Craftonians! In this uplifting and inspiring episode of Joleen's Happy Time Craftcast, Joleen chats with returning guest Natalie Lu, a patient safety coach and founder of The Reflective Nurse LLC, about the transformative power of creative journaling. Natalie shares her expertise in using art and visual journaling to cultivate resilience, manage stress, and foster self-care—all backed by research from the book Burnout by Amelia and Emily Nagoski. The conversation also spotlights their upcoming retreat at Big Raven Farm (April 10-13), which focuses on using creativity to recharge and nurture well-being. With warmth and humor, they dive into journaling techniques, the emotional benefits of creative expression, and even debate the best adhesives (seriously, it’s a thing!). Plus, Natalie unveils her Top 10 things she’s most excited about for the retreat—hint: it involves a lot of joy and some nostalgic hand-tracing!


Guest Bio

Natalie Lu is a patient safety coach and the founder of The Reflective Nurse LLC with 25 years of healthcare experience. She specializes in helping people build resilience through creative expression—particularly through art and visual journaling. Natalie is passionate about fostering community, encouraging self-care, and embracing the power of creativity.


Follow Natalie

• Facebook
• Instagram 

Episode Chapters with Timestamps
[00:00 – 02:11] – Welcome to the Happy Time Craftcast!
[02:12 – 06:44] – Meet Natalie Lu: Patient Safety Coach & Creative Journaler
[06:45 – 12:29] – The Science Behind Stress and Creative Expression
[12:30 – 18:19] – What is Creative Journaling (and Why You Should Try It)
[18:20 – 25:39] – The Emotional Benefits of a “Messy” Art Journal
[25:40 – 30:14] – Why Creative Connection is Essential for Self-Care
[30:15 – 41:59] – Natalie’s Top 10 Things She’s Excited for at Big Raven Farm
[42:00 – End]  –  Call-to-Action: Join the Retreat (April 10-13)! 

Quotes from the Episode:

“Creative journaling is a charging station—a place to get messy and recharge your spirit.” – Natalie Lu
“Your art journal is a safe place—it’s yours, it’s personal, and there are no rules.” – Natalie Lu
“Stress is inevitable, but how we respond to it is where our power lies.” – Natalie Lu
“There’s something magical about sharing creative space with others—it multiplies the joy.” – Natalie Lu

Resources and Links:

• Retreat Info: Big Raven Farm Retreat (April 10-13)
• Creative Journaling for Resilience

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