A Passion Revealed

An overabundance of the stresses of daily life sparked my writing career. In my early 40s, my children were busy with school and extracurriculars while the health of my elderly parents was in quick decline. My husband had a demanding career and I was substitute teaching around the kids’ schedules.

One day as I hung by a thread, a friend suggested I needed a “creative outlet”. I laughed out loud. Come up with even more time and energy to be creative? She urged me to hear her out. She suggested pursuing something I enjoyed would encourage me to set aside time for myself and take my mind off the whirlwind around me.

Then she asked the big question: What did I like to do?

I hadn’t thought about that in so long, I was at a loss. To wind up this exercise in futility, I blurted out “writing”. She thought it was a perfect option. I put a pin in it.

Not long after our exchange, I found myself with that elusive creature: a free moment. So I took her advice and sat down at the computer. No one was more shocked than me when I started to write and never stopped. From that came multiple magazine articles, three completed novels and a children’s book.

Now with the children grown and gone and the husband in retirement, the time feels right to move my focus from publications to polishing and honing my other literary efforts. Like any journey, I am setting off with anticipation infused with trepidation, expecting hills and valleys. I suspect I will take more than one unexpected turn, only making the adventure richer.