Wow…here I am 13 days into this month of blog posts. And I am happy to say that I have actually been able to keep it up. I’ll admit that I’m not always sure if I have anything at all to say but I have found myself putting something on this page…a virtual version of putting pen to paper.

My mom used to tell me that when I was bored when I was little, all she had to do was give me pen and paper and I was a happy camper. I do enjoy writing but I really don’t spend the time to do it anymore. A couple of years ago I found a writing group at the local library and decided to take it up. Unfortunately there were only a few of us and the group eventually fell apart which made me sad. It was a place I felt comfortable writing; actually writing stories, etc and not work related stuff like sermons etc.

However I had an experience one day that totally broke my heart. One of the poems I shared was about my mom and her battle with mental illness. A visitor to the group that night basically attacked me and asked if my mom knew I was sharing her/our story and said I shouldn’t do that. She was very adamant that it just wasn’t right. I remember I was so taken aback and ran out of the class in tears. I even called my colleague because I wasn’t sure what to think. It was the first time I really experienced something like that. Ever since that experience, I have found myself holding back; holding back what I have to say because I am afraid of what people might think.

So perhaps this blog post a month challenge is just what I have needed! Something to finally get me virtually putting pen to paper more consistently and more openly.