Sheri Nicholls |
About Us...
Welcome to my Salon. A place for my creative friends to join in a conversation about writing, about the creative process and the creative life. We write and paint alone, but it's as part of the creative community that we find support and friendship. I originally launched my virtual cafe in support of the release of Karen Karbo's kick ass book about another kick ass woman, Julia Childs. From here on, I'll share what I know about the writing life and the experiences and musings of friends and colleagues in the Portland arts and letters community. Comments and Guest bloggers are encouraged and invited.
Monday, June 22, 2015
Dreams Come True
Walt Disney has been credited with
saying, “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue
them.” I have a dream that I have begun
acting on—writing an historical fiction novel based on the real life events of my
grandmother, Mary.
The seed was planted when a
respected business colleague—after reading a press release I had prepared—said,
“You should write a book; you are a good writer.” Over the years others have made similar
comments and the seed germinated.
There came a point when I knew my
life would be transitioning and I asked myself, “What next, writing?” But I did not have a journalism degree nor
was my education loaded in literature or composition classes. My business success was not realized through
academic credentials however, but via my strong work ethic that lies deep in my
gene pool and re-enforced by my upbringing.
I have always had a vivid imagination, love to read, am curious, and
crave creativity.
I read Colleen McCullough’s book, “Morgan’s
Run,” and was inspired by the riveting story she weaved from a few unique
tidbits she had discovered about a relative who was sent to the first penal
colonies in Australia and Norfolk Island.
Then I searched on-line for “How to Write a Novel?” and found many
suggested methods. One suggestion was a
book for young writers by Walter Dean Myers titled, “Just Write: Here’s How!” I bought Mr. Myers’ book thinking why not
start simple? I attended writers’
seminars. I engaged a writing coach,
Camille Cole. I have begun. Grandma Mary’s story deserves to be told
well.
I know I will be rejected; I am
accustomed to being turned down in business.
There will be nay-sayers; I never let negativity stop me before. I know I will be criticized; I will learn
from my errors. I have been told many
times, “It’s harder than you think.” So
it is that my admiration for the craft grows every day.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Don't be Afraid to.....
Let Your Light Shine
by Gloria Taylor Brown
The excitement backstage was palpable, one little girl had
already thrown-up and been removed still crying by her distraught mother. I was
one of the six remaining little girls, aged 4-6, all dressed in perfect white
dresses, with yellow hair ribbons. It was the Sunday after Easter and the
church was full. My grandmother placed her hands on my shoulders and whispered
in my ear, “You’ll do fine, my
dear, I am very proud of you.” She
gave me a hug and pushed me into line, second from the end. A moment later, the
choir director motioned for us to come on stage. With much shuffling of feet
and a minimum of giggling, we were in front of the congregation. This was my
debut, my first time on stage, and I was terrified! I was also very excited. We
began singing,“This little light of mine, I’m
gonna let it shine….”
We each held up an index finger, pretending it was a candle, with
our other hand shaped like a basket that we removed. We sang the song, ending
with a flourish with our hands fully open beside our faces, spreading our arms
as we sang, “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!”
The minister came on stage, and his rolling orator’s voice began his sermon with the words “From
the mouths of little babes…”. The congregation smiled as we were
led offstage to our waiting parents and grandparents who greeted us with hugs
and kisses. “Grandma,” I whispered, “I remembered all
the words!”
What I did not realize is that I had not heard the message.
For the next 25 years, I did my best to hide my light. I played
dumb when others thought I was too smart. I carefully avoided anything that
would draw attention to me, until my early thirties, when I wasn’t sure I still had a light inside. I even
considered snuffing out that light completely, my existence had become so
bleak. When life seemed to reach its darkest point, I was blessed by meeting
someone who not only could see my light, but also was able to make me believe
in myself, once more. He was able to
love me and help me kindle a new brilliance so that I could begin to shine my
light.
Still, I was shy, and concerned that if I would “be
seen” somehow I would be harmed. I continued
to hide my light from most people. I still hadn’t
gotten the message.
Then, one winter day, I had a very clear vision of myself as a
lighthouse, shining a guiding light out into the darkness. What does this
mean?, I wanted to know. My spirit guides told me that this was a role that I
could assume. How could I do this? “Teach”,
they said. Weren’t there enough
people already out there teaching? In fact, it seemed to me that there was an
overabundance of teachers in the world, why should I have to assume this role?
Besides, other people were already teaching the subject matters I knew how to
teach, how could I compete with these established individuals? What if I led people astray from their true
path? “No lighthouse worries about any other lighthouse”,
I was told gently, “each shines their light, to the best
of their ability, knowing that as a ship travels down the coast, it will
encounter many lighthouses. Some of them it will pay attention to because they
are on the boat’s course, others
it will not heed, for those are off course”.
I mulled this information over for a long time, not acting on it,
still keeping my light hidden. All my insecurities came to the fore, and I
could think of a million reasons not to follow my guidance. “What
is the worst that could happen?” a voice asked. “I could fail,”
I answered immediately.
Suddenly it was blindingly clear to me that I could not fail. By
being on this earth, and living my life the best way I knew how, I was a
teacher, no matter what I called myself. The lesson I had to teach was the one
I had to learn. I realized my life’s
mission: to shine my light as brightly as possible, knowing that for someone
coming out of the darkness, this might be the only thing they had to save them.
I began to shine my light, letting others see me. Soon more and
more opportunities came my way, and I found the more I let others see, the
greater the light I had to show. I began to realize that there were many others
like me, hiding their lights under a series of bushel baskets. I began working
with them, to help them remove the “baskets”, helping them
create a new image of themselves. I found that I could provide them with the knowledge
of where to get more fuel, so that their lights could grow brighter and
brighter. Today, when I am teaching before my student groups, I always hug that
little girl inside me and remind both of us that we finally learned the message
contained in that simple song.
Now, my message is simple: that each and every one of you to let
your individual light shine. You have chosen to incarnate at this time, because
the world needs your contribution. You were born with a mission and it is an
important one. Your mission is to be the best you can be as a human being, as
an example for others, and as a steward here on earth. This is a mission only
you can fulfill. There is only one of you, and you are indeed a chosen one. Let
your light shine, let all of our lights shine, that we may chase away the
darkness. For the one who sees your light may have no other guidance to bring
them safely back to homeport. Become a lighthouse, and let it shine!
http://www.gatheringofpriestesses.com.
Gloria Taylor Brown’s
articles have been published worldwide. Her first article was published in
Seventeen Magazine when she was only fourteen. She now uses her writing gifts
to create much acclaimed classes and courses designed to enlighten and transform
her students, who report: “This course has been an unbelievable help for me and
my spiritual growth.” “Very helpful and enlightening, with a sense of healing
for me.” “Dynamite....it’s perfect.” For more informations,
gloriataylorbrown.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)