How to write with Emotion – Ernest Hemingway
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03, 2026
3
03, 2026
The Season of Lent
The 2026 Lenten season began on February 17th, with pancakes served on Mardi Gras (also called Fat Tuesday), signaling the last day of consuming rich, fatty foods and red meat before Lent officially began on Ash Wednesday.
Lent is a subject of confusion for some and a cherished tradition for others. Merriam-Webster tells us Lent is “40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday to Easter, observed by penitence and fasting and considered a means of preparation for Easter.”
If the season of Lent is not part of your experience, a closer look at what it is and what happens may help.
There is no biblical mandate for Lent. However, the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE formalized the period of preparation for Easter to echo the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert and enduring temptation by Satan before beginning his public ministry, as found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Ash Wednesday was originally a time of penance for sinners who were excluded from Holy Communion and seeking restoration. They wore sackcloth and ashes as a sign of public penitence. Today, the custom is to receive ashes in the form of a cross on the forehead or sprinkled over the head.
Fasting, also practiced during Lent, is a biblical practice. Traditionally, Lent fasting involves limiting meals and abstaining from certain foods.
For most denominations that observe Lent, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are formal fasting days, while the Fridays during Lent are meatless days. In earlier times, Lent fasting meant one main meal a day and strict observance of limited eggs or dairy.
Today, many people practice “giving up” something for Lent, like chocolate or social media, as a reminder of the season.
The last week of Lent is Holy Week. It begins with Palm Sunday and follows the New Testament narrative of Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday and the joyful celebration of His Resurrection three days later, Easter Sunday.
Some denominations acknowledge Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
- The Maundy Thursday services recognize The Last Supper, where Jesus ate with his disciples before his trial and crucifixion.
- On Good Friday, some celebrate by not eating all day. Others by a partial fast. Many churches hold special church services.
The season of Lent ends with Easter Vigil at sundown on Holy Saturday with prayers through the night. Other churches hold sunrise services on Easter Sunday morning, which include open-air celebrations in some places.
During Lent, crucifixes, religious statues that show the triumphant Christ, and other elaborate religious symbols are veiled. The custom of veiling is typically practiced from Passion Sunday until Good Friday.
Overall, Lent is a time for self-reflection, emphasizing the three pillars of Lent:
prayer
fasting
giving
Lent doesn’t fall on the same dates each year because, like Easter Sunday, it is tied to the calendar and the Moon rather than a fixed day. Easter itself is determined by the lunar cycle, following the Paschal Full Moon in spring.
The English word Lent is a shortened form of the Old English word lencten, meaning “spring season,” and the first day of Spring does fall during Lent this year. So if you don’t follow the Lent tradition, you can always celebrate the end of winter.
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02, 2026
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02, 2026
Presidential Wisdom – Teddy Roosevelt
In honor of Presidents’ Day, today’s Words of Wisdom are from Theodore Roosevelt. He’s the one between Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.
Mount Rushmore is the “Shrine of Democracy,” an iconic symbol of the United States carved into the southeastern face of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota’s Black Hills National Forest.
Sculptor Gutzon Borglum created the design and oversaw the project’s execution from 1927 to 1941 with the help of his son, Lincoln Borglum.
Borglum and four hundred workers used dynamite and pneumatic hammers to blast through the rock quickly, along with the traditional tools of drills and chisels, as the heads of the four presidents took shape in the face of Mount Rushmore. Arduous and dangerous work, it is amazing that no lives were lost during the construction.
If you ever see it in person, you will stand in awe as I did.
16
02, 2026
Presidents’ Day Love Stories
Presidents’ Day was set up in 1879 to commemorate the birthday of George Washington, the first President of the United States. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, moving all Federal holidays to Mondays to create more three-day weekends for workers.
Washington’s birthday was still celebrated on his birth date until 1971. While officially recognized as honoring Washington’s birthday, Presidents’ Day has evolved to recognize all presidents. The name change has never been authorized by Congress, even though it is used on calendars, in advertising, and by many government agencies. (Source: National Archives)
Today I’m looking at the love stories of three presidents – Washington, Lincoln (who both have birthdays in February), and Teddy Roosevelt.
~~George Washington, First President of the United States, was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
The romance of George and Martha Dandridge Custis Washington was hardly a wild, passionate romance by today’s standards.
By the time their engagement was decided, they liked each other a great deal, which was not the norm in 18th century marriages, which were formed for ease of living.
Eight months after their marriage, George Washington wrote, “I am now I beleive fixd at this Seat with an agreable Consort for Life and hope to find more happiness in retirement than I ever experienced amidst a wide and busthng World.”
George and Martha choose wisely, perhaps more than they realized at the time. According to historians, they shared forty years during which they grew to love each other with true devotion.
~~Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, was born in a log cabin in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. Several states officially recognize the date to honor his leadership during the American Civil War.
Mary Todd, the daughter of a successful merchant and politician, attracted the attention of the up-and-coming politician and lawyer. Her family did not approve of the match, but Mary and Abraham shared a love of politics and literature and a deep love for each other. When Lincoln won his Congressional seat in 1846, Mary joined him in Washington. Something unheard of at the time.
“My wife was as handsome as when she was a girl,” Lincoln once told a reporter. “And I, poor nobody then, fell in love with her, and what is more, have never fallen out.”
Though Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday isn’t in February, his life has ties to the month, which is why I’m sharing his love story.
~~ Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt unexpectedly became the 26th president of the United States in September 1901 after the assassination of William McKinley.
Alice Hathaway Lee Roosevelt was his first wife. He wrote of her: “Sweetest little wife, I think all the time of my little laughing, teazing beauty, and how pretty she is, and how she goes to sleep in my arms, and I could almost cry I love you so.”
Unfortunately, their love was short-lived. On Valentine’s Day in 1884, Roosevelt suffered a double loss. His mother died of typhus, and his beloved Alice died in childbirth. His diary entry for the day is a private tribute to his sweetest little wife.
She was beautiful in face and form, and lovelier still in spirit; As a flower she grew, and as a fair young flower she died. Her life had been always in the sunshine; there had never come to her a single sorrow; and none ever knew her who did not love and revere her for the bright, sunny temper and her saintly unselfishness. Fair, pure, and joyous as a maiden; loving, tender, and happy. As a young wife; when she had just become a mother, when her life seemed to be just begun, and when the years seemed so bright before her—then, by a strange and terrible fate, death came to her. And when my heart’s dearest died, the light went from my life forever.
Roosevelt spent the next two years grieving on his ranch in the Badlands of the Dakota Territory and working as a frontier sheriff. When he returned to New York in 1901, he married his childhood sweetheart, Edith Kermit Carow. The couple raised six children, including Roosevelt’s daughter from his first marriage.
Happy Presidents’ Day!
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02, 2026
9
02, 2026
All About Valentine’s Day: Traditions, Symbols, and Celebration Ideas
This month has been dubbed LOVEuary by Hallmark. After all, February 14th is THE romance day of the year.
Romance book sales soar. So do restaurant reservations, flower and candy sales, and Valentine’s card sales.
Overall sales for Valentine’s Day gifts in 2025 totaled 25.7 billion dollars.
- Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day?
In the Roman Catholic, the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, it’s the day to honor Saint Valentine, who is the patron saint of engaged couples and happily married spouses.
Historical accounts suggest that Saint Valentine, or Saint Valentine of Rome, was a real priest in Rome during the third century AD who provided Christians with sacraments outlawed by the Roman Empire, such as marriage. He was executed on February 14, around the year 269 AD.
Besides marrying Roman soldiers, which led to his execution, Saint Valentine is said to have cut hearts from parchment, giving them to the soldiers and persecuted Christians to “remind them of God’s love and to encourage them to remain faithful Christians.”
However, in early Christian history, there were several martyrs named Valentine, and scholars still debate the identity of the Saint Valentine who inspired the holiday. Plus, historical details are not well-documented, and the story has been embellished and romanticized over the centuries.
With its roots in Christian tradition and the saint’s martyrdom, February 14th has become a day to express love and affection to one’s romantic partner, pets, friends, and family by exchanging cards, gifts, and gestures of kindness.
Esther A. Howland is the “Mother of the Valentine.” In the 1840s, she used “scraps” to make elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons, and colorful pictures for family and friends.
She began receiving orders for her custom-made cards and employed family and friends to help create her cards. By the end of the 19th century, most Valentines were mass-produced by machine.
To me, Valentine’s cards are the mirror of romance. Remember classroom Valentine parties? I loved decorating my shoebox to receive the special card from that special someone.
I still collect valentine cards. My ephemera postcard collection has many. While not as elaborate as Ms. Howland’s, these cards speak of romance.
The Greeting Card Association estimates one billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year worldwide. Whether homemade or store bought or e-card, Valentine’s cards tell others they are special.
Will you send valentines this year?
4
02, 2026
2
02, 2026
Groundhog Day
Every February 2, the “faithful followers of Phil” gather before dawn in Gobbler’s Knob, Punxsutawney, PA, to see whether Punxsutawney Phil (who has been predicting whether winter is over since 1887) will see his shadow when he climbs from his burrow.
If Phil sees his shadow: Six more weeks of winter.
If not: An early spring.
Punxsutawney Phil’s accuracy rate is about 39% overall, and it drops to around 36% when compared to actual weather outcomes since 1969. That’s not exactly an excellent track record. It means he is less reliable than flipping a coin for predictions.
But it’s fun for the Groundhog Festival in Punxsutawney.
The history of Groundhog Day is interesting, too, with Celtic and Christian roots.
Originally, a Celtic festival called Imbolc—a term from Old Irish that is most often translated as “in the belly”—a reference to the soon-to-arrive lambs of spring. Imbolc is the year’s first cross-quarter day, or a midpoint between seasons.
The Christian festival of light, Candlemas, is also observed at this time of year. The name comes from the candles lit in churches on February 2 to celebrate the Presentation of the Christ Child in the Temple in Jerusalem.
And predicted the weather:
If Candlemas be fair and bright,
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain,
Go Winter, and come not again.
Animals have always clued farmers in about the change of seasons. A bear brought the forecast of Spring and Winter to the people of France and England.
Germans looked to a badger for a sign. Finding no badgers in Pennsylvania for Candlemas, only woodchucks, whistle pigs, or groundhogs, the German immigrants adapted groundhogs to fit the lore. Which then evolved into the Punxsutawney Phil tradition. All eyes turn to Punxsutawney Phil on every February 2nd.
Sadly, the prediction this year is that Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow, and we’ll have six more weeks of winter. The news will not be well received by most of the U.S., considering the extreme cold that has blanketed so much of the country this winter.
It’s time to remember all the good things about winter –
• snowmen
• hot cocoa
• warm blankets
• and curling up by the fire with an enjoyable book.
If you’re unsure what to read, you’ll find some great suggestions here on my Amazon author page. All my books will warm your heart and make you forget about the weather outside.
Stay Warm and Happy Reading!
29
01, 2026
New Year Reset Guide for Tired (But Serious) Writers
A Guest Blog by Jenna Sherman
Writers stepping into a new year often carry more than fresh goals—they drag along half-finished drafts, old disappointments, and a vague sense that they “should be further along by now.” If that’s you, you’re not broken; you’re just due for a system reset, not another grand resolution. This guide is about rebuilding momentum in small, concrete ways so your creativity feels less like a guilt trip and more like a place you actually want to go.
If You’re Skimming, Start Here
Here’s the short version of how to restart your writing year without blowing it up:
- Shrink the canvas. Think in 20–30 minute “writing sprints,” not epic three-hour sessions.
- Protect one anchor block. Choose one recurring slot in your week that is non-negotiable writing time.
- Track effort, not outcome. Count sessions, minutes, or pages—not likes, subscribers, or rejections.
- Tie your writing to a theme. Give the year a working title (“The Year of Finishing Things,” “The Year of Showing Up”) so choices feel coherent, not random.
If you only did these four things consistently, your year would look very different.
Pick-Your-Mood Rituals (Quick Menu for Busy Weeks)
Use this table when you’re short on time or energy but don’t want to lose your streak.
| How You Feel Today | 10-Minute Move | If You Have 30 Minutes… |
| Fried from work | Freewrite about your day, no editing |
Turn one paragraph into a scene or micro-essay |
| Restless / distracted | Handwrite questions you’re chewing on | Outline an article answering one of those questions |
| Quiet and reflective | Journal about what you want from this year of writing | Draft a “letter to future you” about the writer you’re becoming |
| Low confidence | List past wins (acceptances, kind emails, breakthroughs) | Edit an old piece to remind yourself you can improve your work |
| Inspired but scattered | Capture 10 ideas in a messy list | Choose one idea and write an ugly first draft |
You’re not trying to be heroic every day. You’re trying to keep the conversation with your work alive.
When Formal Study Becomes Part of Your Writing Path
Sometimes “renewed energy and purpose” comes not only from habits, but from structured learning that stretches who you are on and off the page. Earning a degree can act like a long-form revision of your life: you gain new skills, deepen your confidence, and give your days a clearer sense of direction. For writers who are also navigating careers, a business-focused program can be especially useful—helping you understand how organizations work, how money moves, and how communication drives decisions.
A business degree can introduce you to practical skills in areas like accounting, business strategy, communications, or management that make you more effective, whether you’re freelancing, leading a team, or building your own venture. Exploring online business degree programs can also make this path more realistic, because online formats are designed so you can keep working full-time while staying on top of your studies.
The point isn’t that every writer should go back to school—it’s that education can be one more intentional way to align your daily life with the future you’re writing toward.
Small Systems Beat Big Resolutions
Big resolutions sound impressive—“I’ll write 2,000 words every day!”—but systems keep you honest.
Problem: Resolutions rely on motivation, which swings wildly.
Solution: Systems rely on default behaviors and constraints.
Result: You write even on boring, non-heroic days.
A few system-level tweaks that help:
- Default place: Decide where “writing happens” (a specific chair, app, café). Same place, less friction.
- Default cue: Pair writing with something that already happens (after coffee, after school drop-off, before bed).
- Default shutdown: End each session by jotting a one-line note: “Next time, start with…” This cuts down on warm-up dread.
Think of yourself less as “a writer trying to be disciplined” and more as “a person running a tiny, kind writing studio.”
Questions Writers Ask at the Start of a New Year (FAQ)
Q1: Do I really have to write every day?
No. Daily writing can be powerful, but it’s not a moral requirement. What matters most is predictability. Three focused sessions a week, protected like appointments, will beat erratic bursts every time.
Q2: What if I’m starting completely from zero again?
Treat this like rehab, not punishment. Start with 10–15 minutes, three times a week, for a month. Your only goal is to rebuild trust with yourself: “When I say I’ll show up, I do.”
Q3: Should I focus on craft, platform, or money this year?
Pick a primary season. You can have mini-goals in each area, but decide what this quarter is mainly about: skill-building, audience, or revenue. That choice will simplify every “Should I do this?” decision.
Q4: How do I handle comparison to other writers?
Shrink the comparison set. Instead of scanning the entire internet, choose two or three writers as “quiet mentors.” Study their work for technique and process—not as proof you’re behind.
Micro-Reset Checklist for Your Next Writing Week
Use this once a week. Don’t overthink—check as you go.
- I chose one primary project to be my “north star” for the week.
- I scheduled at least three specific writing sessions on my calendar.
- I decided in advance what “done” looks like for each session (e.g., “500 messy words,” “revise intro,” “outline three scenes”).
- I prepared my tools the night before (charged laptop, notebook, files open to the right doc).
- I picked a tiny reward that doesn’t derail me (nice tea, a walk, or an episode of a show after the session).
- I set one boundary: something I will not do during writing time (email, social media, chores).
- I planned a five-minute Friday review to note what worked and what I’ll tweak next week.
You can screenshot this, stick it somewhere visible, and run it on repeat.
One Online Tool That Makes Daily Pages Easier
If you like the idea of “morning pages” but struggle to stay consistent, you might enjoy 750 Words, a site designed to encourage writing 750 words a day in a private space. The platform gives you a clean, distraction-light screen, automatically tracks your word count, and saves as you go, so you can focus on pouring words out instead of watching the clock. It also uses streaks and simple stats to nudge you into regular practice, turning “I should write” into a small daily challenge you can actually win.
This Year, Make It Smaller and Truer
You don’t need a reinvention montage to restart your writing life. You need a handful of sturdy rituals, a clearer project list, and a kinder story about where you are in the process. Treat your sessions as experiments, not verdicts. Let systems carry what your willpower can’t. And remember: a year is just 52 chances to start again next week—one honest, doable session at a time.
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Jenna Sherman is a mom of three (two girls and a boy). She created Parent-Leaders.com to help other parents acquire the skills they need to raise future leaders by providing a collection of valuable, up-to-date, authoritative resources. Take a minute to visit Jenna Sherman’s blog for helpful tips.