Tag: Inspiration

Categories
Inspiration support

Encouragement, support and inspiration

This was where I was 12/13 September

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

Categories
encouraging Freeing

Mary Jones

Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre

Mary Jones was an amazing young woman. She comes from a time before teenagers when by 15 you were a woman, almost married, an adult, expected to pull your weight. But it is her tenacity that stands out in the story. It is said she saved up her pocket money, possibly what was left of her wages from whatever job she did after she’d give her parents her keep. So she saved this up for two years. Then she walks 26 miles from her home in Llanfihangel-y-Pennant to Bala to buy a Bible, a book she was longing to have for herself. The Rev Thomas Charles told her he had no Bibles but could get one for her in two days. So she waits, gets a Bible and goes home again. End of Mary’s story.

This inspires Rev Charles to start up the Bible Society which is still influential and still going today giving Bibles to the world. Read more here – Mary Jones Pilgrim Centre

Whenever I’ve heard Mary Jones’ name mentioned the focus always shifts to the Bible Society story, which is great. But what struck me this Sunday when our preacher mentioned her was that here was a young woman who was probably from a devout Chapel family, heard the Bible regularly, even had ones in the chapel she attended and could possibly have borrowed one at any time. But she wants to read God’s word for herself, wants to study it for herself, possibly wants to sleep with it under her pillow. So she doesn’t moan about what she hasn’t got but is proactive and goes and does something about it. It gave me hope from my children who were brought up knowing God but for whatever reason have walked away. These children of mine, or of any of ours, don’t have to walk 26 miles in the hope that someone has a Bible, don’t have to save up for 2 years, don’t have to wait a few days to get one. There are Bibles in most major high street booksellers or online.

God convicted Mary Jones to get her own Bible [as maybe God did with many other young people who didn’t heed the call] and she went. I am now going to be praying that when God convicts my children to get a Bible and return I will keep well out of the way and let them walk their own path to get there.

I was so encouraged by thinking of Mary Jones as the person not as the inspiration for something bigger.

As our preacher the week beforehand said “we don’t know what little seeds we are sowing in the dark”.

These posts are free but you are welcome to Buy Me a Coffee or similar

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Categories
breathing influence

Inspiration

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The other day I learned that original meaning of the word “Inspiration” was defined as the “immediate influence of God” and the idea was closely linked to writing (rather than other art-forms) as it described how those who wrote holy books were influenced by a higher power to do so – according to the lovely Grace of Wordfoolery.

She goes on to say about how it comes from Old French and Latin to blow into or breathe upon, and figuratively to excite or inspire somebody.

She does say more about how it came into its modern usage but you can read that. What inspired me was this whole thing of this immediate influence of God, especially to writing, and this whole breathing upon or blowing into.

I just love the idea of God blowing on to my writing – whether it is these random ponderings on here or the stories, etc I write. For me God inspired writing does not have to just biblical based or mentioning God. Or even things like CS Lewis or Tolkien allegories. I think God inspired writing can be anything and for me this definition of the word “inspiration” means God can breath into or blow upon anything whether I, or other writers, acknowledge their influence.

I often do some breathing exercises before I write because it helps me focus, but I think now I might do some with intention to get some of that “immediate influence of God”.

Categories
freedom Inspiration writing

Aspirational Writing Group

Yesterday was my regular writing group that I run. I was a bit disappointed because only two ladies came – though this had led to me deciding to change venues and return to running the groups around my own table. My business name is Barefoot At The Kitchen Table so running it at home is probably where it is meant to be.

So I decided to make the most of the area around the centre I’ve been using and the lovely weather and sent my ladies outside to gather ideas for a poem along the lines of how I write poems. Note my PDF on this.

They went outside to get some notes and then I worried that they would get bored. Above are photos of my ladies engrossed in their writing and note taking. They came in reluctantly. They had enjoyed their 10-15 mins that they had had outside listening and looking. Mindfulness?? Maybe!

They both said how much they had needed this and then thank me. It gave me such joy to know that I had been instrumental in helping them have a lovely afternoon. It also reminded me why I run these groups. It isn’t to make loads of money but it is to encourage others to enjoy writing as I do and connect with each other and themselves.

Here is what I wrote from the afternoon too – dedicated to my two lovely writing ladies, Dot and Vivien. And also to those who usually come but didn’t make it.

Clinging, creeping ivy wraps round fence and post and thoughts

Trying to drag all down with the help of self-conscious chatter.

Yet the dappled leaves illuminate the lady writers

Unhindered they scratch and scribble away.

Lost in the moment as they soar

Creating freedom in their written words.