Discover joy in the hard places

Welcome to the blog of JP Mills where you will find encouragement and belonging through reflective journaling and poetry.


Joyful Ruins

Discovering joy in the hard places


  • Her Body

    Her Body

    For a woman her body is ever changing Whether she bears children or not She cannot escape the chemistry inside her For so long I’ve been taught the way my body looks is important to others It will win me love or rejection So the changes that come to my body became intertwined with my… Continue reading

  • Compassion

    There’s a healing light within me that sense of self I call her Compassion She’s been with me from the start a compass guiding me always telling me to be myself even when myself made people bully me and reject me treat me wrongly Compassion taught me to stay true never waver from authenticity That… Continue reading

  • Leave the Trail

    She’s in a box and you are not She’s stuck in one way but you’ve chosen to explore and when you leave the trail and are curious about the things you see off the beaten path You will find not just one wonder but many For the flowers you follow off the road will lead… Continue reading

  • The Wind

    The wind blows against my skin like a hug The spirit of mother nature gently cradling my face wrapping her cool arms around me reminding me she cares Continue reading

  • The Younger Me

    The Younger Me

    I did not know I would find you way down beneath these layers Layers of lies and pain fears and memories but as I felt these as I revisited and acknowledged them I started seeing you peek through I saw you in the mirror the younger me asking to be loved asking to feel safe… Continue reading

About Me

An obsessive journaler who loves meeting others along their journey and giving them a hand to hold through pieces of writing. I write about the heartbreaks of life and the joys, the ups and downs, and I often learn my greatest lessons and miracles from nature.

Newsletter