It’s February, which means Valentine’s Day with all its hearts and cupids and pressure to find our happily ever after. If we believe the average romance novel, we need to find The One while we’re in our early twenties!

I spent my childhood in Georgia. It’s fair to say I have a southern accent. To the point where my East Tennessee relatives would laugh at my pronunciation of certain words.

Traditions are important in creating a sense of family, no matter the makeup of the group. Whether passed down from previous generations or newly begun, traditions provide us with a sense of belonging and security.

I don’t remember the circumstances under which I first met Mary Oliver on the page, but I remember the poem: “The Journey”. The truth she spoke resonated with me, buried itself in my heart and became a part of me.