Book Giveaway

Author Sue Harrison is giving away a copy of GOOD MOTHERS DON’T on her Blog. Follow the link HERE to find out how to enter. Draw date is Wednesday, Nov 24th.

A huge big thank you to Sue for being so supportive and for the lovely things she had to say about my writing. Please take time to check out her blog and her books. You are amazing, Sue!

I continue to be amazed by all the support that has come my way since my very first book came out back in 2009. The journey continues to warm my heart and spirit, and has helped me get through some tough times. I continue to feel gratitude.

Enjoy your weekend.

The Journey

I’ve been thinking a lot about the “journey” these past few days, that path we’re all on, and how different that journey is for each of us. Life isn’t just about the end result, but the journey; all those twists and turns along the way. It’s about the deeds we do (the good AND the bad), the mistakes we make, the people in our lives, the love we give and receive. It’s not about things or money. It’s not about perfection. Because truthfully, “perfection” is really a matter of personal taste. What is perfect, but a notion, an ideal that varies with individual taste. It’s like the reader who hates a book you loved and loves a book you hated. Who’s right?

I don’t think there is a right.

Recently, I asked my Facebook friends if they allowed their kids to help decorate the Christmas tree. It was a subject that got brought up at work that day and I was curious. I was surprised by how many said they didn’t– apparently because they felt the kids wouldn’t (I wanted to say “couldn’t” here but if you never let them try how would you know? ) do a good enough job at decorating.

Good enough..wow!

Good enough for what?

For who?

I’m curious.

As a child I always helped decorate our Christmas tree. It was a highlight of Christmas. I even remember some of my favourite ornaments. When my kids were old enough I couldn’t imagine them not helping because seriously, it wasn’t about the tree or how “perfect” it needed to be. It was about doing something together, having fun, sharing some laughs, building memories.

I’m not saying that all those Facebook friends are wrong. If having a “perfect” tree is that important to you than by all means you should keep the kids as far away from the tree as humanly possible. 😉
I don’t believe in the right or wrong way to do things. We all live life differently. We all have different values, different beliefs. We all do things differently. Thank goodness for that!

I’m not going to ask here if you let your kids decorate your Christmas tree. I just want to leave you with the thought that sometimes the end result isn’t as important as we believe it to be. Sometimes the important part is the experiences and people we encounter along the way.

Lately, my own journey has kept me away from blogging but I’m hoping with the new year coming , and my busy season now at an end, that will change. I try not to dwell on the fact that I’ve been absent here for quite some time because it really wouldn’t help change anything. I can tell you I’ve been working on a new book with no plans on when it will be finished. I don’t often impose unrealistic deadlines on my time. I’m just hopeful it won’t take me a few years to come to the end.

Here’s hoping you enjoy your journey this week.

Making Room

We did not all come over on the same ship, but we are all in the same boat.”

Bernard Baruch

The writing/blogging community is SO supportive of one another. I’ve mentioned this on many occasions. We stand by to cheer each other on during those times of triumph, and lift each other up when disappointment comes our way. We help promote one another’s books and blogs. We write reviews, buy books and post positive comments on Facebook. And it is an incredible thing. Who better to understand us than someone who is walking the same the path?

As great as what this community of writers/ bloggers is there are so many other people who can use support. My hope is that I will never become so wrapped up in my own journey that I will ignore all those who are out there in need of my help. There are so many people out there who can use some positive reinforcements. I sometimes need to remind myself that there is more to life than writing, and more people out there who are in need. I am one, but there are many others who need consideration.

I am fortunate enough to have the support of many people who do not belong to the writing/blogging community, yet their support means just as much to me. They are not walking the path by my side but they will be waiting for me at the end.

We are all on this journey called life; some of us are on the same path, but not all of us. The boat may not look that big but there’s still plenty of space for us all. We need only make room.

Friendship

To anyone else we might have looked like two old friends drinking coffee and catching up on the latest gossip. Our conversation was intense. We settled right into the purpose of our meeting, to talk about writing and publishing, and everything in between. We swapped stories, shared a few laughs, spoke of our personal triumphant and the many disappointments we’ve encountered along the way. The time flew by. We parted, promising we’d get together again.

I often imagine that I’d soon bore my non-writing friends to tears if I spent too much time talking about publishing and writing, and for good reason. For many of them they love the fact that I’ve been published, in fact they couldn’t be more supportive, but to them it’s a whole other world and a strange one at that. It’s probably difficult for those who don’t write to understand why writers put themselves through the long torturous wait times, the countless hours spent in solitude working at their craft, and the numerous rejections that come along the way. In what other area of our lives would be take such a beating, such outright rejection, and keep on going?

If I went off to work each day to be told repeatedly by my boss that I wasn’t doing my job quite right, or that I was actually doing everything right but it wasn’t going to make an ounce of difference at the end of the day, I would probably go off in search of another job. And yet we writers swallow it all and keep on going, the serious ones that is. Our need to be published, to feel some validation for our work, is a strong one. And it needs to be strong or else we’d fall at the wayside and turn our backs on our dreams. Not everyone who writes is seeking publication. Some people write for their own enjoyment and have no desire to have others read their words and this in no way demeans what they do. But for the rest of us hopefuls we wait and wait for those glorious letters of acceptance that sends our spirits soaring to the cosmos. Someone thinks our work is worthy of publication. Oh happy day!

Yesterday I spent the afternoon deep in conversation with a fellow author. It was great to share stories with someone who is taking the same journey. Were it not for the fact that we are both writers, I’m sure our paths might never have crossed. Our backgrounds are totally different in almost every way imaginable, our writing styles just as different.

I walked away with the knowing that it’s not necessary to have many things in common with someone to enjoy their company, and bonds can be formed between those who share the same passion no matter what that passion might be.

Most of my friendships have been formed through the years with people who do not share my passion for writing. Many of my friends are not even avid readers, and I’m totally fine with that. These friendships are equally important to me. Yes I am a writer but I am so much more. As we go though life we encounter many different people all with a wide variety of interests. Thankfully, we are multidimensional beings and we all help make the world an interesting place to be. We all bring to the planet our individual gifts that originate from the place where creativity and passion are born.

Today is a day for reflection as I take time to be thankful for the many different friendships in my life—- old and new, “real life” and online. You know who you are!

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