Questions from Melony Hill’s Writing for My Sanity Therapeutic Writing Workshop (@STMSBmore), held online.
“Healing old hurts can only begin when the children we once were feel safe enough to speak their hearts to the adults we are now.”
—L.R. Knost
• When was the last time you felt nothing but joy? What was going on around you? How can you bring that feeling back?
Right now, my kids are fighting like cats and dogs, so it’s really hard to remember what moments of pure joy feel like. 🙃
I do not think it’s the most recent, but what immediately comes to mind is swimming with my friend Ayinde on Manhattan Beach. It was just around sunset, and Ayinde had been practicing swimming having just learned. I had brought a waterproof camera with me, and was snapping shots as the sun set. The waves were large and warm, but were not violent. They moved us in a gentle rocking motion up and down once we got past the breakers, and we laid on our backs and just floated until it got dark. It was wonderful.
I’d love to go back.
• What have you not accomplished yet this year that you feel is important that you do before 2021 ends? Why is it so important to you?
I’d really like to get the two books that I’m working on published.
For one of them, I have a 2-month deadline with a photography partner, and so I feel like that one is going to be easily accomplished and done.
The other I have been working on for years. It’s actually 99% done, I just have to take the time to polish it and get it estimated for publication. I just feel like I am constantly stretched too thin by client projects, and never have enough time for my own work. But my own work doesn’t bring in the funds I need to survive.