What’s a nibbler? For me, it means taking things in small bites. That applies to most things in my life. Cleaning a closet could take days and painting the woodwork months. Sitting still in o…
Source: OK, I admit it, I’m a Nibbler
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Preserving the Written Word
There are many benefits to having writing as a hobby, especially if the tools used are pen and paper. 
Letting ink flow on unblemished, pre lined paper is an inexpensive opportunity to relieve stress, release unspoken emotions, provide entertainment and possibly fulfill a life-long dream, like publishing a book. Divulging one’s deepest fears, childhood memories or built-up resentments in private could save a person many dollars and hours in treatment. Besides, even if carrying years of unnecessary baggage buried deep inside doesn’t apply, perhaps a humorous antidote will emerge, providing a good laugh when needed.
In addition, scripting your thoughts can be done any time day or night. No reservations are necessary and inclement weather does not prohibit participation, in fact, it can provide a perfect setting, such as It was a dark and stormy night. Some of my favorite poetry spilled forth while sitting on a sandy beach in Maui while waiting for my daughter to get off from work.
Whether it is five minutes or five hours, having two simple items within reach have made me feel I wasn’t wasting time while sitting and staring at four walls in a doctor’s office or waiting for the dryer to finish the cool down cycle.
While many people enjoy hobbies that require physical stamina, I’m sure there must be some calories burned during the challenge of writing. Why else would they call it an exercise? Of course, taking long walks provides me with loads of inspiration and sometimes I carry a small notebook or voice recorder to remind me of what it was – not that my memory is slipping or anything like that.
Yet, my strongest reason for writing with my trusty ballpoint and spiral notebook is to preserve the art of the written word. While I must confess that I have long used a laptop to record my stories and novels, I continue to scribble my first thoughts on a yellow pad or record them in a journal, 
which I keep close at hand at all times just in case a treasured thought floats by and justifies the effort.
One thing for sure, even though writing a thoughtful poem or interesting article may have slipped my mind over the years, I recognize my own handwriting and I know that I composed something that was worth committing to paper. It’s fun and satisfying to see how I’ve grown as a writer and a person. Life’s challenges have changed dramatically over the years, and so has my reaction to them.
So to all of the people who have not tried writing with good old fashioned pen and paper, I recommend turning off the television, silencing the phone, grabbing the nearest ink pen and blank piece of paper, and get writing. Who knows where it will take you! Give it a try and let me know if it feels as good to you as it does to me.
And the Countdown Begins!
Just a few days until the madness begins.
I heard about National Novel Writing Month (NANOWRIMO) late in October last year. I had no outline, no conception of a plot or climax; only a newspaper article that I had kept from 10 years ago about a wild horse sanctuary in Nevada. During a writing class I took many years ago, I developed three characters that had found their way into my mind and visited often. I introduced them to each other and they proceeded to tell me their story.
Honestly, each day I sat in front of my computer with no preconceived notion of what I would write next. Yet, the characters knew and took me to places I could never have imagined and by the end of November, Burning Embers became a reality.
NANOWRIMO gives me the push I need to finally compose the novel that dances around in my head like bits of a tune whose words I can’t remember. For those who have never taken the challenge, it is every procrastinators dream and nightmare, but well worth the effort.
Thursday, I will begin writing the sequel to my first novel. This time I have developed an outline and will introduce a few new characters who have stopped by for a visit. I haven’t really had time to get to know them, but I’m sure they will introduce themselves and unveil their true identity as the month progresses.
I’ve given fair warning to my family, stocked up on extra coffee and cleared a few hours each day on the calendar. I’m excited and apprehensive. It’s not an easy challenge, but most things in life that are worth it come with a price. Can’t wait to see how the story unfolds.
Interested in joining me? Visithttp://nanowrimo.org
An Old Dog Or An Old Fool?????
I have always proclaimed my ineptness when it comes to computers and their infinite ability to make me feel ignorant, though never more than through this week’s efforts to the weekly writing challenge – And Now For Something Completely different.
How can it be so difficult to insert more than one picuture into a post? It’s not like my portable einstein gives me a clue as to what I’m doing wrong- well, perhapps it does, but it is in a foreign techinical language that I have yet to master.
Still, I am a hopeful person, so I persist.
Perhaps my theme is designed to hold only one photo. I may be on to something. Let me struggle for another two days and see if I can get the grasp of this. Oh look! Third picture and I successfully changed positions. Thank you new theme!!
Please tell me I am not the only one who struggles to make sense out of something that was designed to be so simplel I need some support and encouragement. Can an old dog learn new tricks or will I remain stuck in the paper and pen world until I fade away?
North, South, East or West?
Devoting time to the start of my third book and family emergencies have distracted me from writing on my blog recently, yet each day on my journey in life brings me closer to understanding the direction in which I am heading.
When I began my blog in March, my search for a purposeful life (after retirement) was evident in my posts What Now and What Now Continued. I hoped that my mission would become evident to me through my writing. I often find that the veiled truth is revealed in such subtle ways that only come to light when I script my thoughts. I have struggled to find a constant theme for my blog, but I may be getting closer to identifying a topic of interest that would bring the results for which I was hoping.
Volunteering with a hospice group has provided me with an opportunity to share my poetry and books in a way that provides comfort and/or distraction to others who desperately want to find peace in their lives. The satisfaction that it brings to me means more to me than any number of books that I have sold. I would love to incorporate more of that into my blog.
Another opportunity to share what I consider a gift also presented itself this week. I am blessed me with a calm, insightful demeanor that seems to sooth others during a time of crisis. I find unexpected words of comfort and often, friends and family have related that my efforts helped them find peace.
My niece has been a caregiver for her grandmother for five years. Her grandma is in the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease and the time has come where caring for her in her home is no longer advisable. While some may find it a relief to relinquish the responsibility, others struggle with strong emotions, such as guilt, that surface during such a transition. Hopefully, my words are helping her to get through this painful experience.
My niece said she could not stop crying. I shared with her that grieving is not only appropriate, but necessary. It comforted her to realize what a special gift she has been given in the unique relationship with her grandmother she has served. It cannot be replicated by anyone who did not serve in the same role. For every difficult moment, there were many cherishing memories that she will be able to hold in her heart for years to come.
As caregiver, she served in a parenting role, always setting limits and having to insist on difficult tasks like bathing and taking medicines. Now she has the opportunity to return to the role of granddaughter and enjoy the remaining time by bringing love and tenderness to her grandmother during her final days.
The Peaks and Valleys of my life have blessed me with peace, strength, and a sort of wisdom, which are meant to be shared through my blog. Perhaps a new opportunity presents itself.
The Right Words at the Right Time
One of the books I picked up recently at a used book sale is The RIGHT WORDS at the RIGHT TIME by Marlo Thomas and Friends. It was published more than a decade ago, yet the messages contained within the pages are timeless. The amazing short stories, by well-known men and women, describe how something that someone said changed their lives forever.
I loved that I could pick up the book and read two or three stories when I had a few extra minutes. Many of the messages were profound, some were surprising, a few were familiar. Did you know that Dwight Eisenhower once said “Never question another man’s motive. His wisdom, yes, but never his motives.” Isn’t that thought provoking?
The only problem with the book is, it wasn’t enough. I could have read two or three more volumes.
Words have a powerful impact on my life. Many times someone has said something that stuck with me and helped me see a new angle on an issue. Wouldn’t it be great if I could remember some of them now? I could share them with other bloggers or start collecting them for future reference when a senior moment sets in and stifles my attempt to write an interesting post.
Oooh, oooh, wait! One truly inspirational thought comes to mind. I’m going to start typing fast so I don’t forget it.
My brother Rob once told me “Problems are merely unresolved opportunities.” That piece of advice helped me to focus on the result rather than be blocked by the challenge. It helped me work through countless events at work and in my personal life.
OK, another one just flashed by, except I have no idea who said it and when I searched for the author on the internet, I got numerous unconfirmed responses. Whereever you go, there you are.
Maybe you can help satisfy my need for more. What right words were spoken to you or read at the right time? Would you be willing to share? I hope so. My thirst for knowledge has not been satified.
What’s in it for You?
It amazes me how many people publish books and write blogs. There were over a million posts on WordPress.com just today. My inherent desire to understand fellow writers leads me to ask the question “Why do you write?”
For me, I think there are three main reasons that come to mind.
- Writing is my passion. Pens and paper can be found on nearly every flat surface in my house. It comforts me to work through my emotions whether I am happy or sad, frustrated or fulfilled. Writing my first book, Peaks and Valley, (available through Amazon and Kindle) provided me an opportunity to revisit my childhood. It also allowed me to recognize issues that sometimes kept me from embracing life to the fullest. The therapeutic aspect was an unexpected bonus. By writing I can script romantic fascinations and be openly honest without risking being misunderstood by family and friends.
- When I retired, I began to feel removed from people other than my immediate family. I thrive on being connected to other people. Writing my blog increases the chance of connecting with people who share a common interest, fellow writers. When I check my stats and see that someone read one of my posts, it brings a smile to my face. Should someone take the time to leave a comment, I am delighted and encouraged to keep writing.
- On numerous occasions, something I wrote, a poem, a letter, a short story, has touched another person’s soul and perhaps made their day a little brighter. There is a voice in my head, call it divine intervention or a gift that speaks words of comfort for me to share with others in times of need. It is my belief that each of us are blessed with gifts and once we recognize them, it is our duty to share them.
So why do you write? I’d love to know.
Making Order Out of Chaos
It came to me at 4 a.m. I woke an hour earlier and could not force my eyelids to close, so I wandered into the dining room table, my makeshift study, and turned on my laptop. Deep thoughts, remnants of an unfinished dream scattered about my mind waiting for me to release them in a journal or on my blog.
By the time I turn the coffee pot on and settle down on the hard oak chair, the burning words have drifted too far and I cannot retrieve them.
I double-click on Free Cell, a guilty pleasure that often consumes many hours of my day. Silently I reprimand myself for wasting more time on a silly game when I should be writing, or catching a few more minutes of elusive sleep.
It is a form of Solitaire. The cards are randomly dealt into eight rows and the goal is to end up with each suit placed in one of the four cells at the top. I click and drag a jack of clubs onto a queen of hearts. After a few minutes, I watch the cards spill forth in celebration, announcing that I have won another game.
Then it comes to me, as clear as black ink on white paper. The strong attraction to this game is that it makes sense out of chaos. The rules are clear, the goal defined and I know each game can be won, if only I have the patience to sort out the solution. For a few minutes each time I play, I can figure out how to fit the final piece of the puzzle into place and delight momentarily in a sense of accomplishment.
If only life were so easy.
A Glance Back
Trying to measure where the last two years have disappeared is like trying to hug a passing cloud. I could no more complete an after action report accounting for the time than I could return to working full time every day.
Often, an inner voice urges me to accomplish more than I have done, yet another voice reminds me that I have crossed off a few bucket-list items. Sometimes I yearn for more, but today, I choose to focus on those things that have brought me pleasure and a sense of fulfillment.
Writing tops my list of achievements. No, I cannot proclaim a best-seller, but I did publish my first book, Peaks and Valleys. The non-fiction memoir begins in the 50’s in my childhood hometown of Pine Lawn, Missouri. As indicated by the title, many of the tales brought a smile to my face as I wrote them. Some of them were written as tears fell from my eyes. Revisiting the happy, and sometimes painful, times of my life had a therapeutic consequence. When I finished, it brought me peace, comfort and an appreciation for the experiences that made me whom I am today. The journey is worth taking, for everyone. I hope others will be inspired to follow my path and clean out a few of their own closets along the way. The book is available through Amazon.com and Kindle.
I also wrote a second book, Burning Embers, for which I am currently searching for a publisher. Writing a romance/suspense novel in thirty days was not on my original bucket list, rather it was a challenge introduced to me through a writing club that I joined named Pen to Paper Writing Club. I found the experience so rewarding that I drafted an outline for my next novel which I will begin shortly. Who knew I had an imagination?
The poet in me continues to surface whenever I cannot find the words to speak directly to friends and family. I have contemplated publishing some of my poems, but finding gratification in the positive effect the words provide the person for whom they were written is enough for now.
As a multi-tasking person, all that writing wasn’t quite enough to keep me busy, so I began this blog. My social media skills are limited and until one of my fellow writers encouraged me, I had never visited a blog site. Now I follow a few that tickle my interests or touch my soul. I’m still in the beginning stages, but I find it another way to release the writer in me. (http://authordianemhow.com)
More recently, I began volunteering with VITAS Hospice Care as a Story Keeper. This rewarding opportunity entails recording life stories of patients who are in hospice care so that they may leave a treasure for their loved ones and future generations. I wrote about my first visit in one of my blogs. It is amazing how God directs us on our journey to the right place at the right time. If you have any doubts about following His lead, read When you volunteer are you giving or receiving?.
Every day has not been as uncomplicated as this post makes it sound, but as I said, today, I am sticking with the positive, happy times. My husband and I have found time to fish, gamble and spend time with our daughter and her boyfriend. We’ve even managed to get in a few short trips to Branson, Lake of the Ozarks and Georgia. Lunch and dinner dates fill a few of the squares on my calendar and provide me with the chance to catch up with family, friends, former co-workers and my wonderful Girl Scout buddies.
I yearn to know what memories filter through when you look back a few days, months or years.
When you volunteer, are you giving or receiving?
Haven’t posted much these last few weeks because I started a volunteer position. I wasn’t prepapred for the astonishing outcome, but it just goes to show that God knows where he wants you next, you just have to trust in Him.
I enjoy my leisure time since retiring and spend many hours writing. Still, I yearned to become involved in an organization that would give me a sense of purpose. As I skimmed a list of volunteer opportunities in my local newspaper, my eyes settled on two words, Story Keepers. I paused to read more.
VITAS Story Keepers capture the meaningful moments of a patient’s life. The simple description intrigued me; yet, the thought of volunteering with a hospice care organization concerned me. The emotional pain of watching my mother die a slow, difficult death from Alzheimer’s still weighed heavily on my heart. I was not sure if I was ready for the task.
I kept the clipping visible over the next week. Finally, I picked up the phone and contacted the manager of volunteer services, Angela O’Hara, to learn more about the position. Ms. O’Hara talked with me at length and explained that the position involved making an audio recording of the patient’s life. Although I understood it would not involve writing in the capacity I had hoped, the thought of helping someone else document their life compelled me to become a Story Keeper.
I completing all the necessary paperwork and training material provided by VITAS within a week. It wasn’t long before I received the name of my first patient to interview. Ms. O’Hara and I met the patient and his wife in their home. After brief introductions, we settled down on the sofa and began conversing to get to know the elderly couple and to make them feel at ease with the Story Keeper process.
The interview took an unusual and remarkable turn when the patient told us the school he attended. I shared with him that I was familiar with the school, as I had attended a school in a bordering neighborhood. Simultaneously, the patient and his wife remarked that she also attended the school which I mentioned. The wife then turned to me and asked me if I was the daughter of Dorothy Hootselle (my mother). She said she could see the resemblance when I first arrived, but could not place who I looked like.
She introduced herself as my grandmother’s niece, who grew up just two blocks from my childhood home. Both she and her husband knew my family intimately and shared stories with me that I would never have heard had it not been for the visit. The patient’s wife even shared that my grandfather had saved her when she nearly drowned in a river.
The emotional journey over the next hour was overwhelming and rewarding. The wonderful stories about my mother and her parents brought such joy to my heart, I left feeling like I was given a gift, one that I would treasure for life and share with my siblings.
Over the next few visits, I recorded heartwarming and memorable stories told to me by the patient and his wife. From their heritage, to their marriage and their many life experiences, we worked together using the comprehensive questions offered in the Story Keepers Shared Stories User Guide to provide a gift for their children, grandchildren and future generations. We completed the project and presented the audio recording to them on the patient’s 84th birthday. The smile on their faces spoke volumes.
Being a Story Keeper for VITAS has provided me with a rewarding opportunity to influence the life of another. The unexpected bonus of meeting two people who fulfilled a void in my life made the experience astonishing. It is another example of how there is a thread of life that connects us all.
Writing Silver Linings 