With Deepest Gratitude

And so, the final day is here.  I’ll admit I’ve been dreading it.  This challenge has given me so many wonderful gifts – I am reluctant to give them up.  I know I don’t really have to – but things will be – well, different.  No more daily posts, no more uplifting, supportive, caring comments each day.  I will miss this, very much.  Yet, I suddenly have a lot on my plate and I think the end has come at just the right time.  I need to turn my attention to other things at the moment.  Important things.

However, I now have a tool to help me – get through, process, unwind, reflect, shout for joy, question – now I write.  Now, I AM a writer.  Maybe I always was, but I never felt like one.  I doubted so much I couldn’t pick up a pen.  

The closest I could come was to read books about how to write.  Now – I write.

Things I have learned this month ~

  I am a writer (even if it is only for myself)

  There are wonderful people out there in the world who took time for me this month

  I don’t have to share everything I do with others (I never revealed my participation in this

           Challenge to anyone outside of my fellow slicers – I wanted it for myself)

  I am not alone – others share my pain, my experiences, my challenges, my likes and dislikes, my joys, my worries

I love poetry (I already knew this, but this month of writing solidified it)

I need to believe in myself and my abilities more

Things this SOLC made me grateful for ~

New friends and fellow writers

New books to read and new ways to write

The support and care of this wonderful community of people – this has been a transformational process for me, largely because of the understanding and compassion shown to me through all of your comments.  My post “A Million Thanks” sums up my feelings for all of you.  I will miss the daily feedback – but I won’t give up.  I will continue with this blog, I will continue to slice on Tuesdays, I will dig out my old, empty writing journals.  I will write.

Thank you to Ruth and Stacey for creating this wonderful opportunity.

Thank you to all writers for allowing me into your lives for a month.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read and comment.

Quote of the day:

           At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.     ~Albert Schweitzer

THANK YOU FOR LIGHTING MY FLAME!  Until next Tuesday…