Welcome! I look forward to sharing some ups and downs along my writing journey as I wander through the publishing process and wonder about beauty, art and creativity.
All photos by Patty Mayeux, unless otherwise indicated.
Remember When…
Do you remember when a phone was just a phone? Way back when, before answering machines, a ringing phone as you unlocked your front door was an adrenal jolt. Your heart raced as you stumbled up the stairs or around the corner to answer. You lifted the top half of the princess phone and heard…
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“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.”
–Franz Kafka
About Me
When I’m not revising novel #1 or writing novel #2, I’m blogging about the process. Along the way, I share inspirational posts based on the 10 ELAN Principles that I strive to live by as well as a few book reviews and personal or found writings.
In addition to journalism experience, I’ve written and co-published, with photographer Linda Lapointe, a non-fiction book on inner beauty: “Beautiful Women: Like You and Me.” I am active in local and online writers’ groups and participate in conferences, classes and workshops.
Creative and fun time is spent playing piano, reading, traveling and playing djembe in the Joy of Djembe Drumming Ensemble.
Quote of the Week…
“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” Helen Keller, 1880 – 1968
New Year, New Words, New You…
Welcome to a fresh start of new: habits, ideas, projects, paths. I eschewed the tradition of a New Years’ Resolution years ago (it’s the only one I ever kept). Still I love the excitement of turning the calendar to twelve months of blank squares, begging to be filled with forward moving plans and positive thinking.…
Quote of the Week…
“Christmas is a tonic for our souls. It moves us to think of others rather than of ourselves. It directs our thoughts to giving.” B.C. Forbes, 1880 – 1955
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Delight in the Light…
Yesterday was Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, and yet, it falls during the season of light; candles in various faith traditions flicker amidst strings of bulbs adorning houses and trees. While my family celebrates the birth of the Christ Child (in faith-based as well as commercial traditions), I appreciate and respect other…
Limiting Beliefs…
Like it or not, we all view our slice of the world through a limiting lens. It is part of human nature (and maybe survival) to harbor deeply rooted ideas of life based on observations and experiences of the past. Isn’t that what most movies and novels are about? The character wants something but can’t…
Quote of the Week…
“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.” Dalai Lama, 1935 –
It’s All About The Love…
In last Wednesday’s Substack post I mentioned the 10 ELAN Principles by which I strive to live. ELAN was a self-development course I created and facilitated a few years ago, hopefully to the benefit of all who participated. These principles have since informed my life and these posts: 1. Honor a Higher Power = Love God by…
Free Music…
I was fortunate to attend three music concerts this past weekend, all of them free. Friday, I saw David Byrne with my sister-in-law. (More Wednesday on Confessionsofacreative.substack.com). Saturday, I sat in the sunshine to watch our grandson play in a local Jazz Band. Sunday, we weathered freezing temperatures for a repeat performance at a different…
Quote of the Week…
“Blessed is the influence of one true, loving human soul on another.” George Eliot, 1818 – 1880
One Small Thing…
Last week I had my first volunteer gig at Keith House where a James Turrell Skyspace, called Come To Good, is located. That night a sound bath accompanied the light sequence, adding another sensory level to the community gathered. How lucky am I to have found such a peaceful space in my new backyard? But…
Quote of the Week…
“Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake.” Henry David Thoreau, 1817 – 1862
Ten Things I Love About New York…
I recently took all kinds of chances (in the midst of a shutdown and wonky flight schedules) to put a drop in a virtual bucket list. One of my ongoing fantasies is to live and act like a local in Manhattan for a month or so. You gotta love the energy of a city that…
Quote of the Week…
“That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but a calm quiet interchange of sentiments.” Samuel Johnson, 1709 – 1784
Quote of the Week…
“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” Mary Tyler Moore, 1936 – 2017
Duh!
You would think after walking around this planet for decades, I’d have it all figured out. Nope. Too often I slap my forehead and say Duh! Why did I (or didn’t I) do that? The worst are the repeat lessons, as if the first time around the mistake was not painful enough. Some Duhs are…
Quote of the Week…
“Sometimes life drops blessings in your lap without your lifting a finger. Serendipity, they call it.” Charlton Heston, 1923 – 2008
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