Before blogging, I only wrote when I had to, never out of choice. Writing scared me. I started blogging as for my students. That gave me reason and a cover.
I stumbled along. Then somehow, I found a living, ever-changing mentor text. The virtual writing workshop at Two Writing Teachers’Slicing Community. Slicers welcomed me. They read my stories and celebrated my daily struggles, hopes, triumphs and failures. Personal and professional. Slicers became my cheerleaders, my mentors, my colleagues, my dear friends. They have stretched me to places I never knew of; places I never thought I had any business going.
My One Little Word grew out of slicing.
Today my OLW is honored by Holly Muller’s Spiritual Thursday link up.
Admire. A perfect word for these communities that admire and support one another in and through writing.
In January, I chose “admire” as my OLW to focus on and celebrate the gems in life. To find the beauty that is too often hidden by traditional expectations.
Finding trouble is easy. Seeing value in an apparent mess takes a special lens. It isn’t easy. Admiring. My lens gets smeared and distorted in the daily grind. I feel the fast-moving current, ready to sweep me away, and I fail to notice the beauty and sparkle bouncing off the river. I don’t see the golden river rocks below. I’m focused on getting across.
Writing makes me stop, notice, and think.Writing makes me take stock. Re-see, revise. Admire the world and life around me. Writing has become my spiritual journey.
Writing still scares me. But when I’m with the people I admire, who see the road I’m on as worthy, I can breathe easier. I can admire.
Writing with dear friends is a communion. Writing with those I admire is a great gift.
Thank you to the beautiful women of Two Writing Teachers Blog and the slicing community. Read more slices here.
And thank you, Holly, for your weekly link up and thinking about my OLW. Find other reflections on their Spiritual Journey here.
To Read To Write To Be 
“Writing makes me stop, notice, and think.” Yes! This is exactly what it does.
“Writing with dear friends is a communion.” Those words are so true and this community provides a weekly spot for gathering and communing. Even though I’m not writing for SJT this year, I love stopping by the posts and getting inspired.
I’ve been thinking about my lens lately and trying to make it a more positive one. “Finding trouble is easy” is so true, thanks for the reminder to look for the sparkle.
I love your OLW! I appreciate how it all comes back to perspective, and changing our perspective is a choice..it involves action. Thanks for sharing. I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about this word all day.
I always love how you share your admiration. It’s such a fine quality and you are so good at it. Whenever I hear you say my name on a Voxer, I lean in because I know you are going to say something that makes me happy to be me. I love how you listen and learn and admire what’s around you deserving of admiration. xo
[…] met Julianne first on her blog, To Read To Write To Be. She writes about as often as I do reflecting on her life and teaching. I really do not remember why […]
Julieanne, thank you for sharing your OLW with us today. It gave me time to pause and think about how I will use the word to positively move my day. Your quote has provided me with an angle: “Seeing value in an apparent mess takes a special lens.” When the messes happen look at the opportunities that stem from them.
Thank you for this reminder. It’s essential that we stop and admire the glory in our daily life. I will remember to admire today. : )
I am taking into my heart today you and your word and that when we write together we are a communion, a fellowship. This is a lovely post. I want to give you a hug right about now.
You are right this Challenge, this community, does provide fellowship. Your words sang that hymn of praise very clearly today.
It is so hard to believe that you ever were a scared writer, but maybe that’s how writers are developed. Your writing always is something for me to savor and reread to stretch my thinking. I admire you every time I read. What a wonderful place to share our thoughts and develop friendships across the world.
What beautiful words! We are so lucky to have you as part of our writing community. Speaking of admiring, you should know that I read two other posts today that mentioned your OLW (Margaret Simon and Carol Varsalona both mentioned you on their blogs!)!
“Writing with dear friends is a communion. Writing with those I admire is a great gift.” These are words to place in my writer’s notebook – thank you for this gift, Julieanne.
“Admire” gives light. I can easily relate to your appreciation to this community of writers. Writing here is a gift indeed. Thank you for your gift of words today.
You are an exquisite writer. You set the bar high! Glad I found you.
Another beautiful piece, Julieanne. I always find inspiration when I visit your blog. Thinking now about the origin of admire–to wonder at. Both meanings are so richly part of this post. So much to think about and reflect deeply upon in this post. Off to my writer’s notebook! Thank you!