When My Mom Said “Write About It,” She Was Building My Superpower

Journaling has always been a part of my life. Growing up as an only child, my mom had a way of turning my questions into assignments. If I asked her something, she might answer a little, but eventually she would say: “Look it up” or “Write about it.”

“Look it up” did not mean Google. At that time it meant figuring out how the word was even spelled in the first place, then pulling out the encyclopedia, or heading to the library, asking the librarian, digging through the card catalog, and then finding the book. By the time you finished all that, you had already learned more discipline than the answer itself could teach you.

At first, my writing lived in cute little diaries with locks and keys. Later it became notebooks filled with poems, rap songs I knew I would never perform, venting letters, and love letters. Over time, journaling stopped being just a hobby and became a rhythm—a way of listening to myself.

Now, as a business owner, wife, sister, friend, and facilitator of many hats, I lean on journaling to reflect, reset, and set intention. Life moves quickly and the older we get, the less we remember. Writing it down is my way of saying, “I was here.”

One of the most profound reminders of this truth is The Diary of Anne Frank. Her writings gave the world an unfiltered window into daily life under extraordinary, devastating circumstances. What she probably saw as private reflections became a lasting testimony, a record of resilience, fear, and hope that continues to teach generations. Journaling captures the human story in real time, often without the writer knowing how important it will be later.

For me, journaling looks like quick notes during the week, but Sundays are sacred. After the house is clean, dinner is finished, I have had my bath, and the mood is set with candles and maybe a mocktail, I sit down with my journal. That ritual—the atmosphere of completion and calm—makes it something I look forward to. I reflect on the week, sit with a devotion, and set intentions for the days ahead. These three pieces almost always align, which reminds me of the power of awareness. When you write it down, you begin to notice the connections.

Over the years, I have tried all kinds of journals: faith-based ones to keep me grounded, business-focused ones to map out dreams, and gratitude journals to remind me of joy. Oprah’s The Life You Want is still one of my favorites. No matter the format, the key is consistency and authenticity. Write from your soul. Write in a way you will actually look forward to.

This is not the last time I will write about journaling. It is a practice that continues to reveal more to me, and I have much more to share about it. This is only the beginning.

Habits build the foundation, rituals shape the atmosphere, and journaling makes it real.