s think about things we can do differently that may benefit us. What behaviors, habits, or routines do you want to change or improve?
I’ll go first! Instead of scrolling on social media for a few hours every day, I choose to read and watch my comfort shows this week.
What about you?
You can also find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.
Here’s to the girl that never had a first dance Who watched everyone at her school prom get asked out but her Who’s been told she wasn’t pretty growing up Who was never anyone’s first choice Who’s been ghosted over and over Who’s been told she was too much Who feels like she doesn’t belong anywhere or with anyone Who’s been used Who fell in love with someone that didn’t feel the same Who wished fairy tales were real Who has cried herself to sleep wondering what went wrong Who’s hope and desire for love is withering away with each passing day
Me too
But, despite all of this you are STILL beautiful and worthy of all the love this world has to offer. It’s OK to love on yourself, especially on those days when everything feels heavy and the shame of loneliness is eating at your mental health. There’s nothing wrong with you. You absolutely deserve the companionship you wish for. There’s still life left to live, OK?
I love you. We can continue moving forward together.
SparklyWarTanks 