The Warm Hearth

We Were Never Meant to Do This Alone We’ve been sold a lie: that needing help is weakness, that self-sufficiency is strength. But the truth is, we’re all fragile—and we were never meant to do this alone.This essay from The Warm Hearth is...

We Were Never Meant to Do This Alone
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The Stories We Tell Ourselves About Ourselves We all tell stories to make sense of the world—but the most powerful ones are the ones we tell about ourselves. This week, Katie shares how self-compassion helped her rewrite an unkind internal script...

“Self-compassion is the story that has kept me alive.”
In this week’s essay, Katie opens up about the quiet strength of self-compassion and the internal narratives we carry—often without even knowing it.

How’s the Price of Eggs So Far? It was never about the price of eggs. It was never about crime, or the border, or protecting children. It was always about power—who gets to have it, and who gets erased. And if we do nothing, the cos...

What happens when a leader primes his followers to see entire groups of people as less than human? When he tells them their country is under siege? When he tells them to fight, fight, fight?" Congress chanted back: “Fight! Fight! Fight!”

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The Hall Is Rented, the Orchestra Engaged: Dancing on one leg isn’t easy, but this isn’t about me—it’s about showing up for my community. Read my essay on resilience, humor, and why I’m stepping onto the dance floor for PADS of Elgin’s Stars D...

Dancing on one leg isn’t easy, but it’s about showing up for my community. Today, Brian writes about life as an amputee, saying yes to a challenge, and how small actions—like dancing—can create meaningful change. Read more:

This Is Not Okay This Is Not Okay’ is a raw and unflinching reflection on the values that define us and the future we must choose to build.

This Is Not Okay is a personal reflection—a reckoning with the values that define us and the kind of future we want to build.

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Moth A haunting reflection on the quiet, relentless weight of anxiety as we navigate the hopes and uncertainties of a new year.

This poem was born from that place—a quiet space where anxiety gnaws at the edges, whispering doubts and unraveling threads we thought were secure.

The Architecture of Belonging How do we counter isolation and fear in a world increasingly divided? Our essay explores the power of connection, the principles of hygge, and the architecture of belonging as tools to build resilient...

What does it mean to create spaces where people feel safe, valued, and connected? In our latest essay, we explore how community, kindness, and the Danish concept of hygge can serve as powerful antidotes to division and fear.

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A New Year's Incantation Step into the glow of the Warm Hearth this New Year’s Day. An incantation for renewal, unity, and light—a candle in the darkness, guiding us through the longest night into the promise of brighter days...

Happy New Year!

The Magic of Mournful Christmas Music How songs like Silent Night and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas blend sorrow and hope to endure across generations, carrying us through the darkest nights of the season.

Why do the saddest Christmas songs stay with us? These bittersweet melodies weave sorrow and hope into something timeless.

✨ Read our essay here: bit.ly/thewarmhearth

Let us know—what’s your favorite “mournful” Christmas song? ❄️🎄

A Mote of Dust Suspended in a Sunbeam Inspired by Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot and Anthony Bourdain’s zest for life, this essay explores how the vast indifference of the cosmos gives us the freedom to make everything we do matter.From tradi...

What if this is all we get? Inspired by Carl Sagan’s Pale Blue Dot and Anthony Bourdain’s philosophy of life, this essay explores how the meaning we create—through love, traditions, and kindness—becomes our greatest act of defiance against the void.

The Warm Hearth | Brian Piñon | Substack Brian J. Piñon & Katie Shaw Thompson are writers and community advocates based in Elgin, IL. Together, they explore themes of connection, justice, and personal growth through essays and poetry, aiming...

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The Smell of Fire in My Hair This poem reflects on the fleeting brilliance of our lives and the beauty we create in the face of impermanence. It sets the stage for Friday's essay, where we'll explore how these moments of awe conn...

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Something Poetic.

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The Garland Grinch and the Fight for Joy Holiday decorating isn’t just about lights and garlands—it’s an act of defiance against the darkness. At The Hearth, we explore how to reclaim joy, embrace the light of hope, and find meaning in our t...

However we come to this season, let's show up for ourselves, each other, and all the joy we can find.

Annie Dillard is a Liar This essay, “Annie Dillard is a Liar,” emerges from the struggle between our longing for the ideal and the often-harsh truths of what is.

Life rarely goes as planned, but beauty often lies in the unexpected. Inthis essay, Katie reflects on chasing extraordinary moments, facing disappointment, and finding awe in imperfection. It is a powerful reminder to embrace life as it is, not as we hope it to be.

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Also we are not sure how any of this works as well. 😆

The two of us started this so we could share our stories with the hope of sparking larger conversations. So please your stories and perspective is most welcome.

Thank you for taking the time to read and share your perspective.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It means so much to know this resonated with you, though I’m sorry you’ve faced similar moments of humiliation and regret. It’s a reminder of how deeply these shared experiences connect us, and I hope telling these stories helps create more understanding.

The Warm Hearth It sounds like the start of a joke: What happens when a pastor and an atheist walk into a coffee shop?

Welcome to The Warm Hearth, a place for stories, reflections, and conversations that celebrate the beauty and complexity of being human. We’re thrilled to share this space with you—check out our first post and join us around the fire:

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Thanksgiving: The Defiant Power of Showing Up Thanksgiving isn’t just about turkey and tradition—it’s about resilience, unity, and the simple, profound act of showing up for each other. This essay explores the real story behind the holiday, its r...

Thanksgiving isn’t about the myths or just the feast—it’s about resilience, gratitude, and showing up for each other in uncertain times.

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#Thanksgiving #Gratitude #Community #FoundFamily #Resilience"

The Space Between Us I was fined $250 for a simple mistake with my accessible parking placard, but the fine wasn’t the worst part. This is a story about humiliation, guilt, and the fight for dignity in a system that’s sup...

This was harder to write than I expected. I hope sharing this helps spark a conversation.

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