This week’s Petals of Appreciation celebrates the fathers in my life: my dad, my brothers-in-law, friends, uncles, and grandpops. Here are some examples of why you deserve my appreciation today and everyday:
You impart a love of learning – reading to them at night and doing homework
You support their extracurricular interests – going to dance recitals, athletic events, and gymnastic classes
You are both structured and loving – providing them security and a safe environment in which to grow
You make them laugh and hold them when they cry
You tell them they are loved and reassure them of that fact every single day
To all the fathers out there (whether through genetics or adoption) who raise up instead of knocking down, I celebrate you. HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
I walked through the hotel doors on Friday morning with my head held high, my laptop bag full of writing implements, and an open mind for developing my craft. When I left on Sunday afternoon, not only was my bag overflowing with resource materials, but my artistic spirit yearned to return to the keyboard, ready to write!
So much hard work goes into putting together a high-quality conference such as this. I will write a more thorough recap of my PWC 2015 experience, but in the meantime, I wanted to share my appreciation for all those who made this an experience that I won’t soon forget.
As such, here are just a few of the individuals who earned this week’s PETALS OF APPRECIATION: Lu Ann Cahn, Eileen D’Angelo, Don Lafferty, Autumn Konopka, and Carol Sabik-Jaffe. Please click on the referenced names to learn more about each of these knowledgeable and talented individuals.
Join the Petals of Appreciation Campaign:
CAMPAIGN DETAILS
Each week, from now until June 30th, 2015, send one Thank You letter {or card} to someone who made a positive impact on your life: family member, friend, mentor, teacher, police officer, social justice champion, musician, actor/actress, writer, author…the list goes on.
*Please use #PetalsOfAppreciation on social media to help keep the gratitude moving forward!*
Writing can be a lonely art form. We sit with our computers or empty notebook and wait for inspiration to hit us. We become affixed to our need to create. To leave something tangible, meaningful, and valuable behind when we depart this life…but we don’t have to go close ourselves off in order to be a successful and fulfilled writer. We are part of a community of artists. Joining with others who understand our struggles, celebrate our victories, and tell us the truth even when we don’t want to hear it.
My affiliation with two writing groups changed my life for the better. These groups of artists are the focus of this week’s Petals of Appreciation Campaign. They deserve my thanks today and all the ones that follow.
PENNWOOD WRITERS GROUP: With advice from an acquaintance, I realized that I needed some artistic stimulation in my life. So, I found a writers’ group that met at one of the local bookstores. This group of writers met twice a month, offering support and constructive critique to the members of the group. I was welcomed immediately by a woman with a smile on her face and joy in her eyes. I’d found a home that I didn’t know I’d been looking for. We exchanged tips, insights, and advice…but mostly, we applauded our shared love of the written word. Nearly ten years later, the woman who welcomed me is one of my dearest friends. Thank you, Cate, for welcoming me into the Pennwood Writers’ Group, going to Broadway musicals with me, and letting me watch award shows at your house. I love you, my friend!
The unofficial mascot of the LBCW.
LOWER BUCKS CREATIVE WRITERS: About five years ago, my world shifted and my weekdays opened up. I spent nearly every day at the other local bookseller chain, working on the novel I’d just started, editing the play I wrote in college, and drafting a non-profit business plan. I decided to test my business idea by running a writing workshop based on a specific theme each month. I asked the store manager and she gladly agreed to let me run the event at the store. “You should post it on meetup.com,” she recommended. When I looked into the site, I discovered a place to meet other artists who enjoy writing as much as I do. I formed the Lower Bucks Creative Writers group in January of 2011 and over 100 meetings later, this group of writers continues to flourish. Our member numbers increase weekly and our “regular” attendees shift occasionally, but I am immensely thankful for all of them. I intentionally facilitate the group around the idea that writers need a blend of socialization, feedback, and support from one another. Through allotted time for writing and receiving constructive criticism, writers of all skill levels and genres gather to share our stories. Through this venture, I’ve made professional connections and wondrous friendships. Special thanks go to Doreen, Camille, Maria, Alie, Pam, KC, and other LBCW members!
*This coming weekend (June 12-14th), I’ll be attending the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference. The last two times I attended the conference I came away rejuvenated, inspired, and refocused to write. I’m thrilled that some of the LBCW group members are coming with me this year and that their fellow “writer friends” are attending as well. Check out the Philadelphia Writers’ Conference to learn more!*
If you do not have a writing community near you, start your own!
The recipient of this week’s Petal of Appreciation is…me, myself, and I!
This week I made a list of all the people I wanted to thank during this campaign. Some I’ve already sent letters to or written blog posts about, so I looked inward and realized how little I appreciate and value the one within. I wrote this blog entry with some reservations:
Would readers think me egotistical or self-serving?
Am I merely looking for praise and compliments?
Does admitting my perceived weaknesses devalue my strengths?
I’ll admit it – a “Yes” to any of the above questions could cause me to stumble slightly on my personal journey. However, I’m thankful that I reached a point where other’s opinions do not affect me as much as they used to. Sure, I want people to like me and think highly of me, but I’ve finally realized that I must focus on what I think about myself. My self-opinion is most important, and when I reflect poorly on my choices, actions, or ideas then the task is mine alone to undertake.
I can write paragraph after paragraph about my gratitude and respect for people in a particular profession (teachers, writers, actors), but writing one sentence about the person in the mirror involved way too much use of the backspace button. As a result, I switched to writing long-hand.
I wrote out a Thank You card to myself and sealed it so that I can open it when I’m feeling ungrateful, disappointed, or forlorn. Bestowing a petal of appreciation to me, myself, and I provided enough inspiration and motivation to get creatively unstuck as I keep moving forward!
*Who did you thank this week? Did you send a Thank You card/letter to someone who made a positive impact on your life? Did you comment on a blog post or social media status update? Did you text, call, or video chat with a dear friend?*
This week’s Writing Prompt Wednesday has gone to the dogs! Use the image above as creative inspiration. Draft a short story, poem, song, or letter to the editor about an animal cruelty.
Most importantly, don’t self edit as you go. Just write!
Kelly Deeny 