Take Time to Celebrate

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! I spent today with our daughter and her family at a local island beach. A few days ago, I received a hand-written card and special dark chocolate gift from our son and his wife. Their acknowledgements mean so much to me. I’ve learned a lot about the importance of celebrating and invite you to consider your own reasons to feel grateful. What are some of the good things happening in your life now? Without diminishing the suffering and the challenges that may be happening right now in your life and the lives of loved ones, there are still opportunities to notice a small kindness, the sight of a red rose, a purple iris, or feel uplifted by the light in someone’s eyes. In the spirit of celebration and having a grateful heart, here are some of my recent writerly celebrations:
I’ve completed and submitted two creative non-fiction essays for separate writing contests. I’ve learned so much by working within a new genre, and it’s been exciting as well as rigorous.
Hiring a professional editor to help me develop my contest entries created the conditions I needed to polish my writing. I used the practices that I teach in all my programs: finding a mentor so I don’t write in a vacuum (I have my writing buddies for sharing drafts & receiving feedback), plus putting times in my calendar for dedicated focus.
Hosting Creative Focus Sessions – these helped me get s**t done!
I hosted my first monthly “Reading Aloud & Writing Together” session on April 26th; the next one will be Tuesday, May 25: 4:30 – 6:00 pm.
I’m also celebrating the successes of writers within my programs. One recent testimonial says it all: I\’ve written more since starting your classes than any other time in my life. It\’s obviously a super good thing (ST, Building Your First Draft).
Another client was accepted to speak at a huge conference later this year. This is an incredible honour. Presenting at the conference gives her the opportunity to share her wisdom with over 6000 people.
I celebrate any time a new person steps into one of my writing programs, whether it’s my entry level, Step Into Your Story, or working with me one-on-one for manuscript development. Your words matter, and every step along the way matters.