poetry

October 26, 2025

Lightening Up

Goodness landed in my lap this week as I work through the final round (she said hopefully) of edits to my work-in-progress and I can’t help but share. I revel and rejoice when heartfelt and timely input arrives. Blessed are the readers – beloved beta readers and members of my writing workshop – offering invaluable Continue reading

Wellness, writing

author, editing, Inspiration, motivation, poetry, W.B. Yates, writing, writing tips
October 12, 2025

Morning Message

I’m not a poet but I love to dabble, especially when stream-of-consciousness poetry arrives. Almost in an auto-write format. I’ll explain… It doesn’t happen often, but words and phrases…sometimes whole stanzas of poetry command my attention if my dad populated my subconscious overnight. I wish I could summon these bon-mot-moments on demand. Alas, I must Continue reading

Wellness, writing

bold journey magazine, Eckhartz Press, gratitude, insight, poetry, reflection, self-care, Sharing the Heart of the Matter, writing for wellness, wynne leon
September 28, 2025

“Pieces of Me”

My dear friend, poet Maggie Watson is a treasure. One of the most unexpected joys in blogging comes from meeting dear ones all around the world. Talented Maggie delights me with good wishes and waves “across the pond” from Scotland and taught me about a treat I’d never heard of – jelly tots. But the Continue reading

Wellness, writing

book review, Inspiration, Maggie Watson, Pieces of Me, poetry, resilience, Wellness
August 31, 2025

Stole My Heart 💝

Lauren Scott’s beautiful new book, “King Copper – Our Dog’s Life in Poetry” stole my heart. Sadly, one of the common denominators in life is loss. When those I care about – friends, family, clients, former students – reach out and share their grief about losing a pet, there’s often a sense of shame about Continue reading

Wellness, writing

book review, grief, healing, Inspiration, King Copper, Lauren Scott, love, mourning, pets, poetry
August 24, 2025

Sharing and Healing

Maggie Watson is a joy. Her depth of understanding about the human condition is evident in her beautiful prose and poignant poetry. She exudes purpose in her writing, revealing the potency of healing through creativity and the power of sharing our stories. I love that Maggie understood the threads of empathy and compassion in “Surviving Continue reading

Surviving Sue, writing

author, books, gratitude, healing, Inspiration, Maggie Watson, mental health, poetry, Surviving Sue, Wellness
April 28, 2025

Echoes

My friend, Lori Pohlman, wrote a beauty of a post recently and I felt my heart zing and sing as I read. If you’ve missed it, I won’t mind if you pop over right now to take a look. Lori’s post is about “I am From” poetry (also known as “Where I’m From”) and her Continue reading

writing

author, memoir, personal narrative, poetry, psychology, self-care, six word stories, writing
April 13, 2025

Signs of Heart

The Faces of Deer by Mary Oliver When for too long I don’t go deep enoughinto the woods to see them, they begin toenter my dreams. Yes, there they are, in thepinewoods of my inner life. I want to live a lifefull of modesty and praise. Each hoof of eachanimal makes the sign of a Continue reading

kindness

deer, gratitude, kindness, Mary Oliver, nature, poetry, reflection, wonder
February 20, 2025

Her Protective Gear

Every now and then I’ve been inspired to share snippets of my poetry practice here on Victoria Ponders. It’s deeply personal – part of my daily journaling – but when a dear one asked recently for support…wondering how to begin her own practice, she asked a compelling question about my healing journey. “How do you Continue reading

Wellness

author, gratitude, healing, journaling, poetry, reflection, Wellness, writing
November 17, 2024

A Poetry “Take Two”

Heads up! You might remember this post from nearly two years ago, but I couldn’t resist sharing again…especially after the delightful encounters recently, podcast style, with inspiring poets, Lauren Scott and Cindy Georgakas. Thank you again for making time for Wynne and I to chat with you. You’ve reminded me of my modest poetry roots, Continue reading

writing

author, gratitude, Inspiration, memories, poetry, writing
September 19, 2024

Hand in Hand

I’ve returned to Yeats. William Butler Yeats, that is, because of “The Celtic Twilight” – first published in 1893 yet resonant for me today. A volume that’s comprised of Yeats’ early morning reveries. They speak to me, especially as autumn approaches. Stoking my sense of wonder, my belief in possibilities… Hand in hand. I love Continue reading

kindness, writing

creativity, Inspiration, kindness, love, poetry, William Butler Yeats, writer
August 15, 2024

The Morning Knows…

Some days go awry, don’t they? Even so, every now and then some days unfold better than anticipated. I’ve learned I can’t predict. Just hope for the best and remember to smile whenever possible. Remembering a favorite quote from poet Robert Frost never hurts: “The afternoon knows what the morning never expected.” Isn’t that the Continue reading

Wellness

Frost, Inspiration, kindness, lifestyle, poetry, self-care, Wellness
June 29, 2024

Where You’ve Always Been

June is a tricky month for me, full of celebrations and remembrances of people loved and lost. Birthdays, for sure, but also anniversaries of loved ones’ passings. Memories swirling together. As this month winds down, my head and heart are simultaneously full, so I reach for any scrap of paper to play poet. A post-it, Continue reading

Family

comfort, Family, fathers and daughters, loss, love, memories, poetry
April 17, 2024

Keeping Company

There are two lines from a Mary Oliver poem, “Mysteries, Yes” that I adore, in part because it serves as a warning and a reminder that being selective about the people, the energy I allow into my life is an active effort. I’d planned to send a snippet of Oliver’s poem to a particular person Continue reading

Wellness

Mary Oliver, nature, poetry, relationships, Wellness
March 4, 2024

Perspective

I’m a bit of a wayward poet. Writing when the spirit moves me…my practice is unpredictable. This one? It arrived this morning and I’m still working through what it means. Poetry is like that for me – appearing in a flourish. I receive and sometimes share. Making meaning of it – beyond the obvious geometry? Continue reading

writing

insight, lifestyle, meditation, poem, poetry, self-awareness, Wellness
November 18, 2023

The Mismatch: Words and Deeds

I haven’t shared much about my poetry practice here on Victoria Ponders but it’s a part of my life and a tool that I return to for reflection and resolution. I love a good ‘free write’ and while I’ve written about other poetry in the past, taking a few minutes to allow a stanza or Continue reading

Wellness

healing, Inspiration, lifestyle, poetry, reflection, self-care, writing
April 23, 2023

Heart Songs Within

Every day I DO want to change the world. My ‘to do’ list often starts with what everyone else should be doing because I sometimes fancy myself brighter and better able to see opportunities for improvement in others. I’ve learned…such a fool’s gambit. Instead, lead by example. Do…what’s right…demonstrate that which matters most in actions, Continue reading

Wellness

creativity, gratitude, poetry, self-care, Wellness
January 23, 2023

It’s In the Cards

When a vintage poem brings a smile. 😊 Continue reading

Wellness

gratitude, memories, poetry, self-expression, writing
December 3, 2022

Forget with Generosity

It’s easier to let you go when I realize you never mattered in the first place… Continue reading

Wellness

letting go, love, Pablo Neruda, poetry, relationships, self-care

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Workshops

Chicago Writers Association Speakers Bureau – Writing for Wellness; Navigating Elder Care with Grace & Humor; How to Create a Writing Platform; AI for Caregivers

About Me

Learn about five books that inspired and supported my writing journey by visiting my personalized book review page on Shepherd.

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