I knew I was supposed to be a writer; I had made that declaration in the closet of my soul - Padgett Powell

I have a lovely little book called "Walking On Alligators" by Susan Shaughnessy. It's 203 pages of meditations of encouragement for writers. I think all writers should have small reminders for themselves, a voice that speaks uniquely to who you are deep inside. I am a firm believer in helping others to reach further than they believe possible but sometimes the favor is not returned. Since I am practical in all things, I have learned to buoy myself up during down times and my favorite way is through other writers thoughts. These are the precious souls who know where I am, how I yearn to write and some days do everything but show up on the page even though I know it is what makes me truly whole. Sometimes I liken it to taking medicine that will help me during an illness but gagging throughout the entire process. I need to write. It is almost as essential to me as breath. Have you ever felt this way? Then you, my friend, are a writer.

I often have people ask me when my book is being published. Where is it already? I study a lot of things about writers and my answer is usually 'it will come in time, the time it is meant to be'. It took J.R.R. Tolkien twelve years to write "Lord of the Rings" and I suspect now, decades later as it still provides income for his descendants it was probably an insignificant amount of time in the scheme of things.
I write daily but I also care for a home, for a family, for a business, and for myself. Many things demand my time and it used to drive me insane when I couldn't write more. One day I realized through the written words of others that "A writer's life is her work" and I stopped obsessing so much. I started to write on small pieces of paper tucked in my purse while I was volunteering in school, waiting at the stoplight, wandering around the grocery store. Life was showing me colors, people, situations and when I stopped long enough to catch my breath, I realized some days I needed to live so I could write more fully and add life to my characters, to my words.
I am a writer. Now, every day, in so many ways, I write.

You don't become a writer when your work is published or even praised. You become a writer when you tell yourself that is what you are. I was meant to be a writer. I may write differently than what I was instructed to in school but I am a writer. I may not always write about subjects that you enjoy but I am a writer. And as Susan assures me today, "Your membership card as a writer is issued in the closet of your soul". She's right; I am a writer.

This thought is for my friends; the writers, poets, photographers, and the other amazingly artistic people I am honored to have in my life. I love you all. I am in awe of your talents. You inspire me. I hope you never lack for a reassuring word about your art. I also hope you choose today to boldly proclaim to yourself and the world exactly who you are creatively.

Soon Annabel was able to stretch out flat in the air and roll over.
"For months I've tried to fly, " she said. "Why couldn't I before?"
"You didn't really think you could, " said the cat. "Isn't it amazing the things we don't do simply because we think we can't do them?"

- Taken from No Flying In The House by Betty Brock - a book I loved to read as a child.

It's amazing what you can find in your favorite childhood books. The lesson from this one is belief. You can do anything if only you set your mind to it. There is magic in believing. I have found even if you have all the necessary skills yet don't believe in your heart you will accomplish your dreams, you will struggle much more on your path until you learn this very simple principle.

I didn't have many in my life that could teach me how to achieve anything more. Most well meaning people wanted me to reach my goals as long as I didn't overshadow their own success. It wasn't very encouraging. Thankfully, I have learned through countless books and a few wise men and women that I can do more. And all they really taught me was to believe in myself.

Do you believe you can do more? I hope so. And if you don't believe it yet, I wish for you to get ahold of belief and bring it into your own heart. May all your dreams come true.

Namaste (pronounced Na-mas-stay) is a Sanskrit word which means 'I respect the divinity within you that is also within me'.

I hear many people doing something new this year for themselves. Eating well, beginning a work-out program and I am thrilled especially since they are all my friends. Our lives are spent in this one body and it is easier to accomplish things when you are rested, well fed with healthy food and in good health.

I've always done some sort of work-out program. At one point in my life, I struggled with my weight. I was hiding out really and covering myself so I wouldn't be noticed. I felt ugly and unloved for a long time. I was not happy and had so many things to work through but refused to do any of it so I substituted the necessary work with a protective covering. Early in my Air Force career I had to fight to maintain a suitable weight and those in charge were not incredibly encouraging. Thankfully during this time I began to shed my skin, literally. I uncovered buried hurts in myself and let go of things in my life that were unnecessary. Over the past 20 years I have learned even more about taking care of my body, my health, what works for me and my lifestyle. It has been incorporated into everything in my life and my family shares my love of healthy, fresh food and sufficient exercise.

Now at 40 and very in tune with myself and my spirituality, it only seems natural that I have turned to yoga. I use DVD's for my work-out and purchase them from www.acaciacatalog.com. They are very affordable, easy for beginners and those who have back or knee pain. I have talked to many people who say "I'm too out of shape for yoga" but really, you're not. It is at it's basic level only stretching. It is so simple, so invigorating of a practice for not only body but your mind. It is calming, detoxifying, and quite magical. I'm not nearly where the instructors are with flexibility but I can notice a huge difference in my posture, the lessened pain in my knees and rotator cuff. It is amazing and healing. I hope you have already decided to look toward something new physically this year for yourself and perhaps you will seek out yoga also.

Namaste.

You can refer to me anytime as Mrs. Darcy...

You are Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice!
You are intelligent, witty, and tremendously attractive. You have a good head on your shoulders, and oftentimes find yourself the lone beacon of reason in a sea of ridiculousness. You take great pleasure in many things. You are proficient in nearly all of them, though you will never own it. Lest you seem too perfect, you have a tendency toward prejudgement that serves you very ill indeed.

Take the Quiz here!

In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you. - Mr. Darcy, taken from Pride & Prejudice

I am currently reading all of Jane Austen's novels. Have you ever read them? Maybe you were forced to by an English teacher in high school or college and hated it. The funny thing about that is sometimes, those novels you hated in school turn out to be absolute masterpieces when read just for fun. When you don't have to figure out the symbolism, the story comes to life and you find yourself lost in it.

For why I'm reading them, it happened when I watched a movie last fall called "The Jane Austen Book Club". Have you ever heard of it? The book club would meet after reading a particular book of Jane's and their witty banter about these characters made me want to know them in the same way. It spurred me on to purchasing all of Jane's novels so I could find out what I did not know and really be able to enjoy the book club discussion even more. I began with Sense & Sensibility, Pride & Prejudice, and now I'm halfway through Mansfield Park. At first, the writing style is so strange, chock full of details (which is a tad boring at times) but once I overlooked all that, I find the characters extremely amusing. The entire setting of time that Jane lived, from the late 1700s to her death in 1817 reveal to me a period I'm not very familiar with but the time seems quite pleasant and very polite.

It's difficult to experience moments of happiness if we are not aware of what it is we genuinely love - Sarah Ban Breathnach

On Christmas, my children gave me a DVD of Pride & Prejudice with Keira Knightley. I watched it over this weekend - twice - and let me tell you something; the novel and this movie are quite possibly the best romantic pieces of work I've ever seen!
One look at Mr. Darcy striding across the field in the early morning light to come and propose again to Elizabeth Bennet is enough to make you believe in love all over again. Yes, there are certain liberties taken with the film, a few things are missing but it was magnificent and I highly recommend it. It made me think that this year I will purchase all the adaptations of Jane's books on DVD for myself. I get a catalog with all of them including another version of Pride & Prejudice with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy - a must see because he is so charming and handsome.

My review is over and I hope you will consider looking into a classic literary work yourself this year. You never know what you might find and it may inspire you in ways you never imagined.