Karla Locke
@karlalocke.bsky.social
Author, Photographer, Creative Hopeful, Social Media Story Teller
I just wrote this on Substack, and it keeps tugging at me. With everything happening right now, I wonder if this moment—uncomfortable as it is—might be a necessary shake-up. Not to drag us backward, but to help us move forward differently, maybe more honestly.
December 26, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I just wrote this on Substack, and it keeps tugging at me. With everything happening right now, I wonder if this moment—uncomfortable as it is—might be a necessary shake-up. Not to drag us backward, but to help us move forward differently, maybe more honestly.
Up on Substack... Still, it landed like an omen.
There are moments when symbolism feels forced, when we roll our eyes at the obviousness of it all. No matter how heavy or uncertain things feel, there is always something ahead worth walking toward.
There are moments when symbolism feels forced, when we roll our eyes at the obviousness of it all. No matter how heavy or uncertain things feel, there is always something ahead worth walking toward.
The Mile Down and the Mile Back
What a Christmas walk through the Blue Ridge Tunnel reminded me about life, light, and starting over
open.substack.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Up on Substack... Still, it landed like an omen.
There are moments when symbolism feels forced, when we roll our eyes at the obviousness of it all. No matter how heavy or uncertain things feel, there is always something ahead worth walking toward.
There are moments when symbolism feels forced, when we roll our eyes at the obviousness of it all. No matter how heavy or uncertain things feel, there is always something ahead worth walking toward.
There’s light at the end of the tunnel….
December 25, 2025 at 9:42 PM
There’s light at the end of the tunnel….
Up on Substack - Standing in front of a wall of paint swatches is basically a psychological experiment. What does it say about me if I choose greige? Do I even like greige? Who am I?
The Paint Aisle Paradox
Why Choosing a Color Feels Like Choosing a Whole Identity
open.substack.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Up on Substack - Standing in front of a wall of paint swatches is basically a psychological experiment. What does it say about me if I choose greige? Do I even like greige? Who am I?
Up on my Substack - Maybe the deeper question isn’t Why Virginia?
Maybe it’s Why do we think we need certainty before we leap?
Sometimes, the places we choose don’t need to be justified. Sometimes, “Why not?” is enough.
Sometimes, the places we choose don’t need to be justified. Sometimes, “Why not?” is enough.
Why Virginia? Why Not?
An honest look at how we choose where to go next.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Up on my Substack - Maybe the deeper question isn’t Why Virginia?
Maybe it’s Why do we think we need certainty before we leap?
Sometimes, the places we choose don’t need to be justified. Sometimes, “Why not?” is enough.
Sometimes, the places we choose don’t need to be justified. Sometimes, “Why not?” is enough.
Up on my Substack - In a time when so many people feel isolated, anxious, or overwhelmed, connection isn’t just nice—it’s necessary. So, if you can, offer a smile.
Are You Local? Not Yet.
Well, Welcome to Virginia. A simple smile from someone we don’t know can remind us we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
open.substack.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Up on my Substack - In a time when so many people feel isolated, anxious, or overwhelmed, connection isn’t just nice—it’s necessary. So, if you can, offer a smile.
UP on my Substack
My brain: “Should we do this?” Also my brain: “Absolutely not.” I wrote about the tug-of-war between wanting something and worrying about it to death.
My brain: “Should we do this?” Also my brain: “Absolutely not.” I wrote about the tug-of-war between wanting something and worrying about it to death.
Caught Between: Decision-Making Paralysis
The Tug-of-War Between Wanting and Worrying
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 10:16 PM
UP on my Substack
My brain: “Should we do this?” Also my brain: “Absolutely not.” I wrote about the tug-of-war between wanting something and worrying about it to death.
My brain: “Should we do this?” Also my brain: “Absolutely not.” I wrote about the tug-of-war between wanting something and worrying about it to death.
Up on Substack - When I was younger, I’d make a decision, good or bad, and move on. Now I debate whether to move on from moving on. I research, I overthink, I analyze, and then I’m too tired to care. Somewhere between wisdom and weariness, the line got blurry.
Decision Fatigue: The Struggle Is Real
I Am Too Old for This Shit - no one warns you that decision-making gets harder with age
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Up on Substack - When I was younger, I’d make a decision, good or bad, and move on. Now I debate whether to move on from moving on. I research, I overthink, I analyze, and then I’m too tired to care. Somewhere between wisdom and weariness, the line got blurry.
They call it “freedom.” I call it living out of a suitcase, losing my sanity, and wondering if I’m too old for this shit — spoiler alert: I am. Up on my Substack
Living Out of a Suitcase
We’re Too Old for This Shit- Because really… what else can you do when you’re too old for this shit?
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 12:02 AM
They call it “freedom.” I call it living out of a suitcase, losing my sanity, and wondering if I’m too old for this shit — spoiler alert: I am. Up on my Substack
A reminder of the beauty of this great country and why it’s crucial we protect it.
October 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
A reminder of the beauty of this great country and why it’s crucial we protect it.
Found fall colors in southern North Carolina
October 24, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Found fall colors in southern North Carolina
Up on the Substack
There’s a strange freedom in that—letting go of control, loosening your grip, and just seeing where the road (literal or metaphorical) takes you.
As my husband likes to say, “We don’t have a plan, just intentions.”
There’s a strange freedom in that—letting go of control, loosening your grip, and just seeing where the road (literal or metaphorical) takes you.
As my husband likes to say, “We don’t have a plan, just intentions.”
What’s the Plan, You Ask…
Sometimes, the best plan is no plan at all.
open.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Up on the Substack
There’s a strange freedom in that—letting go of control, loosening your grip, and just seeing where the road (literal or metaphorical) takes you.
As my husband likes to say, “We don’t have a plan, just intentions.”
There’s a strange freedom in that—letting go of control, loosening your grip, and just seeing where the road (literal or metaphorical) takes you.
As my husband likes to say, “We don’t have a plan, just intentions.”
Maybe it’s none of those things. Maybe it’s all of them. Maybe it’s just faith—the kind that keeps you hopeful enough to try anything, even burying a statue upside down in your front yard.
Read more on our substack.
Read more on our substack.
Did Superstition Just Sell Our House?
Belief is a funny thing. You don’t need to know if it works—you just need to believe it might
open.substack.com
October 12, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Maybe it’s none of those things. Maybe it’s all of them. Maybe it’s just faith—the kind that keeps you hopeful enough to try anything, even burying a statue upside down in your front yard.
Read more on our substack.
Read more on our substack.
A reminder there is still beauty and color in this world.
October 7, 2025 at 2:22 AM
A reminder there is still beauty and color in this world.
Sometimes it’s better not to know… and then blame the universe anyway.
October 6, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Sometimes it’s better not to know… and then blame the universe anyway.
If we could see everything in advance, would we still enjoy the thrill of figuring it out as we go? Probably not. So I’ll stick with faith, a little sarcasm, and the occasional chocolate bribe.
I Think I Need a Seer (But Maybe Just Chocolate Will Do)
Faith, Sarcasm, and Crystal Balls
open.substack.com
October 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
If we could see everything in advance, would we still enjoy the thrill of figuring it out as we go? Probably not. So I’ll stick with faith, a little sarcasm, and the occasional chocolate bribe.
Up on our Substack - Some places simply claim you, settle into your bones, and whisper, you belong here.
Searching for Home in a Shifting World
Is Home Where You Live, or Where You Belong?
open.substack.com
September 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Up on our Substack - Some places simply claim you, settle into your bones, and whisper, you belong here.
I never would have thought the day would come when I have to protest a Mouse, or the company that created it.
September 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I never would have thought the day would come when I have to protest a Mouse, or the company that created it.
Read on our Substack - Whether it’s a small-town welcome center or a ranger station deep in a national park, these places hold the stories of a community. They’re not just about directions—they’re about connections. And if you skip them, you might miss the very soul of the place you came to see.
The Storytellers Behind the Counters
How Visitor Centers and Ranger Stations preserve the identity of towns, parks, and people.
open.substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Read on our Substack - Whether it’s a small-town welcome center or a ranger station deep in a national park, these places hold the stories of a community. They’re not just about directions—they’re about connections. And if you skip them, you might miss the very soul of the place you came to see.
Check out my latest Substack piece for a laugh (and maybe a little reassurance) that none of us are alone in becoming “those people.”
I Swore I’d Never Do That (But Here We Are)
Welcome to the elder years—where creaks, quirks, and weird new hobbies are all part of the fun.
open.substack.com
September 7, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Check out my latest Substack piece for a laugh (and maybe a little reassurance) that none of us are alone in becoming “those people.”
Up on Substack -Because normalcy gives us breathing room. It’s the reminder that life still holds meaning, that joy can still be found in small, ordinary places. When everything feels out of control, normal moments give us back a sense of agency. They say: you’re still here, and that matters.
Just Needed a Day of Normalcy
And sometimes, that’s enough.
open.substack.com
September 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Up on Substack -Because normalcy gives us breathing room. It’s the reminder that life still holds meaning, that joy can still be found in small, ordinary places. When everything feels out of control, normal moments give us back a sense of agency. They say: you’re still here, and that matters.
Read more - We spend a surprising amount of life peering backward. Not just remembering, but replaying, reframing, and rehashing—wondering if we should have chosen differently. Woulda, coulda, shoulda: the holy trinity of second-guessing.
I Don’t Have A Crystal Ball
On the Futility of Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda
kklocke1.medium.com
August 31, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Read more - We spend a surprising amount of life peering backward. Not just remembering, but replaying, reframing, and rehashing—wondering if we should have chosen differently. Woulda, coulda, shoulda: the holy trinity of second-guessing.
Up on Substack - I’ll admit it—I lost my temper. In a negotiation, I snapped. I was tired of being nickel-and-dimed, tired of not being heard, tired of being pushed.
Don’t Push Me
I don’t often lose my temper, but…
open.substack.com
August 23, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Up on Substack - I’ll admit it—I lost my temper. In a negotiation, I snapped. I was tired of being nickel-and-dimed, tired of not being heard, tired of being pushed.
Up on my Substack. Even silence feels loud when the world is this noisy.
While I Stare at a Blank Page (Screen)
When too many ideas crowd the page, sometimes the hardest part of writing is choosing where to begin.
open.substack.com
August 10, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Up on my Substack. Even silence feels loud when the world is this noisy.