Polishing Silver

​A cleaning service sent a new housekeeper to my home. I set her up at the kitchen counter, covered with tarnished platers, flatware, and serving bowls. I’d also procured a mound of soft rags and purchased a new bottle of silver polish. 
 

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“Do you have any questions?” I asked the genial, aproned woman standing at my kitchen sink. 
 
“No,” she said, rolling up her sleeves.

Confident our heirlooms were in good hands, I left to put a load of laundry in the washing machine. 
 
When I returned to the kitchen fifteen minutes later, I found the woman scrubbing an antique silver platter with a Brillo pad. 
 
When I asked if she’d ever polished silver before, the woman shook her head, bit her lower lip, and surveyed the scratched silver with a scrunched brow. I told her not to worry. I’d teach her. 
 
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This story contains lessons for writers.
 
The cleaning woman, embarrassed to admit she’d never polished silver before, didn’t ask for help and used the wrong tool.
 
I see this with my students and clients and sometimes fall into this trap myself. I’m uncomfortable asking for assistance and forget how to utilize my materials.
 
Many of us use metaphorical Brillo pads instead of soft cloths in our creative process without realizing we’re embracing ideas that abrade the natural sheen of our imaginations. 

Check out this graphic for a few examples:

Are you nourishing Brillo pad thoughts? If so, I encourage you to lay down that steel wool thinking and grab a few soft rag thoughts. You might be surprised to discover that writing is an act of love and generosity of spirit toward yourself and others. It asks us to honor ourselves and our precious metal stories, enabling us to express our souls’ sheen. 
 
Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help when needed, especially if you’re new to writing or a particular project.  
 
Your stories are heirlooms. Write them down. Then, polish them with helpful tools.

I have a few openings in my upcoming writing circles, which begin October 7. Please let me know if you’d like to join us. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have.