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.
If my body could talk, she would whisper, “slow down” — move at the pace of a snail, as if approaching a yellow light at the intersection of my limits.
She would remind me that I am worthy of care, every second of every day.
My body would tell me when my cup is empty and show me how to refill it.
My body speaks in a calm and soothing voice, I just need to listen. She’s been with me for so long— surely, she knows what I need by now.
If my body could talk, I’d want to talk with her daily,
to be her best friend.
She is me, and I am her.
If only my body could talk.
This poem accompanied the following poll I shared in the Mighty Poets group on The Mighty:
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. 💌
Ah, a tiny shark! What’s one act of kindness you can show yourself today?
I received this tiny shark as a gift, and the first thing I thought when my brother gave it to me was, “I have to show my Mighty/Sparkly fam!” It’s so small, adorable, and also encouraging. 😩
In the spirit of my tiny shark friend, let’s share one act of kindness we can show ourselves today.
I’ll go first! One act of kindness I can show myself today is spending some time writing on my blog (me writing this on my blog right now haha) after I finish my work and sharing other thoughtful gifts I’ve received that made me smile.
Also find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.
Whether it’s the transition from fall to winter, winter to spring, or spring to summer, the changes in seasons seem to always affect me in different ways 🤔. I definitely notice a change in my mood, thoughts, and motivation for sure. I even notice sometimes I have a persistent low mood in the hotter months sometimes too, but I’m more inclined to go outside for a walk.
What are your thoughts and experiences? How do the seasons affect you and your mental and/or physical health?
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.
Learning to listen to the whispers of my intuition.
The more I quiet my mind, the louder it becomes.
It’s gentle and soft.
A teacher.
Each lesson allowing the seeds of self-confidence to blossom.
Unlike my ego thoughts, my intuition is quiet, kind, and gentle. If I’m not listening, I can’t hear when it’s giving me directions and guiding me through my day. I’m learning what the voice of my intuition sounds like and how it feels to pay attention. When I allow my intuitive thoughts to lead, my confidence naturally follows.
Affirmation: I trust myself and my intuition. I know who I am.
What does it feel like for you to follow your intuition? How do you know when your intuition is trying to tell you something?
Encouragement Rest Stop: Write an encouraging message in the comments below.
Write an encouraging message in the comments below for someone who may need it this week ⭐.
I’ll go first!
It’s OK if all you do is exist today. Take as much time as you need for yourself. You are important and deserve to do what’s best for you.
Need help thinking of a message to share? Drop a favorite quote, affirmation, song verse, or positive coping strategy instead. 💌
Find this prompt in The Pencil Case on The Mighty here.
What words, thoughts, phrases, or ideas come to mind when you think about the passage of time?
Mighties, we’re a few days into the new year and I’m working on building a different perspective when it comes to my ideas of time and how to best move forward.
The first step I’m taking is making a list of thoughts, words, phrases, and ideas that come to mind when it comes to the concept of time in general. Here is my list:
💫”Time is an illusion” 🌱 “Time is a series of present moments” 🔁 Past, present, future ⌛Running out ⏰ “Give yourself time” ✅ Right time 🦋 “Time heals all things” 🧘 Patience
What ideas are most true for you? ⌚
This prompt is also in the Chat Space group on The Mighty here.
CreativeJournaling Prompt:Write a free verse poem describing a time when you overcame an obstacle.
Here is my poem:
The night, a slithering snake. Long enough to devour my consciousness. I didn’t know how to escape the clutches of its fangs. Wondering if I would ever escape its scales. One scale already a month’s worth of traveling. Sleepless. Would I ever see the day where the snake, Insom, slithers away.
I concentrate. Focus. Sit where Insom rests in the subconscious realm. I catch her and lock her away for a night.
I can finally rest and step into another realm where I’m free. I can see the sun again. The brightness hurts my eyes.
You can also find this prompt here in the Mighty Poets group on The Mighty.
SparklyWarTanks 