I am a later bloomer in writing. I started because I wanted to become a better teacher to young writers in my class. I still don’t call myself a writer. I say I have a writerly part in my identity. It may sound odd but feels true.
Whatever feels true to you, Terje, is true. It is what we resonate with that is important, not the box people try to fit us in. Walk your path at your own pace. Everything is good. Lots of love.
Hi Geraldine, I was good at writing when I was a pupil and à student. All my French teachers valued my writings and said I had a nice handwriting. So naturally, I began journaling when I was a young adult, so that I could remember my most important events and experiences... then I journaled less and less often after giving birth to my daughter, and I also began reading less often. But there was something new: I started listening to and watching more and more videos about spirituality, mainly in English because I found there were great spiritual teachers abroad. And I started leaving comments on the Internet, and writing short texts on text apps on my phone. Recently, maybe one year ago, it seemed to me that I was guided in the choice of my words, whenever I was writing to a friend, especially in English. Then I started channeling intentionally after I followed some advice from Lee Harris in a video.
Oh, and I forgot to say that I've written a few poems in my life... at crucial moments when my emotions were a little overwhelming. I have always loved writing, it seems to me...
Thank you so much for sharing, Florence. It is strange how English seems a great language for pop songs and spirituality! It is the same for me here, at least to talk with my guides. Of course, because of their history and culture, american people have always been much more open to spirituality and self improvement than french people who only obey to scientific and philosophic facts. I am very grateful to be fluent in English for it has tremendously helped my awakening, much as you by watching videos online and reading books. My story with English is quite unusual and I will tell it at one point in a post. Lots of love.
I loved reading your newsletter and discovering your journey so far. My journey has also taken on a similar road of starts and diversions. I always loved writing and reading as a child. In my twenties, I moved overseas to Saudi Arabia for a few years, I wrote very long hand-written letters to my family. They were kind enough to return them to me 40 years later. Hopefully I will use them again.
After returning to Canada I became a regular columnist in a dog show magazine - until they offered to pay me for my articles. I guess it was the imposter syndrome that stifled me as I thought I would need to be a literary genius or at the very least - perfect in my writing. I took a few writing courses and then became a single mother who needed to get serious earning money to feed my family.
I enjoyed working in advertising sales as it allowed me to employ my creativity - until the print industry took a downward spiral.
In the last 10 years I went back to University at 50 and became a Human Resources Manager and started my own business. Last year I have been writing like my life depends on it. I took a few more writing courses online and I am enjoying writing my memoirs.
This year I sort of retired as lost my daughter at age 40. My ability to process the grief through my writing is what is keeping me sane and moving forward. I just joined substack and jumped in without really knowing much about how this works. Thanks for asking.
Thank you so much for sharing, Leslie. I am so sorry for your daughter, parents shouldn’t have to outlive their children. If you allow me, I am sure your daughter is still very much by your side, making sure you are doing alright despite your grief. If you haven’t done it already, ask her for a sign, a sign you choose and is meaningful to both of you. Give it time but you will be amazed when it shows up.
As far as writing is concerned, it definitely brings clarity to the things we write, starting with our lives when we are journaling or writing our memoirs. I’ve started journaling a few months ago to connect the dots, the present ones but also the past ones to better understand who I was, the person I wanted to become and what detours I had been taking so far.
I am very happy and grateful that my post and my journey resonate with you. Lots of love.
Hi Geraldine. I have, since college been interested in writing, yet never really applied myself until my kids had matured and my divorce. I was in possession of a treasure trove of diaries and hundreds of letters written by my parents 80 years ago and began thinking perhaps this would be a good source to share and offer perspective of their lives and mine. Began transcribing all the material, took some writing classes and pondered what format to begin the writing process. Screenplay, book etc. I enjoy writing newsletters and three month ago discovered this forum and it seemed a nature landing space to develop writing skills. So, here I go and will see where it takes me. Thank you for your perspectives.
That's quite a writing journey you have begun, it's awesome! I love that you share your parents' writings as well, it's always nice to understand where we come from and, most of all, it's always interesting when our parents reclaim their human beings status in our eyes rather than just being a "parents" entity, it gives our lives such a broader perspective on who we are.
I remember when my grand-father died when I was 15, I collected a small note pad from his room that he had kept since he was 17. Inside, he had written a few thoughts and what he felt for my grand-mother he had just met. That was so moving to imagine him as a young man - in love - at approximatively the same age I was at the time.
I can certainly appreciate the treasure of your grandfather‘s thoughts. My parents always told me that children become their parents in many ways as their lives develop. Of course, in our youth, we contend, no way. But we do and much of what we glean from them is the foundation of our own soul and we pass that to the next generation. The circle of life.
I so agree with you Thomas, but sometimes, depending on your family, you have to break the circle to build a more virtuous one, full of love, resilience and joy, for your children to inherit.
I am a later bloomer in writing. I started because I wanted to become a better teacher to young writers in my class. I still don’t call myself a writer. I say I have a writerly part in my identity. It may sound odd but feels true.
Whatever feels true to you, Terje, is true. It is what we resonate with that is important, not the box people try to fit us in. Walk your path at your own pace. Everything is good. Lots of love.
Hi Geraldine, I was good at writing when I was a pupil and à student. All my French teachers valued my writings and said I had a nice handwriting. So naturally, I began journaling when I was a young adult, so that I could remember my most important events and experiences... then I journaled less and less often after giving birth to my daughter, and I also began reading less often. But there was something new: I started listening to and watching more and more videos about spirituality, mainly in English because I found there were great spiritual teachers abroad. And I started leaving comments on the Internet, and writing short texts on text apps on my phone. Recently, maybe one year ago, it seemed to me that I was guided in the choice of my words, whenever I was writing to a friend, especially in English. Then I started channeling intentionally after I followed some advice from Lee Harris in a video.
Oh, and I forgot to say that I've written a few poems in my life... at crucial moments when my emotions were a little overwhelming. I have always loved writing, it seems to me...
Thank you so much for sharing, Florence. It is strange how English seems a great language for pop songs and spirituality! It is the same for me here, at least to talk with my guides. Of course, because of their history and culture, american people have always been much more open to spirituality and self improvement than french people who only obey to scientific and philosophic facts. I am very grateful to be fluent in English for it has tremendously helped my awakening, much as you by watching videos online and reading books. My story with English is quite unusual and I will tell it at one point in a post. Lots of love.
I loved reading your newsletter and discovering your journey so far. My journey has also taken on a similar road of starts and diversions. I always loved writing and reading as a child. In my twenties, I moved overseas to Saudi Arabia for a few years, I wrote very long hand-written letters to my family. They were kind enough to return them to me 40 years later. Hopefully I will use them again.
After returning to Canada I became a regular columnist in a dog show magazine - until they offered to pay me for my articles. I guess it was the imposter syndrome that stifled me as I thought I would need to be a literary genius or at the very least - perfect in my writing. I took a few writing courses and then became a single mother who needed to get serious earning money to feed my family.
I enjoyed working in advertising sales as it allowed me to employ my creativity - until the print industry took a downward spiral.
In the last 10 years I went back to University at 50 and became a Human Resources Manager and started my own business. Last year I have been writing like my life depends on it. I took a few more writing courses online and I am enjoying writing my memoirs.
This year I sort of retired as lost my daughter at age 40. My ability to process the grief through my writing is what is keeping me sane and moving forward. I just joined substack and jumped in without really knowing much about how this works. Thanks for asking.
Thank you so much for sharing, Leslie. I am so sorry for your daughter, parents shouldn’t have to outlive their children. If you allow me, I am sure your daughter is still very much by your side, making sure you are doing alright despite your grief. If you haven’t done it already, ask her for a sign, a sign you choose and is meaningful to both of you. Give it time but you will be amazed when it shows up.
As far as writing is concerned, it definitely brings clarity to the things we write, starting with our lives when we are journaling or writing our memoirs. I’ve started journaling a few months ago to connect the dots, the present ones but also the past ones to better understand who I was, the person I wanted to become and what detours I had been taking so far.
I am very happy and grateful that my post and my journey resonate with you. Lots of love.
Hi Geraldine. I have, since college been interested in writing, yet never really applied myself until my kids had matured and my divorce. I was in possession of a treasure trove of diaries and hundreds of letters written by my parents 80 years ago and began thinking perhaps this would be a good source to share and offer perspective of their lives and mine. Began transcribing all the material, took some writing classes and pondered what format to begin the writing process. Screenplay, book etc. I enjoy writing newsletters and three month ago discovered this forum and it seemed a nature landing space to develop writing skills. So, here I go and will see where it takes me. Thank you for your perspectives.
That's quite a writing journey you have begun, it's awesome! I love that you share your parents' writings as well, it's always nice to understand where we come from and, most of all, it's always interesting when our parents reclaim their human beings status in our eyes rather than just being a "parents" entity, it gives our lives such a broader perspective on who we are.
I remember when my grand-father died when I was 15, I collected a small note pad from his room that he had kept since he was 17. Inside, he had written a few thoughts and what he felt for my grand-mother he had just met. That was so moving to imagine him as a young man - in love - at approximatively the same age I was at the time.
I can certainly appreciate the treasure of your grandfather‘s thoughts. My parents always told me that children become their parents in many ways as their lives develop. Of course, in our youth, we contend, no way. But we do and much of what we glean from them is the foundation of our own soul and we pass that to the next generation. The circle of life.
I so agree with you Thomas, but sometimes, depending on your family, you have to break the circle to build a more virtuous one, full of love, resilience and joy, for your children to inherit.