One other thing. I know that to the outside world it could look like over-the-top obsession/analyzing...but bear in mind that I'm a writer. This is what I do when plagued with a problem.
These boards have given me so many gifts...but one the biggest that I'm just noW acknowledging/recognizing...is the daily motivation to write...AND, to write about complicated, difficult to express feelings/thoughts/perspectives...this isn't easy stuff to present in an understandable way...especially when I sometimes don't know beforehand what I'm feeling.
I'm writing more here and in my journals, at least as much/probably more than I did when I was a full-time reporter with a city beat. The boards have given me daily practice and I'm so blessed to have found a place where other like-minded, intelligent people in similar situations can either help me through this journey or I can help them in some small way.
I feel as if God presented me with the motivation and desire to continue my daily writing by giving me a forum to act out my skills. If not, things could be very different right now. As it is, I've now, without even KNOWING IT!!, gotten into the habit of writing for a set amount of time each as I go about daily life. Like right now, I just stopped doing the dishes for a moment to respond. That's HUGE. Discipline is 95% of the battle when you want to write for money. HE WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.
God did this incredibly sneaky, BRILLIANT thing! He compelled me to share my experience and, in turn, created a writing routine that I'm not sure I could break even if I wanted now. Keeping all of this inside would be painful now.
Just yesterday, I was thinking about querying a national women's magazine about MLC and contacting Michelle and others for help on an informative article about this epidemic of spouses who abandon their families.
I have reams of journaling here and in my own handwriting to draw from.
And, one other cool thing...my parents/family never really understood me...I came from a long line of conservative bankers. So, my obsessive writing was always a mystery to them. I didn't get much encouragement to write and, even now, when I write obsessively, I get negative looks/comments about how I'm over-analyzing/wasting my time/not doing what I SHOULD be doing. I always feel a tad ashamed when I go off...BUT...BUT...whenever pray to God about what HE wants me to do with my life...I have gotten a clear answer since I was 10..."Write. Heather, just WRITE."
And, I am. :-) Every effin day. I'm writing. It's just a small jump to writing for this forum to writing, again, for publishers.
NOTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH WILL BE WASTED. :-)
Last edited by LoisB; 07/31/1405:27 PM.
"You know, it's times like these when I realize what a superhero I am." Tony Stark/Iron Man
“Focus on what you can do, then do it with all your heart.” Lois Wilson
