Surrendering to the Dark

“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.”

Creative ProcessJena SchwartzDecember 20, 2019 Comments

Struggle = Expectations

Observations, CoachingJena SchwartzDecember 18, 2019Comment

Go, Dog, Go

What do I need right now? Probably nothing more than a few days off, which I plan to take the last week of the month. What don't I need? Self-judgment and self-imposed pressure to keep up.

ObservationsJena SchwartzDecember 10, 2019 Comments

Success: Looking Behind the Curtain

The more we look behind the curtain, the healthier we can be in our expectations of ourselves and the more compassionate we can be with each other.

11 things on a snow day

I worked up a sweat shoveling a path for poor Chalupa, who was like, hey lady, where is a dog supposed to relieve herself around here?

Real LifeJena SchwartzDecember 3, 2019Comment

Thanksgiving Thoughts

This is a day of sorrow. And this is a day of giving thanks. I wonder as I type the words whether both can be true, and am not at all convinced that the answer is yes.

Real Life, Resistance, ObservationsJena SchwartzNovember 28, 2019Comment

11 things (beats staring at the blinking cursor)

Real Life, Creative Process, ObservationsJena SchwartzNovember 25, 2019writing exercise, writing practice, 11s, yoga, 30 day yoga challenge, Yoga with Adriene, Thanksgiving, Family, divorce, CoparentingComment

Family Meeting

"Here's what you need to know," my father began.

PoetryJena SchwartzNovember 19, 2019poetry, poem, poems, family, memoir, family historyComment

I May Never {a poem}

PoetryJena SchwartzNovember 18, 2019Comment

"In Love"

Being part of a community that truly acknowledges and values each person's unique contribution allows each of us to show up fully -- to the page, to our days.

Jewish Life, CommunityJena SchwartzNovember 17, 2019Jewish, Prayer, community, permission, creativity, love, d'varComment

How Far Down the Rabbit Hole?

We will mess up. All of us. Every last one. It is absolutely inevitable.

Jewish Life, Community, Creative ProcessJena SchwartzNovember 13, 2019Comment

Ancestral Memory

What is "real" memory and what is imprinted on us by exposure or repetition?

For a Friday Morning {a poem}

We thought we might have a baby-baby, // but the easy way to say this is // life happened // or // it wasn't in the cards.

PoetryJena SchwartzNovember 8, 2019Everyday life, poems, poet, poem, poetry, dive into poetry, life happens, gratitudeComment

All the Way Here

Why bother writing if you’re not writing something? It’s a fair question.

Jewels in the Crown (an annual post)

Each day is a life. Each life is a jewel in the crown.

Jena SchwartzOctober 29, 2019Comment

Some Words of Encouragement for Regular People

What if you let go of the pressure to produce and focused more on what feels good?

The Sacred Is Never Somewhere Else

My head is foggy, so I wonder why I sat down to write a blog post. But I think that may be the reason, actually. To sit and write even when I am not the least bit inspired feels worthwhile.