Why I Started This Newsletter

Let's start at the very beginning...

Welcome to my little corner of the internet! Before we dive in, I wanted to give you a little background on who I am, what I’ll be writing about, and why I felt compelled to share it.

My name is Lauren, and I live with my husband and our mini springerdoodle, Della. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, but now I live in the DC suburbs and almost can’t imagine not living near a Wegmans. I know how ridiculous that sounds, but if you’ve ever experienced Wegmans, you understand. :)

So, what’s all this about? I’ll cover a lot of ground here, including general observations and musings about everyday life, society, and, if you know me, a little bit of political commentary. :) I’ll also discuss things that might be considered a little woo woo, such as tarot/oracle cards, the Enneagram, astrology, human design, and intuition. I’ll talk about how these things intersect and reinforce each other, how I’ve used them in my personal development and spiritual journey, and what I’m learning along the way. While I love the esoteric, there will be a lot of practical application sprinkled in too. I’ve been able to use many of these tools in self-awareness, building new habits, work, and relationships, and I hope they can help you, too.

If any or all of this seems a little “out there”…trust me, I’m right there with you. I’m a bit of a skeptic by nature, and my personal/spiritual story has many twists and turns for this reason. For everything I study in this realm, I treat it like an experiment. I take what works and leave what doesn’t. I acknowledge that my journey isn’t linear. I reserve the right to change my mind, to keep uncovering more information, and course correct when something isn’t working. I have some fairly strong opinions, but also try my best to keep an open mind and understand other perspectives.

I’ve learned a lot over the last couple years, and I’m still learning. I’m not an expert by any means, and normally that would have prevented me from sharing at all. During my career clarity reading with Alice of Woo Woo Company, she compared helping people to a video game. As you keep leveling up, you’re able to help those who are just starting out or relate to those on the same path, which redefines the meaning of the word “expert.” There’s always someone out there who will benefit from the knowledge you have. That perspective was a game-changer for me, as I spent a lot of time thinking that I didn’t know enough to help anyone, or that my voice didn’t matter. This led me to constantly consume more information and reinforce my perfectionist tendencies, which means I never really started anything. So, this is me breaking out of my usual pattern and starting something.

Why a newsletter? Because right now, it feels easy and fun. As I alluded to earlier, getting started is the hardest part for me, so I had to make it approachable. I’ve always loved writing, so it’s nice to have a creative outlet doing something that brings me joy—hence the name Pockets of Joy. I’ll have long-form essays to start, but I hope to incorporate other fun features later.

It feels kind of scary to publicly share this personal part of my life. As a recovering people pleaser and eternal diplomat, it’s not exactly comfortable to talk about things that are a little unconventional. At the same time, it feels like coming back to myself and healing old wounds. It’s a way to unapologetically embrace and speak my truth. I’m also continuously re-learning that I can’t possibly be “for” everyone, and that’s okay. I hope you’ll join me on this little journey down the metaphysical rabbit hole. If you made it this far, thanks for being here. :)

I’m an open book, so if you have questions or things you want to hear about, let me know!