They say that your first thoughts in the morning can often set the tone for your frame of mind for the entire day, and it’s such a true statement. But, I didn’t realize how much I was letting stray thoughts control my mindset until I started using my “Five-Minute Journal” from “Intelligent Change”. The journal was originally something I had picked up to help with overall mindfulness, but it has become so much more than that. You write in the journal every day, once in the morning and once in the evening. It only takes a few minutes, but it…
Author: Liz Newman
Liz Newman
Liz Newman is a blogger and a poet who writes primarily about life, love, and relationships. She wants to help people find the comfort in their circumstance and the beauty in the chaos of their every day lives. You can almost always find her with a book in her hand. Her other loves include, family, fitness, and her fur-babies.
There’s nothing as frustrating or heartbreaking as waiting for your soulmate. You never know if you’re making the right choices that will lead you to them or drive them away. You get shattered by people that have no business taking care of your heart. You put yourself out there only to be disappointed time and time again. It’s hard to stay positive with all the negativity that can surround looking for your person. But, never lose heart because your soulmate is on his way to you. And, he will be all of the things that you’ve been searching for and…
Detaching. Hurting. Healing. Falling. Four sections of poems that reach deep down to the root of the cycle of pain and restoration. Detaching Roots, written by Beverly Maier, is a beautifully penned collection that walks the reader through the cycles of destruction, heartbreak, healing, and love that we often feel as we grow from the traumas and triumphs of our lives. I love the setup of this book because each section does such a wonderful job of shining light on its subject matter. I wanted to share with you all one favorite poem from each section so you can get…
I am so excited to tell you all about the highly anticipated volume 2 of April Green’s Bloom for Yourself collection. For anyone who is familiar with the author, her writing is gentle and refreshing. It is inspirational and revitalizing in a way that soothes your soul in one breath and completely invigorates its passion and drive in another. April Green has an impeccable talent for making you feel seen and heard while also encouraging you to not grasp too tightly to things no longer meant for you. Her underlying message throughout the book is always of growth: she speaks of the…
I am so excited to introduce you guys to a new collection called “breathe, Girl”, a debut poetry collection for author Niya McCray. The book is divided into 3 categories: “breathe for life, breathe for love, and just breathe.” It is such a simple concept but so profound and powerful as a symbol for the collection. It is a reflective and meditative book about finding a way to navigate life: the good, the bad, and everything in between. The author delves right into the collection with her introduction “breathe, Girl”. Here is an excerpt that I thoroughly enjoyed: “You forget…
A Review of A Bridge Between Chaos by Alexa Gonzalez Bruno (review written by Liz Newman) Spiritual. Spooky. Sincere. These are just a few words that came to mind as I read A Bridge Between Chaos by Alexa Gonzalez Bruno. In her debut collection, the author explores the contrasting emotions and energies we deal with in our day-to-day life. She discusses heartbreak, loss, death, self-identity, romance, and uncertainty. She writes in a vulnerable and honest way with a very obvious passion for her subject matter. Her words make you feel like you are getting a glimpse into her world while also reflecting on your…
A Review of Taste The Wild Wonder by John Mark Green (review written by Liz Newman) I am honored to be able to bring you this pre-release review of John Mark Green’s upcoming poetry collection Taste The Wild Wonder. My first impression of this book is how spot-on the title is. The poems frequently reflect on the immensity of the universe in sensational imagery and detail. It fills you with awe and amazement and provides much-needed inspiration and perspective. It reminds us how beautiful our everyday lives can be when we look around at the galaxies of promise that surround us each and…
Autumn is a remarkable season of change. It can be a chance to reflect on our lives and who we have been. It can be a chance to let go of the old and make way for the new, preparing us for a transition of growth. The problem is that part of the growing pains of this life will include finding our self-worth and identity. And, along with that journey, we are all bound to hit some bumps in the road where we fall prey to doubt. We live in an age of comparison. We are constantly exposed to the…
A Review of Blossom and Bone, written by Nicole Lyons (review written by Liz Newman) I find myself struggling with how to start this review of Blossom and Bone, not because I don’t have anything to say, but rather because there is so much I loved about it that I’m not sure where to begin. Nicole Lyons is a literary ninja. Each piece of poetry is masterfully crafted with its use of imagery and its ability to pack such a powerful punch, no matter the length of the piece. She writes with honesty and grit and unpacks topics such as heartbreak, mental health, passion,…
A Review of The World Is A Dark And Lovely Place by Carol Chu Mei Yin (review written by Liz Newman) Classic. Charming. Elegant. These are the first words that came to mind upon reading The World Is A Dark And Lovely Place, a poetry chapbook written by Carol Chu Mei Yin. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the writer’s style was very reminiscent of classic poets with a modern-day twist. This chapbook of poems describes love, self-discovery, loss, and friendship with nature as its focal point of imagery. The following is an excerpt from “The Rainbow’s End”, which was a fast…