Maps and Lanterns

The map shows me what is. The lantern guides what I choose next.

Lantern Letters

  • Coming into this October reflection, I already had a strong working knowledge of growth mindset. Through my work as an educator, I understood the importance of helping people recognize their capacity to learn, develop, and change. Psychologist Carol Dweck’s work describes a growth mindset as the belief that our abilities can develop through effort, effective strategies, and help from others. A fixed mindset treats those abilities as largely unchangeable. A growth mindset leaves room for learning, even when something is difficult or unfamiliar. I also hold Paul’s words in Romans 12:2 as a permanent part of my personal toolkit: “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2, NIV, excerpt. This October reflection gave me another tangible experience of what learning and renewal can look like in ordinary life. Ideas I understood became new choices I practiced. Understanding Becomes Practice We can learn new ways to approach challenges. We can reconsider a familiar response, develop a different strategy, and seek help when our own approach is no longer serving us. I think of a muscle that grows stronger with appropriate exercise. Understanding how strength develops is useful. Yet the muscle still needs to be exercised. During these weeks, I had opportunities to exercise what I knew. I paused to notice my thoughts. I considered what was guiding my response. Then I asked whether the choice before me reflected the woman I wanted to become and the love God calls me to practice. For me, renewing my mind includes bringing my thoughts before God and allowing His word to challenge them. When I recognize a response that is inconsistent with His will, I can reconsider it. I can ask for wisdom and practice a response more closely aligned with Him. That practice belongs in the ordinary moments of my day. What I Have Noticed Over these past few weeks, I have practiced. I have paid closer attention to my daily love walk: how I respond, what I carry into an interaction, and whether my actions express the love I intend. I have rekindled my thirst for the word of God. I have been more consistently grateful. I have become more attentive to the choices that help me walk more closely in His will. Writing gave me somewhere to make those choices visible. On the page, I could look at what had happened, what I had felt, and what I wanted to do next. Returning to those reflections helped me recognize where I was practicing differently. As this month draws toward its close, I want to carry that attentiveness forward. I want to continue seeking, noticing, giving thanks, and choosing with intention. What have you noticed? What have you practiced? How have you increased in strength? Take some time to respond in your journal. If you would like, share a reflection with me here in the comments. You may have noticed something small that you want to continue practicing. Give yourself room to name it. The Gift of Your Presence I have been profoundly affected by this season. Beyond the recognition of my birth, I will carry forward this time of vulnerability, candor, and openness with each of you. Whether you joined me for a few seconds, one article, a passing thought, or the entire four weeks, I receive your participation as a gift of love. You gave some of your time and attention to this shared reflection. My hope is that it also created space for you to love God and care for yourself. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus says: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” — Matthew 18:20, NIV. These words come within His teaching about the life of the believing community, including addressing wrongdoing and praying together. As I reflect on our connection around His word, I am grateful for the fellowship we can share, even across distance. I believe God has been at work in this season. I have noticed the effect in my own life, and I am thankful. An Invitation to Continue If something I have shared here speaks deeply to you, perhaps you might consider my guided journal, What do they think we are Peanuts or something? In it, I address other experiences from my life in a deeply personal way. Alongside those experiences are Scripture and invitations to reflect on your own responses, choices, and purpose. The journal offers space to pause, write honestly, and consider your next step. These are practices I have returned to throughout this October reflection, and they are practices I intend to continue. You can view the journal and sample interior pages here on Maps and Lanterns. You can also visit my Lulu author profile, where the journal is available to purchase. Thank you for spending part of my birth month with me. I appreciate the gift of your attention and the opportunity to share this season with you. I enter this next year with renewed excitement, a rekindled thirst for God’s word, and gratitude for what these weeks have helped me notice and practice. The map shows me what is. The lantern guides what I choose next. Sources Carol Dweck’s explanation of growth mindset, published by Stanford University. Romans 12:2, New International Version. Matthew 18:15–20, New International Version.

    What I Will Carry Forward

    As October draws toward its close, I reflect on what practice has strengthened: my daily love walk, my thirst for God’s word, and my gratitude. What will you carry forward?

  • A mature Black woman with a tearful, reflective expression and a hand over her heart, seated beside an open journal and lantern in morning light.

    When Gratitude Becomes Personal

    This week’s October reflection became deeply personal. As I considered God’s blessings, I recognized a need for more consistent, heartfelt gratitude. Through Jesus’ example, Anna’s thanksgiving, and gratitude research, I reflect on repentance, drawing closer to God, and giving thanks in all circumstances.

  • What Does It Mean to Seek?

    What does it mean to seek God wholeheartedly? This week’s October reflection explores priorities, consistent prayer, and making room for grace as we turn our intentions into daily practice.

  • An Ordinary Day, a Different Response

    An ordinary day can reveal a familiar pattern. In this week’s October reflection, I consider how pausing, writing, and prayer helped me choose a different response—and invite you to reflect on a moment of your own.

  • An open journal and pen beside a map and glowing lantern, with the words “Another Year Forward: An Invitation to Reflect.”

    Another Year Forward: An Invitation to Reflect

    An invitation to spend October in intentional reflection: notice your routines, consider what motivates your choices, and explore what you want to feel, who you want to become, and your purpose.

  • An adult Black woman looks toward the reflection of her younger self in a softly lit window.

    What Childhood Taught the Nervous System

    Childhood adversity can shape adult responses—but an ACE score is a map, not a destiny. A reflection on trauma, responsibility, renewal, and what we can choose next.

  • A reflective woman sits with her head lowered beneath a thought bubble reading, “Why did I do that?”

    When Regret Has Done Its Work

    What happens after we recognize that we did not show up as the person we intended to be? READ — ABOUT 7 MINUTES Yesterday, I had an opportunity to interact with someone I did not know well. She appeared pleasant. But I had also received information from others that caused me to believe I should…

  • Perspective

    Perspective can change when new information, experience, faith, or distance changes what we understand. This Lantern Letter explores what shapes the way we see, why humility matters, and how a changed view can inform what we choose next.

  • Woman reflecting beside books and a journal for the Lantern Letter Who Takes Care of the Woman Everyone Depends On?

    Who Takes Care of the Woman Everyone Depends On?

    When everyone depends on you, it can become difficult to notice what the responsibility is costing you. This Lantern Letter looks at caregiving, stress, boundaries, and the difference between being capable of carrying something and being permanently assigned to it.

  • What Are You Still Carrying?

    Estimated reading time: 6 minutes. There comes a time in life when we begin to recognize the difference between what we can carry and what we are called to carry. The distinction matters. Many of us have become remarkably capable women. We know how to make things work. We have cared for children, parents, spouses,…