Women, Words, and Connecting

I write across genres: nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and magical realism. Following my recovery from cancer, I attended workshops where we used writing to unlock trauma and promote healing. My return to creative writing played a huge part in my journey to wellness. Writing as creative self-expression allowed me to return to nonfiction and business writing.

Besides my creative and business writing, I began to keep a daily gratitude journal. I spend a few minutes each night before I go to sleep to record at least three:

people I appreciate

something I have seen, heard, tasted, smelled, or touched that delighted or amazed me

gifts or purchases that are a source of joy

compliments received or given

Shifting my awareness to gratitude consistently gives me positive benefits. This practice rewired my brain. I feel more buoyant, sleep better (most nights), and while I am awake, my brain seeks things to appreciate every day.

Sharing stories is baked into our DNA

Putting our stories into words and putting those words in a sharable format is one of the ways I connect with others. Stories help us make meaning of life.

If I asked you to name a book that changed your life, it would take a few seconds to recall the special book and share the title. A book that made a huge impact on me was How to Work a Room, by Susan RoAne.

If you have a sense of wonder when you read a book, imagine what could happen if you began to jot down your stories.

And, what if you were willing to go a step further and share even one of your stories with someone?

Writing is magical

I am a lifelong book lover and an avid reader. Words are part of my life and livelihood. Remembering my shyness as a child, I preferred connecting to books. It took an introduction to the author of How to Work a Room, Susan RoAne, and seeing her work a room that transformed my life. I read her book cover to cover. I learned how to enjoy making new connections. She demonstrated how easy it can be to find a point of commonality and connect with others.

The unexpected happens when you combine writing and making connections.

Let's talk about how you can write and connect.