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Hannah | journal coach
Hannah | journal coach

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A black and white portrait of Julia Ward Howe with a text overlay stating, "Motherhood didn't silence Julia Ward Howe - But it tried to."
Text on a light gray background reads: "The woman behind 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic.' But before that, she was a mother of six - and a woman who wrote poetry in secret after the house was asleep."
Text on a light gray background reads: "In public, her husband was a progressive reformer. At home, he censored her writing. He believed her mind belonged to the domestic. Not the page."
Text on a light gray background reads: "But she wrote anyway. In secret. In silence. In the in-between."
Text on a light gray background reads: "She loved her children. But she also felt stifled. Split. Like motherhood had swallowed her voice. 'I seem to myself sometimes to have become a mere machine..."'
Text on a light gray background reads: "When I read that, I paused. Because I've felt that too. Maybe you have?"
Text on a light gray background reads: "Maybe you've folded laundry with tears in your eyes... Wondering where you went. The you who used to sing. Or speak up. Or say no."
A stone bust of a woman with a text overlay stating: "Julia reminds me: Wanting more doesn't mean you love your family less. Creativity isn't a luxury - it's a lifeline. The desire to be whole isn't selfish. It's sacred."
Text on a light gray background presents journal prompts: "Where have I been quiet when I wanted to speak? What part of me is asking to be heard again? Labyrinth Walk: What part of me has been waiting in the dark?"
A black and white photo of an older Julia Ward Howe sitting in a chair, with a text overlay about not being alone in the tension between love and longing.
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She wasn’t just the woman behind The Battle Hymn

Julia Ward Howe was living a life many women still recognize—

holding everything together on the outside…

while something inside her was going quiet.

Motherhood. Marriage. Expectations.

All good things. All real things.

And still—

there was a part of her that needed somewhere to go.

So she wrote.

Not loudly. Not publicly.

But in the margins of her life.

That’s the part I keep thinking about.

Because so many women I talk to aren’t “lost”…

they’re just unheard—even by themselves.

And sometimes the way back isn’t a big, dramatic change.

It’s a page.

A question.

A quiet place where you can hear your own voice again.

If this hit something in you, start here:

Where have you been quiet when you needed to speak?

I share reflections on journaling, motherhood identity, creativity, and finding your voice again—

follow along if you’re finding your way back to yourself 🤍

#momsover40 #journaling #journalingaesthetic #journalinspiration #writing

4/6 Edited to

... Read moreJulia Ward Howe’s story resonates deeply with many women today who feel caught between societal expectations and their personal aspirations. Though she was the mind behind the iconic Battle Hymn of the Republic, at home her voice was often stifled, reflecting a tension many still face balancing family and self-expression. Motherhood and marriage, while beautiful and fulfilling, can sometimes quiet the inner voice that yearns to create and be heard. Howe’s experience of secretly writing in the margins of her life highlights a powerful form of resistance—claiming space for creativity without overt confrontation. This hidden creativity acts as a lifeline, allowing women to nourish their soul amid daily obligations. In my own journey, I’ve found that journaling can be a transformative tool in rediscovering one’s voice. It doesn’t require grand gestures; sometimes it’s just a single page, a quiet question asked in solitude that helps reconnect with parts of ourselves we thought were lost. Writing privately offers a safe harbor to express longings, frustrations, and dreams, especially when external pressures suggest silence. If you’ve ever felt like a "mere machine" churning through life’s demands, know you are not alone. Creativity isn’t a selfish luxury but a sacred return to wholeness. Just like Howe, embracing the urge to write or create—even quietly—can help heal the split between your roles and your true self. Try asking yourself: "Where have I been quiet when I needed to speak?" or "What part of me is waiting in the dark to be heard?" Answering these through journaling or other creative outlets can illuminate a path back to your authentic voice. In doing so, you reclaim not only your creativity but also your identity beyond motherhood and societal expectations. This journey is not about rejecting love for family but about integrating your whole self, honoring both your commitments and your inner voice. Like Howe, your story and your voice matter—not just loudly on public stages, but quietly in the margins where healing and growth often begin.