Journaling, Self-Care & Sunflowers for Inner Peace
Summer Solstice 2025 may still be a few days away, but the world already feels like it’s burning — figuratively and literally. Outside my window, the sky is overcast with fog, smoke from Canadian wildfires blurs the skyline, and the political atmosphere in my community feels hotter and more unstable than ever.
In the past few weeks, friends and neighbors have suddenly found themselves unemployed — laid off without warning or reason. It feels like new laws and restrictions are being implemented overnight, and the emotional weight of this abrupt change is difficult to ignore. Especially in a community that prides itself on political awareness and social consciousness, this sense of powerlessness is unfamiliar and deeply unsettling.
Turning Inward:
Choosing Self-Care Over the
News Cycle
As the noise outside grows louder, I’ve found myself pulling away from traditional news outlets and even the once-cozy corners of social media that focused on crochet, tea rituals, and creative journaling. What once felt like peaceful spaces are now overwhelmed with hot takes and divisive political commentary.
So instead, I’ve begun to tune into something more gratifying: my inner world.
Growing Through It:
My Dye Garden Ritual
Each morning, I start my day with a slow ritual of self-care. I heat water for tea, fill the watering can, and step onto my balcony to tend to the small dye garden I’ve nurtured from seed. The Hopi sunflower I planted months ago has finally bloomed — a radiant reminder of growth and resilience. Nearby, amaranth plants, which I hope to use as natural dye for future crochet projects on shop.rosnolia.com, sway quietly in the breeze.
This gentle routine — checking leaves for pests, watering with intention, and simply observing the sunlight — grounds me in a way that little else does. Watching the bees land on my sunflower, doing the quiet work of pollination, made me realize how much I’ve overlooked in the natural world. In art and media, sunflowers are everywhere — but seeing one bloom from seed to full flower is entirely different. It’s intimate. It’s healing.
Cozy Spaces as
Radical Acts of Resilience
While the world outside wrestles with uncertainty, my plants continue to grow — not because they’re unaware, but because they have the essentials: sun, water, soil, and care. This has become a guiding metaphor for me. Like plants, humans also require nourishment and gentleness to thrive, especially when everything feels like it’s falling apart.
Creating a cozy, intentional environment has been my personal act of resistance. It’s a reminder that joy, softness, and healing are still available — even during hardship.
Journaling, Tea, and
Conscious Creativity
After tending the balcony garden, I return inside for my second ritual: journaling with tea. I’ve curated this practice intentionally. I use fun stationery, colored ink pens, and often play soft music in the background. These small details create a cozy space where I can safely explore my thoughts and emotions.
Admittedly, journaling doesn’t always come easy. Sometimes I avoid it. But the reward is always there: clarity, emotional release, and self-discovery. Combined with slow tea rituals and the meditative flow of crochet, journaling helps me feel more connected and less overwhelmed by the chaos beyond my door.
Why Cozy Rituals Matter
(Especially Now)
Whether it’s watching a flower bloom or choosing the perfect yarn for a new crochet pattern, these tiny actions keep me grounded. My morning ritual of gardening, tea, and journaling isn’t about escaping the world — it’s about showing up for myself fully so I can respond to the world with calm and clarity.
It may sound simple, but these cozy rituals are how I stay grateful — even amidst uncertainty.
References:
- Canadian wildfires affecting the Washington, DC area
- Hopi Sunflower Dye Plant
- Hopi Sunflower Dye Process
- Hopi Amaranth Dye Plant
- Hopi Amaranth Dye Process
Bonus Track:
Create Your Own Cozy Ritual
Do you have a cozy ritual that grounds you? A creative practice, a favorite tea blend, or a peaceful corner that helps you feel safe?
Share it in the comments below or connect via message! I’d love to hear how you’re cultivating comfort in your own life.
