Coffee Talk

Happy first anniversary to Di's Midlife Crisis....and Celebration!
Grab a cup of your favorite java and let me tell you what's on my mind now, a year into this new adventure in my life. A first-time blogger's musings.

It's been an exciting learning process to develop my writing style. I received advice and instruction from experienced writers online. It's been fun and so helpful to gain insight from them.

I'm grateful to be part of a group! I no longer feel that I'm floundering alone out in cyberspace, behind my keyboard. Authors usually understand each other. We all know the joys and burdens of having stories inside that we want to share, hoping that someone will gain something from them.

Most of all, I've learned life lessons that I wouldn't trade for anything. It's been a journey of positive change, healing and growth.

Fear
I have faced much uncertainty.  Last year, I told a friend that I wanted to start a blog. He had his own website and offered to help me. I talked about it for a couple of months, without taking action. He noticed something as he got to know me better. One day he said "You really worry about what people think of you, don't you? Why?"
Oww!! Yes.  Even though I've been a confident person in some ways, I really had to come to terms with life-long people pleasing issues. Taking action, plowing right through my fears, has been very freeing for me. It has literally changed my life for the better!

(Confession: several times after posting a story, I was hit with huge doubt and insecurity. It was a battle not to just delete some of them.)

Coffee Talk
My writing style is conversational. I want my readers to have a sense of sitting with a good friend to talk about life.  Real life, with it's ups and downs, silly moments, times of grief.  The mundane and the profound! My moods vary day to day, story to story, just like yours do. I think grammar and sentence structure are important, but not as important as an engaging coffee talk.


Catharsis  
More than one of my readers had this observation: some of my stories seem to be my personal catharsis.  I don't know that it was my intentional motive, but maybe they were right.  I have been grieving and depressed much of this past year. Adjusting to a lot of major changes in my life too. The process of writing helped me.  It got some those thoughts and emotions out, instead of all jumbled up inside. It put them into perspective.  A few readers truly empathized too. Priceless!

Airing dirty laundry?
I frequently write about family experiences. We're attached, ya know!  I will write more stories about our wonderful and painful times together.  I will do my best to never embarrass anyone.  (I've usually informed and asked permission of those involved.)

One of my challenges has been to share those stories, without telling too much.  The main point is often the lesson learned anyway. But I need to tell enough, so my readers have an accurate picture of what happened.  I welcome your suggestions about this. I respect my loved ones and their privacy. I am not that woman who tells all in a dramatic expose'.  I mean, we wouldn't want to end up on Dr. Phil someday.  

Inspirational
A friend asked me why I wanted to share such personal stories publicly, instead of just journaling them.  
I did some soul searching to answer that question. 
For one thing, I've kept a journal since I was nine. Been there done that.
Many experienced authors advise: "Write what you know!" My life experiences are what I know best. 
Most importantly-  for years, I've been most inspired by biographies about people who triumphed in the face of adversity. Whether it was a miraculous recovery from near death, or the victory of a positive attitude change, I learned something helpful by reading them.
I want my writing to encourage and motivate people too! Maybe I can pay it forward now in my own way.

Let's get real 
The following are quotes from author Angie Dixon:
"Being real in your writing is choosing to say what you truly think, feel and believe..."
"For each person who completely gets you and what you're saying, there may be one or one hundred who don't get your message, or don't like it..."

I am learning to be okay with that. I am moving forward with my blog!  

I hope to see my ever faithful, cheerleader-readers here again next time. You are my sunshine and have kept me going! There's always room at the table for new friends to join us. 

I'll bring the coffee, you bring the comments.