Just Kacie Things

All my life, I've been drawn to journals, notebooks, blank paper of any kind! There’s something so invigorating to me about a blank page. Sometimes it feels like the most exciting thing in the world: wide open, full of potential, ready for me to pour every thought and dream into it. Other times, it feels like it’s staring back at me, daring me to be brilliant, to prove that I’m “good enough” to fill it. For a long time, I let that second feeling win. I’d buy pretty journals, open new Google Docs, even start projects with enthusiasm… only to stop when I felt like what I wrote wasn’t “good enough.” That blank page became less of an invitation and more of a test I thought I was failing. But lately, I’ve been trying to see it differently. That's kind of what this blog has become for me, in a way. A blank page is not a test. It’s a reset button. It’s proof that the past doesn’t get the final say and that every time I show up, I get a fresh start. When I remind myself of that, t...

Illustration from Kevin McNamara Sometimes I think my brain missed its calling as a DJ because it insists on playing the same songs on repeat—except the “songs” are just all the ways I’ve been awkward, embarrassing, or catastrophic in the last 24 hours. Or the last 24 years. (Yes, I’m still haunted by middle and high school.) Anxiety really is the gift that keeps on giving. And giving. And giving. So today, I thought I’d share with you my personal Greatest Hits Album: Overthinking Edition. Maybe you’ll recognize a few of the tracks on your own playlist (because misery loves company, right?). Track 1: What Did They Really Mean By That Text? (Acoustic Version) 🎸 Ah yes, the timeless classic. Someone texts “k” and suddenly my brain is convinced I’ve ruined the friendship, disrespected their family, and possibly started an international incident. (All over one letter! Imagine the power I wield.) Clearly the only reasonable response is to analyze every possible tone behind that singl...

"As a writer, I see the blank page as a source of inspiration. A moment of reflection to gain more self-awareness and to discover more about what I know. " -  Nifemi Aluko, Medium I mentioned that I recently took out all of my therapy notebooks and was astonished at how many there were... most not even halfway filled in. Why do we get so excited about fresh starts? Blank pages, character creators in video games, a new room to decorate—what’s so inspiring about a blank slate, and why is it so hard for someone like me to actually finish the project?  As someone with a creativity-fueled brain, I feel like I am constantly searching for that next creative outlet. I remember my childhood desk was filled with markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc. Over time, my creative focus shifted toward music—I found myself singing at every opportunity, playing the French Horn, and eventually diving into the world of theatre. When I got into gaming, I always wanted to play something where I cou...