Vibrant Nation

(The following post is a copy of a write up I have used for a publication our organization submits to a local paper, once a month. It is a 55+ information page, helping to communicate, engage, and inform seniors in our community. The message applies to anyone - and you can ignore the plug for our writers group, unless of course, you are interested in the virtual aspects. Thanks for reading.)

Perhaps you have experienced loss or pain and need an outlet to get beyond the suffering. How about writing a healthy life? Many writers extol the cathartic virtues of writing especially when dealing with a traumatic life issue. By putting words on paper, no matter how heart wrenching they may be, you purge them from inside you. Relieving yourself of the negative impact these feelings have upon your spirit, your mind, and even your physical body, could open a whole new world of possibilities. Holding on to them just weighs you down; sometimes causing lethargy that is often mistaken for a physical ailment. If you were able to treat those feelings with a natural process such as writing, wouldn’t it be great to be free of the emotional burdens, cluttered thoughts, and possibly medication? We must take caution, however, because not all symptoms are easily dispelled by expelling your maladies into words. There is no replacement for some loss and no relief for some pain, but in general, the cathartic properties of writing will set you free.

Whether you choose to write as a distraction, or to share your work, there are things that might be worth exploring:

1. Journaling is the personal way to put your thoughts on paper. You don’t ever have to share these words with others because just the act of expressing them and letting them go, may be enough to clear your mind of them. There is a word of caution, though – once you release them, do not return to them. It is easy to forget how vulnerable you were while holding them within, so why go back and experience them all over again? The purpose of the journal is to contain those thoughts that weigh you down so you don’t have to carry them any longer.
2. The genre of creative non-fiction allows a writer to put their real story to paper in a way that uses artistic literary elements such as descriptive narrative, characterization, personal voice and polished literary language. Personal essays and memoirs are examples of creative non-fiction, and that means, it’s all about you.
3. The fellowship that exists in a local writer’s circle cannot be equalled because of the association you will have with others who share your passion for the written word. There are as many stories as there are writers but the universality of issues, topics, and situations draw you together. Sharing your work, no matter how close to the heart it hits, is one way to deal with issues, while working on the craft of writing.
4. Writing and sharing with others addresses aging issues that range from the need for mental stimulation and recording of family stories to combating loneliness and isolation. Keeping your mind active by creating and meeting with others who share a like passion increases the likelihood of an involved, healthy life.

If you have not considered joining a local writer’s group to see where your story could go, it might be worth a try. In Sherwood Park, the Writer’s Circle is sponsored by the Writers Foundation of Strathcona County (WFSC) and meetings are held the first and third Tuesday of each month in the Strathcona County Library. The move to the new Library location in November is exciting because we will have a new meeting room. If you would like more information on joining the WFSC, please check out our web site at www.wfscsherwoodpark.com or call Linda at 780-445-0991 for details. It might be the “write” time to try!  

p.s. we have a virtual writers circle within our web site where writers meet to share work, receive and give feedback, find encouragement and support. Check us out.

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