Ugly Ducklings

Says who?

Hatch

Take courage
World
Awaits
Your
Brilliant
Contribution

Together
We’ll change
Culture

Create
Possibility

Because
We’re
Brave

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Oh my God, who’d she even have edit this?
Did you see all of those typos—incorrect punctuation?
Ugh—sometimes the plot totally loses its thread!

Do you ever think our culture might benefit from some tweaking?

I am not without accountability in the above scenario.
As part of a book club, one member chose her sister’s self-published romance novel as our monthly read.
Before our dinner discussion, negative comments about the author’s art circulated.
Me?
I never bothered to read her book….but I did show up for the meal.
While the author dined with us, I felt safe in my quiet space.
If I hadn’t read the book, how could I offer feedback?
I was off the hook.

Ouch!
That hurts!
Me, the author, all of us….

Looking back, I feel shame in my behavior.
I feel shame for our group’s behavior.
Shed a little light and extinguish the shame Gail!

Tom Foster reminds me that blame is a waste of energy.

What happens when we spend our energy building a better future?

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

I now stand in the ring
grateful
for a number of generous people have shown me a different way of moving through life—with support and encouragement. You have invited me into a new culture—a culture of—You belong, no matter what.

And so…I take terrifying risks (she says with a touch of mockery) like posting video(s) of moi reading poetry on Instagram.

Yesterday I shared a call with a new friend. I told him that when I started writing, I held and protected my stories like a flickering flame. And he asked, “Isn’t it sad that you felt the need to hide?”

What if we could all stop hiding?

Poet Mary Oliver asks: Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

I plan to live mine—more fully—with courage.

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How can I help you to do the same?

I want the best for you…..

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