Dear Journal

Jamesha Williams
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  • Mental Health

Dear JournalWhat if healing sounded less like a lecture... and more like a conversation? Welcome to Dear Journal, a podcast for anyone who's trying to build a better life while carrying the weight of anxiety, depression, trauma, self-doubt, or simply the challenges of being human. Each episode is written like a journal entry—honest, vulnerable, and unfiltered. Together, we'll explore the highs, the lows, the setbacks, the victories, and everything in between. Some days we'll celebrate progress. Other days we'll simply survive. And both are okay. This isn't a podcast about having all the answers. It's about showing up anyway. Whether we're talking about therapy, relationships, boundaries, grief, work, self-worth, personal growth, or the quiet battles that most people never see, you'll find a place where you don't have to pretend you're okay. If you've ever felt alone in your thoughts, I hope these conversations remind you that you're not. So grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and let's turn another page together. Dear Journal... let's begin.

  1. 4d ago

    Dear Cuddly Me

    Jamesha records a solo journal entry about getting sick. She describes herself as a "take care of me" person who turns into a "huge baby" when ill. She explains why she is avoiding the doctor, and she names the "bite of pie" she is proud of today. Listen if you have ever powered through symptoms you probably should get checked. IN THIS EPISODE Jamesha says that when she's sick she wants to be held until she falls asleep, then checked on at random, even for something as small as a headache. She went to bed early with a pounding head, woke up with the headache still there, and decided to power through. An aide at work noticed she didn't look well and offered medicine. She says she only takes medicine voluntarily for a headache when things are at their peak. It didn't help, and her head pounded all day. On the drive home she felt extremely nauseous, to the point of scouting spots to pull over. She rarely vomits and didn't this time. She checked her records: nausea since the 12th of the month (17 days) and a headache for eight days. The snuffles and stuffy nose from what she thought was a head cold have gone away. Why she hasn't seen a doctor: she dislikes needles, hasn't established a doctor in her new area, and doesn't want to sit for hours at urgent care. She also dislikes being told what's wrong with her. She could ask her sister or brother to take her, but she doesn't want to explain why she's going. She calls herself a very private person, despite keeping a journal. She plans to do something tomorrow if she still feels this way. Her bite of pie: she didn't complain, got through the day, interacted with her students, and played racquetball. She's also working on another project with Jason, and she is figuring out how to take care of herself while living alone.

  2. 5d ago

    Dear Alive Me!

    Dear Alive Me Jamesha checks back in after several days of being sick and mostly stuck in bed. She talks about how strange it felt to lose time, miss her journal, and feel disconnected from her usual routine, while also realizing that underneath the illness, other parts of her life are actually going well. This episode shifts into a deeper reflection on what she wants her life to look like now. Jamesha talks about school, work, budgeting, relationships, marriage, and the growing realization that she has to stop building her life around being chosen by someone else. She is still figuring out what that means, but for now, she is enjoying being herself, letting the good outweigh the bad, and calling that a win. Key topics Being sick for several days and feeling unlike herself.Missing the podcast and journal because she physically could not do it.Getting back to work, music, breakfast, and feeling present in her own body again.Staying ahead on schoolwork, work responsibilities, planning, and budgeting.Not overextending herself to people who do not want to be part of her life.Imagining a future with a house, a porch, her dogs, and a playset for her nieces and nephews.Letting go of constantly wondering whether someone will choose her.Questioning whether a marriage not working the way she imagined means she failed.Recognizing that living states apart is not what she pictured marriage looking like.Allowing herself not to have every answer about where her marriage goes next.Enjoying simply being herself without overanalyzing everything.Bite of Pie: having an overall great day, letting the good outweigh the bad, and walking away smiling.Checking in to say: “I’m fine. I’m alive. Things are going well. And I’m happy to be here.”

  3. Oct 25

    Dear Silly Me

    Dear Silly MeJamesha reflects on a day full of small self-sabotages—from sleeping with the window open while feeling sick to waiting too long for a meet-and-greet and overcommitting to a food order. This personal, diary-style episode is a reminder that not every day has to be perfect, but it’s still worth noticing the choices that keep tripping us up. Key topicsJamesha starts the day feeling congested and nauseous, then realizes that sleeping with the window open in cold weather may be making her feel worse.She shares a frustrating meet-and-greet delay and reflects on waiting rather than speaking up to protect her time.She heads out for birria tacos, only to discover that the restaurant is closed.She talks about setting herself up for failure by avoiding simple actions—like calling ahead—even when they might make things easier.She explores her tendency to be ultra-picky about food, drinks, and relationships, even when she already has something she likes.Jamesha reflects on habits that can become self-sabotage, even when she knows they don’t serve her.The episode considers the pull between wanting comfort in the moment and recognizing that future her may pay the price.She reminds listeners that imperfect days still count, even when they feel silly or unproductive.Jamesha closes by inviting listeners to reflect on their own “bite-a-pie” moment of the day.

  4. Oct 24

    Dear Changing Me

    Dear Changing MeIn this reflective solo journal entry, Jamesha notices how she’s changing: handling emotions differently, showing up more intentionally in relationships, and learning to accept progress without demanding perfection.A simple day leads to bigger realizations about self-worth and emotional growth. Jamesha talks about apologizing without spiraling, speaking honestly without waiting for reassurance, and helping someone when she sees they’re struggling. Her message: growth takes time, and each day is another page in your story. Key topicsRecognizing personal growth in everyday momentsFeeling absent in friendships and choosing to reconnectTaking responsibility for a missed message without turning it into self-criticismSpeaking honestly without needing immediate reassurance or approvalExpressing love without depending on a specific responseAllowing growth and emotional processing to happen at a personal paceUsing the “wise mind,” rational mind, and emotional mind togetherOffering help when someone is struggling, even if they haven’t askedRemembering that each day is a new page—not one that has to be perfect

  5. Oct 23

    Dear Masked Me

    Dear Masked Me — Learning to live through a day when the mask slipsJamesha reflects on what it feels like to move through an ordinary workday while carrying heavy emotions that have not yet been fully processed. She shares how masking, disconnection, and the pressure to seem “fine” can make even small interactions feel complicated—and finds a few bright spots along the way.This is a personal episode about emotional suppression, showing up for work, and the tension between being physically present and emotionally unavailable. It gives voice to a feeling many people recognize but may find hard to describe. Key topicsA late-night phone call that doesn’t bring the comfort or laughter Jamesha had hoped for—and the longing for connection behind it.Waking up feeling off, then going to work and falling into the familiar routine of masking, smiling, and joking.A loving text that brings the feelings back, even when Jamesha can’t find the words to respond.The difference between being upset with someone and feeling unable to have the positive effect on their day she wanted.Masking as a learned coping strategy—and the pressure to keep things together at work.Why the friends who seem strongest may be especially hard to notice when they’re struggling.Feeling tired of masking, while not yet being ready to name or fully process the emotions underneath.Small bright spots in a hard day: a project nearing completion and a meaningful conversation with a child Jamesha works with.A closing reminder that not every day has to be perfect; it just has to be written.

  6. Oct 22

    Dear Strong Me

    Dear Strong Me - Choosing strength when life changes fastIn this solo diary-style episode, Jamesha reflects on a day marked by hard family conversations, uncertainty in marriage, and the pressure of starting over in a new place. She talks through grief, relief, and the decision to keep showing up for herself even when nothing feels settled.This episode matters because it reframes strength as persistence, not perfection. Jamesha shares how she processed conflict, protected her peace, and kept moving forward through school, home life, and mental health strain. Key topicsJamesha describes the emotional weight of her child leaving home and the mix of sadness, frustration, anger, and relief that came with it.She explains why the hardest feeling was relief, because it meant acknowledging that her home was not what her child needed.In this episode, she unpacks a difficult conversation with her husband about Kansas, California, and what their marriage looks like if they cannot live in the same place.She reflects on how she expected the conversation to end in devastation, but instead felt clarity and acceptance.Jamesha shares that she has likely known for some time that her husband moving to California was unlikely, and that her actions already pointed toward that reality.She talks about wanting a life centered on family, personal growth, mental health, and business, rather than always putting herself last.She revisits the pain of hearing her child say, “I hate you,” and explains why those words stay with her even after an apology.Jamesha rejects the idea that being strong means never feeling scared, sad, or overwhelmed, and says strength is showing up anyway.She notes practical wins too, including class attendance, homework, discussion posts, and staying ahead in school.She closes with a broader reminder that strength can look like getting out of bed, saying no, or not lashing back when hurtful things are said.

  7. Oct 21

    Dear Heartbroken Me

    Show Notes Heartbreak, foster care changes, and a quiet win back in school Jamesha Williams reflects on a day that held grief, uncertainty, and a small personal victory. She talks through heartbreak in relationships, the emotional impact of a child leaving her foster home, and the challenge of not assuming other people’s busyness means rejection. We also hear about a secret she has finally shared with people close to her: she is going back to school, paying for it herself, doing the reading, and taking her first week seriously. Key topicsJamesha opens with a raw reflection on heartbreak and the tendency to return to people who hurt us because of the idea of them.She describes getting messages from her husband about his kid and realizing the foster care process means children come and go, even when it hurts deeply.Thanksgiving plans surface as another emotional pressure point, especially with the possibility that she may not see her husband for the holidays.She talks about wanting to ask someone to go get Mexican food with her, then wrestling with fear of being told no.Jamesha names how easy it is to turn other people’s limitations into a personal story of not being wanted or loved.She reflects on being the one who often deals with sadness alone and how she sometimes exits conversations so she does not bring others down.Later, she shares a quieter victory: she has started school, paid for it herself, and is committing to doing the work instead of just skimming.She admits she had been keeping school private because she feared judgment and because she is known for starting things without finishing them.Jamesha reframes the day as both hard and meaningful, with pain and progress existing at the same time.

  8. Oct 20

    Dear Sweaty Me

    Dear Sweaty MeJamesha reflects on accountability, self-trust, and the small but meaningful ways progress shows up in everyday life. This episode moves between a 30-minute walk, a journal practice she has sustained since June, and a surprising text from her mom that reveals real growth in a complicated relationship.She shares how doing what she said she would do built momentum, why physical movement supports her mental health, and how progress can be messy without being meaningless. The core message is simple: your story does not have to be perfect, it just has to be written. Key topicsHow telling others about your goals can create pressure—or build accountability.Why journaling became a habit she has consistently kept since June.Simplifying a fitness goal to 30 minutes of movement.Getting past the urge to skip a walk and feeling proud afterward.How fresh air and walking outside support her mental health.Worrying about what neighbors might think—and learning not to let imagined judgment overshadow progress.Giving herself credit for doing something, even if it wasn’t perfect.A meaningful text from her mom and signs of progress in their relationship.Acknowledging past hurt while learning to set boundaries and speak up.Accepting uncertainty and continuing to write her story.

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About

Dear JournalWhat if healing sounded less like a lecture... and more like a conversation? Welcome to Dear Journal, a podcast for anyone who's trying to build a better life while carrying the weight of anxiety, depression, trauma, self-doubt, or simply the challenges of being human. Each episode is written like a journal entry—honest, vulnerable, and unfiltered. Together, we'll explore the highs, the lows, the setbacks, the victories, and everything in between. Some days we'll celebrate progress. Other days we'll simply survive. And both are okay. This isn't a podcast about having all the answers. It's about showing up anyway. Whether we're talking about therapy, relationships, boundaries, grief, work, self-worth, personal growth, or the quiet battles that most people never see, you'll find a place where you don't have to pretend you're okay. If you've ever felt alone in your thoughts, I hope these conversations remind you that you're not. So grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and let's turn another page together. Dear Journal... let's begin.

Information

  • Creator
    Jamesha Williams
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    122
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jamesha Williams
  • Show Website
    Dear Journal