One day in the 5th grade Ms. Sonia took me aside after she let the whole class out for lunch time. She handed me an empty journal covered in hearts with the word “Love” written across it. She told me that she noticed I had a love for writing and she wanted me to start writing my poetry in this journal so that maybe one day we could publish it together. Ill never forget that moment with Ms. Sonia and how it changed me. She told me that she loved the poetry I would randomly leave for her on her desk for no reason at all and that I should put it all into one collection. She sparked my creativity and I couldn't put the pen down from that point on. Thank you Ms. Sonia.
I was a poetry-writing machine for years after Ms. Sonia gave me that first journal and had filled out many journals after that one. I was inspired by Shel Silverstein from age 6 and read endless poetry books about love. In high school, I became co-editor of my high school newspaper and ended up with a column just for my poetry. Looking back it wasn’t that big of deal but to a 14 year old it meant a lot! I wrote until my hand would cramp up and would literally wake myself up out of dreams to sit and write at 3 o’clock in the morning. I wrote and gave endless speeches and campaigns and even helped write love letters for my friends who just didnt know how to express their pupply love. I was writing all the way through college where I had an article in my college newspaper about college dating and romance. I was a determined young journalist with a career path in mind and knew that nothing could stop me.
Things changed and life happened…I stopped writing. That lively creative part of my brain went to rest and I just couldn’t find it in me to write anymore. That part of me was my passion and I was uninspired because of my depression. A part of me sort of died with my writers block. I changed my major from Journalism to Sociology and decided that I would be more interested in learning about why people acted the way they did and how we all fell into the different classifications in society. I got depressed years back and just decided that I didn’t want to write anymore….until now.
While sitting in Central Park with my boy Tim, he mentioned to me that he was starting up and coming online blog magazine about lifestyle. After doing a lengthy Q&A with him about this mag I asked him, gently, if I could send him an article about the curvy lifestyle and see if he may be interested. He was and the editor loved it so here I am. The editor inspired me and motivated me to start writing again. I sent my excerpts to a few friends and family members and they all encouraged me to get my wheels turning again.
I am now a featured lifestyle writer for GraeGram.com which will launch July 20th and have already been asked to write for another lifestyle magazine that will debut in the fall. How very cool!
Mommy, I'm a writer again...
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