blogging – Aspirational Adventures

I’m on version three of this post. One I shared on my Barefoot At The Kitchen Table website because that was who I went as over the weekend, one I shared on my Substack because I’d got some lovely encouraging comments there, and also that is my “being a writer” space, and now I want to share here because I shared that I was going on Holding That Space and I want you to know what happened when I held that space and waited.

The weekend at Ten or Less was awesome. It reawakened in me why I love encouraging others to write. I met loads of amazing people, many of whom have signed up for my newsletter, spoke to people about collaborating and have a buzz of ideas not just of what to do with workshops but what to do with my writing. Read more about it here – Encouragement and Inspiration

The weekend also reminded me of why I write and how I love to write. People talking about their desire to write their memoirs reminded me of my desire to do. Do the workshop I did reminded me of how much fun I get from putting words together. I have people to chase up [one who’s already got in touch with me] about collaborating together. The joy of meeting with other creatives and how that inspires us all. I’ve written more about that on here – Encouragement, Support and Inspiration

And of course I had to add these posts to here because this, even though it is not my first blogging space it is my longest running. The first post I posted on here was on 1st January 2015, [Read it here – Good Morning 2015! ] with lots of things about my life up in the air and that was all before we knew we were moving to North Wales and before I believed enough in myself to start writing group – which again only came about through encouragement and support.

I know there have been people who have been dismissive about the “likes” etc on Facebook, blogs, etc but I don’t know about you but I like them. I love it when I see the same person put a “like” on my post regularly, when I get new followers. It isn’t an ego but it is an encouragement thing. Yes at times I have to be careful not to post with who I think is reading it in mind but just share where my heart it. Sometimes when I’ve shared with trepidation and then get a “like” it gives me more confidence to go and do it again.

So let us all remember to “like” each others posts, to comment on each others post, and to share our hearts gently and kindly whether in written word, spoken word or deed.

And always feel free to Buy Me a Coffee or similar

Face of a lady so excited by my workshop on Saturday

Do It For Yourself

A fascinating tree near Red Wharf Bay. Photographed by myself May 2025

Love your neighbour as yourself

Mark 12:31

I know I’ve mentioned this verse many times before but I had a new revelation today. And this is what I love about the Bible. It is the living word of God not a static set of rules. It has something new to say to us often if we are willing to listen.

I was doing some QEC work around writing my memoir novel and exploring why I’d stopped not just sharing on Substack but stopped writing almost completely.

What came from it was that I’d got into writing for submission, for sharing with the new writing support group I met whilst on the memoir writing course, and got into wanting to make it “right” – which is another word like “enough” which is not quantifiable.

What I had stopped doing was writing it for me; writing for the joy and love of writing. At the end of last year and the start of this I just let the words pour from my finger tips and learned loads about myself as I let it flow. Yes I do have a dream of publishing it but back then my first goal was to get it written for me; was to write for myself.

So where does the above bible verse come in? Well as I’ve said before it has been translated the wrong way round. The original read “love yourself so you can love your neighbour” and as I’ve said previously if we don’t love ourselves then we can’t love our neighbours, can’t love anyone else fully because too often we are trying to love people so they like us. If I love myself then I don’t need others to love and affirm me. I like it when they do but that isn’t my reason for befriending and hanging out with them.

So it struck me in the middle of this QECing was that I need to love and want to read my book, that I need to be writing it for me and no one else, that I am doing it for me not for publication, not for anyone else, but for me. Then I will be able to write my story my way which will then be the way it is meant to be [possibly the “right” way!!]

But that isn’t just for my story but for everything I do whether that be housework, running writing groups, speaking to others, when I’m on my dog walks, driving my car, cooking tea, being with my family. I must be doing it for me not for others and if I do that then it will flow and I will be at peace and I will be kind and generous, not fearful, not checking if it “works” or if I’ve “got it right” but will just flow, will just be me, will not be doing it to get a need met.

I think it is why I enjoyed my birthday this year because everything we did was what I wanted to do. Yes there were tweaks due to dogs not being able to walk as far as they use to and my children tired due to traveling up to us. But it was tweaks for me to enjoy it more not to make it “right” and trying to please others. And guess what? Yup everyone had a good time because I was going with my flow.

Too often we are taught that we are being selfish if we do what we want to do but I think that is a lie. Most of us, if we love and respect ourselves and are doing what gives us joy, will not do harm to others but actually will be nicer people and people others will enjoy being around because we flow with what we want rather than double checking what others might want.

So I would also write that verse as “do all you do with love, peace and flow, without worrying about what others might want, and then that will give others space so they can flow around with you in love and peace”