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

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  • Wasted Time

    It is ironic what the world says is wasted time Smelling flowers laughing with friends sitting by a window All of which enrich our lives I would rather sit with my cat, Jovi and watch the birds with her than most things in the world And that would be a waste of time according to… Continue reading

  • Kindred Spirits

    Kindred Spirits

    I seek companions who notice the stars Those Wildflowers investigators and wondered-eyed bug observers Companions who pause to watch a bird a snail who stand in awe as they look up at any tree Who trace the edges of a cloud marveling at the mastery These kindred spirits are of my kind living quietly among… Continue reading

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  • Invitations

    There are many invitations in a day Invitations to rest, by a window, with a book, holding a hand Invitations to notice, the bee on the flower, the shape of a cloud, the smile of a stranger Invitations to be present, to the colors, to the moment, to the person Invitations to work, to care… Continue reading

  • Marking the Moment

    It has always been true, that significant seasons, ones of pain, growth, courage, transformation, are hard to share with others in a way that they, too, see the miracle that grew within you. I just recently closed the book on a season of true pain and significant healing. And I want to mark it with… Continue reading

  • To be the Field

    Perhaps it is not the wildflowers I long to be But the wide open field A place for wild to grow or cultivate I want to be ground soft with rain and minerals Hard with ice and drought At times Covered with flowers which people wonder at At other times simply a field of grass… 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.

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