A few nights ago, my husband and I gathered with friends for one of my favorite summer traditions: an outdoor movie night in a backyard filled with laughter, conversation, and years of shared history. It was one of those evenings that leaves you grateful for friendship and the gift of experiencing stories together.
Then the next morning, I woke up carrying a storm of emotions I couldn’t quite explain.
So I did what I’ve learned to do over the past few years—I put on my shoes and went for a walk.
Somewhere between the birdsong, the scent of the saltwater and evergreens, familiar faces along the road, and the simple act of putting one foot in front of the other, my thoughts began to settle. The world hadn’t changed, but I had slowed down enough to notice it again.
This week’s episode of The Truth About Storytelling explores those moments of noticing: the stories people share in conversation, the beauty woven into ordinary days, the difficult moments we wrestle with in life and Scripture, and how all of those experiences shape us as writers and as people.
Sometimes our emotions need feet. Sometimes our stories simply need us to pay attention.
Sometimes the act of taking a photo slows me down, helps me refocus, and I find more beauty around me for a long while after taking the photo.
Behind the scenes, I’m continuing to revise Dark Blade Unchained, the third novel in my Dark Blade Trilogy.
At the same time, I’m beginning to intentionally gather essays like this one for a future collection of walking reflections. I don’t know exactly what that book will become yet, but I’m finding that many of my best ideas—and some of my deepest moments of peace—arrive while putting one foot in front of the other. It feels like the beginning of a long-horizon project, gathered one walk at a time.
Have you ever discovered that the simple act of slowing down—or taking a walk—helped you notice something that changed your perspective?
Until next time, may you notice the stories unfolding around you, embrace the wonder hidden in ordinary moments, and never lose hope.