The Journey's the Thing: Reflections on Healing through the Written Word

What if twelve minutes could change everything?

Dera Nevin spent years saying she didn't have time to write—until she set a timer for twelve minutes (the time it takes to steep tea) and committed to journaling every single day. Choosing one word each week—courage, boundaries, joy, risk, stillness—she wrote for twelve minutes daily. By week's end, she had an essay. By year's end, she had transformed her life.

The Journey's the Thing is a collection of luminous essays exploring fear, faith, decision-making, and living authentically. With the wisdom of a trusted advisor and the honesty of someone who finally stopped making excuses, Dera reflects on what holds us back and what sets us free—on staying and leaving, masks and truth, and on the meaning that marriage, volunteering, foundations, grace, adjustment, and revolution can hold in our lives.

This isn't just memoir—it's an invitation. Whether you're at a crossroads, feeling stuck, or ready to meet yourself honestly on the page, Dera shows you it's not too late to begin. 

For readers seeking: personal growth, reflective essays, journaling inspiration, self-discovery, and the courage to start writing their own story.