Day 44. Know What You Want At Writers' Conference

Here's the second part to yesterday's post about what I wanted to get from the recent writing conference I attended. Although it wasn't until our keynote speaker asked the question in her first session that I really thought about it, in that quiet moment of reflection, I knew what I wanted.

It was to have connection at the heart level. Yes, sitting in the workshops and listening to the speakers was going to be good, and yes, I was sure I'd be inspired and would gain knowledge about my writing, but mostly I wanted to connect with the other writers.

Not in a 'networking' capacity or to find someone who could help me in my writing journey, not just to ask the usual questions about where you live and what you write. But to have real conversation and to watch for opportunities to meet with writers who seemed to need encouragement in their writing journey. I wanted to notice and appreciate in some small way an aspiring writer's particular talents and interests, to affirm her dream. I wanted to watch someone's eyes brighten as he shared his story with me.

Looking back now, that's exactly what happened. I felt blessed and had great fun connecting with so many interesting and gifted people. You know, I don't think I would have had quite the same experience if I had not first declared that was what I wanted to happen in the first place. Mmm... there might be a wee lesson in that, if you think about it.

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul. And I met some beautiful souls as a result.

'Tis a beautiful life,

Brenda

PS. Yep, that's me with my lime-green wallet on my arm.
Permission to use photo granted by Ruth L. Snyder
 

Day 43. What Do You Want This Writing Conference?

I had such a good time at the Writer's Conference I attended this past weekend.

Not only did I have the lovely pleasure to connect with some talented fellow writers, I feel more anchored in my own mind, as if longer roots have developed beneath my seedling dreams to earnestly take up writing in my life.

Our keynote speaker, Jane Kirkpatrick, a well-known author from Oregon, shared her stories and writing experiences with such inspiration that she made us laugh, she made us think, and most importantly, she made us believe in the gifts that we have within us.  She made me believe it too.

In our first session, Jane asked us a simple question: "What experience do you want to have this weekend? What do you want?" She wanted us to think about and become clear on why we had come to this conference and what we wanted to experience.

Possible barriers - wrong beliefs, bad attitude, fear

As the wheels of our minds started turning, Jane began to share possible barriers that we might encounter, and how we must strive to overcome them.

Things like diminishing or comparing our writing abilities and successes with others; discounting the nurturing that can happen in a place of like-minded people; being critical of the event, speaker or venue; not being able to receive the inspiration or encouragement coming our way because we think we don't deserve it.

Then there is the fear involved. Some people might be afraid to actually say what they truly desire, especially if they are not used to expressing it out loud or their voice has been silenced in the past. Or, there's the fear to give a name to what we want, because doing so indicates a need for us to move to action. And, ofttimes that action means we must leave our comfort zone. Oh-oh!

Have the courage to name what we want

So then Jane encouraged us... stressed that we must have the courage to name our desire, to say out loud what our heart really longs for. I'm thinking, how will we know when we get it, if we haven't identified the 'it' we want? And, how will we know when it's time to be joyfully satisfied if we don't know when the goal or desire's been met?

In the past, I have known times of satisfying sweetness when a want or goal has been realized. It feels good. I feel happy, complete. So, I was glad that our speaker gave us time to consider our reasons for attending this particular conference and what we hoped to gain from spending time at it.

Tomorrow I'd like to share what I wanted from this conference and how beautifully it was met.

Inspiration-ly yours,
Brenda


Link to Day 44

Day 42. Love In Working Clothes

Sometimes it's hard to love people--especially when they are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

But a familiar saying, apparently engraved on the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, reminds me to love people anyway... because that's what Love does. A vibrant picture of what Love looks like in working clothes.

 

LOVE THEM ANYWAY

"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.

Love them anyway.

If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives.

Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies.

Succeed anyway.

The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable.

Be honest and transparent anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.

Build anyway.

People who really want help may attack you if you help them.

Help them anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt.

Give the world your best anyway.

May your day be filled with much love!

Lovingly,
Brenda

Day 41. Keeper of the Springs by Ingrid Trobisch

Today I want to give you a peek into a favourite book of mine.

Keeper of the Springs
Making Home the Place for Which You're Longing
by Ingrid Trobisch

In this beautifully written book with lovely illustrations, the author shares her thoughts about the beauty of homekeeping and the value of  cultivating beauty, preserving tradition, and creating atmosphere in the midst of one's hectic family life.

Here's an excerpt from the inside cover...

"Gatekeepers, innkeepers, timekeeper -- each understands their task and is devoted to preserving the important things. Using as a metaphor the springs on her Ozark property, Ingrid Trobisch offers time-tested inspiration for tending the spiritual center of house and home.

These springs, an earthen bridge, and a rushing stream are powerful pictures of Ingrid's homekeeping on three continents: in a mud hut in Africa, a Bavarian cottage in Austria, and a hand-hewn rock farmhouse in the American heartland. Come sip lemonade on her front porch, stroke her grandmother's worn patchwork quilt, take in the aroma from a thousand village fires in an Ethiopian wooden pillow. Draw courage and inspiration from Ingrid's joyful reflection as a keeper of Shelter."

In our post-modern world, there is even a greater need for the art of home-keeping, for cultivating beauty and preserving traditions that make our lives meaningful, not to mention creating a loving atmosphere in the midst of our hectic lives.

This book by Ingrid Trobisch reminds me that no matter that we're in the 21st century, no matter that life is filled with so much technology or world-wide horrors, there are some things that are worth keeping and passing along to the next generation.

Gracefully yours,
Brenda

Day 40. The Gift of Compliment

Sometimes it's hard for us to accept compliments from other people. Especially when they refer to something we're uncomfortable about for some reason...for example, our hair isn't the way we like it, and now someone says, "Hey, I like your hair today."

It's so easy to respond with, Oh but it's such a mess. Imagine for a moment what we're actually doing when we give such a reply. We're sending the message that our friend must have poor taste or bad judgment. When she gives the compliment, she's saying she noticed something about us she likes. With our moaning response, we may be unintentionally rejecting both the gift and the giver.

We've undoubtedly all experienced a time when our own generous offer was 'thrown back' at us. It doesn't feel right, does it? There's a pause in the air, we feel slighted, and even if we don't take offence, that moment, which could have been so beautiful, has been marred.

It's as important to be a generous receiver as it is to be a generous giver. We need both givers and receivers to make any giving 'transaction' complete. Our mothers taught us to say thank you when we receive a gift. A simple thank you in response to a compliment is also good manners. It's a gracious way to acknowledge the gift and its giver.

"Everyone wants to be appreciated so if you appreciate someone, don't keep it a secret." -- Mary Kay Ash

Sincere compliments may be free, but they are not cheap. They affirm us, encourage us, and lift us up. The gift of compliment...it's a beautiful way we can all live our lives more beautifully.

On that note, I want to take a few more words to thank my dearest mom for her gift of compliment to me all these years. For years, she's been encouraging me to write, telling me I have a way with words. I'm finally having the courage to write more.

Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda