Spill it, girlfriend...

As a teacher, I tell my students that 'no question is too obvious'.  I encourage questions and clarification.  I feel that a question that one student has, others may have as well.
 
I apply the same practice in my personal life.  I am pretty much an open book.  I do, however, wait before volunteering an opinion in most situations. Having attended 'The University of Hard Knocks', I realize that most people need to be listened to, more than preached to.
 
For me, writing is somewhere midway on the spectrum of personal and professional.  In short, I use the writing process to share many life experiences / lessons through poetry and prose in a most personal way, while maintaining a professional style. 
 
This past week I published an article on another site.  It was essentially a good bye letter, yet I made a couple key points:
 
*** With every experience, I have an opportunity to meet new and wonderful people.  In this case, I have very close to 500 followers.


*** In every phase of life, we have positive and negative variables, sometimes in the very same situation.
 
*** We have choices with whom to stay in touch with and where we choose to share our talents and gifts.  I can (and will) return to this site to follow some of my friends. I will also follow others, who are branching out as I am...
 
Everything I wrote was truthful and polite. "Negative variables" can mean awhole buncha thangs...! 
 
I have a very good friend who immediately wrote me a private e-mail.  This sharp cookie read between my lines...go figure!  The gist of my friend's e-mail was 'Maria, what gives...? Spill it, girlfriend.' 
 
So, okay, this is mar...spilling it. This is the real deal for those of you who cared enough to sit at my desk awhile with me and chat...

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Dear Sharp Cookie,

Flowers and Aunt Baby.

You are pinning the tail on the donkey, literally and figuratively...(remember, I am a consummate professional).
 
I was getting more tired than my own dogs in a night of heels...!  I was agog!  I was aghast!  I was gob-smacked!
 
You see, I had found another reason to fret...and you know how I excel at that!  I was receiving the dreaded semi-circles and sometimes 'full Monty' circles on my articles that I was rather fond and proud of...
 
I discovered that some of the folks I most respected on this very site were also getting the circle! While there is safety and comfort in numbers, I looked at the system.

I read the explanations.  I found them tiresome.  I read the solutions to improve my quality.  I decided none of them had to do with creativity or writing.
 
So, I decided to move to another creative writing neighborhood.  The Borough of Weeblyhood is led by a fine and respected  lady named Angelia Philips (femmeflashpoint).  She has a duplex home in the Weeblyhood at Sibling Synergy with her sister, Alicia.  
 
And at my place, dear Cookie, everyone is welcome and we can be comfortable.  I am also hoping some of my writer friends will share their thoughts in a guest post on my desk here or Inspiration Station or Compassion Corner along the way.
 
And, although I am not sure I think someone else has caught on to me as well...Cookie, do you know Vicki Warner?  She has a new site called Grief Can Heal and you would love her style, I just know it...

Anyway, on Friday the 13th, my door bell rang around 6PM and Aunt Baby went wild...!  Expecting the worst, I received this gorgeous fall floral bouquet, that I wanted to now share with you.  And they were from Vicki...wanting me to have a nice day.  Well, I had no choice but to do so immediately ...
 
And I remembered Mom and her wise perspective on things...not to sweat the little stuff and to be appreciative for every wonderful thing that happens in your world.  This is what writing does for me. This is what true friendship, like yours and Vicki's does for me.
 
So, I am spent, Cookie...I have no more 'dirt to dish'.  The canary has sung her song to the end...! Oh, and thanks for the question!  I loved it and loved answering it even more...
 
Love,
mar

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