The Reflective Pen

Simple Wisdom – Because Life Can Be Complicated

  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT ME
  • DEKKER
  • Manifesto
  • BOOKS
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT ME
  • DEKKER
  • Manifesto
  • BOOKS
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • ABOUT ME
  • DEKKER
  • Manifesto
  • BOOKS
  • Spiritual Growth

    What is the Meaning of Reflective Practice

    /
    man waiting in reflective practice, doubt and prayer - boredom

    Reflective practice is the art of thinking in a way that not only brings a deeper understanding of an issue but, more importantly, fosters real change in our…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    Why Is It So Hard To Pray When Someone Asks

    /
    why is it so hard to pray

    Why is it so hard to pray when someone asks? What is it that makes prayer something that many people do in private but shy away from if…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    What Do People Mean When they Say They Are Not Religious?

    /
    Woman sitting in the power of silence on a mournain peak, stories wondering if she were religious, learning to be a human being

    Is it necessary to align oneself to a set of creeds or a place of worship to be considered religious? What is inside of people that sees them…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker on Aging

    /
    Dekker as a pup helps with spiritual growth

    Hi. If we haven't met before, my name is Dekker. I welcome you to this site where I write once a month to help people out with their…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    How do you answer the question Who are you?

    /
    Who are you wonders the Rodin sculpture 'The thinker'. and how do you know what you know

    If you have ever been asked "who do you think you are?" how do you answer? I recently wrote a post about authenticity in which I ended with…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    What Does it Mean to Live with Authenticity?

    /
    authenticity cat wearing sunglasses

    What does it mean to live with authenticity? I have never given much thought to who the REAL Ardis is—underneath my fears, beneath my fantasies, even behind my…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker Shares His Observations About People

    /

    Woof Woof!! My name is Dekker, and once a month I get to share my observations about people's behavior and answer questions that readers (and sometimes their pets)…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    When Technology, Spirituality, and Religion Each Call

    /
    hands holding a prayer book and cell phone - technology, spirituality and religion meet

    Sometimes we feel a call from technology, religion, and spirituality at the same time. Religions, as well as spiritual practices, are not right for everyone. I didn’t always…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Life Challenges,  Spiritual Growth,  Uncategorized

    A Season of Grief and Thanksgiving

    /
    woman waiting, sitting with grief and thanksgiving

    His last words before he left for surgery were "Don't let me die." There was no time for a conversation about what could arise between life and death.

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Creativity,  Spiritual Growth

    Journaling Your Way to Inner Health

    /
    woman journaling for inner health

    Journaling can be a wonderful way to increase inner health, a way to be heard, a way to forgiveness for yourself and others, or a road out of…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Dekker

    Dekker’s Bone

    /
    Dekker, service dog posing on granite slab

    Dekker, a world-class service dog offers his profound wisdom to people seeking advice and makes no excuses for his service.

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    What is the Imposter Syndrome?

    /
    boy with painted face as example of imposter syndrome

    Imposter syndrome can be recognized by an inner voice saying "Who do you think you are?" when you are only doing what you set out to do.

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Aging,  Life Challenges

    What Does It Mean To ‘Grow Up’

    /
    How old is old enough? two children on the shore pointing to the horizon.

    What does it mean to 'grow up'? Is it a matter of age or mindset? The article takes a look at how we can relive our childhood 'for…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    How To Satisfy Your Spiritual Hunger

    /
    woman with outstretched arms seeks to satisfy her spiritual hunger

    When you experience spiritual hunger where do you turn to satisfy it? Many people find a fount of spiritual blessing in places like a forest path, or a…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
  • Spiritual Growth

    How to pray for your enemies

    /
    man sitting in bench by the ocean struggles with how to pray for your enemies

    I have a confession to make. I find it difficult to pray for my enemies - people I abhor for good reason. I even fall short of praying…

    Read More
    Ardis Mayo
 Older Posts
Newer Posts 

STORYTELLING STARTER KIT

Receive Ardis’s weekly blog posts, occasional newsletters and get your FREE Storytelling Starter Kit!

ESPECIALLY FOR WRITERS

reflective collective

Are you tired of facing a blank page or screen when you want to write? Click on the image to join a growing and active Facebook group and receive a prompt to jumpstart your writing every day.

Search for topic or word

Categories

Recent posts

  • Dekker’s Thoughts About Legacy
    Dekker, Life Challenges
  • people in a restaurant eating. dopamineDecember Dopamine
    Uncategorized
  • man sitting in bench by the ocean struggles with how to pray for your enemiesSeven Step Prayer
    Spiritual Growth
  • woman breathing upon magical lights in her hands, december declutterDecember Declutter
    Life Challenges
  • Dekker reads a bookDekker, On Wisdom, Worry and The Weight of the World
    Dekker, Life Challenges

Ardis Mayo - The Reflective Pen © 2026
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions