Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.
– Barbara Kingsolver

March is one of my favourite months of the year.  One of the reasons I like March is the beginnings of Spring.  Along with Spring, I always feel inspired when I attend the University of Guelph Writing Workshop.  This is my 3rd year, and it was a whole new experience bringing my 11-year-old daughter.  It felt as if I was looking thru the lenses of a young beautiful blossoming women about to become an adult. 

When I glanced over to my daughter beside me, I didn’t see a young girl quickly jotting down her thoughts, it was that of a young women soon to be a University student.  I sat there and had to shake my head in disbelief, this could be her reality in a mere 5 years from now.   Silent thoughts of,  “OH…. how exciting for her, to have a whole world ahead of her, so many new and fun times ahead.” 

I was really trying hard to focus on the workshop, with all these overwhelming thoughts entered.  “What did the teacher just say?”  “Does anyone know what a style sheet is?”  “The question is, “Why is it so darn hot in here, Why did I drink so much coffee earlier, how long until break, Where is the bathroom?”  “What should I write about?”  The biggest thought going thru my mind was, “HOW DID MY DAUGHTER GROW UP SO FAST?” 

My advice if your interested for next year, is to register early.  Registration opens in January and fills up quickly, it is open to all ages and you don’t have to be a student of the University.  It is a FREE event, thanks to the sponsors Guelph Downtown Association, CFRU, Bookshelf and more.  I had an opportunity to chat the Event Organizer, Jody Salter, who works with the McLaughlin Library at the University of Guelph, check out this link for the #UGWriters. https://www.facebook.com/wanderingwellingtoncounty/videos/1018516074990890/

One of the classes we were part of was, The Art of Journalling.  Jennifer, the instructor shared her love of writing on any item including napkins.  She reminded us you don’t have to write on lined paper, you can write on any spaces, and  add stickers, cut outs, funky paper, anything to personalize your journalling activity.

Jennifer shared how she chose to burn her old journals when she was done with them.  A lot of people looked around and nodded, perhaps they had thought about doing that too?  She later explained it was healing for her to get rid of them.   She said it gave her a sense of ease, knowing that no one would discover her personal writing, and that now she could send them off to the universe. 

Leaving the class I felt an immediate sense of comfort.  I had been struggling a lot lately what to do with a box of old journals, from a relative who is no longer with us.  I left the workshop confidently knowing what I will do with that little shoe-box of personal words which were just meant for the writer.  

I was lucky to meet one of the presenters, Kat McNichol, of Dreamers Creative Writers, we chatted about the many theraputic benefits of writing.  Here is the link of my chat with her, https://www.facebook.com/wanderingwellingtoncounty/videos/1020332101475954/

I wonder how old the youngest attendee might have been this year at this year’s workshop, maybe an aspiring writer named Meaghan, who will be 12 this August.   “Love you Meg, I want you to know that, just in case your reading!”

Talk Soon ~

Nancy

“People on the outside think there’s something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn’t like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that’s all there is to it.”
– Harlan Ellison