Welcome to Joy in the Journey Blog: A Big Sister’s Diary of Resilience and Hope

Life is a journey filled with moments of joy, pain, growth, and sometimes, periods of gray. It’s

in these gray areas—the quiet struggles we often hide—that we find our deepest need for connection, understanding, and belonging.

As I begin this journey with you through my podcast, Joy in the Journey, I want this space to be more than just stories and reflections. I want it to be a sacred space where you feel seen, heard, and supported. A space where you know you are not alone in your pain, your hopes, or your questions about life.

I’ve learned that in the moments when life feels heavy, I am most seen and understood when I am vulnerable—when I share my truth. Growing up, I always felt most seen during difficult times. My mother’s care, my grandma’s comforting presence, and her sending cousins to check on me—they made me feel loved, valued, and understood. Even in my silence, I knew I was not invisible. That sense of belonging, of being truly seen, has carried me through many gray seasons of life.

That’s what I want for you. Whether you’re walking through health struggles, heartbreak, or simply the everyday challenges of life—you are not alone. We all face the gray areas, and what unites us is our shared humanity.

I believe in a God who sees us—every tear, every ache, every silent cry. My faith sustains me, and I know it sustains many others, whether you consider yourself Christian or not, please know that you have a community here! Even the most interverted people would agree that community is important, because at the heart of it, we all need connection. We all need to know that we are part of something bigger, something that holds us when we feel like we can’t hold ourselves.

This space is for everyone. It’s for the hurting, the hopeful, the questioning, and the believing. Because life—regardless of faith—can be hard. But when we come together, in community, in honesty, and in compassion, we find strength.

And here’s a simple but powerful practice I want to invite you to start today: Gratitude. When we focus on what we are thankful for, even in the smallest moments, joy begins to grow. So, I challenge you—today, take a moment and write down three things you are grateful for. It could be as simple as a smile from a stranger, the warmth of your favorite cup of coffee, or the comfort of a good book.

Share your three things in the comments below (or jot it in a journal) if you feel led. Let’s create a space of gratitude, where joy can flourish despite life’s gray moments.

Here is a link to one of my favorite gratitude journals, and remember, you are seen.

You are loved. And you belong here.

With love and hope,

Jaja