Gratitude

​​Today, I’m facilitating my last Winter 2024 writing circle. Two groups ended last week. As usual, we performed our final day’s “appreciations,” which happens before we say goodbye. These expressions of gratitude are spontaneous and begin with offering comments about what I treasure in each person/writer. 

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After I share, I open the floor. Circle members can follow my lead or articulate whatever’s on their mind—often gratitude. A few regular (returning) writers like to get creative and prepare their remarks beforehand. 
 
Last week, one student presented a Beatles song title to describe each circle member. Mine was “We Can Work It Out” because, from her perspective, I solve writing problems. 
 
Another veteran circle member likes to write one poetic sentence to describe each circle mate. 
 
Everyone shares, not because they have to, but because they want to. 
 
I sometimes jot down kind words to save for a rainy day, for the moments when, as my student Emily Byrd says, she’s overtaken by the “itty, bitty shitty committee” —those voices in our heads that tell us we’re not good enough—and worse. 
 
Many students value our “safe and sacred space.” One woman commented that she didn’t realize when she signed up how much she needed the circle for the writing, her mental health, and the community. Several members lamented the five weeks off before our circles resume in late April.
 
Meanwhile, I’m about to take my first flight since before the pandemic. I plan to visit my family on the East Coast. In Virginia, I have five great nieces and two great nephews ranging in age from infant to seven whom I haven’t met.
 
Jim and I will also visit my sisters in Florida, who have new (to me) homes.
 
I’ve been slow to crawl out of the pandemic, but I’m healthy, grateful, and happy to know the D.C. cherry blossoms will be in full bloom!
 
Jim and I also plan to stay a couple of days at an Airbnb in Alachua, Florida (near Gainesville), within walking distance from Michael Singer’s Temple of the Universe. I became a Michael Singer fan after reading The Surrender Experiment and The Untethered Soul. I’m looking forward to hearing him speak on Easter Sunday.
 
I love springtime, resurrections, warm weather, and longer days. They inspire me to practice what psychologist Carl Rogers calls “unconditional positive regard” toward others and myself, which seems especially important in our divided political climate.
 
To honor my Writer Self, I added a PUBLICATIONS tab to my website, which includes most of what I’ve published, including books, periodicals, guest blogs, written interviews, honors, and anthologies. I was surprised to see how many publications I’ve accrued. I tend to think I’m never doing enough—part of my own itty, bitty shitty committee.
 
In the journal Five Minutes, my most recent publication is “Alicante,” a 100-word (true) story.
 
I have longer stories coming. Stay tuned.
 
Writing, teaching, publishing, and coaching are the fun parts of my work. Marketing is more pleasurable when I prioritize my creative writing. I’d rather have people read my work and find out about my services through my bio on a published piece than consistently crank out social media content at the expense of creative writing time. Lately, I haven’t been online as much.
 
As one of my mastermind sisters said last week, “Your life and work are your marketing. Both create ripples.” Sometimes, we may not recognize the ripples, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. 
 
I see repeatedly in my students and myself that we often fail to recognize our gifts. 
 
Share appreciation, friends—no need to wait for goodbyes. Be generous with others and yourself. May we all feel seen, heard, and celebrated.
 
Happy Spring!