Margin for Life

    I was properly warned, but ill prepared for the sea of rejection I faced during my querying journey in summer of 2023. It felt isolating and underneath my disappointment was a sense of loss. Though I'd learned much from the process of writing a first manuscript, I also felt like I'd put my life on hold to do it. 

    After a break (to care for my parents during a health crisis), I came back, feeling ready to begin my re-write with fresh determination. This time, however, I made space for those moments I'd felt lost the year before. 

    My 2024 goals are grounded in the kind of productivity that maximizes both creativity and time with my family and friends. 

• My hikes now include my family on the weekends, and a neighbor friend on a different day. 
• My nature journaling includes my artistic daughter as we sit down together trying to harness the essence of the world around us. 
• My writing now includes legacy journals for my parents so that I may hone my writing skills while creating an heirloom for our family. 
• My reading now includes a book club I'm starting with a friend so that I deepen friendships while also staying on top of the latest lit. 

    No doubt there's more rejection in my future, but when I look back I can delight in the growth, and the journey that kept me connected to those I hold dearest to my heart.