My Letters to God

As the year begins to wind down, I find myself in a season of reflection. Writing in my journal has become a source of great joy for me, allowing me to slow down and truly see the path I'm on. This intentional pause brings clarity and helps me appreciate the ways I’ve grown over the past months.

Journaling has been my way of expressing my deepest thoughts, dreams, and desires, but it’s more than just putting pen to paper. I write letters to God, beginning with "My dearest Papa" and closing with "Your love, Merline." This practice, which I started years ago, has become a deeply personal form of prayer, a way to communicate who I am and who I hope to become. Through these letters, I find the words to capture the moments that shape me.

For me, journaling is like writing letters to heaven. Life is full of highs and lows, and there are times when things feel confusing or overwhelming. But when I write, I feel heard by God, and I’m reminded that I’m never alone. His presence is close, like a comforting friend nearby.

Journaling will always be one of my cherished lifestyle, a practice that aligns with my love for slow living. It helps me process life in a way that feels true to who I am and allows me to keep growing, one page at a time.

Kòm ane a ap pwoche nan bout li, mwen jwenn tèt mwen nan yon sezon refleksyon. Ekri nan jounal mwen vin tounen yon sous gwo jwa pou mwen, pèmèt mwen pran tan pou ralanti epi vrèman wè chemen mwen ye a. Pwofonde sa a ak entansyon pote klète epi ede m apresye jan mwen grandi pandan mwa ki sot pase yo.

Ekri nan jounal se fason m pou m eksprime panse ki pi fon, rèv, ak dezi m yo, men li plis pase jis mete plim sou papye. Mwen ekri lèt pou Bondye, kòmanse ak "Papa renmen mwen" epi fini ak "Renmen w toujou, Merline." Pratik sa a, ke mwen te kòmanse gen kèk ane de sa, tounen yon fòm lapriyè pèsonèl, yon fason pou m kominike kiyès mwen ye ak kiyès mwen swete vin. Atravè lèt sa yo, mwen jwenn mo ki ka kenbe moman sa yo ki fòme m.

Pou mwen, ekri nan jounal se tankou ekri lèt pou syèl la. Lavi plen ak monte desann, e gen moman kote bagay yo parèt konfizyon oswa twòp pou mwen. Men lè m ekri, mwen santi Bondye koute m, e mwen sonje mwen pa janm pou kont mwen. Prezans li pre, tankou yon zanmi konfòtab ki toupre m.

Ekri nan jounal ap toujou rete youn nan rityèl mwen pi renmen, yon pratik ki aliman ak lanmou mwen pou viv avèk dousè. Li ede m trete lavi yon fason ki fidèl ak kiyès mwen ye, epi pèmèt mwen kontinye grandi, youn paj apre lòt.

What I wish I started sooner.

There was a turning point in my life when I began to live differently. It wasn’t a monumental event, but rather a realization that the way I was living wasn’t bearing the fruit I needed for a fulfilling life. I stepped back from everything and chose to go in a new direction.

The change was gradual. One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that life doesn’t have to be rushed. Too often, we get caught dreaming of the future and miss what’s happening around us. When I decided to embrace a slower pace, I began journaling and savoring the quiet moments. This helped me reflect on how I wanted to move forward, and honestly, I never thought I’d end up where I am today.

Some of the changes I made were simple but significant. I stopped spending all day on the computer. When you start a business, there’s a temptation to work nonstop because the end goal seems so close. But I realized I needed to take care of myself. I started making time for meal prepping, cooking, and baking. Writing daily brought me joy, and I found the space to study theology and dive deep into Bible chapters. I also rediscovered other dreams, like creating 3D fashion, writing, producing, and making animated films, as well as working on small fashion collections. Once you embrace stillness and quiet, the world’s noise begins to fade.

For a long time, everything around me was loud, and I didn’t even realize it. I was moving so fast, accomplishing big milestones, but I wasn’t checking in on myself or my soul. Now, at forty-one, I’m proud of the wisdom I’ve gained and how far I’ve come. While I sometimes wish I had learned these lessons earlier, I’m grateful that God has allowed me to understand them now.

It’s never too late to change the direction of your life. The first step is to start appreciating the quiet moments in your day. Begin the process of letting go of the things we turn to for comfort or distraction. It’s not easy, but the key is to give yourself grace and remember that God designed you to move at your own pace.

SLOW LIVING

SLOW LIVING

A few years ago, I found myself burned out yet again. At that moment, I made a promise to myself: I would never let that happen again. I've always been someone who puts in 100% effort into everything I do, often pushing myself to the limit with overnight projects and paying the price the next day. This cycle of overworking and crashing has been a recurring pattern in my life, and it took a toll on me.

I've always been driven, but as time went on, I noticed a troubling trend—too many burnouts and not enough living. I sacrificed so much in the pursuit of what I believed would bring me happiness and fulfillment. But when I finally glimpsed the goals I had been chasing, they didn't live up to the dream I had envisioned.

Burnout taught me a valuable lesson: the importance of slowing down. I realized I needed to find a pace in life that resonated with my soul. At first, it was difficult to adjust; I had always equated success with speed. But I embarked on a journey to live differently, to break away from the fast-paced lifestyle that had consumed me for so long.

I began to question what I really wanted from life. What kind of life did I truly want to live? Over time, I started to answer these questions with honesty and authenticity. This marked the beginning of my journey away from a hectic existence and towards a life of slow living.