‘What are we holding on to Sam?’ ‘That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.’ – J.R.R Tolkien This is the opening quote of Meik Wiking’s newest publication The Little Book of Lykke. I’ve been enjoying his previous book The Little Book of Hygge, which shares the Danish concept of everyday happiness and encourages…
Crystal Joy
I am a dreamer. I am an artist. I am an adventure-seeker. I am a storyteller. I am a wife. I am a mommy. I am a cancer survivor. My name is Crystal Joy Hall. Share in my journey at crystaljoyhall.com.
This was a tough morning. My little Liam did not want to go to school. The sadness in his eyes tugged at my heart and made me catch my breath. Perhaps he was merely reflecting my own mix of emotions, because I too felt sad. Just three weeks ago I found out that my childhood friend has been diagnosed…
It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And though I have shared My Story, I feel the need to talk a little more about the repercussions of the disease. I need to express how this disease steals from a woman and steals from her family; and how it alters a person physically, mentally, and emotionally. I want to make aware that…
I sat down today with the full intention of writing something prolific. I was sure that my words could inspire, enlighten, and resonate with my audience. I was excited to share, but as I began to write I swiftly realized that my thoughts remain fractured, and fraught with frustration and angst. I am completely exhausted from the demands of these…
The Art of Saying No…not so lovingly brought to you with screams, tears, and tantrums from my [almost] 4 year old son. Ugh. I thought cancer was tough. And it is. Cancer is incredibly hard on the body, the mind, and the spirit. It changes you both physically and emotionally. It alters your physique, it renders you vulnerable, and…
Friendships. They are precious relationships that so many of us often neglect to foster – perhaps we are caught up with our careers, kept busy with our children, trying to meet the demands of our romantic relationships, dealing with personal strifes, or juggling the every-day-mundane requirements of life – there are so many reasons as to why we may neglect…
It’s mid-July. Instead of feeling a sense of gaiety and enjoyment I’ve been battling the ‘summertime blues’. I’m restless, emotional, agitated, and fatigued. Quite literally I am in a great big funk. And even though I am conscious of the reasons, it certainly does not alleviate the symptoms. July was always that wonderful, magical month in the summer, where…
Today marked Liam’s final day at Purple Tree Child Care. I remember vividly the first day he attended the pre-school; how little he was and how vulnerable we both felt. I still feel the ghostly remnants of the tears, the apprehension, the worry, and the loneliness of that day. It was a difficult and emotional moment of letting go for…
As I approach my 2yr Cancerversary I realize that I’ve been taking baby steps the entire way. A bit too frightened to move forward, yet determined to make that step; a bit too hesitant to claim victory, yet resolved to triumph. I have an array of emotions, thoughts, feelings, memories, and sensations whirling around in my head and in my…
In 1994 I was given the opportunity to study musical theatre performance at a prestigious theatre school in New York City, in lieu of attending a university here in Canada. With my parents’ blessing, I chose New York. I was 19 years old and very hungry for life; to make something of myself; to express my creative voice; and to…